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Life Time UNBOUND Gravel preview: competitors and strategies. The second round of the 2025 Life Time Grand Prix is just around the corner with the Life Time UNBOUND Gravel presented by Shimano taking place on Saturday, May 31st in Emporia, Kansas. The season-opening Life Time Sea Otter Classic Gravel saw defending overall champions Keegan Swenson and Sofía Gómez Villafañe claim the lead in the men's and women's competitions. Keegan soloed to victory nine seconds clear of Matthew Beers in Monterey, while Sofía took maximum points after following women's race winner Hayley Batten (who is not competing in the Life Time Grand Prix) home in second position. 2024 recap. Last season, Lachlan Morton claimed the men's title, outpacing Chad Haga in a two-up sprint to the line with a three-minute lead over the third-placed Tobias Kongstad. The women's race delivered an unprecedented nine-rider sprint finish, with Rosa Klöser crossing the line first ahead of Geerike Schreurs. Paige Onweller claimed third place overall and maximum points in the Life Time Grand Prix. 2025 riders to watch. Here are four athletes Socalcycling expect to animate this year's race: Paige Onweller. Paige was the highest-placed Life Time Grand Prix finisher at this race in 2024, battling her way to third in the standings. The long-distance specialist will be aiming for another strong showing this time around having started her season with seventh place at the Life Time Sea Otter Classic Gravel.Axelle Dubau-Prévot Her second-placed finish at the Traka 360 earlier this month means Axelle will be among the favorites on the elite women's start list in Emporia. Axelle is one of a handful of European stars competing in the Life Time Grand Prix for the first time this season. Mattia Di Marchi. The Italian is competing in the Life Time Grand Prix for the first time this season but is no stranger to the Life Time UNBOUND Gravel, having earned a top-five finish in 2024 and also finished the race two times previously. Matt Beers. The South African made a strong start to the season, placing second overall at Life Time Sea Otter Classic. He took 13th overall at last year's Life Time UNBOUND Gravel, but with a first-place finish at BWR California and a second-place finish at the Traka 200 over the past month, he will be aiming for a strong finish on Kansas gravel. Rosa Klöser. The reigning Life Time UNBOUND Gravel 200 women's champion, Rosa Klöser will return to defend her crown, while ex-World Tour rider Thomas De Gendt will make his debut among other top riders outside the Life Time Grand Prix competition. Life Time Grand Prix favorites share their thoughts. Ahead of the Life Time UNBOUND Gravel presented by Shimano on Saturday, May 31st, star Life Time Grand Prix riders Axelle Dubau-Prévot, Brendan Johnston, Mattia Di Marchi and Paige Onweller were joined by elite riders Rosa Klöser and Thomas De Gendt as well as Life Time's Michelle Duffy who all shared their thoughts: Axelle Dubau-Prévot, who is hot off the back of securing second place at the Traka 360 said: My preparation coming into UNBOUND has been good; I had a nice performance at the Traka earlier this month. My form is progressing well, and I'm excited to see where it takes me this week. Last year was my first time racing in the US and I immediately felt a connection and wanted to do more. The Life Time Grand Prix is a huge challenge, but it's very important to be part of it and I'm looking forward to being in Emporia and having another go at this race. Brendan Johnston who kicked off this season strongly with fifth at the Life Time Sea Otter Gravel said: This race has been my goal since December so it's been great to kick off this season strongly and have some wins already. It's hard to feel confident in the lead up to UNBOUND as it's such a tough, changeable race, so all you can do is ensure you're in the best shape possible when you roll up to the start line. The start list this year is super stacked and it's cool to see the depth of talent growing each year. Mattia Di Marchi who came fifth last year, said: I've been racing the Traka 200 and 360 for the last three years and found it to be great preparation for UNBOUND last year. It's important to get a good block of training in to have good legs but it's also really tough to stay fully focused and sharp for nine