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Can’t get my head around the size of those new features. It’s a shame Kolb pulled out, but at the same time, respect to him for being there in the first place. Great to see Gee back and firing, unbelievable considering what he’s been through. Goldstone looks awesome on the vids I’ve seen, style for days and good to see the Irish guys doing well too. Just hope no one smashes themselves up too bad today, it’s beyond brutal this track.
It’s live now for anyone that missed the time change… and so far it’s a royalty free zone (Warner excepted)
Josh Lowes crash from yesterday looks horrible.
😲 Jackson
Jeepers! That's epic from the youngster.
The big boys even in WC are getting more and more worried for next year with the youngsters
Based on a fairly recent video, I reckon I could take him…
Amazing run. Rapid as.
Gutted for Bernard 😭
I’m not a racer but it was obvious without the clock that Jackson was tons faster. Awesome riding through the tech (assuming they’re all much the same speed over the motorway stuff).
FFS
Was out on the bike earlier and then spent a few hours doing some garden stuff with the plan of watching Hardline once the replay was up
Just sat down to watch it. Went to the Red Bull app, clicked on replay and the screen popped up with a bunch of text announcing that Jackson had won. 😭
Someone might want to put a spoiler alert on this thread.
It’s not us that’s spoiling, RB has form for this. You need your partner or kids to load it up for you.
Tbh you open a thread titled "redbull hard-line" a couple of hours after the event and not expect a spoiler then I'm slightly lacking in sympathy
Ooh, that was a bit good. I really enjoyed Rachel’s commentary too. ‘What does a scaphoid really do?’
Rachel was good at reminding us that the Continental rubber was hooking up really good.
Another fan of Rachel's commentary. Totally at ease until Gee was racing. Plenty of personality alongside her knowledge and experience. I especially enjoyed her kestrel impressions!
And it was a great race. Totally gutted for Adam and Bernard. Not surprised to see Jackson do well. He's been hitting huge jumps for years, even at just 18. I remember watching the videos of his 11 year old self. He was incredible then. EDIT: just watched Tom's post. He was sending it way before 11 then!
Next season (when it arrives) should be very interesting.
The winning run was off the hook! Definitely going next year...
Superb race, there was a tension before every rider started, it wasn’t like the start of a world cup. Good to see all the crashes were relatively slow speed, it really all came down to the manky bit of woods at the top, that rock slab going into it.
Goldstones run was so sharp. The berms after the massive gaps were unbelievable.
Gutted for Kerr, sure the split came up green just as he went down.
This is even scarier than his Val Di Sole runs.
Magnificent racing. Got quite emotional when Gee crossed the finish line. And 6th, what a legend.
That kid who won, he's tiny! I was checking his riding out on youtube after the he was so fast in the D?H racing. What a rider, what a future that lad has!
Gutted more for Charlie Hatton, race ruined first turn because the berm collapsed.
Yeah disappointing for Charlie Hatton, kind of hoped given the community feel of the event (I’ve been watching Jono’s vids), the riders would’ve had a 30 second powwow and agreed to let him restart.
Rachel was good at reminding us that the Continental rubber was hooking up really good.
Yeah I noticed that 😂 Rob just stayed quiet.
Yeah such a shame for Charlie.
I mean it was in feet of the start. Totally should have just told him to start again.
Someone might want to put a spoiler alert on this thread.
What the hell for?
The title of years thread couldn't be any clearer.
I didn’t think much to rach in commentary. Her main aim ended to be to plug her sponsors rather than talk about the race. I found the endless hype trying to make it sound like the race was important when most of the worlds elite don’t even bother turning up very tiresome
Agree I thought Rachel’s commentary was awful. Jono Jones should have been on
So is that Bernard Kerr retiring? I wouldn’t be surprised, especially watching his last vlog
when most of the worlds elite don’t even bother turning up very tiresome
Didn’t turn up, or weren’t invited?
Went today with my son. It’s not the easiest spectator spectacle but the features are huge. Great atmosphere, got a touch of sunburn! And the lad got a photo with Jackson..
most of the worlds elite don’t even bother turning up
Give us a list of WC racers who are capable of following Nico Vink and Brendan Fairclough down Fest Session sized jumps? Nope?
Give us a list of freeriders who are mega fast in the tech? Nope?
Jacksons sessioned Fest and cut his teeth being progresses through Woodward's mega ramps by all manner of the worlds best freeriders. His early jr WC race results were pretty unexpected I think and were quite the surprise as far as I understand it as his early focus wasn't DH race.
There's are so few crossover athletes really capable of doing it.
Semenuk would've been a great participant but Rampage being a higher priority and now with edits and rally paying the bills I cant see the risk/reward.
