Welcome back to the #1 MTB newsletter brought to you by RECON, mountain biking’s fastest growing media brand and online store.

On today's ride:

•  🏁 High Society: Crankworx Whistler is full speed ahead!

•  🍟 Desert calling - Rampage Riders revealed.

•  🍎 Zink Invitational: Highlights from Nevada

👇 Quick Picks

🚨 New record: Kate Courtney triumphes at Leadville 100

Keegan Swenson and Kate Courtney totally owned the Leadville 100 MTB 2025. Both broke away at Columbine, then crushed the second half solo, leaving everyone else way behind. Former XCO World Cup-Champion Courtney made her debut extra epic with a new course record, beating last year’s champ Melisa Rollins. For her, the race was a break from the World Cup grind — and she made it count on her Allied BC40 full suspension rig!

💥Norco Bicycles introduces the fast and light Revolver

The 2026 Norco Revolver just dropped, rocking flex stays instead of the old Horst link setup. Geometry’s a bit longer and slacker, but it still climbs like a champ. Greg Minnaar’s already stoked on it after putting it through hard test runs on gnarly, technical descents. Two flavors share the same carbon frame: the race-ready 115mm rear / 120mm fork combo, and the rowdier “light trail” build with 120mm out back and a 130mm fork.

🏁 The Freeride Viking is back: New Brage Vestavik edit

Brage Vestavik just dropped his first full Canadian project – and it’s a banger (watch below at Video Of the Week). Trolldom was filmed deep in BC’s backcountry with Steve Vanderhoek and crew, turning raw slabs, cedar, and rock into a wild freeride playground. It’s pure North Shore vibes: hand-split wood, old-school freeride spirit, and Brage’s own heavy style. Shot by Blur Media, the film is part tribute, part fresh chapter – keeping the freeride dream alive.

RACING

Crankworx Whistler 2025 – 20 Years of Going Full Send

Whistler has been running at full throttle this week as Crankworx marks its 20th anniversary — two decades of dirt, speed, style, and more than a few broken records (and bones). The atmosphere? Electric. The trails? Ruthless. The riders? Absolutely on one.

And to kick it all off, the festival’s opening salvo was fired down the legendary Canadian Open DH track — the same brutal strip where Stevie Smith cemented his legacy. The roots were slick, the berms deep, and the vibe pure West Coast MTB.

Canadian Open DH – Local Pride Meets Global Firepower

In the Elite Women’s race, Norway’s Millie Johnset brought the heat — and her gearbox-powered Intense — to claim the win by almost four seconds. It was a statement ride: calm up top, then sheer aggression on the lower sections. Local favorite Emmy Lan kept the home crowd loud with a silver, while Kiwi charger Indy Deavoll slid into third.

The men’s final was a nail-biter from start to finish. Aussie Luke Meier-Smith found every fraction of speed on the track, just beating countryman Jackson Frew by less than 0.3 seconds. BC’s own Dane Jewett kept Canadian pride on the box with a hard-fought third place.

Canadian Open Enduro – New Names on Top

Five stages. Endless climbing. Sketchy descents that punished every mistake. And the Whistler sun was out in full force, roasting riders from stage one to five.

In Elite Women, last year’s U21 champ Elly Hoskin proved she belongs with the pros, smashing four stages on her way to a decisive win. Andréane Lathier Nadeau, who missed the medals last year, dug deep to take silver, while Katy Winton made a triumphant return to Crankworx Enduro racing for bronze.

Elite Men saw BC local Elliot Jamieson finally grab his first Crankworx gold. He played it smart — no big errors, just smooth, precise riding. Wei Tien Ho took three stage wins but missed the overall by less than a second. Lief Rodgers kept it consistent for a third-place finish, making it an all-Canadian podium.

Garbanzo DH – The Vertical Marathon

If the Canadian Open is a sprint, the Garbanzo DH is an endurance test from the underworld — 7km of trail, 3,400 feet of descending, and lactic acid in your legs before you even hit halfway.

American newcomer Aletha Ostgaard made her Crankworx Elite debut one to remember, taking a massive win in the women’s race. BC’s Georgia Astle was hot on her tail, while Emmy Lan added yet another medal to her growing week’s haul.

For the men, Richie Rude once again showed why he’s a Garbo specialist, defending his title with a 12:08 scorcher. Ryan Gilchrist, riding through a healing wrist injury, toughed out a silver, and Luke Meier-Smith — still fresh from his Canadian Open win — bagged another podium spot.

Air DH – A-Line at Warp Speed

The Air DH is all about style under pressure: iconic A-Line jumps, insane flow, and absolutely no room for error at speed.

In an emotional moment, MTB legend Anneke Beerten took her final lap down A-Line surrounded by friends — a fitting send-off for a career that’s inspired countless riders. Racing-wise, Jenna Hastings of New Zealand made it two Air DH wins this season with a smooth, aggressive run in the women’s race. Taylor Ostgaard and Amy Morrison were neck-and-neck for silver and bronze — just 0.029 seconds apart.

On the men’s side, Richie Rude was not done yet. Another gold for the American powerhouse, with Tyler Waite and Dane Jewett filling the podium.

