2012 Valparaiso Urban Downhill - Video

Feb 27, 2012
by Lucent Productions  

Two weeks after I had the privilege of capturing some of South America's best riders compete against the likes of Filip Polc, Cedric Gracia, and Greg Minaar in one of the craziest urban race in Santos, Brazil, I re-packed my bags and boarded my flight out of Boston to once again witness the craziest bike event you'll ever lay your eyes on, the infamous Valparaiso Cerro Abajo urban downhill race.

2012 Valparaiso Cerro Abajo

by lucent
Views: 68,010    Faves: 813    Comments: 47



Arriving at the airport.
  After Polc's Undead frame had issue clearing customs in Brazil, the frame logged some additional frequent flyer miles and made its way to Boston, arriving only a few hours before my flight. I had the stressful task of flying with a one-of-a-kind frame, but thankfully luck was on our side this time and the frame made it safe.

Polc received a new frame a jersey this week.
  Along with a new frame, Filip had a fresh new jersey to don.

Ships in the harbor.
Valpo Street Art
Valpo street art
  Valparaiso is one of the worlds largest port cities in the Americas, home to some amazing scenery. Even more impressive is the mind blowing graffiti you are greeted with as you turn every corner.

The theme of the weekend stairs stairs and more stairs. A wooden gap drop from the past two years were replaced with a tight wooden stairset that is used by pedestrians daily. On race day the lefthand handrail was removed to give riders that extra bit of breathing room.
  Stairs. Stairs. More stairs. The teeth jarring concrete stairs on the right, and the newly constructed pedestrian wooden stairs on the left. For raceday, the lefthand guardrail was removed to give riders some much needed clearance.

Course building in full effect.

Course building.
  Shutting down busy streets in a city is never an easy task. The unsung heroes of the Cerro Abajo are the workers that are working nonstop for days getting the stunts and ramps prepped and ready for race day. Many of the jumps and ramps weren't completed or couldn't be put into place until Sunday morning as racers were ready to drop in.

Polc is pretty stoked on his new Undead frame.

Polc and his new frame and jersey.
  After the Revolt was stripped down, the Undead was born and ready to tackle everything Valpo could throw at it.

Mens podium
  The podium at Valpo gets crazier every year. It doesn't help that CG always strips down and tosses gear out into the crowd causing an all-out riot! After the race, he was hanging out in front of the hotel in nothing on, but his underwear, a leatt, and one knee brace.

Packing up and heading either home or on to the next riding spot for the week.
  After the dust had settled and the bags were packed, we parted on our separate ways. Some of us had a 14 hr travel day in front of us, while some of the Gringos were off for another few days of epic riding and sun in the Andes.

This was a great adventure and truly memorable event! See you all next year,

-Justin

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86 Comments
  • 51 3
 why is that Evil undead bike so sexY
  • 12 5
 most of the riding clips i was just saying What The Fuck!
  • 4 3
 SICK video and race!
  • 6 50
flag supr-ridr (Feb 27, 2012 at 8:10) (Below Threshold)
 I have to disagree,I die a little every time I see one of these posts. It takes one of the biggest things of downhill out connecting with nature and ripping through the forest.
  • 30 4
 ^ thats pretty narrow minded ^ it shows how versatile downhill can be and how much of a battering bikes and riders take
  • 18 0
 2:16 where he falls off looks so painful!
  • 9 0
 but he just gets up and shrugs it off like a routine crash, must be the adrenaline combined with not being human
  • 5 1
 The Fox 40s saved that guy at 2;33 haha!
  • 3 1
 @supr-ridr, Downhill, meaning, down a hill, as long as the course is tech and gnarly, it can be wherever, for example, the "Downmall" a matter of weeks ago.
  • 3 0
 ya @freerideglory real-deal-downhilly-feel can be anywhere as long as its super gnarly and on a "down-slope"
  • 1 1
 shit are those mazzochi forks in the last photo look bigger than the fox 40's or is it just me??
  • 2 0
 @Justin Schroth, Fix your bad (misspelled)... bad ass as it should read "badass" as there is no crack between the cheeks of this word.
  • 1 0
 2:35 epic ownage!!! Razz
  • 1 0
 @lenmerderdenfer where did I write "bad ass"?
  • 1 0
 found it, front page description. I hate to disappoint you, but I didn't write that description, the Pinkbike guys did Wink
  • 2 1
 Suprridr, leave the "urban downhill" community, your Vagina hurts and you just have to take out your agression on innocent bikers enjoying the sport!!
  • 29 0
 2.33 was ridiculously well saved!
  • 4 0
 yeah... SO LOOSE!!!! loved how the crowd all got freaked out, even standing behind the steel handrail!!!
  • 4 0
 people falling without being hit by the bike! That's how scary that stuff must be!
  • 4 0
 re-posting the above link so it's clickable..
Thanks Justin, Great edit!
unofficialnetworks.com/telluride-pro-trevor-martin-valparaiso-cerro-abajo-urban-dh-78771
  • 12 1
 that stair crash was so ugly!!
  • 10 0
 i had to do a double take, couldn't believe he got up so fast.
  • 7 0
 That was scary...i thought he broke his head off,
  • 2 0
 waah, so crazy! he had 2 cameras on, i'd like to see that point of view!
btw: whats that background song? really pushing it!
  • 2 0
 Same here. Trevor is a friend of mine and I was super worried. Ended up heading to the hospital to get his finger stitched up, hand-to-guardrail left him with a gash all the way down to the bone!!
  • 10 0
 Ask and you shall receive: unofficialnetworks.com/telluride-pro-trevor-martin-valparaiso-cerro-abajo-urban-dh-78771
Certainly one of the more frightening crashes of my career. Always next year.
  • 9 0
 These 4 minutes were better than hours of live broadcast.
  • 9 0
 South America needs a urban DH world cup event
  • 9 1
 So who rode that red specialized in the last picture?
  • 7 0
 With a dart fork no less.
  • 11 0
 S-Works with a Dart? Mind=BLOWN
  • 8 0
 CG is the BOSS Big Grin
  • 1 0
 He's a Rock-Star!
  • 2 0
 I am always dissapointed that these events never have more top tier WC riders, i know that they are generally worried about injury and risking their season, and therefore sponsors, but these kinda events are the nuts, any rider in this really has gotta have some skill and serious balls. just think its a shame the sport has had to become like this, all so focused on one thing and not getting more involved in this. after all it is classed as an 'extreme sport' so why not do the really nuts shit?
  • 1 0
 an yes i do realise that this does not happen because they top riders want champs, and world cups to their name and an injuered rider is not much use. still just a shame
  • 1 0
 i'm with you man. but still, even with the riders here, the skill level is insane! that was some seriously talented riding! i can imagine red bull sponsoring an event like this...
  • 2 0
 It looks like they took care of the poor guy who crashed at the very last drop for hours. Terrible to look at that again and again. - I whish they would had interrupted the race and brought him to hospital asap.
  • 4 0
 the crash at 2:15 looked painful!!
  • 2 0
 That's insane!!!

