Pure Darkness 3 - Video and Photo Epic

Jun 6, 2016
by Danielle Baker  

bigquotesFor 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


bigquotesReynolds 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

bigquotesI'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

Pure Darkness 3
Pure Darkness 3
Pure Darkness 3

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!

Pure Darkness 3

Someone has to step up and push the sport the right direction. Pure Darkness is for the kids who dream bigger than first place.

Pure Darkness 3
Pure Darkness 3

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.

Pure Darkness 3

Spot the rider!

Pure Darkness 3
Pure Darkness 3
Pure Darkness 3

We knew Andreu was the perfect guy for these jumps but he blew everyone's mind and rode the jumps like only he can.

Pure Darkness 3
Pure Darkness 3

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.

Pure Darkness 3

No hardtail for me, these jumps were way too gnarly! The prototype Polygon 'big air bike' was the perfect tool!

Pure Darkness 3
Pure Darkness 3

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.

Pure Darkness 3
Pure Darkness 3
Pure Darkness 3

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!

Pure Darkness 3

When it was too hot to ride jumps we built pit bike tracks instead, and Africa is hot a lot!

Pure Darkness 3

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!

Pure Darkness 3

I've been waiting for a long time to do a table this big! 16 year old me would be stoked I hope!

Pure Darkness 3

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!!

Pure Darkness 3

The stepdown had to be the gnarliest jump on the circuit and so had to be flipped!

Pure Darkness 3
Pure Darkness 3
Pure Darkness 3

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!

Pure Darkness 3
Pure Darkness 3

Andreu's legendary signature tricks.

Pure Darkness 3
Pure Darkness 3
Pure Darkness 3
Pure Darkness 3
Pure Darkness 3
Pure Darkness 3
Pure Darkness 3
Pure Darkness 3
Pure Darkness 3

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!


MENTIONS: @SamReynolds26 / @mattmacduff / @tomgrundy / @ericpalmer



Posted In:
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Author Info:
daniellebaker avatar

Member since May 10, 2007
235 articles

98 Comments
  • 124 2
 They need an air raid horn and someone to yell "INCOMING!!" For some reason, "dropping in" doesn't seem appropriate.
  • 22 0
 - Lacondeguy to ATC, requesting permission to land. - Negative on landing, holding pattern.
  • 63 0
 Absolutely insane. Love the content that these lads put out, and get well soon Macduff!
  • 18 2
 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
  • 14 0
 @RedBurn: Hahaha, I know right. I don't think there's any stopping him though, hes going to conquer that loop. That crash was seriously gnarly.
  • 8 0
 @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
  • 47 0
 The whip at 6:03 would have been the fucking rowdiest thing ever done on a push bike.
  • 4 0
 Was thinking the same! Shit the bed! Shame it wasn't landed or that would have won every whip contest ever!
  • 5 0
 Moto as fuck!!
  • 2 1
 @steviestokes: he could have landed it if he had pedaled infinitly hard Big Grin with a moto you "only" have to accelerate haha
  • 1 0
 @RedBurn: Yeah precisely!! haha.. Hell of a whip though.. monster!
  • 41 0
 Well slap my ass and call me judy. That was mental. Pure darkness? This was pure filth.
  • 11 0
 ....and just call me Hoe Lee Phuck!
  • 29 1
 FEST sized jumps on slopestyle and dj bikes.. insane to the membrane dudes
  • 16 0
 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!
  • 1 0
 Well, drinking while cooking dinner on an open "WOOD" fire yes.
  • 17 0
 They need bigger Monster Energy signs.
  • 4 1
 good eye buzz killington
  • 2 0
 Nah, those signs are probably the size of a person. But the scale of the jumps makes them look teeny tiny Razz
  • 15 0
 Jesus. I'm fairly sure I would be too scared to even just ride down that roll-in.
  • 2 0
 I would be shitless on the "little" roll in
  • 3 0
 haha was thinking the same thing. "i wouldn't even want to walk to the top of that tower."
  • 14 1
 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!
  • 7 0
 ...maybe we will even make number 4! Any ideas?...

