Welcome to RECON, the email delivering your MTB news every Friday in < 5 mins.

Today is the last day of February which means prime riding season is just around the corner.

Give yourself a pat on the back for surviving the winter and don’t forget RECON is officially launching on 3/18 with a huge announcement.

On Today’s Descent:

• 🇨🇱 Red Bull’s Insane Urban DH Race Returns

• ⛰ Mountain Biking’s Viking Warrior

• ⚙️ Pene’s Big Time Gearbox Win

RACING

🐂 Chaos In The Streets

Just when you thought MTB racing had reached the peak of mental…

This Sunday, the most fearless downhill mountain bikers in the world will be flying down staircases and carving city streets in Valparaíso, Chile.

As the original urban downhill race, Red Bull Cerro Abajo Valparaíso is returning marks its 22nd anniversary this weekend as the world’s largest competition of its kind.

What's the Hype About?

Imagine bombing down narrow alleyways, soaring over massive stair sets, and threading through historic urban landscapes at breakneck speeds. That's urban downhill racing, a discipline many consider to be mountain biking’s most dangerous.

The Backstory

Urban Downhill got its start in the early 2000’s when fearless riders decided that bombing jungle trails just wasn’t enough. 20 years after Valparaíso’s first official urban downhill race in 2003, Red Bull officially created the Cerro Abajo race series in 2023 with three calendar stops.

The series is credited with growing awareness for mountain biking in urban environments as well as in South America which is one of MTB’s fastest growing markets. Last year’s race in Genoa was the event’s first appearance in Europe, signalling Red Bull’s plans to expand it.

Here's the schedule for 2025:

• Valparaíso, Chile: March 2, 2025

• Guanajuato, Mexico: March 29, 2025

• Genoa, Italy: Date to be announced

What Went Down in 2024?

Like in other downhill race series, consistency is key, and Colombian Juanfer Vélez proved he’s built different. After dominating the second race in Guanajuato (Mexico) and snagging 2nd in Genoa, he clinched the overall Cerro Abajo title for the second year in a row with a narrow victory over fan favorite Tomas Slavik.

How To Watch?

Stream all the high-flying action live on Red Bull TV this Sunday, Mar 2 with the one and only Rob Warner Eliot Jackson on the microphones.

ATHLETES

🛡 Mountain Biking’s Viking Warrior

No one in the world can ride a bike like Brage Vestavik.

The freeride star is nicknamed the “Viking” for his Norwegian roots, warrior-like appearance, and hard hitting style that has seen him break 22 helmets by just the age of 26.

But who truly is Brage?

We did some digging to understand how a former downhill racer transitioned into the greatest big mountain freerider of his generation.

Backstory

Born in Mysen, Norway, Brage was pretty much destined to be a beast on the mountain bike. His dad, Arnebjørn Vestavik, is also a passionate rider who helped guide his son into the sport.

Even after their house burned down when he was two years old, Brage didn’t slow down—ripping around on his toddler bike non-stop at his grandparents’ place. When their new house was built, Brage turned the empty backyard into his own playground, stacking construction materials into sketchy but sendable obstacles. It wasn’t long before he was tearing up Hafjell Bike Park and riding with Norwegian freeride legends Makken and Trond Hansen.

The Rise Of A Freeride Icon

Brage started racing downhill young, hitting his first Norwegian DH Cup at just nine years old on a 24” Kona Stinky. While he raced World Cups with Devinci in 2016 and later joined the MS-Mondraker development team, his true passion was always in big sends and freeride creativity so he shifted his focus fully to making content.

That’s when things really took off.

His 2021 X Games Real MTB edit was a game changer, putting his wild style on full display and earning him serious respect in the freeride world. He did more cool projects like ANYTIME with Kade Edwards and Brett Rheeder, and even rode at Rampage in 2021 but crashed out after hitting a monster drop in practice. In 2023, he sent the legendary 55-foot Jah Drop in BC—22 years after its first attempt in 2001. Though he took a hard hit on landing, he didn’t crash!

Planet Alaska – The Next Level

Recently Brage unleashed Planet Alaska, a mind-blowing ride through the rugged Alaskan landscape. The film captures his signature style—huge drops, raw lines, and that unpredictable, do-or-die energy that makes him one of the gnarliest riders out there. The project brings freeride back to its roots—big mountains, no limits, just pure shredding.

