Wild West vs Wales – Video Head To Head

Two new video releases from this week – which gets your adrenaline pumping, your feet carrying you to the shed, your braking fingers twitching?

Wild West 2

First up, Tom Van Steenbergen’s follow-up to his September 2020 Wild West video, by Calvin Huth. Wild West 2 contains a bag of never before done tricks, and even the ones we’ve seen before probably aren’t anything you’re going to replicate away from a very large airbag. Of course, Tom’s season came to an abrupt end at Red Bull Rampage, where he sustained multiple fractures. Hopefully he’ll heal up well and this won’t be the last we see of the Wild West Series.

Directed again by Calvin Huth, his unique editing style will you on the edge of your seat, feeling every beat of Tom’s riding as he pushes the sport to its limits once again.

“It’s so rad to be able to do another Wild West video. Calvin and Dan absolutely killed it. Seeing how much everyone improved their skills over the last year is sick. I can proudly say that this is the most technical and best riding I’ve ever done for a video, which was a big challenge after coming back from a femur break. I’m so pumped to finally share this one.“

Tom Van Steenbergen 

“Once again, it was an absolute blast to be on another big project with Tom. The days can get intense out there very quickly. Especially since Tom drops huge moves as if he’s ordering appetizers during happy hour! Even knowing he’s done the necessary work to prepare, it’s still so gnarly! The reward from helping build, film, and then getting to edit Tom progressing the sport and achieve his personal goals… It’s a wonderful thing to be a part of.

I am super grateful to work with such an amazing crew, I can’t wait for Tom to heal up and get back to doing what he loves! It’s projects like this that keep us coming back. Thank you to adidas Five Ten and Monster for supporting the sport.”

Calvin Huth, Director

Costa Del Wales

The second video is a different ball of wax altogether. Whereas Tom’s video has the slick feel of tricks practiced over and over, then performed again and again to get the shots for the film, this Caldwell Visuals production has a raw and rough ‘you get what you get’ feel to it.

Despite being from neighbouring valleys, neither Mike or Cai have ever ridden together properly. Both from special stock, both have their own trails that they build and shred on. We gathered these sensational shredders to show off the beauty that is “Costa Del Wales”. Both riders are on Mega 290c, Cai on a Factory and Mike on the RS versions.

With the kind of forestry plantation terrain that is familiar to many of us, and the wheels more or less on the ground – and at least under the rider rather than up in the sky – perhaps this is the more relatable video? But is it the one that makes you want to go and ride? Which inspires you to push onwards and ride more?

Or maybe that’s not what mountain bike videos are for – maybe you want to be awed and amazed and you don’t care whether it looks attainable? Pick your favourite and tell us why – or maybe both leave you cold? Head to the comments!

Hannah Dobson

Managing Editor

I came to Singletrack having decided there must be more to life than meetings. I like all bikes, but especially unusual ones. More than bikes, I like what bikes do. I think that they link people and places; that cycling creates a connection between us and our environment; bikes create communities; deliver freedom; bring joy; and improve fitness. They're environmentally friendly and create friendly environments. I try to write about all these things in the hope that others might discover the joy of bikes too.

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