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Pinkbike Primer: Everything You Need to Know Ahead of Red Bull Hardline 2024

May 28, 2024
by Sarah Moore  
Updated Wednesday, May 29: The canyon gap has been removed from the 2024 track. See details here.

Fairclough dropping the huge step-down.

The tenth anniversary edition of Red Bull Hardline Wales is here and Dan Atherton and the build crew have been cooking up something extra gnarly to celebrate, including a massive new canyon gap. Last year, the event was unfortunately unable to proceed due to the weather conditions, but we're hoping for clear skies this year as riders tackle an even wilder track that usual.

Here is everything you need to know ahead of Red Bull Hardline, the hardest mountain bike race in the world that just got even harder.




What's the Track Like?


Vinny T pulling off the upper step down.


Hardline is a track that Dan and Gee Atherton have been riding since around 2003 in the Dyfi Valley. The first official Hardline event was in 2014 and over the years larger features have been added to the course. This year the track sees the most significant changes yet. The entire first half of the course has been rebuilt for the tenth anniversary addition and the course takes an entirely new direction down the mountain, adding several new features, including a brand-new 70ft canyon gap.

You can read more about the 2024 Hardline course and the evolution of the course here.

Watch Bernard Kerr, Matt Jones and Jim Munro as they test the 2024 Hardline track in the two videos below. It sounds like there will be a safety net added and the lip will be changed ahead of the race.






Rider List


Ronan Dunne not hanging around as per.


Men:

Ronan Dunne
Bernard Kerr
Brook MacDonald
Charlie Hatton
Adam Brayton
Craig Evans
Theo Erlangsen
Matteo Iniguez
Juanfer Velez
Gaetan Vige
Jim Monro
Matt Jones
Edgar Briole
George Brannigan
Sam Gale
Jono Jones
Sam Blenkinsop
Brendan Fairclough
Josh Bryceland
Dennis Luffman
David Perez Nanni
Sam Hockenhull
Josh Lowe
Taylor Vernon
Thibault Laly
Thomas Genon
Szymon Godziek
Sebastian Holguin
Alex Storr
Vincent Tupin
Harry Molloy

Women:

Tahnee Seagrave
Cami Nogueira
Hannah Bergmann
Vaea Verbeeck
Jenna Hastings


What's the Weather Expected to be?


Matt Jones brought his DH bike this time and has been getting well involved.

Thankfully, it looks like riders are in for better conditions than last year with not a lot of rain or wind forecast in the days leading up to the event and sun on finals day.

Thursday, May 30

Considerable clouds with a little rain // 16°C // 80% probability of precipitation // wind 13km/h

Friday, May 31

Morning low clouds; clouds breaking for some sun in the afternoonn // 17°C // 25% probability of precipitation // wind 11km/h

Saturday, June 1

Mostly cloudy // 19°C // 25% probability of precipitation // wind 7km/h

Sunday, June 2 - FINALS

Mostly sunny and nice // 20°C // 1% probability of precipitation // wind 19km/h


Weather forecast as of Tuesday, May 28 from Accuweather.


What Happened Last Year?

Bernard Kerr's wet and wild 2023 run before the event was cancelled.

The ninth edition of Hardline in 2023 was cancelled due to extreme weather conditions making conditions unsafe for riders. However, we did get to see riders take on a brand new Hardline course in Tasmania in February, with two women making it down the complete course for the first time.

Red Bull Hardline Wales 2022

1st. Jackson Goldstone: 2:20.525
2nd. Joe Smith: 2:27.043
3rd. Taylor Vernon: 2:27.084
4th. Ronan Dunne: 2:27.273
5th. Gee Atherton: 2:28.356
6th. Sam Gale: 2:28.902
7th. Jim Monro: 2:28.930
8th. Harry Molloy: 2:31.714
9th. Thibault Laly: 2:31.767
10th. Florent Payet: 2:37.436

Full results here.
Red Bull Hardline Tasmania 2024

1st. Ronan Dunne: 3:08.145
2nd. Bernard Kerr: +1.876
3rd. George Brannigan: +2.876
4th. Matteo Iniguez: +4.902
5th. Connor Fearon: +5.324
6th. Laurie Greenland: +6.032
7th. Sam Gale: +6.555
8th. Sam Blenkinsop: +6.576
9th. Theo Erlangsen: +7.662
10th. Gaetan Vige: +7.699

1st. Gracey Hemstreet: 3:56.586
2nd. Louise Ferguson: +1:11.826

Full results here.



Who has Won here Before?

Jackson Goldstone has taken to Hardline without missing his feet finishing up third in seeding

2022 // Jackson Goldstone
2021 // Bernard Kerr
2019 // Bernard Kerr
2018 // Gee Atherton
2017 // Craig Evans
2016 // Bernard Kerr
2015 // Ruaridh Cunningham
2014 // Danny Hart


How to Follow the Racing?


Tune in to Pinkbike to catch all the Hardline coverage throughout the week with results, photo epics, bike checks and more.

You can catch the live finals broadcast at 1:20pm GMT // 3:20 pm CEST // 6:20am am PDT on Red Bull TV.



