'Nothing's For Free: The History of Freeride Mountain Biking' is Streaming FREE for 24 Hours [Now Finished]

Aug 4, 2023
by Outside Online  

photo
The free 24 hour stream was brought to you by GT Bicycles. The stream ended at 7am PST on Saturday, August 5th, 2023. If you missed the stream, want to watch the film on demand, and/or want to support feature-length mountain bike filmmaking, please consider subscribing to Outside+.




NOTHING'S FOR FREE
The History of Freeride Mountain Biking

It all started with a motley crew of blue-collar kids looking to be a part of something different, something people at the time couldn’t understand. And then everything changed.

From fringe sport to global phenomenon, Nothing’s For Free chronicles the birth and legacy of freeride mountain biking. The film charts a course through a three-decade journey with the pioneers, visionaries, and industry masterminds that pushed the sport to where it is today.

bigquotesThis film represents over 30 years with a front row seat to the Freeride revolution. The partnership between Freeride Entertainment, Outside Studios, and Pinkbike has been paramount in bringing this modern day tale of risk vs reward to the mountain biking world and beyond.—Derek Westerlund, Director




Photos: Ale Di Lullo

Photo Ale Di Lullo Nothing s For Free

Photo Ale Di Lullo Nothing s For Free
Photo Ale Di Lullo Nothing s For Free

Photo Ale Di Lullo Nothing s For Free

Photo Ale Di Lullo Nothing s For Free
Photo Ale Di Lullo Nothing s For Free

Photo Ale Di Lullo Nothing s For Free

Photo Ale Di Lullo Nothing s For Free
Photo Ale Di Lullo Nothing s For Free

Photo Ale Di Lullo Nothing s For Free

Photo Ale Di Lullo Nothing s For Free


Posted In:
Videos Must Watch Freeride Entertainment GT Outside Pinkbike Brage Vestavik Brett Tippie Josh Bender Freeride Nothings For Free


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190 Comments
  • 148 0
 Turns out it is for free after all.
  • 4 0
 I was gong to ask my buddy to add it to his Plex, I guess I don't have to do that now.
  • 5 3
 Get it while you can -for 24hours or less now
  • 4 0
 That was awesome!
  • 1 0
 free for a day. It's like field day in grade school, all the running around and ice cream you can handle. Then right back to reality the next day.
  • 147 0
 Thanks GT Smile
  • 4 40
flag PocoBoho (Aug 4, 2023 at 9:34) (Below Threshold)
 Big flex by GT. Trying to distract us from other stuff we might have seen online…..
  • 8 0
 ...and Pinkbike
  • 3 0
 @PocoBoho: Could have done with more "flex" previously.
  • 91 1
 i was at the premiere at crankworx and honestly i almost teared up twice, its that good, watch it folks, best movie in a decade
  • 45 0
 Me watching Tippie's segments: "I'm not crying, you're crying".
  • 8 0
 couple moments where something got in my eyes
  • 19 1
 @oldmanbucksaw: that last part had me tearing up for sure.

Most of the rest of the movie had me thinking about buying a gravel bike.
  • 3 0
 @oldmanbucksaw: it's just been raining... on my face
  • 1 0
 @vapidoscar: Judge Judy wrote a book about that!
  • 3 0
 Heavy at times, but puts a big smile on my face too. Great, great film.
  • 1 0
 @oldmanbucksaw: Is that really smiley guy that seem like a real nice person! i feel like i should know his name!??
  • 1 0
 It’s so good
  • 4 0
 When his voice started to crumble, turned his head and was like "f*ck" under his breath, I went right to tears. I know this pain all too well from friends and loved ones around me. Dude's an inspiration for sure!