I often wonder why they build up fresh bikes before a race ? Wouldn't it be easier to have it all ready built and dialed
  • 4 0
 That's the fastest face plant I've ever seen.
  • 1 0
 It always amazes me how such a normal place, can be turned into and amazing trail to watch and ride, with just a few jumps and berms
  • 1 0
 lo mejor el VCA 2012..estuvo la zoorraaa... se paso muy bien, grande Acuña , Polc , Gracia y todos los que participaron ...
  • 3 0
 every time i see an urban dh race i want to do one more and more!
  • 1 2
 LOOK FOR A TOWN OR CITY WITH LOTS OF HILLS AND GO OUT EARLY THE DAWN PATROL. A WOULD LIKE TO DO THIS MY SELF AND I MIGHT JUST DO IT THIS SUMMER THERE IS A FEW SPOTS ROUND MY TOWN OF CARLUKE, SCOTLAND. IF I DO IT AL SEND YOU THE FOOTAGE.
  • 2 0
 top 5 guys real deal certified maniacs ,superheros,and straight out the mental ward.
  • 3 0
 Amazing video! Lets see the complete run from that seat post cam!
  • 2 0
 Any body realize he had a go pro on his seat post in a video sponsored by Drift?
  • 1 0
 Ese es mi Chile mierda!

Check out this video from Polc´s helmet in valparaiso cerro abajo:
montenbaik.com/2012/02/video-helmet-cam-vca-2012-filip-polc
  • 1 0
 awesome how these races seem to be getting bigger and bigger, big sponsorship with North Face and cannon just what the s. american riding scene needs!
  • 1 0
 Hey guys, heres is another edit with a diferent aproach to the race @valparaisocerroabajo 2012 . Hope you enjoy it
vimeo.com/37391438
  • 2 0
 Here is another edit from the Valparaiso cerro abajo 2012 !!! hope you enjoy it
vimeo.com/37391438
  • 3 0
 God, save the CG !
  • 2 1
 Must be so hard to ride fast with balls that big!! I'm getting too old to eat concrete and steel.
  • 1 0
 Very nice video, but I was hoping to see some of Luana Oliveira... That girl rocks!
  • 2 0
 Come on.. Pinkbike.. i have school tommorow Big Grin
  • 2 0
 Anyone know the song in this video...?
  • 2 0
 I shit myself watching that.
  • 2 0
 Get out there

and get hit by flying riders and bikes Wink
  • 2 0
 Filip's crotch whip may be one of the best POV shots in a long time.
  • 1 0
 great video! trevor is like chuck norris, i thought he lost his head but suddenly he get up...like a boss.
  • 1 0
 Ese es mi Chile mierda!! love that race
  • 1 0
 sick video! After seeing this, I want to retire :-)
  • 1 0
 great video, As this eye you Justin ?
  • 1 0
 who is that at 2:59/3:07 on the ground receiving first aid or something?
  • 1 0
 I can't be the only one dying to see a full run with helmet cam...
  • 1 0
 Mauricio Acuña from Chile 1º place
over polc and gracia..
yea buddy
  • 1 0
 1:46 cicatriz de disparo en la pierna de polc jajaja
  • 1 0
 those stairs are feckin' gnarly
  • 2 0
 that's some scary shit.
  • 1 0
 amazing riders demand amazing edits...
  • 2 0
 add to favorites!
  • 1 0
 AT LAAAAST THE VIDEO !!! The Event's astonishing
  • 1 0
 3 out of the top 5 used carbon frames. just saying.
  • 1 0
 What make was that headset press? Mine's massive
  • 1 0
 First urban DH I completley enjoyed, insane.
  • 1 0
 I need a new pair of pants... LOVE THIS VIDEO!!!
  • 1 0
 holy fuck that was gnar
  • 1 0
 Sick stuff
  • 1 0
 Them guys are true OG's
  • 1 0
 awesome...
  • 1 0
 Sick! stair gap
  • 1 0
 great photos!!!
  • 1 0
 cajones muy grande!
  • 1 0
 awesome.....
  • 2 5
 i got big balls
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