hours while racing but I love this kind of race and I'm ready. The conditions this year might be different, I'm used to racing on dry, European gravel and with the weather forecast in Emporia this week it might be a very different race to 2024. Paige Onweller was the highest placing Life Time Grand Prix athlete at last year's race who said: Last year I had ankle surgery 12 weeks pre-race so I wasn't even expecting to finish UNBOUND and so this year it's hard not to feel confident as I've pretty much had an uninterrupted build-up. Saying that, I've also learned that over the years, you can be the strongest rider and have the most perfect preparation, and it all falls apart on the day, as there are so many unknowns. You have to respect the course, your equipment, be ready for the mud and I just hope I'm ready for all the options. Rosa Klöser, defending champion said: It's important to me to stick with racing gravel alongside my road calendar with CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto as it's my real passion. I will certainly be looking to defend my title, give my competitors a tough race and not let them take the crown without a fight. There is more talent on the start list again this year with 10-15 women that could win so it will be a tough race but I'm looking forward to returning to Emporia." Thomas De Gendt, five-time Grand Tour stage winner who is taking on the Life Time UNBOUND Gravel 200 for the first time said: "I've watched so many documentaries about UNBOUND and it always looked like fun. But now that I'm here in Emporia, it just seems incredibly tough, especially with all the recent rain. After years of road racing, I was ready for a change, and the adventurous side of gravel, especially UNBOUND, is what drew me in. This is my first US gravel race, so I'm not entirely sure what to expect, but I'm hoping that the open roads and terrain will be more forgiving if I make a mistake. Michelle Duffy, Senior Director at Life Time Events said: With the Wild Card competition concluding this weekend, athletes will have each other marked, which will add another dynamic to the event. In some scenarios, I think you could put some of the Wild Card contenders as race favorites so it'll be fascinating to see what those riders prioritize on race day. It's the first year of the Wild Card competition, so I think Socalcycling is going to learn learn a lot about how it impacts the racing, especially at an event like UNBOUND. "To truly be inspired by gravel, you need to watch it. Life Time has long aimed to lower the barrier to entry for cycling and now, a free, live broadcast helps Socalcycling do just that. It gives athletes global exposure, allows media and fans to engage remotely and offers brands more visibility. Socalcycling has heard the demand for a live broadcast, so Socalcycling is thrilled to bring it back, especially with some of the unique elements Socalcycling has planned for this year's coverage. The Life Time UNBOUND Gravel presented by Shimano is the second round of the 2025 Series. The athletes will take on 200 miles of harsh gravel roads and 11,000 feet of climbing through the Flint Hills as the course heads north for a second successive year. Leaderboard. Full start list. 2025 course. The race returns north for a second successive year, encompassing 202.9 miles of harsh gravel roads and amassing 11,000 feet of climbing as it winds its way through Kansas' renowned undulating prairies and the awe-inspiring Flint Hills. Riders will tackle Divide Road, one of the hardest sections on the course which comes after 45.5 miles, before heading into Alma where the race hits a series of rollers and takes in the Prairie View Road climb at 65 miles. At 104 miles, the athletes will then encounter Little Egypt, a steep and storied ascent over chunky rocks which has previously provided the launchpad for race-winning moves before tackling the longest climb of the day up Kahola Hill. The approach into Emporia will remain the same, with Highland Hill coming at mile 201 before the action culminates, as always, on Commercial Street in the heart of the city. Photo - Life Time Grand Prix This page contains affiliate links, where Socalcycling get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through the links(at no cost to you) and helps support the site. As an Amazon Associate, Socalcycling earn from qualifying purchases.