ps. funny to get censored for quoting the film.
  • 3 0
 Nice to see how many of them stayed so tight over the years. Great film on the roots of MTB right here in BC.
  • 86 0
 So good! History! NWD was huge push for me. So big thanks to John Cowan and Derek Westerlund & the Freeride Entertainment Crew!
  • 20 1
 What up Timo, Huge fan dude, I've wondered what ever happed to ya. Haven't seen you for a long while man. I was stoked to see your name pop up on here. My favorite clip of yours is when you jumped the Belin Wall. That was dope!
  • 3 0
 Oh shit, it's Timo! I remember bumping into you outside of Evolution Bikeshop Whistler, back in 2007. Hope you're golden Smile
  • 6 0
 Still remember you crazy send over the scaffolding at Crankworx
  • 2 0
 Timo!!! WTF?!
  • 4 1
 A legend is in the chat!
  • 1 0
 @moutnbiker: www.noxcycles.com/en/news/timo-pritzel-bei-nox
  • 65 1
 Bring back Just the Tip! I miss Tippie regularly showing up on Pinkbike!!!
  • 12 0
 Right! Tippie is the best! Love that dude and his sense of humor.
  • 4 0
 @rofsky: Undisputed Heavyweight King of Dad Jokes

He also works Blue if you look for it.
  • 38 1
 Turns out having a BMX background was actually pretty important.
  • 3 0
 Haha, I thought the same thing. They all did!
  • 21 0
 what an epic chronicle of freeride. eyeballs definitely got sweaty a couple times. thanks to everyone involved for making this happen!
  • 22 2
 I love how the villains in this sick film are lame roadies, hahahah ahhh I love it
  • 19 0
 GT coming through! thank you guys
  • 16 0
 I hope Tippie and those guys realize that scars are not reminders of our injuries, but evidence that we healed. Great movie.
  • 15 0
 last 15 mins of the film was the blessed part.
  • 33 0
 Bawling like a baby last 15 minutes. Everyone has their own beliefs, but I believe Tips dad is watching from above and proud of his getting his life on track and the dad he has become. Great movie, thanks GT
  • 13 0
 Stoked to see some clips from our Women’s Freeride Movement ‘Camp Loops’ event in there!! The three girls hitting the drops and Jesse Tippie on the airbag!
  • 11 0
 Your next homework assignment: pull out every NW-Disorder and watch them (in order). Or maybe those are online somewhere (?) - has Outside or anyone consolidated those anywhere?

I was not expecting how much this film would claw at me, not just for the history but the f*cking characters (even some new school rulers like Riddle & Brage). Having watched all that evolve in mags / vids, which influenced everything for a long time, and to still be seeing so much progression & riding today knowing how amazing this sport is...just no words for it. Total awe.

