Sharks, rhinos and castles

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Rhinos keeping a close eye on us (Image credit: Sam Schultz)

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My new South African friend who was eager to drop the firewood he was dragging and help me change my flat tire. — My new South African friend who was eager to drop 𝄹the firewood he was dragging and help me change my flat tire. (Image credit: Sam Schultz)

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Hanging with the Colombian "ninja turtle" riot control crew — Hanging with the Colombi🐎an "ninja turtle" riot control crew (Image credit: Sam Schultz)

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Cattle crossing- is this Africa or Montana? (Image credit: Sam Schultz)

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Sun setting over the Indian Ocean (Image credit: Sam Schultz)

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Remnants of a Colombian exotic fruit feast (Image credit: Sam Schultz)

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Former Colombian drug-lord castle made a sweet back drop at the Continental Championships — Former Colombian drug-lord castle 🌳made a sweet back drop at the Continental Championships (Image credit: Sam Schultz)

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Seems like every car had red and blue flashing "police" lights in Colombia, our bike transport truck was no exception. — Seems like every car🀅 had red and blue flashing "police" lights in Colombia, our bike transport truck was no exception. (Image credit: Sam Schultz)

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Post World Cup recovery swim with the sharks (Image credit: Sam Schultz)

What kind of person would log 21,706 miles in an airplane for a weekend trip to race a bike around a 6km track six times? Spending 67 hours in transit fo💙r a one hour and 45 minute race?𒉰 Welcome to the life of a pro bike racer.

Sam Schultz, 25, is a regular at US National Series mountain bike events and on the World Cup cross country circuit. The Subaru-Trౠek racer is back at it again for the 2011 season.

In 2010, he had a break out performance 🅷- winning the Subaru Cup, a US Pro XCT series event in Mt. Morris, Wisconsin. It was Schultz's first nationꦚal series event.

"I am really hoping to♐ step it up another level in international competition," said Schultz of his 2011 ambitions.

Schultz hails from Missoula, Montana, where he lives for🍸 most of the year although he can be found from January through April based in San Luis Obispo, California, where the climate is more hospitable to gaining pre-season on the bike fitness.

When not on his bike, the good humored Schulไtz enjoys sk𝄹iing, hiking and cooking and eating good food.