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196 Comments
  • 184 78
 The canyon gap is stupid, if somebody dies on it you can kiss hardline goodbye permanently. There is already bigger gaps to clear so you can't say it's pushing the sport that way, it's just upping the consequences which isn't really progression. I've seen three riders try it and one was launched off his bike to the fucking moon and that was after taking their time, eyeing it up and trying it while well rested and only dropping into it as a stand alone feature. Hitting it exhausted in a race format can only increase the chances of something going wrong.
  • 72 89
flag succulentsausage FL (May 28, 2024 at 14:43) (Below Threshold)
 I won't be watching this year, partially out of protest for this mindless feature, but also because I have no desire to see someone die on live tv and usher in one of the darkest days in history for our great sport. The risk of setting all this "progression" back is just too high imo.
  • 51 10
 Is it higher consequence than some of the Rampage features? What if there's a net and the take-off is improved? (both things we're gonna see this week)
  • 46 5
 The gap is out
  • 16 14
 @WasatchEnduro: yeah I would say it's higher consequence than anything at rampage. There's no 50' drops to flat at rampage.
  • 7 0
 @Gazbaz: is that official
  • 29 4
 @pisgahgnar: singletrackworld.com/2024/05/hardline-gap-jump-is-out
  • 127 67
 Here come the downvotes but dang, the average Pinkbike Commentor has gotten soft over the years. For those of you too scared to watch, stick to the Ebike and XC content.
  • 36 9
 @bikehoarder23: I guess the event organizers of the toughest DH race in the world have gotten soft too since it looks like the gap is out.
  • 17 0
 @WasatchEnduro: Yeah I think the kick from the lip was the big issue; fixing that would still make it ridiculous but safer
  • 40 7
 My question is who is building / designing these things? When the riders with the biggest appetite for risk (and balls) in the world are eying this up and down and questioning whether its worth the risk to event attempt on a dry run, who is the person 1) who decided that competitors should hit it during a race run and 2) what qualifies them to make a decision like that in the first place? They clearly didn't hit the jump themselves.

At least at rampage, the lines and features are made in collaboration with the riders...
  • 27 12
 @wake-n-rake: Maybe it's out, but until there's an official announcement, I'm not giving up hope. I want to see what it looks like with the changes they said they were going to make to the take off.

If the riders are calling it and don't want to hit it, I support them, but if they still want to ride it and it's the organizers who are calling it because of public pressure, etc, I'm disappointed.
  • 34 7
 The gap is totally fine with a net and a redesigned lip. It's a shame to not include it. That new section is amazing looking.
  • 12 3
 @jayacheess: Bernard wouldnt test the right hip before the drop because he said "it literally wouldnt work".... but yeah looked amazing (no it didnt)
  • 8 6
 @OPD351: It absolutely looked amazing. It just needs tweaks.
  • 38 6
 @warmerdamj: This gap didn't really make the course any tougher, just more dangerous.
  • 4 13
flag onawalk (May 28, 2024 at 16:35) (Below Threshold)
 @gnarnaimo: Could you elaborate on that opinion?
  • 10 22
flag HeatedRotor FL (May 28, 2024 at 16:45) (Below Threshold)
 @succulentsausage: 1, its not live. 2nd It was getting a net for the event.................. Absolute low IQ commenters in the comments today.
  • 19 6
 @HeatedRotor: The net was never the major issue here. The biggest concern was that compression/ G-out from the obviously poor design execution of the roll in-take off. The scaffolding set up was more than likely built by a third party company that has no connection to building jumps otherwise, and the riders were hopeful that it would work, but wanted to make sure before the event proceeded. Jim Munroe's crash was exactly what was predicted to happen, and I (and many others) are surprised they even needed to test it to see if that would happen. Yes, Matt and Bernard made it across, but pretty damn sketchily. And they are two of the best, most stylish jumpers out there.
  • 28 8
 @onawalk: This jump is no more technical or challenging than features already on course, probably technically less challenging than alot of the features considering it's a fast straight line into it. It's just a lot more consequential. Dangerous doesn't equal challenging (or more challenging).
  • 26 2
 Riders build lines they know they can do at Rampage, they are not forced to huck a canyon gap like they would be here. Considering how few riders do canyon gaps at Rampage there are WAY too many riders here that would be required to do this feature or be DQ'd. There's going to be riders doing this who normally wouldnt just because they don't want to blow their chance at Hardline. They chose 3 guys they trusted to send it and 1 crashed, imagine how many will crash if everyone tries it.
  • 11 6
 @dividebyzero: I honestly don't care one way or another whether or not they include the canyon gap and when it's all said in done, probably better if it isn't included.