Modern technology continues to elevate the baitcasters of today. The product recommendations on its site are independently chosen by its editors. When you click through its links, Wired2fish, Inc. may earn a commission. The average baitcaster today is light years ahead of what its predecessors used. But, even as capable as modern reels are, a select group is raising the bar even more. Frontrunners in the U.S., Asia, and even Sweden are pressing forward to explore modern baitcasters' new frontier. They're not only adding mini-computers and other electronics to reels, but also employing physics to control spool speeds in completely new ways. Here's more on some of those companies and what they've been up to. Shimano DC Curado 150. The Shimano DC (or Digital Control) line of reels came to market more than two decades ago. Since then, both the process of adding a computer to the reel and the materials comprising these reels have constantly evolved. Shimano's most recent invention, the DC Curado 150, sports the upgraded IDC4 digital control system. That system has four modes. Mode 1 is for maximum casting distance, Mode 2 is for braided lines, Mode 3 is for fluorocarbon, and Mode 4 is for beginners and skipping. I've spent a little time testing this reel, and I like what I'm seeing. The DC braking system does take some getting used to. But once you dial it in, you can throw a bait a good way without worrying about the spool backlashing when the bait lands. This is what makes a DC reel so good for beginners. It removes guesswork at the end so you don't have to know how to thumb a reel right away. Abu Garcia VoltIQ. Abu Garcia's VoltIQ launched this past spring and quickly gained industry acclaim. This reel uses electric brakes to adjust to the lessening tension on the line resulting from a bait slowing at the end of the cast. The VoltIQ has 10 settings, but similar to the DC lineup, these settings are broken down into four groups. Settings 1-3 are called "Pro Mode," intended for advanced anglers' use. Settings 4-6 are ideal for the majority of anglers, providing maximum casting distance with maximum control. Then 7 through 9 are for either windy conditions or throwing large baits. Lastly, setting the brake to 10 prioritizes control over casting distance. That makes it easy for beginners to get comfortable with a baitcaster without backlashing. I've been fishing with the VoltIQ for a few months now and really like it. This reel is built around the Revo framework, so it feels super familiar. But when you load up the rod and sling your bait, there's no mistaking this one for a traditional reel. The shrill electric brakes scream. The braking performs as advertised: highly functional in the lower levels and nearly impossible to backlash when set on 10. Svivlo. Swedish reel manufacturer Svivlo burst onto the scene at ICAST 2025. After dozens of videos popped up of media members, pros, and other anglers casting the Draken One and Genesis One reels, the consensus was clear. These reels were really hard to backlash. That's the result of Svivlo's proprietary CastGuard design. It measures the lure pull throughout the cast to know exactly how much pressure to put on the spool so it brakes without backlashing. This means the reel adjusts automatically to both different wind conditions and different bait types. CastGuard does all of this without the use of any electronics or sensors, solely relying on Euler's force, which keeps the brake arm sitting inside the spool until the lure pull starts to fade. Then, the brake engages automatically. Svivlo shipped one of their Draken 1 reels to me from across the pond, and I found CastGuard as effective as advertised. To set this reel up, you put your thumb on the spool and then try to slide it left or right. If there's any play in the reel, tighten the spool tension knob. Test for play again and repeat the process until the spool stops sliding side to side, but don't just crank it all the way down. You want to land on the fine line where the play disappears. Once you set up the reel, you don't have to adjust it again - unless you bump it in transit or the brake becomes dislocated. I made some bomb casts with this one and completely took my thumb off the spool. Sure enough, the spool comes to a slow halt without the least bit of overrun. While I couldn't throw quite as far this way as I could thumbing a free spooling reel, I can definitely see the benefit of this CastGuard for an angler early in their baitcaster journey. Lew's HyperMag ITB 150. Lew's introduced the ParaMag ITB (Intelligent Tension Braking) system in 2024 with the release of its Custom Pro baitcasting reel. Subsequently, it has released other reels with the ITB system, the latest being Lew's HyperMag ITB 150. This system doesn't use brake shoes, effectively eliminating friction from the equation. Instead, the ITB system uses magnets. There's a Turbo Disc Collar that moves out toward the magnets at the start of the cast to manage spool speed, and then retreats as the spool speed slows to reduce the amount of magnetic braking. No electronics in this one, and thus no loud shrill like in some other advanced braking systems. I've had the pleasure of fishing with Lew's HyperMag ITB, and it is sensational. The Custom Pro with the first iteration of the ITB is still one of the best reels I've ever fished with, and so is the original Lew's HyperMag that came out a few years ago. The HyperMag ITB is the lovechild of these two reels, and it's the perfect culmination of what's great about each: a lightweight reel that's extremely capable. The ITB braking system is legit. But, for me, it's the trimmings of this reel that set it apart: the Speed Knot system for quick line attachment to the spool; the Speed Dial on the spool tension knob, which you can adjust to indicate the size and type of line on the reel; and the Speed Keeper, a bait keeper that can flip out to store a bait or flip in for a snag-free finish. Shaye Baker grew up fishing with his father in the state of Alabama. While in college, he was involved in the creation and early years of the Auburn University Bass Team, which expanded his testing grounds to the southeast. After college, Shaye began to fish the semi-pro circuit while simultaneously starting a freelance journalism career, providing content for Wired2Fish, FLW, B.A.S.S. and a few other publications. As Shaye has transitioned from in front of the lens to behind it, his career has taken him to fisheries throughout the country and provided him intimate access to some of the best bass anglers to ever wet a line. Shaye now enjoys fun fishing and local tournaments with his father and friends, while working fulltime in the fishing industry as a freelance journalist shooting pictures and video, editing and writing.

