A tribute to our friend -
Remembering Matt Opperman
Rest Easy MattO
Tragic news hit the Mountain Bike community last weekend as we were informed that the remains of our beloved friend and team mechanic, Matt Opperman, were found on a trail in a remote area of Segura de la Sierra in Spain.
Our hearts had grown increasingly heavy as Matt’s disappearance, first reported on January 24th, led to a 22-day search.
With the search led by volunteers from local mountain bike clubs, numerous members of the racing community, and Yeti team staff, Matt was found next to his bicycle.
For much of his career, Matt was based in Longmont, Colorado, where he was not only a well-known professional mechanic but also an active member of the local racing community. When Matt wasn’t delivering expertly tuned bikes to the best racers in the world, he often rode and raced himself.
"Matt had a way of making even the most challenging days feel lighter. No matter what he was doing, he tackled it with a smile. He was a constant reminder of why we love this sport, and I’ll always appreciate the times he reminded us to pause, take a look around, and appreciate the privilege of what we do. His experience, his positivity, and above all, his kindness will be deeply missed. Rest easy, my friend."Damion Smith - Yeti Sports Marketing Manager
In recent years, Matt was based in Churriana, Malaga, and enjoyed traveling, riding, and racing in Spain and Western Europe when he wasn’t on the World Cup circuit.
Matt had been a mechanic for some of the best riders and teams in the world for the past 20+ years. Olympians, World Champions, World Cup Champions, and National Champions have had Matt in their corner over the years, across nearly every Mountain Bike discipline.
Having joined the Yeti Factory Racing program in 2023, Matt helped the newly formed Yeti-Shimano EP Racing program. Matt was key in helping to lay the foundation for Yeti’s first E-EDR World Cup title, working closely with Ryan Gilchrist, Mick Hannah, and the Shimano product team.
Establishing himself as a steady member of the Factory program, Matt’s talent for working with young riders as they traveled the world honing their race craft was deeply valued.
On and off the track and in the pits, Matt was a universally loved member of the team and the World Cup community as a whole.
Matt has worked with champions beyond Yeti Factory Racing – Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski, Heather Irmiger, Willow Rockwell (Koerber), Emily Batty, Jolanda Neff, Evie Richards, Sergio Mantecon, Annie Last, Erin Huck, Ellen Noble, Anton Cooper, Dan McConnell, Rebecca Henderson, Russell Finsterwald, Sam Schultz, Andréane Lanthier Nadeau, Jesse Melamed, and the list goes on…
Working with Gary Fisher, Trek Factory Racing, Rocky Mountain Racing, and most recently, Yeti Factory Racing, Matt was integral in building championship teams. Yet, Matt set himself apart with kindness, friendship, and steadiness.
Simply put, Matt was a class act, an incredibly kind human, and a consummate professional who devoted his life to this wonderful sport we love.
We were lucky to have him on our squad, helping continue our team’s winning legacy for the past few seasons, but we were even more lucky to call him a friend.
We want to send our deepest condolences to Matt's friends, family, and the racing community.
Rest easy, friend, we’ll miss you.
#RideForMattO
If you would like to donate to the volunteers who gave their time for the search as well as his family to help with his funeral costs, please donate here: https://gofund.me/8e47901f
Photos courtesy of Felice Beitzel, Kike Abelleira, Daghan Perker, Jesse Melamed, Andréane Lanthier Nadeau, Erin Huck and Yeti Race Team Members
Athlete/Community Member Quotes
"We recently received the news of the passing of Matt Opperman. Matt was my first professional mechanic (2023) and set the standard for how if feels to be cared for in a professional environment. His dedication to bikes extended far beyond his time at Yeti and his commitment to people and brightening their lives is proven by his continuous praise and adoration in the World Cup pits and beyond. My first impressions of the Yeti team environment are undoubtedly shaped by Matto’s kind support and fun spirit. Aside from introducing me to Coffee and Hot sauce, Matto introduced me to World Cup winning habits and without his contributions to the EP project, we wouldn’t have been champions in 2024.
Rest easy Matto, you’ll be missed more than you could ever imagine."
“Matt was super talented and always had a smile. Whenever he worked on my bike it inspired a new level of confidence for me. I’m really going to miss his happy and easy-going demeanor at the races."