Yeah its just bikes, but its also all, most or a major portion of our lives. Just f*cking unreal. There are lots of great mtb films out there and I won't say this one's "the greatest" but right there at the top 3-5 in my view. Not sure I'll ever get tired of watching this one.
  • 6 0
 Most of NWD movies can be found on youtube, probably not in the greatest quality but nothings for free you know
  • 6 0
 @winko: Derek is working on bringing those old films to freerider.tv soon I think!
  • 1 0
 @winko: I've got a box full (vhs)...somewhere. But yeah those are pretty choppy - kinda hard to watch.
  • 1 0
 @brianpark: That would be baller!
  • 1 0
 @brianpark: Will there be a blu-ray of "Nohting's for free"?
  • 9 0
 For those who have already watched, would this be a good movie to watch with other’s who don’t mountain bike but might be interested in the history of the sport? Or is a “by mountain bikers, for mountain bikers” kinda thing?
  • 3 1
 Hmmmmm, I'm biased but I think it could be of interest tho non-riders may not get some of the lingo. Bender's growing hobby could be viewed as questionable by teetotalers perhaps? Its still easy to get the history of this. That being said, just make 'em watch it. My fam are just tepid riders and not at all following things like I do and they loved it. Everyone sweatin' eyeballs at the end w/ Tip, Tarek, etc. Tip w/ his daughter at the end. How do ya not fall in bro-love w/ those guys? I've watched it 3 times already. Has to be one of the single best mtb films ever.
  • 5 0
 It looks like they went for both. I would show this to people already into extreme sports. Not sure if other people would relate to the nostalgia of the grassroots sports story. They'd probably find it hardcore, but maybe a bit nerdy. The editing/directing is a bit old school compared to the new Netflix style docs. I kinda like it in a "blast to the past" kind of way.
  • 3 0
 Watched it with my Dad and even though he isnt a Biker he was quite invested in it. So just go for it and make them watch it!
  • 3 0
 @RockCrawler: Well said. Everyone else makes us watch non-mtb material - and we take one for the team. Family has to just sit back and watch some mtb sometimes...
  • 3 0
 Great question. Honestly, this is one of the best documentaries I have ever seen. That means it shows a slice of the the human experience. The mountain biking ends up as just a prop. This is meant as a compliment.
  • 13 0
 GT 4 THE PEOPLE!
  • 7 0
 Awesome movie!! Crazy how long ago some things were and I was there for some of those firsts. Realizing I'm actually kind of old now, when I go riding today, I'm still there. Get the same high, rush, enjoyment, even scare myself sometimes, it's just, I'm a bit fatter, a bit slower and do a bit smaller hits. Hope it lasts forever.
  • 1 0
 Same! Got my MB-1 from Willy Street bicycles in Madison the spring of 91
  • 1 0
 @beeekay: I walked in that shop after an XC race about then and saw those Bridgestone's. Cool bikes. I bought a Specialized M2 a year or so after, I worked for a shop in Illinois that was a dealer. Madison had the coolest shops back then.
  • 10 0
 i want to see a picture of brages bike after the jah drop. that was a loud impact
  • 5 0
 Yeah, a post Jah drop bike check would be neat
  • 13 1
 The whole movie is amazing and moving, but the Jah drop by Brage is the icing on the cake. Bender is a legend and Brage is on his way to being one. And Bender is right. People question his skills but he had the vision before the bikes were capable and no one else was doing it. Brage wouldn't have dropped that if Bender hadn't tried it
  • 8 0
 holy fuck that was awesome, thanks for making my cry at work. so much good stuff here. brett i am so glad you are still here buddy! i cant wait to ride with my daughter.
  • 7 1
 Now that's a long coffee break...
  • 10 1
 Speaking as a 53 yo rider……this is hands down one of the best bike videos ever. IYKYK.
  • 6 0
 Tippie’s daughter is a better rider at 13 than I have ever been. Better yet was the look of just sheer utter joy he had watching her. To the generation that we were and to generation that will come. We are all the same, the joy of the ride.
  • 5 0
 Definitely a must watch! As an older guy who got the chance to witness the birth and rise of the freeride scene, it brings back so many memories... And gosh there are some heartbreaking stories in here. Shout out to Big D for putting this up!
  • 5 0
 Such a well done film. My takeaways, besides the personal comebacks from adversity are how tough it is to actually make a living (or any money) in pro Mountain Biking. The risk is real and most these guys dont have a fallback. Concussions were looked at totally different. Crazy, absolutly mind blowing stories.
  • 5 0
 Gawd damn. Some of those scenes had me in tears. I was a young dh racer grom kid from Nelson at the time of the Kranked and NWD movies and both Bjorn and Big D welcomed me in. It was a wild moment in time and one where you could sense a big shift coming. The air was electric
  • 8 0
 This is easily the best mountain bike movie made. Tippie made me cry.
  • 3 1
 I don't understand how that was free. I feel like I owe someone $30. That was sensational! WTF.
  • 4 0
 This is an astonishing movie and piece of storytelling ...so much heart and soul and busted bikes and bones on display here. Tippie, for anyone who's battled addiction (and it's easy to see how extreme sports can get you there), you're a hero. I am amazed by the honest discussion of the freeride movement and how big players like Red Bull are a double-edged sword... promoting this fantastic sport, but also raising the stakes insanely high. Seeing Rasouli put into a wheelchair (then onto an e-bike at the end) was incredible. Westerlund casts himself almost as a villain in the movie, which is incredibly cool and unexpected. This movie covered so much history and so many facets of freeride, but does briefly give credit to freeride in one way we've all benefited: tougher bikes! Thanks to all you crazy lads and ladies who pioneered riding bikes down hills!
  • 4 0
 WOW
started biking in '97 because of these guys on the bike magazine
Seeing Tarek on the mag even before he got a Frorider.
i am biking since then, now 25 years, still does not get boring.