That said, I think way too many people are looking at this like it's an actual race. I'd argue it's way more akin to Rampage than a World Cup DH race. Just look at the rider list. All incredible riders, but only a few are actively or competitively racing. There might be a couple of folks who legitimately want to win, but I think the vast majority who accept the invite WANT to ride the course and clear as many features as they can.
  • 14 3
 @jayacheess: I'm sure the riders will be relieved to hear that you think it's totally fine. How about you hit it yourself then get back to us...
  • 16 10
 it's almost as if the 'line' is really 'hard' to ride...................
  • 20 2
 Late to the party but just came to say that comparing this to Rampage isn’t on point. At Rampage the riders design and build their own course with consideration for their particular strengths, comfort levels, and skills. The riders are the builders so there is a lot more control and customization by the person actually going to ride it and they are on site all week with their diggers (I think). Aside from those fundamental differences, Hardline is a race track. Yes, everyone is free to make their own choices but obviously there’s a great deal of pressure for these young riders to do every feature on the course, not to mention at a race pace, or go home and pass up an incredible career opportunity. The wrong kind of pressure. I can’t even imagine the rationale by leadership that decided it was a good idea to present this to a field of riders, for all the reasons people have said over the past few days. If it’s true that the hip and the gap are scrapped, my two cents is that it’s the right choice.
  • 13 0
 @dividebyzero: This IMO is the most reasoned response here. Matt Jones said he barely had time to spot the lip before he jumped it too. There's no single reason the canyon gap at hardline is a bit daft. There are a number of factors which make it too dangerous to include in a race run.

It's been reported elsewhere that the organisers couldn't get anyone to install the net in time for the event, which is why the gap is out entirely.
  • 4 6
 @Skooks: I said 'it's fine if it's tweaked'. The new section of track seemed to be well liked by the testers, other than the hip jump that wouldn't work and needed to be fixed, and the kicker on the gap jump+net. I'm just mirroring what I heard from riders during the test, so I'm not sure why you're being such a drama queen about it.
  • 1 3
 @Gazbaz: DH WC sponsors must have gotten on the phone, that money talks more then this event
  • 3 2
 @bikehoarder23: And you are the real man, a?
  • 1 0
 The canyon feature should be used as the start of a ‘Hard X’ (trademark to me) 4X track, maybe it would be 4X’s comeback!
  • 4 0
 Canyon gap is out, apparently.

singletrackworld.com/2024/05/hardline-gap-jump-is-out
  • 6 10
flag Jprestidge FL (May 29, 2024 at 1:01) (Below Threshold)
 @bridgermurray:

Dan is responsible for designing the course and features. If you have to ask what qualifies him to do this then you need go off and do a bit of research before making daft assertions.
  • 13 3
 @dividebyzero:

That’s not what happened at all. The ramp was built, Gee was going to test it but decided not to on the day. Bernie was there and he decided to give it a go. Matt Jones ran into Bernie at the bike park and was persuaded to ride some of the course, including the jump. Jim joined them and had the big crash.

The whole idea that these three riders were formally invited to guinea pig the canyon gap is a misrepresentation of what happened.
  • 7 2
 @jayacheess: that would have to be one big net. You'd have to cover off riders getting spat out of the side.
Crap feature. Course needs less jumps and more tech.
  • 4 0
 @bridgermurray: red bull does have a jump engineer who uses numbers and physics and stuff on certain projects. There are plenty of webpages to calculate projectiles but don’t include wind direction / strength or tyre friction or aerodynamic drag of dh rider and bike. . Many have hight , inclination, kicker dimension etc. The full equation is easy to find online.
  • 5 10
flag tremeer023 FL (May 29, 2024 at 1:24) (Below Threshold)
 @bikehoarder23: thank you, I'm glad someone said it.
I'm sure the competitors don't want to hit scetchy or badly built features either but it is their risk to bear, no-one else's. I hope the external commentary didn't influence the decision to pull the gap jump as it opens the door for the general public to dictate course design in the future which is not what Hardline is about.
  • 7 0
 @jayacheess: I'm assuming that because it's made of scaffolding, it was going to take too long to install a net, tweak the jump and test it in time for the event happening.
  • 4 16
flag curtiscycles FL (May 29, 2024 at 2:53) (Below Threshold)
 all these ebikes turning MTB'ers soft
  • 4 8
flag suspended-flesh FL (May 29, 2024 at 4:02) (Below Threshold)
 I am bummed it's been taken out of this 10th year event. Not nearly as interested now, but go Ratboy!
  • 2 2
 @jayacheess: it'd need a rebuilt landing too, with a table top style edge in that you can't knuckle badly. Which would mean building the scaffold up from the ground up to support it. It's not going to happen in time.
  • 11 0
 @Jprestidge: Matt states in his vlog that Bernard was there to tick off every feature on the track to make it rideable. Sounds like he was employed to do that for the day.
  • 10 1
 @bikehoarder23: I'm bit tired of watching Gee Atherton shatter every bone in is body annually.
  • 6 3
 @bikehoarder23: idk some of the stuff being done now feels more like the intended user is the algorithm, not the rider. We know it’s possible to jump that far on a bike, we’ve known that since the early NWD days. A lot of us prefer the organic growth and progression born of the pre-social era, when the measure of who rode well was visible in the style they created on a trail or line, not how outright crazy they were. This feels decidedly like the antithesis.
  • 4 0
 @on-the-move: That's pretty much Bernard's job, he does it every year. He goes a little while before the event and tests everything out.
  • 3 0
 @pisgahgnar: I've heard he is just super keen to test everything, and the others are happy to let him (as you would be!).
  • 2 6
flag FuzzyL FL (May 29, 2024 at 7:16) (Below Threshold)
 The canyon gap was a marketing gag, it will not be ridden in competition.
  • 4 3
 @gnarnaimo: Commitment, and the ability to put the fear to oneside makes things challenging. A skinny on the ground, anyone can ride it. Lift it up a foot, youll lose a bunch of riders, lift it up 6', becomes "unrideable" to most.
small gap jumps get half the traffic as the same size tables, even though most can clear them. The added challenge is the level of commitment required, trust in your skills, and overcoming that fear.
  • 2 2
 @gnarnaimo: This is a well written (better than I could have done) response to the whole idea.

