Didn't fancy the 3am UK livestream? Forgot all about it? Wanna watch it again?
When photos first emerged of the canyon gap at Red Bull Hardline over the weekend we all gulped. Since then, quite a lot has happened. Here’s a round up of what’s what so far:
What Is That Canyon Gap?
For those who have been under a rock this weekend, here’s what the fuss is about.
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Who Is Riding At Hardline Wales 2024?
Who is lined up to tackle the course, and that gap? Here’s the men’s start list for Red Bull Hardline, Wales 2024:
| Adam Brayton | UK |
| Alex Storr | UK |
| Bernard Kerr | UK |
| Brendan Fairclough | UK |
| Brook MacDonald | NZL |
| Charlie Hatton | UK |
| Craig Evans | UK |
| Dennis Luffman | UK |
| Edgar Briole | FRA |
| Gaetan Vige | FRA |
| George Brannigan | NZ |
| Harry Molloy | UK |
| Jim Monro | UK |
| Jono Jones | UK |
| Josh Bryceland | UK |
| Josh Lowe | UK |
| Juanfer Velez | COL |
| Matt Jones | UK |
| Matteo Iniguez | FRA |
| Matteo Iniguez | FRA |
| Ronan Dunne | IRL |
| Sam Blenkinsop | NZ |
| Sam Gale | NZ |
| Sam Hockenhull | UK |
| Sebastian Holguin | COL |
| Szymon Godziek | POL |
| Taylor Vernon | UK |
| Theo Erlangsen | SA |
| Thibault Laly | FRA |
| Thomas Genon | BEL |
| Vincent Tupin | FRA |
..
Tahnée Seagrave, Cami Nogueira, Hannah Bergmann, Louise-Anna Ferguson and Vaea Verbeeck began training on Monday.
That Canyon Gap – The Reactions
Josh Bryceland reacted with a kit addition:
...
First Hits
Bernard Kerr tackled it first.
Then Matt Jones.
Then Jim Monro.
....
Sam Reynolds didn’t like how it looked, and he wasn’t wrong:
Sam does the ‘OK’ in inverted commas, and indeed, is a concussion OK? Yes, it’s better than falling into the actual canyon, but a brain injury is still an injury.
Got spat out of this one pretty hard but somehow came away with just a concussion, thanks everyone for the help off the hill
Jim Monro – Instagram
Brendan Fairclough is apparently less worried:
Dean Lucas thinks it’s all gone too far:
There’s a bit of debate over on the Forum about what’s driving this. Is it progression or attention seeking? Will people do this stuff anyway, or is it pressure for attention and sponsors? What’s the difference between this and Red Bull Rampage?
2p From Me
For me, the key difference between Red Bull Hardline and Red Bull Rampage is twofold. One: Nothing at Rampage is mandatory – even the built features that are provided don’t have to be ridden. You dig and build your own thing, to your own tune, to your own strengths. There’s no ‘here’s a thing if you think you’re hard enough’ pressure to add into the mix. Two: Hardline is a race. Riders aren’t just aiming to clear the features, they’re aiming to do it at speed. I’m unconvinced that switching between red-mist race brain and Nitro-Circus level feature clearing is a great combination.
I’ve have many debates with people before about the ways in which I think Red Bull Rampage manages to tread just the right side of controlled risk taking vs glorifying self destruction. I don’t think I can step to the defence of this feature in the context of Hardline.
2p From Mark
He’s lucky to be alive and the problem I have is that the cost of entry to trying something like this is a bike, some wood and a massively dangerous drop. The first death from this is probably likely to be someone copying it in their local quarry.
Caveat: I’m 53 years old.
Back in the ‘olden’ days impressive stunts like this were common on the tellybox. Saturday night TV was full of it. But there was always a big fat notice or a presenter who said, ‘Don’t try this at home…. professional this and that blah’. Not that this made any difference to whether kids went into the park and spannered themselves but it at least showed that the producers were aware of the risks and the danger that showing it could cause. Red Bull don’t seem to care at all as long as it gets the clicks and engagement. I have a moral issue with this stuff and the fact the driving force is weighted too much towards commercial interests with questionable care given to the consequences. The policy seems to be, go bigger than we did last time, which is kind of how it’s always been in all endeavors but at some point there’s going to be a limiting line and the price of crossing that line was almost paid in full by Jim here. If they really cared there would have been a net up right from the start, although it would not have helped Jim. They got really lucky. The Risk Asessement doc must be interesting read, if there is one.
I know, I know. I sound just like my dad.
2p From Benji
Maybe the riders like doing things like this? I imagine they’ve been doing stupid shit since young, which is how they got where they are. That’s my Devil’s Advocate mode. Not sure if I’m fussed either way tbh!
Add your 2p… head to the comments and/or vote in this poll:
How To Watch Hardline
If you’ve still got the stomach to watch it, Hardline will be broadcastlive globally on Red Bull TV on Sunday 2nd June at 2.30pm GMT. Ahead of the event, the week’s best action from course walk and practice will be on the Red Bull Bike YouTube.
Replay of Red Bull Hardline Tasmania (no spoilers)
How to watch Red Bull Hardline Tasmania – or be there in Wales
It's big news week for Red Bull Hardlines. Yes, plural.
Hardline Canyon Gap Jump Is Out
We’ve been informed by a source at the event that the organisers have decided not to include the canyon gap jump as part of the Red Bull Hardline course.The news…
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