Red Bull Hardline 2015 Photostory

·Thursday 15 September 2016

There have been bigger gaps, steeper runs and more exposure on tracks in the past.

But never put together against the clock, with a drone buzzing above your head capturing all the footage for the world to see, that was Red Bull Hardline.

Reece Wilson deserves first mention. He took the course in his stride and despite a few heavy knocks threw down the style at every opportunity. One to watch!

Make no mistake, the gaps were huge. This wasn’t a track built so that all entrants could get down, in the end only eight riders made it through to the final race, the rest whittled down through injury, skill or sheer self preservation. Some of the world’s best bike handlers turned up and in the end the 2007 Junior Mountain Bike World Champion, Ruaridh Cunningham, took home the trophy and the prize money.

What could've been. The gap that no-one could clear.. yet.. — What could’ve been. The gap that no-one could clear.. yet..

Sunday morning rolled around and the first squint out of the window beckoned blue skies, good news after Saturdays storm clouds. What did the track look like? Had it dried up? Would they run the whole course? Bit by bit news filtered through and the riders went up to session parts of the track, ready for the single race run in the afternoon. Riders pushed the limits and the track bit back, nerves building all the time.

Kye had some huge offs in practice and some big hits to the head. Hardline is not the place for a rattled brain.

Red Bull and Jeep really stepped it up for this event – riders whisked up to the start in Jeeps, top notch organisation all made it feel very special.

Craig Evans and Ad Brayton were never far away - whipping it wherever possible — Craig Evans and Ad Brayton were never far away – whipping it wherever possible

Second place for Joe Smith was well deserved - he looked focussed and fast all weekend — Second place for Joe Smith was well deserved – he looked focussed and fast all weekend

That wasn't the whole story for Joe Smith though. A couple of hours before final runs and this happened, it took him a long time to get up.. Made of tough stuff — That wasn’t the whole story for Joe Smith though. A couple of hours before final runs and this happened, it took him a long time to get up.. Made of tough stuff

Bernard Kerr took the air-shock equipped Pivot all the way to finals

Despite his joking around Brayton is a through and through competitor

Ruaridh Cunningham - who would've thought it back in 2007? — Ruaridh Cunningham – who would’ve thought it back in 2007? And yes – the jumps are that big

The crowds were fantastic - despite long waits between riders they cheered like mad — The crowds were fantastic – despite long waits between riders they cheered like mad

Watching from the halfway point most riders got through the top section cleanly, disappearing off into the woods for the steep run down into the frankly ridiculous road gap. Ruaridh had put down a solid run, Joe Smith was looking fast but a huge crash earlier in the day must be praying on his body and mind, it wasn’t enough. Just Gee left.

Just Gee to go, he’d been top of the timesheets, the course built by his sibling. Surely time to claim back the Atherton crown after the course took Dan out on Tuesday? Then the message on the radio – a rider had blown the tyre off the rim. Then we saw Gee – skidding down the course on the rim. Pushing back up and around the hip jump, determined to make it to the end.

Red Bull Hardline pushed the limits this year, right to the very edge. It didn’t feel like a race, more of a show – perhaps the sheer scale of the video production team put a normal mountain bike event to shame. We can’t wait to see what Red Bull produce from this, nor for the event next year. Bring it on!