nsmb.com/articles/furthur
  • 1 0
 Sponsor? like Whoop? Maybe you mean the UCI but they don't seem to care about much. DH race team orders (like Louise Ferguson's withdrawal) are the real players here. Red Bull is a global powerhouse dominating F1 and isn't beholden to anyone.
  • 6 0
 @gcrider: They use someone to come up with silly little physics chats for the livestreaming of certain events to create a bit of entertainment for the general viewers, but they certainly don't bring in an engineer to tell us how to build jumps at mountain bike events... They also measure jumps in cans of Redbull, squirrells hockey sticks and all sorts of other stuff for kooky entertainment value...

There are far too many variables in MTB to use math for the perfect formula for jumps. Every rider weighs differently, the dirt rolls faster or slower depending on the conditions, tyre choice, varying bike geometry, whether a rider pumps the flat bottom or pops off the take off, just to name a few.
This stuff comes from years of experience in building and riding, gaining an eye for what works and how much speed will typically be generated for each feature, discussing with other experienced builder/riders on hand to come to the best educated guess we can before testing everything.

There wasn't enough unbiased discussion on the ramp for this river gap since most people with a clue on how to build and ride anything like this could see from the start that the takeoff had too much pop.

It's easy to be the builder of something and ignore the potential dangers by being blindsided by the fact you put so much time into it and just want to see it ridden. Every builder at this level needs to take a step back, put ego aside and discuss with others to come to the conclusion that something could be tweaked to get the safest final result. No matter whether you've made a name for yourself as a pro athlete and been a part of building a lot of successful features prior, no one builder is absolutely perfect. The best builds always come from a collaboration of minds questioning each other before tyres hit the dirt.
  • 2 1
 @FuzzyL: There's no way that was all about marketing. That scaffolding would have cost a fortune to be erected, especially in such a remote area, just for 3 people to ride it then leave it sitting there. Sure the views have been massive on Jimbo's crash content but those views aren't putting money in Redbull's pocket, when they're coming from mostly people that would be tuned into the race regardless. Like there's no extra money to be made out of Hardline other than Redbull's channel for Youtube views after the fact, they put the thing on and aren't charging for viewership so i don't see how they benefit out of 'marketing' by spending probably at least $30K on a feature to not use in the end.
  • 1 0
 @bridgermurray: I'm not sure having the biggest appetite for balls is actually relevant to your point, but it's nice to learn what makes thse riders tick.
  • 2 1
 @on-the-move: Confirmed with the recent LSD, the landing and take off were finalized - they just couldn't get the net installed in time. So everyone complaining that the gap was fundamentally flawed: you're wrong.
  • 2 1
 @Joyrode: Redbull is not living off clicks on YouTube. The feature fulfilled its purpose, creating more buzz around the event. Realistically, how many riders in both the male and female categories would really have hit that thing in a timed race run? In my opinion that was ever only intended to further raise interest.
  • 1 0
 @jayacheess: "After testing the gap earlier this week, Matt Jones, Bernard Kerr and Jim Munro said that the lip needs to be modified and a safety net installed, but with the event this Sunday, there likely isn't enough time to make those changes." -from the press release of them taking it out of the race.

