Must Watch: Array ft. Brandon Semenuk

Jul 18, 2023
by SRAM  

The dog days of summer lend themselves to productivity. The light is out late, the air is warm on the breeze even in the late evening and the sessions can go for hours. Light fades from white to gold to blue to black, making one session feel like four all melting together. With long open days and free reign to conceptualize and create a new build in Montana at the Legacy Bike Park, Brandon Semenuk has pieced together one of his best trail bike edits yet.

Film by Isaac Wallen & Benoit Lalande. Photos by Ian Collins.

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Author Info:
SramMedia avatar

Member since Apr 1, 2011
178 articles

151 Comments
  • 108 15
 Love Semeneuk but at the level he is riding and the super creative trails they are building for these videos I can't figure out for the life of me why they keep changing the angle so often, with so many close ups. It takes away from the lines and riding. ridiculous editing. Maybe it's just a matter of taste, but it's 1 thing most people here I think can agree on.
  • 68 0
 Semenuk did his one-shot unreal segment, decided it couldn't be topped, and went all in on The Bourne Identity editing style.
  • 13 0
 @schili: exactly. Best mtb video of all time: no wacky cuts or unnecessary zooming. “Let’s do the opposite”. Same with that atherton video last week
  • 6 0
 Thanks for putting into words why I felt bored, I don't want not enjoy things, but the editing kills it for me. The raw videos were peak for me!
  • 12 2
 i dont agree, and i love that his videos have their own style whether pb likes it or not
  • 3 1
 agreed, the weird editing doesn't add anything, it just makes the whole thing slightly annoying to watch
  • 3 0
 I'm sure he still has lots of input, but maybe at this level there's a lot more (corporate) cooks in the kitchen? Not sure.There's a big difference between putting every shot together vs. approval of the final edit; maybe if he personally watched it over and over and over the headaches would suggest they should smooth it out.

update - here's the reason: benoitlalande.com
Everything this guy edits is cut like this.
  • 1 0
 I watched it on a proper TV, didn’t hate the editing as much as y’all. Made me stoked to ride and get loose.
  • 70 0
 Sick!

