the orange blood is an interesting looking bike... available with air or coil shocks, 5 inches of rear travel. It come in freeride or all mountain builds. Take a look.
http://www.orangebikes.co.uk/2009bikes/bike.php?model_id=116 AM build
Hardcore Hardtails can go anywhere and do anything. My bike with with a more expensive build to make it lighter would be the ultimate 'do it all' bike in my eyes.
i'd say any bike with 4 in the fron tna 4 in the rear, so norco xxxx, forgive me for forgeting the names i normally don't even take a second glance at bikes with less than 8 inches, SX trail, i know that has 6 but whatever, that sweet looking trek slopestyle bike, blur, and so on...
if your looking at a bike for dirt jumping as well as free ride get a bike with 4 - 6 inches travel and adjustable dampening as well as lock out options if that is the right terminology so i would look at a slope style bike
cheers, my budget is what ever i can sell my bike for, its on my prophile, this is the spec, how much do you think it would be worth: good condition halo tornado front wheel and halo SAS rear wheel. good condition shimano saint shadow deraleur. 2006 norco 6 frame with dhx 3 trivative stem + bar, axon bash guard. scuzzy logic pro headset, 2006 maz 66 rc2 fork, hayes stroker trail brakes.
i havnt heared anything about the cannondale chase "soft-tail" that aaron chase rides yet, type it in on google, what do u think, good for slopestyle?