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 Smile
  • 8 0
 It's amazing to see how some individuals are pushing this sport in right directions
  • 6 1
 They should have invited the whole FEST crew. I'm sure Aggy and the boys would have loved these jumps!
  • 1 0
 I'm sure they would love to go, but is a long trip to south africa.
  • 3 0
 Haven't watched the video yet but the photos are unreal. I'm just going to have to Fav the article so I don't have to fav each photo individually.
  • 4 0
 Inscription on the crane sums it up perfectly - ABNORMAL.
  • 2 0
 99.9% of mountain bikers wouldn't have survived these jumps. I hope you guys keep pushing the sport in the direction it should be going!
  • 2 0
 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
  • 2 0
 i expected them to blow up the kickers & landings and torch the inrun ramp at the end - otherwise pretty happy how it turned out..
  • 3 0
 WOW...that's all I can say, still speechless after watching the video awesome work guys!
  • 4 0
 good morning me)) hehe
  • 3 4
 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!
  • 23 0
 Every fall would be 30ft... the project would have lasted 1 run each hahahaha
  • 2 0
 Holly low earth orbit, I loved everything about that edit!!!
WTF does this progression go next? Lunar landings? Awesome!
  • 2 0
 They're going to need a cable car to get to the top of that lander!!! Flipping huge!
  • 1 0
 PURE AWESOMNESS!!!How they bail out and not to brake anything is PURE MYSTERY to me,MC GAZZA PURELY forever in our HEARTS......
  • 3 0
 What a bright idea! ...sorry
  • 3 0
 The front of the crane has is right. Abnormal. Absolutely abnormal.
  • 3 0
 DAT NO HANDER SUPERMAN THO .. OR WHATEVER THEY CALL IT .. THUG!
  • 3 0
 Don't know which one I should take for my Desktop, all toooo good.
  • 3 0
 That's not "going big mate!
That's GOING HUUUGE!
  • 1 0
 i saw the first shot of the berm jump and thought, "that would be so rad to hit". then i realized, i would actually die.
  • 2 0
 Also the operator of the drone that follows them in and out of the building in the beginning is skilled AF.
  • 2 0
 Pretty sure it was snagged by someone and walked through, you can see a little "jump" as he throws it back into the air to take off again i think
  • 2 0
 @samreynolds26 bike check needed mate? Especially your prototype polygon and the mini motos!!
  • 2 0
 Well, that was fantastic.
  • 3 0
 WHAT THE F**K
  • 3 0
 FUCK YEAH SEND IT
  • 3 0
 Nucking futz!
  • 2 0
 Had an English exam today and this is what got me though it
  • 1 0
 That motherfuckin whip has to be landed. JUST NO FUCKIN' WAY, EVERYTHING IS SOOOO SICK
  • 2 0
 Lacondeguy is a BEAST !!!!
  • 1 0
 These fuckers are crazy. Macduff flew out of a 40 foot loop for Christ sake.
  • 3 0
 SO BIG!
  • 3 0
 WTF
  • 2 0
 70' roll in, now that's tall.
  • 3 0
 unholy shit...
  • 1 0
 HC performance !!!
I just hope you all ride on eco friendly alu frames ... :-D
  • 1 0
 This last hour and 10 mins need to F*(k off so I can go home and watch this!
  • 2 0
 envelope pushed right into orbit
  • 1 0
 All hopes of ever going pro have vanished. I'm not comfortable going that big!
  • 2 0
 Do you guys need a flying license for these jumps? @SamReynolds26 Wink
  • 1 0
 Sooooooo nicee!!! so satisfyingly smooooth
  • 1 0
 Interesting, birds understand what these dudes make?))))
  • 1 0
 All kinds of awesome. Stoked to see some local development happening.
  • 2 1
 well it certainly is true that there are bigger lips in Africa
  • 1 0
 did these guys need austranaut training? god damn that was HUGE
  • 1 0
 That takeoff ramp doe ????
  • 5 4
 Pfff these are like the jumps I use to warm up
  • 1 0
 Pure Darkness 4 performed solely on Ellsworth Tandems
  • 1 0
 Doesn't Lacondeguy always get shotgun for life? Boss!
  • 1 0
 That is an unreal park and unreal riding. Jaw drops.
  • 1 0
 Oh my days. Overwhipped.
  • 2 0
 wanted to see him turn that into a frontflip at the end!
  • 1 0
 Holeeeshiit
  • 1 0
 insane
  • 1 0
 This is the end!
  • 1 0
 Hell yes!!!!!!!
  • 1 0
 v max?
  • 2 2
 Lacondeguy should host a FEST round there!! Jumps are big !!!
  • 9 0
 Or Reynolds could host it?
  • 10 0
 @ollieF: could call it DarkFEST
  • 4 0
 @ollieF: yeah of course... These are more his jumps than andreu's ones
  • 2 0
 YES! @SamReynolds26 get on this!
  • 16 0
 @molloser: Who knows what could happen next year! But darkfest is definitely what we were thinking too!
  • 3 0
 @SamReynolds26: I so hope this happens
  • 2 0
 sounds like a proper beer as well that should be served
  • 1 0
 Awesome as usual!
  • 1 0
 Hugest than huge!
  • 1 0
 good lord
  • 1 0
 Legit
  • 1 0
 Ho Lee Chit
  • 2 4
 That was a long way to scroll down until the comment section! Oh and the video was pretty insane too I guess...
  • 1 2
 UnreAl







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