These Guys / that time is still the way in my mind, mountainbiking should be.
thank you guys!
thank you for that film!
  • 4 0
 Netflix (or else) series about this would be golden. I would see a huge potential for that happening! A chance to go deeper into each individual or an era! Nonetheless, very very very good movie and yeah I had tears and shivers during the whole movie.
  • 5 0
 gaaaaaah, I just bought a subscription to outdoors just to watch that movie (slapping forehead).

it's great, pretty cool to see all those faces again.
  • 10 4
 Consolation: Gaia and Trailforks are pretty great.
  • 6 0
 Tippie is the best. If I had my choice to hang out with anyone for the day, it would most likely be him.
  • 5 0
 What a blast form the past, I haven't seen some of those clips in 20 plus years. Awesome flick!
  • 3 0
 all you riders that pushed it..Hans…the early Kamloops crews, Bender, and so many others that are highlighted and those riders not mentioned in this film…a huge thank you!
  • 2 0
 The original Kranked was the first MTB movie I bought on VHS, which came out about two years after I started MTB'ing. While I never considered myself a freerider, I will say most people I met in MTB'ing still watched the freeride videos of that era, regardless of whether they were trail riders or XC racers. If your local shop was run by MTB'ers, chances are there was just a loop of various freeride videos on the shop TV. The reason Hans' adventure riding (miss his old OLN features around the world) probably connected with a lot more people is because that's what many envisioned MTB'ing to be at its simplest. I also appreciate that some of animosity toward slopestyle was left in and not covered up.
  • 2 0
 Thank you @GTBicycles and to all those who made this, a great trip down memory lane from the mid 90’s onwards. Some inspiring stories behind it all too - well done tippie for taming your demons, I’m sure your dad would be proud
  • 2 0
 That was so freaking good it left me overwhelmed. I’ve been riding my whole adult life since my first Marin in 86. I stayed fit and made friends and this year at 55 jumped the biggest gap so far in Morzine with my too sons which was a long time dream come true.
Keep riding my dudes
  • 2 0
 I know this film was about free riders but some racers played a big role too. Great film but there was just some people left out IMO. Super T. Dan Cowan. Ingrid Doerr and Roach. Andrew Shandro. Todd Fiander. Missy Giove. Tara LLanas. Cedric Gracia. Anne-Caroline Chaussen. So many people helped to make mountain biking what it is today. I am so glad I was along for the ride. The movie could be a series or a couple movies.
  • 6 1
 Been watching just the intro, im already crying...
  • 1 0
 Well that was AWESOME!!!!! Such a cool way of filling in the history of the scene from before when I join when I started watching NWD 4, and stitching the narrative through the years of the progression of the sport with such a sensitive side and a banger ender! Thank you to all involved!! Loved it!!
  • 1 0
 Thanks GT!!! Thanks to all the OG's that I grew up watching as a kid on the shore dreaming about it but I was pretty lucky that Kelowna had sick trails!!! What a throwback to my teenage years! My Best friend and I are 38 now and still riding like kids!!
  • 5 0
 Amazing film.