Hey legacy, you gonna let us on that trail? I'd be excited to injure myself on it.
  • 11 0
 You can see it from the logging camp road. I doubt anyone would notice you go over there…until you broke in half.
  • 3 0
 Kinda makes me wonder what they'd do with it after. The whole row of floating tables is probably something on a handful of people in the world can ride. I'd imagine they'd probably flattened some of that stuff, while keeping the general line of the trail.
  • 2 0
 @Lando406: You can see it from the logging camp road. I doubt anyone would notice you go over there…until you are found RIP.
  • 4 10
flag emptybe-er (Jul 18, 2023 at 17:32) (Below Threshold)
 If we only still had (27.5) bikes that could be ridden on something like this as well as trails.. Good luck having fun on that trail with a 40lb 29’er.
  • 3 1
 @emptybe-er: the guy is throwing backflips and other shit on the 29".....
atleast we know it can be done...
  • 3 0
 @PHeller: A lot of people in BC can ride that.
  • 5 1
 @emptybe-er: Sorry to hear that you cant have fun on a 29 but just because you dont manage to does not mean others dont know how to jib/jump a full 29er
  • 3 0
 @PHeller: His single continuous jump line shot in the green grassy hills from circa 2017 (where he switches bikes mid run) is near my house and I can confirm, they tore it all down immediately after filming so I'd afraid the same fate came to this build.
  • 2 0
 @code26: This line was still there as of a couple weeks ago.
  • 1 0
 @Ignaciosc22: Of course it can be done
  • 1 0
 @RockCrawler: Username checks out.
  • 1 2
 @RockCrawler: What the do you know about jibbing and jumping? It sounds like probably not very much. It’s not a matter of learning how to adapt. 29’ers suck for anything but going faster in a straight line. They help people that suck with traction and stability and the cost is they aren’t as fun. I’m so tired of people acting like it’s not a fact despite the most impressive riding consistently happening on smaller wheels. You can easily see that as wheels get smaller, skill is higher.
  • 1 1
 @emptybe-er: I'm sorry that you dont know how to jib with a 29er. Regarding me, I know more than enough about it.It seems to me that you just dont have the strenght to jib a 29 which can simply be fixed by hitting the gym. And why do you think that just because someone rides a 29er that he doesnt also ride smaller bikes? I got a Privateer 161 as my main Bike, a full 27.5 Status as a Bikeparkbike and a BMX. The only aspect where skills matters truly on small bikes is whilste going full out on Downhilltracks. Nothing impressiv in crusing down a Jumpline as smooth as Highway on a 27.5 or 29 when I can hit steeper/bigger Jumps on a BMX
  • 1 0
 @RockCrawler: Seems you’ve hit the gym too much and have grown muscles between your ears. If you would’ve grown up blue collar and earned your muscle the right way you wouldn’t need a gym to ride your wagon wheeler.
  • 1 0
 @emptybe-er: Yeah your totaly right. Maybe go enjoy a beer and we both just ride our Bikes the way we want to!
  • 1 0
 @RockCrawler: Sure thing, coach!
  • 64 12
 Great rider. So much needless editing.
  • 7 5
 I like it.
  • 2 0
 @ridingbiking: me too. It felt like a Revel in the Chaos teaser kind of video
  • 45 5
 legendary skills as ever, but please mr.cameraman pan back so we can see ALL the action...
  • 15 0
 One cannot, "pan back"
  • 6 2
 @CaptainPugwash89: stand waaaay back then, all these close ups, missing all the good stuff
  • 1 6
flag ridingbiking (Jul 18, 2023 at 18:23) (Below Threshold)
 Are you a camera man? do you know how this stuff works?
  • 35 0
 I'm guessing capes / body warmers /. gilets are going to be the next 'party shirt'?
  • 6 0
 Sign me up.
  • 7 0
 Capes 100%
  • 20 0
 @pedalfitruss: Hasn't anyone wwatched The Incredibles? NO CAPES!
  • 2 0
 If you ride like a Superman ( and can do a Superman to knack knack) you’re allowed to wear a cape.
  • 1 0
 Kelly McGazza ten years ahead of the game. RIP !
  • 3 0
 Open jacket riding is already a thing ! Especially in the ski world !
  • 1 0
 Followed by some nice (Friday) Fails !
  • 1 0
 @Altair74: also in bmx during winter; can't figure how they manage to do barspin turndown &cie...
  • 1 0
 @AwkwardFormerRoadie: barspin with loose, flappy clothes is impressive, but no inverted table?
  • 29 2
 More cuts than a blind chef.
  • 26 0
 This guy is pretty good.
  • 10 0
 It’s unfortunate that every video he makes seems to get shorter, eventually we’ll be watching him hit a single table
  • 8 0
 @Grady-Harris: and we’ll get to see it from 38 different takes all with slightly different angles……*director’s chef’s kiss*
  • 24 3
 The dad vest is dope
  • 5 1
 I thought it was his well deserved cape!
  • 5 0
 Next edit: knit sweater
  • 1 0
 @rrolly: Striped leg warmers
  • 14 0
 I love that I can see the whole photo in on my screen at the same time. 10/10
  • 14 0
 That one hander/landing to barspin?!?
  • 5 0
 Right! At first I thought, ' why's he doing a one hander?' ...and then he landed, and did that. I'm quitting bikes and taking up tether ball.
  • 2 0
 One hander/one handed landing/one handed takeoff/to bars... mind bending...
  • 12 0
 Must watch but can’t watch
  • 2 0
 Whats so important?
  • 12 0
 those lily pads where so cool
  • 2 0
 Agreed, I’ve never seen a lily pad rhythm section before
  • 11 0
 ''Gillet'' The best a man can get !
  • 1 0
 Nice one, didn't catch it the first time.
  • 31 20
 best riding in the world. worst zooming and editing in the world.
  • 1 1
 zooming? where?
  • 12 0
 Array.pop()
  • 2 0
 Array.push() // ftw!
  • 7 0
 Just a curiosity I guess...that track's dirt looks different than the surrounding environment's dirt. Do they, like, truck it in?
  • 18 0
 Borrow pits - Shire was digging deep holes to generate material which gets below any hint of organic coloring into that grey glacial deposit. We’ve been building at Legacy for 3 years and the dirt is killer. The pits get filled with all the surface organics.
  • 3 0
 If you look at Legacy's other trails it's definitely the same soils.
  • 10 2
 Am i getting old or are heavy edits distracting from seeing the juice
  • 6 1
 nah just old.
  • 3 1
 Old man agreeing with you - I want to see the skill of the rider not the editor.
  • 9 2
 they're genuinely f*cking awful. it's just a continuous stream of distracting bullshit and faux pas a high school photography student would have grown out of by now.

