Video: The Drift Track - Stevie Smith and Brook Macdonald

Apr 29, 2015
by Anthill Films  
Words: Darcy Wittenburg

Every film shoot is essentially a gamble when one considers all of the elements it takes to capture these brief moments in time. It’s a long careful construction to line up the people, the land, the gear, the weather, the light and, most importantly, the riders. But no matter how much you plan and prepare, sometimes you will find yourself at a moment where the success or failure of the shoot is totally beyond your control and all your can do is hope that the cards will fall in your favour. Last fall we experienced one of these “all-in” moments while shooting with Steve Smith and Brook MacDonald for our new film unReal.

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Dusk is falling rapidly and I’m driving down a maze of gravel roads deep in the interior of BC with the fuel gage nearing empty. Stevie is injured and all I have to go on are some sketchy directions that an old timer gave us a ways back. We’re hoping that we can find the hospital before the truck runs out of gas.

Earlier today Stevie high-sided while drifting a corner and hit the ground shockingly hard injuring his back. It’s only been 9 weeks since he broke his ankle for the second time this season. Hard luck after the highs of the previous season and now this. We were all hoping filming this segment for unReal would be another step on his road to recovery and now we’re not sure if he has a bad bruise on his spine or something much worse.

Photo Harookz theunRealmovie

Eventually we make it the hospital in 100 Mile House BC. Stevie is the only patient tonight and within an hour he gets the all clear to return to the shoot. Well, those aren’t the doc’s exact words, it’s more along the lines of “you’re not putting yourself in any particular risk riding… but you’ll definitely be stiff for a while and don’t crash”. As the doc speaks I can see that familiar look of determination in Stevie’s eyes, all he’s hearing is “blah blah blah… you’re good to go.” And with that we are on our way back at first light.

Photo Harookz theunRealmovie

After our return to camp, Stevie’s spirits are up but he’s walking around like an old man. He can’t stand up straight and limps heavily on both ankles, at this point it’s very hard to picture him riding his bike at all, let alone at the top of his game. Stevie knows the audience isn’t looking to see him ride at anything less than 100%. On the other hand another crash at 80 km/h is unthinkable and a guaranteed end to this shoot or potentially worse. Stevie insists that he is ready and so we load the gear and head up to the trail that’s taken months of work and tens of thousands of dollars to make a reality. If there ever was a time I felt like we were all-in on the gamble it’s right now – this exact moment before the boys drop-in the day after our trip to the hospital.

Photo Harookz theunRealmovie

There’s a reason why guys like Stevie and Brook have earned their place amongst the best athletes in the world. When push comes to shove, they’ll play through the pain and put themselves at incredible risk just to give the rest of us a few minutes of inspiration. As we watch Stevie and Brook drift past us at top speed, their dust plume arcing out behind them for hundreds of feet over the ridge, a wave of relief rushes over me. The gamble has paid off. It’s time to start collecting chips.

Sony presents unReal with Shimano & Trek, a new film produced by Teton Gravity Research & Anthill Films starring Brandon Semenuk, Brett Rheeder, Cam McCaul, Graham Agassiz, Steve Smith, Tom van Steenbergen & Thomas Vanderham, with Brook Macdonald, Finn Iles, Ian Morrison, James Doerfling & Matty Miles. Written, directed and edited by Anthill Films. Art direction and additional writing by Good Fortune Collective. Additional support from Bike Magazine, Evoc, Knolly, Pinkbike.com, Rocky Mountain, Western Digital & Whistler Mountain Bike Park.

To get the latest episodes of Mind the Gap, subscribe to the Teton Gravity Research and Anthill Films YouTube Channels.

