For the great Kelly Mcgarry, who devastatingly passed at the same time as we were filming this, thanks for the inspiration big guy, we dedicate this project to you, your attitude and your memory. Going big will never die!- Sam Reynolds and the Pure Darkness crew
It is with my greatest pleasure to finally share with you what we have been working on this winter! First of all thanks for all the love for Pure Darkness 2, this is what made us so motivated to try and go one better and make number 3. This time, myself and partner in crime Matt Macduff, headed to the Garden Route Trail Park in Knysna, South Africa once again - this time for a month of solid building. The dream was to create a hybrid evil love child of my two favourite things; dirt jumps and FEST series! The slopestyle contest scene doesn't seem to be going in a direction we like; technical tricks on horrible courses isn't really interesting to me, so pushing both speed and size is what I wanted to try! With the help of Farmer Rob and the rest of the Pure Darkness crew we built what we thought could be the most awesome set of dirt jumps ever! And with the world's sickest jumps and a spare bed how could we not invite Andreu Lacondeguy along to come and shred too right?
The spectacular backdrop, rad jumps and awesome African light gave the photographers a lot to play with and they did an especially incredible job! Nice one Eric and Grant! And liquid wrench.
So the stage is set, Grundy and the Dark Media camera team are rolling, riders are ready to drop the 70ft tower so there's nothing left to do but turn your speakers up and hit play! Hope you enjoy!
- Sam Reynolds
Reynolds sent me a picture of these jumps he and Macduff had built in Africa and I had booked a flight five minutes later. I got there and it wasn't even scary, because it was so stupid you know? But it got serious quick when we put our helmets on. It was a big joke until we had to ride it- Andreu Lacondeguy
I've never ridden a set of jumps so unforgiving, one slam is like being in a car crash. The game has changed, big air is here and it's only the beginning!- Matt Macduff
Good jumps don't build themselves so luckily not a single member of the Pure Darkness crew shies away from the shovel, regular 7am digging sessions were what it took to get the beasts into shape! Teamwork makes the dream work. Cheers boys!
Someone has to step up and push the sport the right direction. Pure Darkness is for the kids who dream bigger than first place.
Not often when you ask for a 50ft roll-in the carpenter says 'actually I think we can make it 60'. And then makes it 70' because the wood was long enough haha! Nice one Gunter you're the man! The top 35ft was actually built on the ground then lifted on with this worthy crane.
Spot the rider!
We knew Andreu was the perfect guy for these jumps but he blew everyone's mind and rode the jumps like only he can.
Dylan stone, the only guy mad enough to ride it on a hardtail with his timeless old school style. Oh and 24-inch wheels. And no shirt.
No hardtail for me, these jumps were way too gnarly! The prototype Polygon 'big air bike' was the perfect tool!
Absolutely the longest held and most massive tricep extension ever to be seen, Danny Pace aka "The Steam Train' shows how to do a proper flip no hander and be proper buff. The most ripped guy in action sports right there and 4x European kickboxing champion, don't mess with Steams.
Macduff was the only guy to even go near to tricking the great white shark fin with the raddest 1 foot tables, this thing was terrifying! Steam Train had a crash on it and I honestly thought he might be dead, but obviously he was fine. Anyone else would have been though. That's the Steam Train hole in the back of the landing you can see in the head-cam shots!
When it was too hot to ride jumps we built pit bike tracks instead, and Africa is hot a lot!
My shirt consultant and unsung Pure Darkness legend Dylan; hitting the biggest jumps, braii master extraordinaire, pit bike mechanic and all round top dude. Cheers Dyl!
I've been waiting for a long time to do a table this big! 16 year old me would be stoked I hope!
Andreu is awesome to ride with, he's one of the few people who amaze me every time I watch and it makes me stoked to send it! A few trains got pretty gnarly!!
The stepdown had to be the gnarliest jump on the circuit and so had to be flipped!
Matt 'Big Air Macdoobs' flatspin 3s were just too sick for words, the lip was 30ft tall and he went at least that out the top!
Andreu's legendary signature tricks.
Thanks everyone for checking it out hope you guys enjoyed this one - maybe we will even make number 4! Any ideas? Follow us and Pure Darkness on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube for more In the future! Cheers for the support!
But please dont retry the loop untill there s not some real safety equipment that works !! Big net or i dont know what.. Or just stop with this thing is ok too
@Grutten: he's lucky to be alive !! Still dont understand how its possible, but what a "chance"...nobody wants to see another legend beeing taken from us so brutally m.pinkbike.com/photo/13472969 heal up quick Matt
Being South African this video makes me proud.. It also means I should correct a spelling mistake. It is know as "Braai" not Braii. Braai is defined as the act of drinking copious amounts of alcohol near an open fire, which I'm sure they did!
It's scary like watching big wave surfing... Man, I hope he makes it down the face. Only... that's just the beginning for these guys. Fun to watch though!
I dont know if i am Stoked or if i am scared of these big falls they made haha but at the end i think i am that much amazed of them that i am really really stoked haha
Absolutely insane! Again it goes on to show that Lacondeguy is on another level... He looked so comfortable sending and tricking every aspect of the jumps!
FEST better send MacDuff an invite.... when he's healed up from bailing at 40 ft+ from the top of the mega loop.
Also.. as for the last jump- the big step up- why can't they bring down the height of the landing to the same height of the ramp? Means more air time!
Pure Darkness 4? I think a night session is in order, with some serious pyro. Just think the size of a bonfire you can fit between those jumps
FEST better send MacDuff an invite.... when he's healed up from bailing at 40 ft+ from the top of the mega loop.
Also.. as for the last jump- the big step up- why can't they bring down the height of the landing to the same height of the ramp? Means more air time!
WTF does this progression go next? Lunar landings? Awesome!
That's GOING HUUUGE!
www.bikehub.co.za/features/_/gear/insight/bike-check-the-bikes-of-pure-darkness-3-r4842?source=topic
I just hope you all ride on eco friendly alu frames ... :-D