Both were the cause. The compression is the real issue. Riders of this level wouldn't be failing to clear a 70 foot jump if the lip/roll in was built properly.
  • 1 0
 @leon-forfar: Again, videos posted today confirm that the lip has been modified already, but that the net couldn't be installed in time. I said so in the very comment you just replied to.
  • 2 0
 @phil-mclean: fully agree with that.upvoted
The psychology of group think ,summit fever is fascinating. I have read many great articles about Peter Hillary’s k2 experience , where he turned back and everybody else pushed on and died. The 1996 mt Everest disaster and the psychology of cognitive bias ,group think and summit fever is often written about in relation to business and investing ( something I know nothing about). What are your thoughts about the decision for jim to jump after the need for the lip to be modified was raised ( did he know ) should a formal safety officer be involved when these new features are tested /Guinea pig-ed to help make better decisions ? Obviously it is an easy decision when bk overshot the 90footer and the undershot is’n Tasmania ,but is a bit more difficult here
  • 1 0
 @wake-n-rake: "informed by a source"? Well, as far as anyone knows that source could even be me or someone else as clueless as me. Unless the source in known & they know for sure that article seems pointless to me.
  • 72 0
 If the canyon gap is out, why don’t they build one long death skinny. I mean, no one is jumping the gap. Just put a net underneath it all and rip the skinny at 30mph.
  • 26 0
 Best idea yet!! Or a 70 ft teeter totter!
  • 28 0
 Hardline meets Takeshi's Castle.
  • 2 1
 @wake-n-rake: this idea WINS :'D
  • 2 0
 Too late this year, but they could make a step up out of it, big swooping high speed bridge with a huge step up after they've already crossed the creek. Means all the landing is made from dirt instead of steel. Step ups are pretty safe.
  • 31 0
 I don't want to get into the discussion about whether hardline is too dangerous, but compared to features from the past, the canyon gap just looks like crap. During the first hardlines, dan managed to integrate the features into the nature in a great way, even though they were massive. In recent years, everything has just gotten bigger and with the canyon gap, which clearly has some weaknesses, just looks strange. I think the first natural sections are much
  • 7 0
 Better
  • 31 3
 Redbull is further blurring the lines between Hardline and Rampage. I dub thee Ramline or Hardpage.
  • 44 0
 Ramhard
  • 3 0
 @BigMoneyS: I like your style
  • 2 1
 @BigMoneyS: my money is on dickpound taking the Win
  • 24 1
 You know when you’re at the bike park and the hikers that take the lift up see people hit a squirrel catcher and can’t even comprehend what is going on and act all amazed and stuff? Well we’re the hikers when we analyze Hardline.
  • 6 0
 Thats how I felt watching Bernie do his work on that step up. For real, drama aside it was amazing watching them figure out the speed needed and then hit it. I just couldn't do the math in my head how they were going to work it out.
  • 24 1
 1 outta 3 bikes refused to make the jump so far.
  • 8 1
 2 out of 3 riders went way left including said Atherton bike. More ramp landing on the left is in order
  • 32 10
 Bernard almost killed himself on the 90 footers last year during testing, but they still included it after a redesign. Not sure why we're suddenly getting cold feet about this stuff. So long as the takeoff lip on the canyon gap is redesigned and there's a catch-net, I don't see how it's any worse than the 90 footers.
  • 14 2
 @jayacheess: because the catch net will only help in the event someone f*cks up on the run-in and flies off with half speed. If you’re a little too slow you run the risk of just smashing into the canyon wall / scaffolding on the other side. At least the net will make it easier to recover your lifeless body.
  • 17 3
 Anyone on here that thinks it’s safe should have to go ride it haha
  • 2 1
 @bikesandbeers: absolutely!
  • 5 6
 @islandforlife: So a catch net and in addition, pads in front of the case pad. Seriously, this can all be addressed. You're all acting completely foolish about this feature.
  • 3 6
 A pad doesn't magically prevent one to not smack himself into his bicycle handlebar (or any other part). We are not talking people jumping by themselve, they are jumping with a 16kilograms of stuff that they can hit or be hit by if something bad happens.
  • 6 3
 @bikesandbeers: no one is saying it's safe, neither would they say that about the road gap, the 90 footers, the super sketchy tech on course. People are just asking that we listen to the athletes (which I'm sure Dan and Gee are), not the online frothing mob who've never even been to Dyfi.
  • 7 0
 @jayacheess: could and should have been addressed months or weeks ago. Its less than a week when its supposed to be race time
  • 1 6
flag stuartd FL (May 29, 2024 at 1:58) (Below Threshold)
 @opignonlibre: Most of us do !! why don't we all stop riding bikes in that case .. because its too dangerous .. snowflakes everywhere
  • 4 0
 @jayacheess: Bernards crash last year was not close to killing himself, and it is a far better outcome than what will happen if somebody drops into the gap here.
  • 3 0
 @islandforlife: at that speed a net would rip your arm out of it's socket too. It's not a big comfy safe net, it hurts to fall in one. Not to mention how wide it would have to be to actually be safe. It'd need its own scaffolding to hold the net up. At that point you may as well bridge the whole gap.
  • 1 0
 @fred-frod: Are you really not aware of how close he came to serious injury? f*cking up a high speed 90 foot gap can have massive consequences. Bernard walking away was a huge stroke of luck. The feature is huge and potentially dangerous, just like the track as a whole. It's hardline.

The gap, if properly protected with net and crash pads, and with a properly tweaked takeoff, is potentially safer than the 90s.
  • 19 2
 What really grinds my gears is the obvious lack of professionalism at the biggest events in our sport.

The canyon gap and testing procedure definitely have unnecessary (and unprofessional) safety risks. It’s great marketing and imagery, but they messed up the process.

You can push the limits with a better approach—and I would expect the sponsor to hold the organizers accountable for that. There is a difference between difficult & dangerous (unpredictable, exposed etc).

Heck, it seems the Athertons did not even look at the jumps themselves before the day they sent the first boys down. Nobody even tried the jump before the gap because it would not work.

Sam Reynolds, Yoann Barelli and others called it on Instagram upon seeing the first images that the compression in fact was a setup for disaster.