Tippy. You’ve done well. Your dad is proud of you.
  • 1 0
 I cried three times. A veritable work of art. Humanity is the better thanks to this endeavour. We’ll all go back to our daily bread after this, if ever so slightly changed. Kudos for the depth and breath of perspectives. Not to mention the right editing.
  • 1 0
 Wow! So much memories. I started riding 26 years ago and - you know - having family an kids keeps me away from riding way too offen. But right now I’ll go for a ride. Thanks so much for this movie. I had watery eyes several times.
  • 3 0
 There is so many things I would like to say, after seeing a film about the sport that has shaped my life like nothing else. But in the end we all just love tippie. ❤️
  • 3 0
 How come no words from Palmer or no mention of Super T?!! One of the early winners of rampage and even had a fork named after him, massive legend of the sport.
  • 3 0
 Westerlund has said he’d be missing more people than he could include in the movie. So many amazing riders out there in the history of freeride!
  • 1 0
 Man, what a powerful movie. My wife actually watched parts of it with me and it was great seeing her reaction to some of this stuff, especially the Bender's first Jah drop attempt... her jaw was on the floor, just like everyone else's the first time they watched that.
  • 3 0
 I got really excited to hear Brage Vestavik listening to Entombed when he was about to do that drop near the end of the film. Awesome film.
  • 2 0
 While watching this, I'm thinking - these pioneers in mountain biking should've been in the porn industry with their creative VHS names. Would've made more money! LOL
  • 2 0
 If you get the message, hang up the phone. Awesome film. Just getting to watch where all the new world disorder scene started got me really stoked. Long live NWD
  • 3 0
 No, long live Kranked! ;-)
  • 3 0
 Congrats!! what an excellent film watched every second of it and even replayed alot
  • 4 0
 Would you stop cutting onions in here, I can't see anything.
  • 2 0
 Bad ass video by some amazing people on this planet. Good for you tippe. You are amazing as so is your family. You made me cry seeing you and your daughter.
  • 1 0
 Awesome film, but a little freaky to see stuff I watched live getting looked back on nostalgically. Would love to see more content in this vein, with stuff like the DropIn years. Great job to everyone who made this happen.
  • 1 0
 100% Awesome Film Derek Westerlund!

Thank you athletes and film producers who continue to inspire and entertain us with your incredible talent and hard work.

Let's go riding
  • 2 0
 Still can't believe Brage rode that out. Growing up in Kamloops, the Jah Drop was always legendary. As in, because it was "impossible". So much for that
  • 2 1
 45 min in and i feel like the moment was better? This is a bit more unfiltered for sure. Funny seeing specialized in there, think they needed to show their side to save face after how they were seen in the moment?
  • 2 0
 Bender has landed some large drops. Any search will show that. It's just that his crashes get all the attention. Props to him for doing what he did.
  • 1 0
 Thank you Derek & Pinkibke for making this moving happen .. and thanks to GT for the showing! Hope you guys release it on digital platforms to buy soon!
  • 2 0
 Mmmm Mountain biking. I feel like we grew up together. Love our sport so much !
  • 1 0
 Feel blessed that I could live the spirit of the old (early) era and this movie is absolut on point. Just bought a 2002 Monster T Wink !
  • 3 0
 Amazing and touching throwback to our youth, loved that movie
  • 2 1
 Great AF! This needs to be a Series... so many incredible stories still to cover... but seems a hell of a work.. sell it to Netflix and get it done!
  • 3 0
 Best E-bike footage ever.
  • 3 0
 Inspiring film, thank you to all who made it!
  • 4 0
 F*** I love Tippie
  • 1 0
 Freaking loved it! Thank you so much for putting together all the riders, film compilations, history and sending out freeride love!!
  • 4 1
 You can't be a sponsored Freerider, if your sponsored your not free!
  • 2 0
 Yeah, freeriding will really be back the moment some kid refuses that blue and silver helmet…
  • 1 0
 Unbelievable film... Great job! Definitely need to do more stuff on the individual riders... A lot of great stories to still be told..
  • 1 0
 HOT DAMN that was a great movie. I’ve been waiting for one to hit like this. Years! This movie is a must watch. I was riveted to the screen.
  • 3 0
 so good! thanks for offering it up for a bit - stoked to have caught it
  • 7 6
 Thank you, gt!

(@Pinkbike: Autoplay is always annoying, but having a two hour movie on autoplay? Really?)
  • 3 0
 Sick movie!
  • 2 0
 Excellent movie! But no mention of Lance and Chris Canfield??
  • 1 0
 There‘s many huge omissions, for example there‘s basically no European riders in there, despite Hans, who has been living in California for 30 years no, Tarek and Brage. Cedric Garcia for example is only in the background in a handful of frames. This focuses strongly on the Canadian scene. Which is alright of course, since it had a huge influence. And to honor everybody they would indeed have to make it a series.
  • 2 1
 @FuzzyL: i loved the movie and had a great time watching it, being remembered of the old video segments etc. But for me what's missing ist Fest Series - they started the series because they wanted a jam-like event where it is about going big, not about a contest. To me, that was an important thing to do and helped getting the freeride vibe back. Of course it's not big mountain lines but sculpted mega-jumps - still freeride.
  • 1 0
 @leolentz: Well, in this day and age there won‘t be a movie like that without some sponsoring - and so there were quite a few more Redbull athletes in there than there were ones associated with Monster, and Redbull formats got quite a lot more screen time than anything else.