whoever edits and films brandons videos please, i am begging you, greatly reduce or fully eliminate the following: mid trick quick cuts (sometimes multiple times wtf?), over zoomed in elbows to knees in frame shots, quick cut random guy in the sky shots, tilting your camera as the rider passes, inconsistent shaky high to low and side to side pans, and cutting every single clip before the 2.5 second mark. just let a 6 second clip play out where takes off, lands, stays in frame, and then maybe even hits a corner. you do not need 5 different cuts within that 6 seconds its just horrible viewing
  • 3 2
 @captaindingus: I don’t think Semenuk cares about anyones opinions. He’s doing what he likes.
  • 1 2
 @Joe89: yeah probably not since he is neither the filmer nor the editor of these videos
  • 7 0
 Shire Boys + Evan the Intern = MAGIC
  • 7 0
 That cut of night to day scub at 0:20....ooouuffffff....
  • 7 0
 He made a pillow line for a bike! So sick.
  • 6 0
 If I had to pick one rider to emulate, it would be Brandon - exceptionally fluid style.
  • 6 0
 The god of style is back with another banger!
  • 5 0
 Brandon needed a break racing rally cars, so just went out for a casual spin I'm guessing?
  • 1 0
 Warming up for joyride cameo / win
  • 5 0
 Man, short caotic edits like this makes me long for the days of Life Behind Bars.
  • 3 1
 No issues with the editing here and I'm old + a professional video guy. These tricks deserve to be seen here twice from 2 different angles to be appreciated. Also, I'll bet this track is FAR shorter than this 2 minute video makes it out to be.