It may not be a coincidence for BK & Matt to have taken the risk. They are among the biggest bikers on social, and BK’s video alone has 20M+ views on Instagram by now. He’s paid himself in marketing value even before rolling up to the startline.

Mixed feelings about this story, but now I am looking forward to a great race on the weekend. Go Girls! Go Ronan!
  • 4 0
 That's the point. All are saying that the athletes are just doing it for themselves and not for media coverage, yet the ones hitting it so far, are the ones who profit the most from social media.
  • 2 0
 @fred-frod: Not like that at all. Bernard has always been the first guy to hit gnarly shit, this is since way back in the day before the Fame. He used to hit all the insane natural gaps on WC tracks that blew everyone's mind, it's his super power. And Matt Jones is really under rated as a rider, he's one of the best, he's done hardline jumps on a hardtail.
  • 18 0
 Matteo Iniguez got it right; sign up twice so that if one gets injured he’s got another shot…
  • 16 0
 word on street (STW) is canyon gap is out. any confirmation?
  • 9 0
 Do they have an alternative way across? So far I've only seen 3 people try it. 2 made it. 1 did... not.
  • 3 8
flag RedBurn (May 28, 2024 at 14:26) (Below Threshold)
 @onemanarmy: dude can go bankrupt to pay his medical bills. Stop the damage and build a safe bridge with barriers and nets on both sides
  • 22 7
 Would be nice. That shit belongs at Rampage, where riders can do it in their own time and focus purely on the jump in their own time, not as part of a race run. Give me sniper jumps and landings on steep trails at high speeds over stuff like this for a race course. This doesn't feel like progression, it feels like a circus.
  • 4 0
 @onemanarmy: Would have to revert to original route I suppose?
  • 11 0
 @RedBurn:

Well, to be fair he did clear the gap... just without his bike.
  • 4 9
flag onawalk (May 28, 2024 at 14:41) (Below Threshold)
 @RedBurn: How would those have helped?
Jim Monro was dischaged from hospital the next day, no broken bones, or serious injuries, left with a concussion (not my words, from cycling website)
  • 7 0
 @WasatchEnduro: looks like both made it on the other side of the canyon, just separately
  • 40 1
 @onawalk: Given the effects I'd class a concussion as a very serious injury.
  • 5 2
 @watchmen: Maybe, depends on the severity of the concussion. It was reported as not serious, so who am I to argue.
Concussion is a spectrum, and not all are serious
Does it need to be monitored, obviously. But rather than deciding that it is or isnt serious, when we dont actually know......
  • 18 2
 @onawalk: TIL brain damage is not a serious injury.
  • 5 8
 @gnarnaimo: again, not my words, they were originally from the report of him being discharged.

Concussion is a wildly misunderstood
  • 5 6
 @gnarnaimo: For some, absolutely disastrous, others, no more serious than a bruise. Depends on the severity, the person, mechanism, past injuries, support, blah blah blah, you get it
  • 16 3
 @onawalk: Any brain damage is serious, IMO. You never know the repercussions that could affect you later in life due to what's occurred. Concussions are super scary. I remember an article on here years back of an xc athlete who sufferred a concussion, went on about her life and years later ended up in a wheelchair, with virtually no motor skills and unable to even talk. I can't remember the athletes name..but I'll take a broken bone over that!
  • 2 0
 @gnarnaimo: Maybe you're thinking of Lorraine Truong, although she was an Enduro racer and is kicking serious arse in Wheelchair Motorcross www.lorrainetruong.ch
  • 6 0
 @gnarnaimo: this is just it, I thought that as a sport we had outgrown the attitude that concussions were no big deal but here we are.
  • 14 1
 @yeah-nah-yeah: Concussions are woke propaganda......I have knocked myself out multiple times because helmets are a socialist conspiracy to control peoples brain waves.
It hasn't affeted me at all.
  • 1 2
 @watchmen: only someone with multiple instances of brain damage would say something like that…
  • 8 1
 @2004hyuandielantra: r/whooshaf
  • 2 0
 @korev: No, iirc the person has no motor skills and couldn't even talk, let alone compete in a wheelchair sport. I am pretty certain it was an xc racer
  • 15 1
 Ok but, I think everybody can agree, that gap has to be THE ugliest jump ever
  • 10 1
 Everyone... Brendog wasn't robbed at rampage, his canyon gap wasn't progressive or gnarly enough

Atherton's... Let's build a canyon gap for Hardline as it's not that progressive or gnarly according to Pinkbike warriors