Brage’s goal with his career is simple: to create timeless content.

TECH

🚨 Gear Patrol

Hope Technology Unveils 35mm Rise Carbon Handlebar

British brand Hope Technology has just dropped a new 35mm rise carbon handlebar, perfect for those seeking a higher rise option, maybe inspired by the likes of Dakotah Norton. Designed and manufactured in the UK, this bar is available exclusively with a 35mm clamp diameter.

Atherton’s S.200 Downhill Machine Hits The Market

Atherton Bikes has officially made the S.200 for sale, a downhill bike that's both affordable and playful, making it ideal for bike park sessions. Despite its fun nature, it's fully capable of handling DH race courses. The S.200 features CNC-machined lugs and makes the Atherton makes more interesting to a wider MTB audience.

Nukeproof Survives The Bikepocalypse

Iconic brand Nukeproof has been acquired by Belgian Cycling Factory (BCF). BCF owns other brands like Ridley and Eddy Merckx bikes and aims to bring fresh energy and distribution to Nukeproof's lineup.

FraceBike Introduces Gearbox DH Prototype

Fracebike from Germany has unveiled a new downhill prototype featuring a fully machined and bonded frame equipped with a Pinion gearbox. Developed with former German champion Simon Maurer and tech expert Timo Pries, this 29er bike is tailored for taller riders and emphasizes superior rollover capabilities. The design allows for easy adjustments to stiffness and geometry through interchangeable links and a replaceable rear bridge.

RACING

⚙️ Belt Drives For The Win

Tuhoto-Ariki Pene just secured what could be the first elite men’s national championship victory on a belt drive and gearbox equipped Zerode downhill bike.

On Sunday, the 23-year-old riding for MS Racing won the 2025 New Zealand DH National Championship title in Rotorua, edging out last year’s champ Lachlan Stevens-McNab by over a second.

Pene’s win is made more impressive when you consider just how fast McNab has been riding lately. In our previous newsletter we discussed his wicked 7 second win over Bernard Kerr at Crankworx.

With all the news around gearboxes, Pene’s win is significant as the first high profile race where a gearbox rider has taken 1st place.

Is this proof riders on gearbox bikes can win at elite events like UCI races? The $100K Gates prize is ready to be claimed.

RIDING SCHOOL

👐 How To Tuck No Hander

This section of our newsletter is written by MTB education app Mastery, founded by Justin Rausch (@OneMTB) where we bring you the advice of pro riders to sharpen your skills out there.

The tuck no-hander is one of the most stylish and rewarding tricks in mountain biking, combining control, confidence, and commitment.

While it may look intimidating, breaking it down into simple steps makes it much easier to learn. In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to master the trick and send it with style.

How to Tuck No-Hander on Your MTB

1. Set Up for the Trick

   • Approach with a comfortable speed and a stable stance.

   • Keep your pedals level and grip the bike firmly.

   • Pick a jump that gives you enough airtime to execute the trick safely.

2. Get into the Tuck Position

   • As you leave the lip, pull the handlebars into your lap.

   • Keep your chest low and squeeze the top tube with your knees for control.

3. Let Go of the Bars

   • Once stable in the tuck, extend your arms out to release the handlebars.

   • Keep your core engaged and your vision forward to stay balanced.

   • Start with a quick release before progressing to a full extension.

3. Grab the Bars and Prepare for Landing

• Bring your hands back to the grips before the bike starts dropping.

• Open up your body position to regain control and stabilize.

• Keep your eyes on the landing to prepare for impact.

With Mastery, you can learn MTB skills fast. Several courses are launching this Spring from top pros so If you haven’t yet, be sure to join the app’s waitlist.

🎥 Video Of The Week

Over 1700 spectators pulled up to witness the madness

🎧 Podcast Of The Week

FMD athlete Phoebe Gale about the ups and downs of being a pro!

🌊 Wipeout Of The Week

This famous wipeout is from 2014 when a spectator tried to ride an injured Adam Brayton’s bike to the bottom of the course

📊 Last Week’s Poll Results

The jury is out!

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Is Hardline Canada Coming?

This newsletter is written with ❤️ every week by Nic Bean, Michael Sikand, Justin Rausch, and Marc Brodesser