Athlete Spotlight: Brett Rheeder

Brett Rheeder didn’t grow up near mountains. In fact, he grew up in Mount Albert, Ontario — a place so flat, the closest thing to a hill might’ve been the local skatepark.

And yet, he became one of the greatest mountain bikers of all time.

🏆 2x Red Bull Rampage Champion
🏆 4x FMB World Tour Champ (the most in history)
🏆 Only X Games gold medalist in MTB slopestyle

Not bad for a kid who started out playing hockey.

Rheeder found mountain biking around age 10. By 13, he was throwing backflips into a self-built foam pit in his backyard. No mountains? No problem — his dad, who owned a demolition company, helped build his first dirt jumps.

His first pro comp came in 2009 at age 16 at Crankworx Colorado. He crashed hard in practice and realized he needed to adapt fast. But by 2012, things changed — he signed with Trek and placed 4th overall in the FMB World Tour.

In 2013, Rheeder did the unthinkable: won slopestyle gold at the only X Games to ever host MTB. He edged out his long-time rival Brandon Semenuk in a wind-blown showdown in Munich.

Over the next decade, Rheeder racked up wins at Vienna Air King, Bearclaw Invitational, Red Bull Joyride, and two victories at Red Bull Rampage (2018 and 2022). He also built one of the most iconic backyard training compounds in BC — complete with features that helped riders like Tom Van Steenbergen prep for their Rampage runs.

But Rheeder’s story isn’t just one of progression — it’s also one of reinvention.

He stepped back from slopestyle in 2019, citing mental health and burnout. He focused on freeride and came back strong, winning Rampage again in 2022. In 2023, he announced it would be his last big contest.

Since then, Rheeder’s shifted gears. He founded Title MTB, a premium components brand (which he later sold), and recently launched Bookyrslf, a marketplace for athletes to monetize their skills. Rumor has it, he’s also working on launching his own bike company in 2025.

Today, you can book a session at his backyard compound, race against him at local DH events, or learn from him at the Brett Rheeder Invitational.

He’s a builder. A mentor. A visionary.
And somehow still, one of the most humble guys in the sport.

Not bad for a farm kid from Ontario.