That being said, there are other videos out there that Semenuk has been a part of with different editors that made me want to vomit from nausea.
  • 3 0
 username checks out. But to counterpoint your counterpoint, I don't mind the fast cuts from a videography point of view, I'm sure its technically excellent film making and would score well at cannes, but from a riders perspective the fast cuts in the middle of interesting bits of riding are distracting. It's difficult to tell what Semenuk is actually doing when the shot cuts mid trick. Riding edits of late seem to have forgotten that they aren't film school projects designed to show off the cameras and editing skills, they are riding edits who's purpose is to show off bikes and riding skills.
  • 6 3
 We're getting blessed with all these Semenuk vids lately. This one was even better than the last
  • 4 0
 Well, I see Rally season is over
  • 3 0
 Counted 36 times I would have crashed. He is simply my favorite rider to watch ride a bicycle, ever.
  • 3 0
 one hand lander to bar was fire
  • 11 9
 Riding Codes…didn’t anyone tell him they are horrible and don’t work?!
  • 1 1
 How do you figure?
  • 13 0
 It doesn't matter how bad your brakes are if you never use them.
  • 3 0
 @jomacba: sarcasm...check the SRAM brake tech article from last week.
  • 2 0
 @wolftwenty1: Ahh, okay, fair enough. Hard to tell with text.
  • 1 0
 brakes would only slow him down
  • 2 3
 Also not riding 29. Coincidence?
  • 3 0
 Looks like it's time for me to invest in some new outerwear
  • 3 0
 Get that man to Hardline next year!
  • 2 0
 Genius of style, of speed, creativity, beauty, elegance, all in once…this the genius of nowadays!
  • 1 0
 Way to make you feel inadequate. We can all dream to have even half the skills. I guess I'm going to lose some more skin in future.
  • 1 0
 The flash charging sound brought me back to Silence of the Lambs...hello Clarice.
  • 1 0
 Good evening doctor Lecter.
  • 1 0
 "Must Watch" and "ft. Brandon Semenuk" are a bit redundant, don't you think?
  • 2 0
 Ivy lab x Semenuk Biiiig tune
  • 1 0
 +1
  • 1 0
 He should just change his name to Must Watch Brandon Semenuk at this point.
  • 2 0
 not bad for a rallye driver
  • 1 0
 My Roach vest…
A solid Value Village purchase by Brandon the frugal and fashionable consumer.
  • 2 1
 must watch: stopped watching after 30 seconds. must watch in segments that don't hurt my eyes/brain.
  • 1 0
 That guy is like a freakin spider monkey!!
  • 1 0
 Great riding ruined by dog shit seizure inducing over editing
  • 1 0
 Is he riding a Remedy? Or a slash?
  • 2 0
 Looks like a slash to me.
  • 2 6
flag jomacba (Jul 18, 2023 at 8:34) (Below Threshold)
 Ticket S most likely
  • 2 1
 @jomacba: you think? I thought it looks bigger but not like a slash. I’m secretly hoping for an updated Remedy…
Either way, Skills trump Wheelsize/playfulness…
  • 1 0
 @drjohn: To be honest, I'm not 100% sure. It does look a bit bigger.
  • 1 0
 Looks like a...
  • 2 0
 F@& you Shoresy!!
  • 1 0
 It takes a special man to make a vest look good !
  • 1 0
 I guess Mtb heroes do wear capes
  • 1 0
 Arborist Ft. Brandon Semenuk
  • 2 2
 Must be nice to have all these new custom trails built for you all the time!
  • 1 0
 Superman seat grab can can lolwut?!
  • 1 0
 awesome riding as always so much style
  • 1 0
 That sit-down cork 3 is nuts!
  • 1 0
 Must watch at least 3 times.. sooooo good
  • 1 0
 Is that a TireFire vest?! So dope
  • 2 0
 TLD sells vest/capes??
  • 1 0
 Also, that quilted vest is dope...
  • 1 0
 Red bull gives you caped wiiiiings
  • 1 0
 I can do everything he can do. BHaha hands down best style in town.
  • 1 0
 Brandon, can you just do a couple downhill races? Please ?
  • 1 0
 Brandon just casually did a 3 while seated on the lip? crazy
  • 1 0
 What’s with the brown cape? Aka Dirt Man… or Steeze Man?
  • 1 0
 Some heroes do wear capes
  • 1 0
 I have no complaints
  • 3 5
 only thing not 100% on point here was color correction in some shots, other than that, great vid, creative build and some sick af riding. i want more, i need more
  • 1 1
 trail builders must hate him Wink
  • 1 0
 Yes.
  • 1 0
 Better than the last.
  • 1 0
 Capes-4-comments!
  • 1 1
 hes so fucking good its almost boring to watch now.
  • 1 0
 Is that a Slash?
  • 1 3
 wonder if he's teasing us about coming back into comps?
  • 5 0
 He's not.
  • 1 1
 @brianpark: agreed. But why do too sure?
  • 1 3
 reminded me of jaxson riddle at the end
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