My name is Carson Hampton, I'm a 21-year-old from Boise, Idaho and I'm incredibly grateful to have grown up in such a beautiful and active place. Nestled in a valley at the foot of the mountains, Boise offers endless opportunities for outdoor recreation, allowing me to enjoy nature and stay active 365 days a year. From year-round riding, to surfing in the river and skiing at our local ski resort, you can do it all. My entrance into the cycling world came via motocross. I started riding a dirt bike at the age of 3. This is where my love for all things with 2 wheels began.
My first racing experience came from our local cyclocross series on a borrowed single-speed. After watching my dad and uncle race for so many years I decided it was time to give it a go. Looking back, it probably wasn't the best intro, but after that race, I was hooked. I enrolled in the Idaho NICA league which really ignited my passion for racing bicycles. This led me to riding for an elite national team, riding domestically at UCI races, international world cups, and mountain bike world championships. This past summer I won my second and third National Championships in mountain bike Short Track and Cross Country at U.S. Mountain Bike National Champs in Macungie, PA. When I am not riding my bike, you can find me surfing, snowboarding, running, or playing basketball.
Along with being a cyclist, I am also a full-time student at Boise State University where I am pursuing a degree in biology and working part-time at a local bike shop. This is my first year riding for the CLIF Family Drifters, which is something that I am incredibly excited about. The unique combination of the Clif Family Drifters dynamism plus high-octane criterium racing is something that you cannot find anywhere else. My passion lies in competing at the highest level on my bike alongside an amazing group of people, all while sharing the excitement of cycling and the outdoors lifestyle with others.