Still an absolutely great movie.
  • 1 0
 @FuzzyL: see that would be a GREAT idea. But what a project (read: loads of work) that would be… but you’re right, there’s freeride stories from around the world and they seem to be happening at the same time in history
  • 2 0
 Yeh. Pilgs, Soderstrom, Gee, Brendog etc??
  • 1 0
 Amazing kudos for GT Bicycles!!! You guys rock with this kind of stuff, and the privateer project in DH
  • 3 1
 no words from Shawn Palmer ?
  • 1 0
 So good! Big thanks to GT for spreading the love and Derek Westerlund of Freeride entertainment for putting this together.
  • 1 0
 Tyler 'Super T' Klassen was my freeride icon growing up, legend of freeride!
  • 2 1
 What is it about 'nothings for free' that they're just not getting?
  • 3 2
 Awesome. Don't make it autoplay every time I refresh the homepage.
  • 2 0
 Big hug GT!
  • 1 0
 Great job on this film! Loving it.
  • 1 0
 Soooo good! Thanks GT...
  • 1 0
 brilliant movie and characters, brought me back to my mtb life beginin'
  • 2 0
 Thanks GT
  • 2 0
 Thank you @GTBicycles !
  • 2 0
 That was awesome !!
  • 1 0
 Loved the movie! Still a newbie - recommend more stuff to watch, anyone?
  • 4 0
 All the sprungs and eartheds which are all on YouTube for some classic peak MTB films
  • 1 0
 @jimyg: cheers
  • 3 0
 Ride to the Hills - Dave Watson, powerwheelie - that is literally the moment where I said "I want to do THIS!"

youtu.be/Ld4ZOCAyeX8?t=136
  • 3 0
 @sickriderch: same
  • 1 0
 @pavlic-enemy from modern era, watch 50to01 full-lengths, like “Wheel Love”, “Forward Sideways”, “Little Olde England”. That’s a future’s classic. Not much about big sends (there are some huge ones though), but rather about being out in the woods with your friends. Worth mentioning that some of these friends are DH World Champion and Hardline winners Smile
Anyway, 50to01 have probably the best mix of riding great, filming/editing simple, and not giving much f””k.
  • 1 0
 @Velosexualist : thank you
  • 1 0
 Really enjoyed North of nightfall on red bull
  • 2 0
 Pulp traction
  • 1 0
 the North Shore Extreme documentary was awesome, a lot of the same guys being interviewed
  • 1 0
 Anything by Clay Porter
  • 1 0
 one of the raddest doc ever saw...love it.
  • 1 0
 Great film! Thank you GT.
  • 1 0
 Just watched this all the way through..........Fantastic
  • 1 0
 Thanks GT from the beginning of the film to the end, always there.
  • 1 0
 This was excellent. Thank you to all involved.
  • 1 0
 Freeride needs to come back!
  • 1 0
 This was a rad film, thanks dudes
  • 1 0
 Thanks GT! I’ll consider buying one of you bikes !!
  • 1 0
 WHO IS CUTTING ONIONS???

WHAT??

IM NOT CRYING YOURE CRYING!!!!!
  • 1 0
 thank you
  • 1 0
 Thanks GT! Epic film
  • 1 0
 awsome movie
  • 1 0
 YES
  • 1 0
 Well worth the watch
  • 1 1
 thats the way to go, non alcoholic!
  • 1 0
 Epic !
  • 1 2
 Wow I missed it, super lame!
  • 2 5
 Thanks GT!
Does anybody know where to delete Outside account?
  • 1 0
 help.outsideinc.com/hc/en-us/articles/4413943282199-How-do-I-cancel-my-Membership
  • 1 0
 @andrewbmxmtb: Thanks, so wait a year only, I should order my trickstuff brakes
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