Fewer people have had a bigger impact on mountain biking than SHAUN PALMER and his latest attempt to shake up the hierarchy comes in the form of Nik Nestoroff.

Palmer picked up Nestoroff at the age of 15 as part of his development team last year, after being impressed with his Junior results. Under Palmer’s wing, Nestoroff quickly proved himself as the fastest young American rider going by winning the national championships for his age group and qualifying as a pre-runner at the World Cups in Mont Sainte Anne and Windham.

This year he’s stepped up to the Intense Factory Team to start racing World Cups full time. He currently sits third in the overall standings after two weekends that will not have suited his riding style and with a flurry of more familiar North American rounds still to come.

This video shows Nestoroff shredding the back-yard trails that have taken him to the very top of the sport.