Canadian junior downhill racer Jackson Goldstone has earned himself a Red Bull sponsorship and helmet after a stellar breakout first year in the World Cup series.
Goldstone ended 2021 as World Cup overall champion, Junior World Champion and winner of three World Cups in his first year as a junior. He is also a former Whip-Off World Champion and has starred in a number of viral mountain bike videos since he was still riding a balance bike.
Goldstone
announced the news on Instagram, saying he thought he was showing up to do a Fox photoshoot with Finn Iles, but then the Canadian Red Bull athlete presented him with his own Red Bull lid instead.
 | The best surprise of my life! I thought the plan was to do a Fox photo shoot but @finniles absolutely blew my mind by giving me my first Red Bull helmet. I'm so stoked to join the @redbullcanada family and I’m ready for 2022!
Riding in the helmet feels unreal and I don’t think the hype will ever wear off! Got some content with the guys and excited to share more soon.
Big thanks Eric, Mack, Finn and dad for making the day so special. Let’s go!—Jackson Goldstone |
Goldstone will race with a Red Bull helmet in the World Cup series next year and becomes the third junior downhill racer of recent times to earn the attention of the energy drink giant following Vali Holl and Finn Iles.
Jackson's family was there to celebrate.
Be safe be well,
Incognito Robin
Be safe be well,
Incognito Robin
He actually came back for a little bit after the ban, but then seemed to have disappeared again.
According to him wearing a Redbull helmet is the most prestigious thing an "Extreme" Sport Athlete can wear.
Fact is Jackson looks super excited in the pictures and red Bull are probably more than likely happy, SO who really cares who may be the biggest benefactor? Really? what do any of us know?
If he's happy, congrats!!
Travis Rice ect all wear?
I'm sure he's well aware of how lucky he is to put on that helmet.
This headline makes you look like gullible saps Pinkbike.
I know you're not - so please consider the language you use around marketing "stories" like this.
Your comment is weird. "Jackson rips, red bull want a part of that." You might as well say: Redbull has money, Jackson wants a part of that. Both are true, that's literally how every exchange of work for currency functions.
it goes down to personality and case by case, i am sure Gwin or Gee didnt make a huge deal, when compared to Pastrana or Daniel Ricciardo.
Might be that they've intentionally built up the prestige of "getting to wear our helmet" so that the athlete cares more about that than a fair contract.
edit: thinking about it more, anybody getting a red bull helmet should be getting more from their other sponsors, because you're more marketable if you have that "prestige" but that money isn't coming out of Red Bull's pocket.
So rafters, how much do riders actually get paid by red bull to wear a red bull helmet? It’s interesting that there is a ton of hype and comments about riders making a stack out of it… but there are never any actual numbers. It makes me think it’s not that much. If it was really a big pay day surely someone would eventually let the cat out of the bag. Keeping it secret makes me sceptical. Everyone thinks I’m getting PAID… but in actual fact it’s just $1200 and two crates of red bull for the year. A bit embarrassing considering the attention it brings - better keep the details on the D.L.
www.pinkbike.com/video/147106
This article (a couple years old now) says it's the most viewed in all of Pinkbike history:
www.pinkbike.com/news/must-watch-pinkbikes-50-best-edits-of-the-decade.html
Wild guess - he mentions his dad being involved; probably spends a significant amount of time on the deals side of Jackson's career and this was one avenue that worked out successfully, ergo: the kid is surprised!
Same thing for Martin Maes a few years back. He said it was pretty unexpected, he had been talking with them for a bit but the contract just showed up randomly without any notice.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfA-rCOG80s&t=1069s
She doesn't really talk about how they agreed on compensation or anything though.
I'm also curious as to why Greg Minnaar never rode for Redbull despite being the Goat. Might not be his thing?
Then, over a period of time, they get to know them, see how they are progressing, if they are the right fit for the brand. Occasionally they make someone a full RedBull athlete by presenting the helmet... yes it's a surprise, but the athlete will have had a relationship with RedBull for months if not years by that point. It's not entirely out the blue, but they never know if it will actually happen or not.
Probably the next gen of riders simply couldn't afford to skip a red bull's offer since money wasn't just there anymore to support them
FWIW, I have on multiple occasions wanted some sort of outdoor energy snack, and have selected a clif bar because I recognise the brand from Greg - otherwise I might not have heard of it. On the other hand, I have never exchanged money for a can of Redbull when a choice has been presented to me.
www.pinkbike.com/video/545100
I wonder how close Jackson, Jordon Williams etc can get to the top boys over the next few years. They are only 5% off just now as youngsters which is crazy, it is hard mentally when you go up from winning in juniors to around 20th, but I am pretty sure Jackson is gonna be right up there.
It's much easier to go fast when you are winning your category and down at a different time.
It's going to be really interesting to see what happens this year, so exciting that there are youngsters coming through now that have the potential to challenge the top boys.
1 mistake though can now cost him qualifying, the times are so tight, that's a new pressure to deal with for Jackson but he seems to have the mental capacity to deal with that. It's probably what makes him so exciting.
Some words to help you keep your sponsor AND your health;
RedBull ON the bottle. Water IN the bottle.
#drinkwater
Goldstone wasn't a RedBull athlete already?
I had it in my mind that he already was. I'm happy for him.
If people keep it under wraps that suggests to me that they're not actually making that much and they don't want to admit it.
That said, a comprehensive fringe benefits package is gold if the benefits are things you want.
Which would you rather have? A red bull helmet sponsorship for life, or a bonus year’s salary?
Now where is the helmet for Gracey Hemstreet?
That’s a fair deal for 8 cans I think.
Seems like a nice/grounded guy too…although I’ve only seen him speak once, what do I know.
Congrats either way Jackson…I remember watching you on that balance bike years ago as I’m sure most others do too. What a trip.
2nd, 1st, 1st, 1st, 2nd, 2nd
And DH Jr. world champion.
All in his first year of racing UCI. While still playing freerider at 9 knights.
Lol
The amount of talent now worldwide is dense and ever growing. Jackson won his right to wear it