"Getting to know Matt the last couple years was an honor. He is one of the kindest and most caring people I have ever met. He always seemed to know if you were having a bad day or something was off and he would go out of his way to make sure that you were ok and offer support when needed. I'm thankful to have some amazing memories traveling the world with him. Miss you Matto. ¡Salud!"
"I didn’t spend that much time with Matt, but the fact I felt so welcomed by him onto the team in such a short time is what was really meaningful to me. He always offered advice and wanted to help which was really special."
"MattO was a huge part of my first season racing World Cups in Europe. Each time I came into the team tent after being on the tracks, I saw his big beaming smile. I'm sure going to miss that! I'm hugely grateful for the time I got to spend with MattO."
"Matto would always be the first one to say, "Let's grab a beer and enjoy," or was always making sure we stopped for coffee. The majority of our drives together, we would be chatting nearly the whole time. Always some story he had to share or positive advice to give.
"Never trust someone till they are at least 30." Will always be my favourite Matto quote. It's humorous but also has some truth behind it.
In the four years I got to know him, he left a positive impression on me and the people he met — incredibly passionate about bikes and racing and always wanting to offer the best. Another way I'd describe him is someone who had and wanted to know what was around the next corner. No matter where it went. His curiosity was catching. The image I'll have of him forever in my mind is his contagious smile and him enjoying a Dünkel wherever we went.
I'll really miss you, Matto."
“I didn’t know Matt as much as I would want to. We didn’t work too much together but for sure I’m going to miss him in the pits. I will always remember him as a helpful person with such a big heart for others.”
“Matt was a super genuine guy and went above and beyond to help me out, he was so caring, full out laughter and always willing to go the extra mile. He was the one who convinced me to ask to race e-bikes and fully supported me when I did, even though this meant he had to work heaps more hours getting two bikes ready for racing. I feel really privileged to have met MattO and spend the 2024 season with him, he will be truly missed.”
"I have known Matt since 2010. We have been teammates on several different teams, but more importantly, friends through this crazy ride. Whenever I would see him, he’d give me a huge hug and lift me up. I would always laugh and say, “No, no, no, I’m heavy!” “No, you’re not!” was always his response. He was such a liar, but he always made me laugh! Haha.
I have too many memories to list, but no matter what, I could always count on Matt for a genuine smile. He was real and cared; you could tell it came from his heart. He was a loyal friend and confidante.
We were always happy to see each other, no matter the place. Not only was he a a bright spot and guaranteed smile in my World Cup journey, I visited him in Colorado and in Malaga. We went to the Rock of Gibraltar and hiking to the beach. He loved everywhere he was and touched the lives of so many people around the world.
I will miss your smiling face, and I can only hope that the sandwiches are better than mine where you are."
"I’m lost for words at losing my friend and teammate, MattO. He represented everything I love about the mountain bike world. He loved bikes, mountains, and everyone around him. I’m thankful to have known Matt and especially to have had the chance to get to know him more as we’ve worked together over the last couple years. I feel so sorry for those closest to him. He was so proud of his family! I miss you already MattO! Thanks for your friendship.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my Peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."
"I first met MattO in 2009 at the Mountain Bike World Championships in Canberra, Australia. I was cleaning my bike after a training ride with the other mechanics when Opperman jokingly said, 'Hey kid, maybe one day I’ll be the one cleaning your bike!' At that time, joining the Subaru-Gary Fisher team was a dream of mine. And as luck would have it, the following season, I found myself on that very team, with the incredible opportunity to work alongside Matt for four years, and unofficially for a few years after that.
Matt was always more than willing to lend a helping hand to those outside the team who needed support. Even though I was just a young U23 at the time, Matt treated me with the same professionalism and respect he gave to the seasoned veterans on the team.
The four years I spent working with Matt were some of the highlights of my career. A big part of that was due to Matt’s unwavering positivity, his 'happy-go-lucky' attitude, and the warmth he brought to the team. He made an impact on all of us and his presence was a constant source of joy and inspiration.
Pedal on, MattO. We’ll miss you."
“MattO was always taking care of other people. He loved an opportunity to get creative and solve problems. Always up for an adventure-he loved riding bikes, trading stories, and sharing a drink at the end of the day. He will be missed by many.”
"I will remember MattO like a legend of our industry, a true veteran of life on the road as a professional World Cup mechanic. He brought the perfect mix of dedication, fun, and care to our time working together. I hope he is resting easy now and I will miss seeing him for a hug around the pits."