It's a tricky one as there must be a risk/reward thing for some/many riders. Obviously HArdline is pretty bonkers and doing a shoulder/wrist comes really easiy. But i'd be many of them just come for the experience and would do whether they're getting paid or whether they're told by the sponsors etc... Just for a laugh and to see if they can.
Clearly though with some of this years line up, the pro DH racers CAN come and get down it.. but obviously it's not for everyone.
Watched the last 8 or so riders come down yesterday. Was close until Goldstone came down - I don't follow DH at all anymore so didn't really know any of the names but that lad was up at the first split and just kept going faster and faster!
With regard to who turned up - I thought Hardline was basically a glorified mates race or it used to be hence the huge home nations contingent...
It's a shame that 3 of the 4 top seeds came unstuck in the first 20 seconds of the run. Hopefully that's not the last we see of grandad and bk. Both seemed gutted at the end.
You have to be impressed by Jackson though. Will be interesting to see him and Jordan Williams in the seniors (although both have shown senior pace already).
Didn’t turn up, or weren’t invited?
Doesn’t really matter. The point is they have been trying to big this up as some super prestigious event yet most of the best WC DH riders and teams arent there. IMHO it just shows that its more hype than substance.
yet most of the best WC DH riders and teams arent there
That's because it's not a DH event ? Most of them are not at Rampage either... does that lessen the status of Rampage ?
IMHO it just shows that its more hype than substance.
Did you watch the same thing I did? I saw some very high-stakes and extremely impressive riding. Plenty substance if you ask me. Hardline was started by the Athertons and has gradually grown over the years. Its managed and designed for riders by riders.
I am not sure there are that many lining up to race this event (or even capable of doing so). I understand that plenty of the worlds best have turned up, taken a look, hit a few lines and decided its not for them.
I for one am glad that Red bull continue to support and put out such free-to-view events.
Doesn’t really matter. The point is they have been trying to big this up as some super prestigious event yet most of the best WC DH riders and teams arent there. IMHO it just shows that its more hype than substance.
You're right. A real racer should come along and show them how it's done. Someone invite Gregg Minnaar.
On second thoughts, didn't Gregg come to ride it once and didn't get his bike out of the van? It must have been beneath his abilities.
yet most of the best WC DH riders and teams arent there
maybe they dont want to be? A few years ago Minnaar came to do the commentary. He brought his bike too, sat at the top of the road gap for an hour and didnt do it.
And that is the greatest racer of all time.
This year Gee described the road gap as the easiest of the big features and the one to do first.
Respect to Kolb for withdrawing gracefully, takes a lot of guts to say you cant do it, especially when riding for the Atherton team at their event.
it just shows that its more hype than substance.
It's more for the riders than it is for us. Like Rampage is. I guess that's your problem
It’s more for the riders than it is for us
Really ? I have no idea how much it costs to put it on, but the logistics on the hill and the numerous lorries carrying all the kit I would say well over £100k.
If it was for the riders it wouldnt be on Red Bull TV
Have to say though the race day was the was disappointing day out of it all, all the vlogs look like it was more fun and 'for the riders' at the start of the week
Have to say though the race day was the was disappointing day out of it all
In what way ?
Agree I thought Rachel’s commentary was awful
I really enjoyed Rachel Atherton's commentary. I thought it was insightful and added some much needed balance to Rob Warner's unbounded excitement. There were a number of times when Rachel was saying something interesting and Rob seemed to talk over with something less interesting.
Still like Rob though. I thought it was a good pairing.
I do think the Athertons did not do as good a job of the course this year.
BK's crash on the jump should never have happened, and there is no way the racers should have been testing the course to check it is actually ridable. The adjustments made to the jumps showed they got it wrong.
The berm blowing out is also not acceptable, and there was concern raised on the softness of the berms in the early track walk.
More hype than substance? Hmm.
For what it's worth my missus and daughter actively watched most of Hardline with me yesterday, they barely last 10 minutes of a UCI DH or XC race.
For me, I enjoy watching DH and seeing at which point I reckon I could mince my way down to before having to call it quits. For Hardline it'd be a very short run, even at my slow pace! 🤣
I love Hardline, as does my daughter, it’s the only unmissable event we will watch each year. The skill and courage of the riders is immense 🙂 Jackson’s run, that was something else!
For me, I enjoy watching DH and seeing at which point I reckon I could mince my way down to before having to call it quits. For Hardline it’d be a very short run, even at my slow pace! 🤣
Me too!
I reckon Fort Bill is the best bet, think I could make it (slowly) to the deer gate. Some have a mandatory gap basically at the bottom of the start ramp (Lourdes) that I'm pretty sure would kill me.
For Hardline it’d be a very short run
Reckon I could just about get to the lip of the cannon out of the woods before I started crying.
Don’t think I’ve ever been the speed required to clear it on an MTB…