Photos: Harookz / @harookz
#theunRealmovie

MENTIONS: @anthill



Author Info:
anthill avatar

Member since May 17, 2009
178 articles

54 Comments
  • 168 1
 You can't build a drift track and not invite Chris Kovarik!!!!!'
  • 52 6
 I was thinking Sam Hill.
  • 12 1
 They manage to drift coz Kovarik and Hill were there.
  • 18 0
 Someone put KOVARIK in this track!!! Unleash the beast!!!
  • 107 2
 kovarik drifts cause he likes it, hill drifts cause he's simply going too fast
  • 6 1
 Y U NO put Sam hill in the video! Injury or no injury.
  • 3 0
 hahaha, was thinking the same thing. Then I saw Adam Bilinghurst and was wondering what the hell he's been up to over the years and why he wasn't riding it. This is a friggen cool idea... a race down it with klunkers and Kovarik is needed.
  • 6 2
 Chris Kovarik drift King!
  • 10 1
 Sam hill is da boss !
  • 5 21
flag wuzupjosh (Apr 29, 2015 at 10:11) (Below Threshold)
 sam dont got shit on kavarik , no offence to sammy ....
  • 30 0
 DUDE. I freak out every time they release a new one of these. I can't wait till June...
  • 6 43
flag RedBurn (Apr 29, 2015 at 6:57) (Below Threshold)
 you'll pay 25$ to see this ? let s hope a free premiere
  • 13 1
 I'll happily pay 25$ and more to listen to it how many times I want!!!!
And to keep anthill going forever, after all, they brought me all my favorite movies over the years
  • 5 2
 How often do you spend $25 on your bike? Well now it's time to spend $25 for when you can't be on your bike.
  • 25 1
 Its a fine line between brave and dumb and its getting blurry here but fuck Stevie is the man.
  • 1 0
 Hell ya talk about speed. Im surprised to see they can still manage to pedal at those speeds just incredibleincredible!!!
  • 1 0
 Hard to drift sometimes when racing lines are your life. Sweet track to practice. Might not look as cool but is extra speed and braking to initiate your slide easier...still learning.
  • 16 0
 Did Stevie build his house on a Native American burial ground or what? Injury after injury.
  • 16 1
 Sweet, they build a fire road.
  • 12 0
 Brook your an ANIMAL !! no wonder they call you BULLDOG !! Yeeeeewwwww!! So sick can't wait for this film to be released !!!!!
  • 12 0
 It seems to me the number of injuries in mountainbiking is skyrocketing lately.
  • 6 3
 Gotta agree. I think enduro racing will cause more injuries than dh. Riding 3-7 legs at race pace with no practice is asking for bad things to happen. At least with dh they get to practice the same trail and only have to race the course once.
  • 1 0
 I blame 650b. And yes personal bike is 650b. I find it more dangerous to ride than 26 or 29.
  • 10 1
 Adam Bilinghurst with cap and sunglasses, looks like bradley cooper in american sniper.
  • 3 0
 It really does!
  • 10 2
 I want to see Sam Hill on this track!
  • 9 0
 Sam Hill and Chris Kovarik!
  • 5 2
 I can't decide whether sram and devinci would be pleased or pissed of with their products being used to promote a shimano and trek sponsored film...
  • 15 0
 Exposure is exposure. Didn't cost them any extra, so I'd think they'd be pleased IMO
  • 7 0
 I'm sure they and every bike company is used to that sorta thing, haha. It seems almost impossible to avoid.
  • 4 0
 I've never seen Brook without 'scabs' all over his arms! nutter!
  • 3 0
 Any bets that this will be the slow motion heavy section of the film.
  • 3 0
 This movie is going to be unreal.
  • 1 0
 Stevie and Brook are two of the coolest guys on the world cup,they both get injured quite often but obviously always pushing the limits.Bring on Fort Bill.
  • 1 0
 So much fun, every time i have a chance to ride out on the open and drift, Drift King...
  • 1 0
 World cup DH is already insanely tight competition. I will be biting my nails down to stubs when Stevie is back in the mix.
  • 2 1
 Agree 100% with @kylesligo . But anybody besides me think that segment was boring?
  • 3 1
 That's an expensive sidewalk.
  • 1 0
 I hope they dont obliterate this segment with slo mo in the film... I mean sure a little but not to much pls pls pls
  • 1 0
 Ohhh THAT NICE CAMERAS, love it!
  • 1 0
 on the gas driftin on massive flat turns.... Perfect!
  • 2 1
 wcdh needs Smith on course
  • 4 3
 10 grand mountain bikes to ride down a groomed sidewalk
  • 1 0
 blue balls…where's the riding?!?!?!
  • 1 0
 that brett rheeder section looked unreal if ya know what I mean Wink
  • 2 0
 Duh Ken Block
  • 1 0
 Tough as Nails!!
  • 3 3
 now the same shit but with 26", better drifts.
  • 4 5
 Drifts are only cool when you don't put your foot down.
  • 2 0
 Amen Brotha!
  • 2 4
 please a free online premiere in June !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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