'Bigger and better!' Public Day confirms its power at Australian trade show. The public day at the Australian Fishing Trade Association (AFTA) show has emerged as a growing and increasingly important part of the overall event. The sight of hundreds of anglers - including a substantial number of youngsters - queueing up in the early hours of the morning to get into the Brisbane venue on the final day of the show and an overall attendance running into more than 20,000 has cemented its place as a regular and popular addition to the event that was received with a certain amount of scepticism when it was first rolled out at the Gold Coast venue in 2019. Chad Rodgers, Managing Director of Shimano Australia Fishing - winner of an unprecedented seven accolades in the New Product Awards at the show - told Angling International: "The Public Day was a clear highlight and has become an established and increasingly important part of the AFTA event. It gives anglers the opportunity to make informed buying decisions, meet the people behind the brands they follow online and - particularly for the younger anglers - feel more connected to the wider fishing industry. "Seeing people getting hands-on with the products, asking questions and spending time with our team was a great reminder of the connection people have with the brand." His remarks were echoed by Ben Patrick, Managing Director of Halco Tackle. He admitted: "I was a Public Day sceptic, but not now. It is a major part of the show and it's here to stay - and that is a good thing. The young crew have really engaged with it as it continues to grow and grow." Wayne Shelley, of Nomad Design Tackle, added: "The Public Day had 20,000 registered visitors and it was crazy! Kids had been queuing since 2.30am as there were a lot of free giveaways and the opportunity to connect with the ever-growing group of fishing influencers who are huge on YouTube. "Fishing is also massive for families. There were large groups of them with dads and children looking at lures and discussing why they use one brand over another. Lots of ladies were also in attendance and as keen as their male counterparts with lots of questions about how they can catch more fish on lures." Malosi Studio - an AFTA runner-up in the New Product Awards - added: "We had a blast. It was an absolutely insane turn-out at AFTA this year - it keeps getting bigger and better. We really appreciated everyone who took time to drop by. We are excited by everyone's feedback and encouragement." In a post on its LinkedIn page, Daiwa Australia wrote: "Brisbane turned out in force for Public Day - what a way to wrap up this year's AFTA show! It was a great opportunity for our team to showcase the latest Daiwa products, connect with passionate anglers and share what we have been working on over the last year." Public Day aside, Rodgers described the AFTA show as a positive experience for Shimano. "The team put in a huge amount of work into the event this year and to see that reflected in the response from our trade partners was incredibly rewarding. AFTA remains more than for displaying new gear. It is a chance to spend meaningful time with retailers and outline the direction of the brand." Patrick added: "It is always difficult to move after being in a popular location for so long, but it was a very good venue in Brisbane and well located. Attendance is often linked with the buoyancy of the industry - overall it was pretty good considering the share of the market is held by independents. "Like all trade shows, it is the opportunity to meet with independent and big box retailers and show new products. It also gives manufacturers like us a great snapshot of trends and industry direction. For us it was a success."