This Content Is Only For Subscribers
In the intense world of adventure sport, raw talent is only part of the equation.
With the launch of RISER—a new sponsorship programme for young Kiwi athletes—AJ Hackett Bungy New Zealand is going beyond traditional backing to offer ongoing for young athletes.
Developed to support rising stars in mountain biking, skiing, and snowboarding, RISER helps athletes build not just strength and speed, but resilience, confidence, and become business savvy. It’s a deliberate shift from transactional sponsorships to transformational partnerships.
AJHBNZ co-founder Henry van Asch says “We’re diving a little bit further into the intersection of brand, youth sports and tourism. “It’s about supporting the progression of our youth into high-performing athletes and helping them reach the national and world stage.”
Bridging the support gap
RISER was created from a recognised need: families were supporting young athletes as far as they could—but when talent surpassed household budgets, promising careers were at stake.
“Kids start skiing or biking as young as three, and by the time they’re 10 to 15, they’ve really got developed skills,” Henry says. “Then the parents start going, ‘This is getting expensive.’ We actually need to work out different ways to support that progression.”
And that’s where RISER steps in at this critical stage—not just with financial support, but with mentoring, psychological coaching, equipment knowledge, and media training.
Rethinking sponsorship
At its core, RISER is about building sustainable success. That means giving athletes tools to navigate pressure, setbacks, and handling the spotlight.
“We’ve got mentors who are sports psychologists—people who understand what these kids are going through to get to a higher level and to do it consistently,” Henry says. “It’s not just ‘Here’s $100.’ It’s about supporting their evolution and how they present themselves in the online space, which is hugely important now.”
From coaching on mental performance to guidance on tuning skis or repairing bikes mid-race, the programme is deliberately holistic.
“We’re working with families to make sure they’ve got their diet right, that they’re not burning out from too much training, and that they’ve got the right mental strategies to keep a straight mind through stressful times,” Henry says.
With its first year underway, RISER is already proving that when adventure meets intention, great things can happen. Backed by a team that knows both the thrill of the jump and the grit behind the scenes.
Not just podiums
Unlike many youth sport initiatives, RISER doesn’t measure success in medals. Instead, it’s about empowering young athletes to make their own decisions—whether they continue toward elite international sponsorships or choose a different path.
“Success to us isn’t about podiums,” Henry says. “It’s knowing we helped them get to a place where they could make that call for themselves. That they’re happy in their mental space, that they feel supported, and that they’ve had a successful time as a RISER athlete—regardless of whether they came first or third.”