Everyone... Canyon gap is insane, someone's gonna die, rip it down, it's mental

Brendog was probably harder as the run in want manicured and the ramps much narrower. Yes Bren had a choice and this is a race/event but it shows how progressive and out there Brens line was at Rampage. Quite possibly the gnarliest line ever and nothing should have touched it scoring wise as he raised the bar so far it was insane.
  • 10 0
 What about that hip over the waterfall. Bernard straight up said it wouldn’t work , and they didn’t even try to hit it in the vid.
  • 14 4
 Exactly. And with the canyon gap fiasco it seems that entire section is being taken out now and they are using the 'old' track. It's BAFFLING how those features were built. Like when the smaller/easier feature is being completely skipped because it doesn't make physical sense more or less on how you would angle off and land... That's bad. I'm still assuming the Athertons weren't on site for the builds or something. I don't think a rider at the level of doing those features was on site to notice it just wasn't gonna work -_-
  • 7 3
 @lepigpen: yep Athertons needs to be able to ride "their" features first!
  • 2 0
 @lepigpen: It looks like they ran out of time and just yeeted it.
  • 1 0
 @on-the-move: yep. gonna be a fun day reading all the comments of people who said theyre def gonna fix it and keep it in. as if there was ANY time for that lol. I'm not even against the feature. was just built wrong. both it and the hip jump before it.
  • 9 0
 The canyon gap is out (sensible)... Does that mean the right hip the BK didn't ride as he thought it wasn't possible or safe is also out?
Hardline is going to turn into hardly a line!
  • 9 1
 "click bait" mountain biking? There's longer jumps yes, but few come with this amount of distraction or consequence. It's a bit grotesque, a spectacle and not in a good way. When we all start talking about needing nets at MTB events, it's all gone a bit weird.

It's making me not want to watch it live TBH.
  • 18 12
 True progression in mountain biking comes from mastering the natural terrain.
"A common man marvels at uncommon things. A wise man marvels at the commonplace."
The natural terrain doesn't get enough likes for youtube I guess.
so now we need this monstrosity for the common man to marvel at.
  • 18 2
 Does the past 30 years of skinnies and wooden features up and down the Sea to Sky not count as progression or is a 4" skinny 25ft above the ground count because it's made from wood already in the forrest? Machine built jumps in every NWD (or any other mtb movie for that matter). What about events like crankworx? No progression or not mountain biking? What about lift or shuttle accessed trails?

I get there is "purity" in raw, natural trails, but to say anything outside of that isn't progression is just silly.
  • 13 1
 @jsnfschr: Fair points. I meant to emphasize natural terrain. The wooden features built by digger or red ted, or gravity logic in bike parks almost always blend in well and compliment the natural terrain.
This jump doesn't even use natural terrain on the takeoff or landing. It's not soluble in the environment.
  • 1 0
 @Andrewfdennis: The run in is a big rock. Mate it definitely used the terrain available on a creative way. The problem isn't that its not using the natural terrain, the problem was how dangerous it was.
  • 9 1
 Allegedly (according to the OTB podcast) the canyon gap has been scrapped.
  • 2 0
 Is there a ride around route? I heard there was but have not seen anything about it.
  • 9 0
 @warmerdamj: Go back to the old course maybe? Having a brand new feature only getting it's first ride this close to the event was alwas going to be a risk. I thought the riders spent the week before just practicing.
  • 1 0
 @warmerdamj: yeah in Bernards vid they take a cutline down which missed the first creek hip, which was also janky asf and then rolls down onto the landing of the scaffold gap, so it still has all the new stuff and then the big jumps. It'll be a steep gnarly cut line too.
  • 1 0
 @on-the-move: Nah, it cuts straight from them hitting the berms above the new hip jump to rolling down the old track. I'm not saying there's no way of linking it up, but it's not shown on BK's video.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8YXPSb-c6E @38.27
  • 2 1
 Brayton's trackwalk vlog confirms the canyon gap is out. It doesn't show the whole line, but it's the new track at the top and they rejoin the old one on the landing of the metal kicker (just before the cliff drop where Jess Blewitt got injured last year).
www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVuEK0Uypec
  • 7 0
 “Sunday, June 2 - FINALS
Mostly sunny and nice”


Not from round year eh boyo
  • 18 10
 Unpopular opinion… Bernard Kerr is an absolute tool.
  • 6 0
 Gee not riding?
  • 3 0
 "Thankfully, it looks like riders are in for better conditions than last year"

Except for the f*ck off big backyard plank jump of doom.
  • 5 1
 singletrackworld.com/2024/05/hardline-gap-jump-is-out
  • 3 0
 Holy shit... I hadn't seen that view angle from below Jimbo before. "I have to go now. My planet needs me."
  • 1 8
flag naptime FL (May 28, 2024 at 21:09) (Below Threshold)
 Hope this is Bullshit, FK team robot
  • 2 0
 Iconic photo.
  • 4 1
 Says cancelled last year but puts 2023 results. I think those are form 2022
  • 2 0
 What’s the prize money for men and women? I can only assume it’s decent given the names listed above and the fact that most are in the middle of competing for a WC.
  • 1 0
 I think it's 25K large? Just a guess.
  • 5 0
 ...Gap Got Robbed
  • 2 0
 Adam Brayton's Gas to Vlog on YouTube confirms it. Couldnt get netting in time which Bernard Kerr and Redbull wanted, so hopefully it will be reinstated next year.
  • 1 1
 So they produced a riders list for the women but then no women raced. Eh? The women's race wasn't even mentioned on RedBull TV coverage of the event either. It would be nice to know why there was no women's race this year. If it's because no women can complete the course then perhaps they should see if any can do so before they start touting that women are entering the race. Just looks bad imo.
  • 4 1
 They should rename this course: Redbull Running Man…
  • 1 0
 The Jim Munro shuffle
  • 3 0
 Szymon, Josh, Brendan Awesome!!
  • 5 6
 Too bad they decided to remove the gap! That was a pretty wild feature and got my adrenaline pumping watching Matt Jones slay that jump in his youtube video! He really upped his game recently! Either way, this is a hard core event and not for the timid! But, my guess is a 50% chance of this happening. The weather at this place is terrible!
  • 4 1
 It is no use keeping a feature if only one rider out of 10 will clear it. It is a timed race. For these kind of challenges we have rampage.
  • 3 0
 Jonesy is the guy who tried hardline on a hard tail and Bernard Is consistently the best rider and first to hit everything at Hardline and on WC tracks. The rest of the field would likely end up like Munro.
  • 1 0
 www.youtube.com/watch?v=YugJSSg2MZc
  • 1 0
 @opignonlibre: Well you only need one rider to clear it to have a winner.

