Martin Khun: From Sydney Surf to SISU Spirit – The Co-Founder Who LOVES TO RACE 🇦🇺
From the eastern suburbs of Sydney, Australia, Martin Khun logs in while much of the Zwift world is logging off.
Pacific timezone isn’t ideal when most racing caters to Europe and the US.
“But we have the best weather,” he smiles.
At 61, Martin isn’t chasing headlines. He’s chasing consistency. He’s chasing health. And he’s still rearranging global VP meetings to make sure he doesn’t miss SISU Club Championships.
Some habits never change.
The Morning Ritual
Martin’s day starts the same way it has for decades.
Coffee.
With his wife of 35 years, Lucinda.
Then, if the timing is right — “around morning tea” — it’s race time.
His soundtrack? Pop. Dance. Upbeat. Louder the better.
He recently transitioned from a traditional bike-on-trainer setup to the Zwift Ride.
“The feel is similar. The virtual gears take getting used to. No positive click, a bit of lag… but the brain adapts. It’s not better. Just different.”
That mindset says a lot about Martin.
Adapt. Adjust. Keep riding.
The Rider
Ask Martin how he’d describe himself and he won’t start with watts or race scores.
He’ll talk about gratitude.
In 2024, COVID and injuries knocked him around. Instead of chasing old numbers, he asked Zwift to delete all his records.
Fresh start.
Rebuild FTE. Rebuild race scores. Rebuild joy.
“At 61, every finish is a win. Every tiny gain is a celebration.”
Living in Sydney means access to some of the world’s most scenic coastal roads — beach rides, sunrises over the ocean, long rolling stretches with salt in the air.
But whether it’s ocean views or a basement pain cave, the goal is the same:
Turn the legs. Feel better. Let the music get louder. Let the smile come back.
Executive by Day, Racer by Design
Martin is a VP at a multinational US-based pharmaceutical company.
“57,461 unread emails,” he laughs. “AI helps me find the ones I actually need.”
His philosophy is simple:
Focus on the urgent and important.
Everything else can wait.
Make room for life — family, friends, and riding with SISU.
Time management isn’t about doing more. It’s about protecting what matters.
Grit in the Mud
One of Martin’s proudest moments wasn’t on Zwift.
It was IRL at Gavelista.
In 2024, he rode 95km with 1000m vertical in 4.5 hours. Didn’t come last. “Pumped.”
In 2025, he did it again.
Nine degrees. Torrential rain. Mud rivers. Thirty percent of riders abandoned. He finished in the same time as the year before.
“Still got trounced by better riders in my age category,” he says. “But finishing was a win I’m very proud of.”
That’s SISU.
RADL GRVL – The “Darling” Moment
At the inaugural RADL GRVL in Adelaide, Martin admits he was underprepared.
He rode a mountain bike in a gravel race. The course started with an 18% climb. He was cooked within kilometres with
110km still to go.
By the end, he was cramping and delirious.
Matt rode beside him. Coached me. Paced me. Encouraged me.
“Exhaustion is like truth serum,” Martin says. “That day, I called him ‘darling’ — the name I call my wife.”
With a final push from SRAM Moto support up the last hill, he crossed the line.
Shattered. Elated. Alive.
Eat. Drink. Learn.
Early mistake?
Bonking.
“Eat. Eat. Drink. Drink.”
At the 140km Ocean Road race in 2023, poor fueling turned the final 20km into survival mode. Brain begging for a lie down. Scenic coastline lost in a fog of depletion.
Lesson learned.
Training wisdom now:
Recover more as you age
Mix it up — Zone 2, Crits, TTs, climbs
Go badge hunting
Collect the silly in-game glasses
Keep it fresh. Keep it fun.
The Birth of SISU Racing
In 2021, Martin and Matt were experimenting on Zwift, watching professional TTTs with awe.
“What if we could do that?”
They started small. Just a handful of riders — Matt, Martin, Miguel, JB.
The first TTT in August 2021?
“I felt like an imposter. I was the weak link. But the grace with which they protected and encouraged me confirmed what SISU should be.”
They wanted a name and ethos that captured grit, purpose, and resilience.
The Finnish concept of SISU fit perfectly.
Back then, they had no idea the team would grow to:
Thousands of global members
In-game jerseys
IRL kit
Major Zwift Tours
Commentators calling out SISU Racing on broadcasts
“Proud? Immensely. But grateful — to everyone who keeps SISU strong. And to Matt, who keeps it all glued together.”
Father & Daughter
Martin’s daughter Maddy rides in SISU colours too — the first Father & Daughter combo in the club.
They ride socially IRL in matching kit.
“It’s special,” he says simply.
Hosting the Big Tours
Together with Matt, Martin helps deliver some of Zwift’s most prominent race series.
It’s a lot of work. But watching huge packs roll out, riders pushing themselves to the max, living their “Grand Tour” dreams. That’s the reward.
“No other event on Zwift delivers that experience. I hope we can keep bringing it to the community.”
2026 Goals
Martin jokes he suffers from DOB — Date Of Birth.
Every year is a push to stay performing.
His goals:
Break his 20km IRL record — flat, hard, fast
Reach Level 100 on Zwift (currently 91)
Protect health
Prioritise family
And yes — he’ll be racing Club Championships in New York.
“The office would freak out if they knew I rearranged global meetings to race. But do the important things in life…”
The Wrapped Canyon
Martin owns a Canyon Ultimate CF SLX Di2.
He had it vinyl wrapped in full SISU colours — matching the website graphics exactly.
It turns heads.
It starts conversations.
It’s a rolling billboard for purpose.
Finish This Sentence
“SISU Racing is…”
“Part of my life and has evolved me from being an aimless rider to someone riding with purpose and goals.”
From Sydney surf roads to global Zwift tours.
From imposter in a four-man TTT to co-founder of a global club.
Martin Khun didn’t just help create SISU Racing.
He lives it.
