Aussies Ready to Rip
Hey legends, Vaughan here – Head Froffer at Unbound Velo, and I’ve got some seriously spicy news from across the Pacific. The 2025 Life Time Grand Prix is about to get rolling, and it’s shaping up to be the most stacked and stoke-loaded season yet.
They’ve shaken the tree this year with a record $380,000 in prize money, a wild card race-in system, a new U23 development program, and a fresh twist on an old classic – Sea Otter’s going gravel. That’s right, the Sea Otter Classic has ditched the singletrack and embraced the dust. Riders will tackle three gnarly 47.6km loops through Fort Ord National Monument, racking up 2,486 meters of climbing in total. It’s a proper test of grit, legs, and sendability. 🚀
All Eyes on the Aussies
Now, here’s where we really froth – we’ve got two absolute weapons repping the green and gold this year:
Courtney Sherwell
Court’s coming in 🔥 hot. She’s not only the reigning Australian gravel and XCM champ, but she’s also gone back-to-back at the UCI Gravelista. Most recently, she smashed it with a second-place finish at the Belgian Waffle Ride Arizona, just behind Life Time queenpin Sofia Gomez Villafañe. Courtney’s climbing legs and grit will suit the new Sea Otter gravel course to a tee – don’t be surprised if she stuns the field right outta the gate.
Brendan “Trekky” Johnston
Trekky’s no stranger to big gravel days. With national titles and endurance wins under his belt, the Canberran’s made a name for himself as one of the most consistent long-haul crushers in the game. His roadie engine combined with mountain bike finesse makes him a serious threat in a series like Life Time, where you need to be good at everything and bulletproof when it gets rough. This year, he’s got unfinished business. I caught up with Trekky last week for an intervioew and indepth look into what make. him tick. Check it out here.
A Bigger, Better Grand Prix
Here’s what else is on the menu for 2025:
Wild Card Entries: 6 riders will get the chance to race their way into the series after UNBOUND Gravel in May. No invites, just results. Love that.
U23 Program: A new pathway for the next-gen dirt warriors aged 18–22. Top young riders score automatic entry into the 2026 series. Fully Sick Addition.
Broadcast Upgrades: With BCC Live coming on board, and real-time race content on Instagram plus extended highlights on YouTube, fans can follow every attack, flat, and bonk live. This is seriously taking Grav to a new level!
Returning Legends & International Firepower
Keegan Swenson is back, chasing a fourth straight crown. Sofia Villafañe wants her third. But with more international heat in the mix than ever before (including a UCI roadie-turned-gravel beast from Switzerland and a 10x Ethiopian national champ), this year could be full of shakeups.
But our money’s on the Aussies to mix it at the front. Courtney and Trekky are built for big days, long climbs, and loose gravel – and this series dishes up all three in abundance.
So, saddle up and stay tuned. We’ll be bringing you the grit, the gear, and the glory as the 2025 Life Time Grand Prix unfolds. Let’s go, Aussie gravel!
👉 Follow Courtney and Trekky’s journey right here on the Unbound Velo news feed. We’ll keep you posted with race recaps, behind-the-scenes snippets, and tech breakdowns all season long.
Yeeeooowww!
– Vaughan