………I’m totally kidding. I had to poke some fun before someone actually made that comment in total seriousness. I’m all about doing dumb shit safety. That jump needs some attention!
  • 4 0
 @RevedOut: Lewis Buchanan will hit it on monday morning for the YT views.


.......probably not kidding.
  • 2 0
 @watchmen: Video title: "I threw this gap in the dumpster. Catastrophic failure"

or some such nonsense.
  • 2 0
 @watchmen: You’re probably right. We all have different motivation to do things. To each their own. I’m just past the point in my life where I need “Likes” or “Views”.

I’m sure he will rip a 70’ no-hander though!!!
  • 1 0
 @RevedOut: He seems quite motivated to copy other peoples ideas for himself.
  • 1 0
 @opignonlibre: Valid point. I guess I didn't know what Gee and Company were going for with this being a timed race? Either way, that was pretty intense to watch in Matt's YT video!
  • 4 5
 Just mellow out the lip so the transition doesn't make the rider get bucked so savagely and put a net in. It's no more dangerous than any other section or gap on that course. Things could go terribly wrong on pretty much any part of that track
  • 3 0
 did they put the body count meter on the canyon gap?
  • 2 0
 Anyone know why Laurie isn't listed on this page as starting now? PB omission or pulled out?
  • 2 0
 Guessing the fact Jackson Goldstone is out for the world cup season after crashing at Hardline in Tasmania has something to do with it, can't see Santa Cruz being happy if both riders are injured doing non world cup races
  • 1 0
 "You can catch the live finals broadcast at 1:20pm GMT // 3:20 pm CEST // 6:20am am PDT on Red Bull TV."

Would have been nice to add what day that is.
  • 3 1
 More like Red Bull INSANE line! Yeeee!
  • 2 6
flag RedBurn (May 28, 2024 at 14:26) (Below Threshold)
 Nope
  • 4 2
 FANTASY hardline is here too! www.theracecompanion.com
  • 3 3
 Bummer that Jackson won’t be racing in this but it makes sense to stay healthy for what’s left of the downhill season for him.
  • 9 0
 He tore his knee like two months ago he’s not even coming back for downhill season let alone hardline.
  • 2 3
 @hukriede: yeah, I saw the crash during Hardline Tasmania. Unfortunate then too because he was flying out the start! That’s why it’s a bummer that he’s not racing yet.
  • 2 0
 Currently watching Bart the daredevil Simpson’s episode for context.
  • 2 0
 What's the track like? It's fckin deadly...
  • 2 0
 Vaea Verbeeck! but sadly no Gracie
  • 2 3
 In the enduro mx bike video the jump was still there so a high chance & the jump looked like the paint was off so they where probably rebuilding it
  • 6 0
 Looked like the mx was filmed a while ago, no green deck on the jump or landing built so assume was setting it up then. Could be taking it down though?
  • 1 0
 with the wind forecasted are we even going to get a final this year?
  • 4 3
 pinkbike pussies in the comments!
  • 1 0
 Well the canyon gap is out for this year.
  • 4 0
 Just watching Adam Braytons Vlog. Interesting that BK says he and Redbull wanted a net on the canyon gap. Gee didn’t want a net but either way that were unable to get one in time hence it’s not being used.

Can’t understand anyone not thinking a net was a good idea especially as you could have the camera angles set so you couldn’t see it.
  • 1 1
 Such a bunch of benders….
  • 2 2
 Can NOT Effing Wait!!!
  • 2 5
 Secretly hope that Tahnee and Ronan won't be racing. They're competing for the overall, and I really don't want to see another Jackson this season...
  • 3 1
 I hope they can ride their bikes as they see fit.
  • 5 8
 This comment section is the reason why 90% of you don’t get invited to ride the good shit- That and you don’t dig.
  • 1 1
 this comment section is crazy im excited for the event i dont need to read this shit i want to get hyped for the awesome event!
  • 2 5
 Coming up short on the 100ft'er isn't an option either. Let them cook.
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