Dual Slalom – Head-to-Head Battles

Dual Slalom is raw, no-nonsense racing: two lanes, two riders, swap sides, add times, and send the fastest one forward. It’s equal parts skill, aggression, and keeping your cool under pressure.

Dante Silva claimed men’s gold with blistering runs against Austin Warren, while Tegan Cruz rounded out the podium in third. In the women’s bracket, Jordy Scott unseated defending champ Martha Gill, with Julia Lofqvist Traum taking bronze.

Whip-Off World Championships – Sunset, Sideways

Golden hour in Whistler means only one thing during Crankworx: Whip-Offs. This year, over 8,000 fans packed the Boneyard to watch the riders send it sideways off a freshly built, perfect-lip booter. The crowd noise alone could’ve carried you to the landing.

Janelle Soukup (USA) went one better than her silver in Rotorua, throwing the winning whip and keeping Canadians Angie Marino and Kirsten Van Horne just behind her.

For the men, Switzerland’s Alessio Tonoli locked in gold with a massive, fully extended whip that had even his competitors cheering. Defending champ Hayden Zablotny (CAN) grabbed silver, and Eddie Reynolds (USA) took bronze — just like last year.

What’s Next at Crankworx Whistler

The party’s far from over. Coming up and broadcasted on Red Bull Bike (or Youtube):

• RockShox Canadian Open DH – Riders will face the Stevie Smith-inspired 1199 trail in Creekside. BC’s own Jackson Goldstone will drop in for the first time — expect fireworks.

• Red Bull Joyride – The slopestyle Super Bowl. All eyes on Emil Johansson, David Godziek, and Tim Bringer (still chasing the Triple Crown). Alma Wiggberg wants to repeat her victory from Silverstar last week!

Twenty years in, Crankworx Whistler isn’t just matching the hype — it’s rewriting it. And the best part? The wildest events are still ahead.

SCENE

🇺🇸 Red Bull Rampage 2025 – The Return of the Desert Kings and Queens

The crown jewel of freeride mountain biking is rolling back into Virgin, Utah this fall — and it’s set to be bigger, bolder, and even more mind-blowing than before. The 19th edition of Red Bull Rampage drops October 16–18, 2025, keeping the two-day format that brought so much hype last year:

• Women’s competition: Thursday, October 16

• Men’s finals: Saturday, October 18

A Historic Chapter Continues

2024 gave us the first-ever women’s Rampage, an unforgettable debut that rewrote the rulebook for freeride. Now, year two is doubling down — the women’s field expands from 8 to 12 riders, welcoming a wave of fresh talent. Riders like Kirsten Van Horne, CJ Selig, and Janelle Soukup will join returning heavy hitters, including reigning queen Robin Goomes, freeride pioneers Casey Brown and Vaea Verbeeck, and comeback warrior Hannah Bergemann, who’s hungry after her recovery from last year’s Achilles injury.

The mission? The same as it’s always been — hand-sculpt your dream line into Utah’s sheer sandstone cliffs and send it with style, power, and creativity. Judging still hinges on the Rampage holy trinity: line choice, execution, and amplitude (translation: how jaw-droppingly massive you go).

Men’s Field: Legends and Wildcards Collide

On the men’s side, the invite list is a dream roster of pre-qualified freeride icons and wildcard thrill-seekers - two veterans turned down their invite: 3 time Champion Kurt Sorge and Utah-Local Tyler McCaul. Semenuk and Strait also won more than one time and are not on the Starter List. Riders like Szymon Godziek (last year’s runner-up) are hungry for a win and there is a stacked pack that includes Cam Zink, Emil Johansson, Dylan Stark, Reed Boggs, and Tom Van Steenbergen.

From Rampage veterans to fresh faces like Aiden Parish — whose breakout win at Zink Invitational (read below) just punched his ticket — expect a full-on battle of creativity, bravery, and next-level riding.

Why Rampage Still Reigns Supreme

In a world full of slick, sponsor-heavy contests, Rampage remains pure freeride. No stopwatches. No fixed start gates. Just raw cliffs, handbuilt lines, and the kind of features that make even seasoned pros stop and stare.

The location itself — Utah’s near-vertical, wind-swept ridges — is as much a competitor as the riders. Every year, it forces athletes to weigh risk vs. reward in ways no other MTB event demands. The results? Breathtaking drops, never-before-seen trick combos, and the occasional “did they seriously just survive that?” moment.

2025 Rider Lineups

Women – Pre-qualified: Casey Brown (CAN), Georgia Astle (CAN), Robin Goomes (NZL), Vaea Verbeeck (CAN)
Women – Wildcards: Hannah Bergemann (USA), CJ Selig (USA), Harriet Burbidge-Smith (AUS), Vinny Armstrong (NZL), Janelle Soukup (USA), Kirsten Van Horne (CAN), Chelsea Kimball (USA), Camila Nogueira (ARG)

Men – Pre-qualified: Szymon Godziek (POL), Tom Van Steenbergen (CAN), Thomas Genon (BEL), Carson Storch (USA), Adolf Silva (SPA)
Men – Wildcards: Aiden Parish (USA), Bienve Aguado Alba (SPA), Cam Zink (USA), Dylan Stark (USA), Emil Johansson (SWE), Finley Kirschenmann (USA), Hayden Zablotny (CAN), Jaxson Riddle (USA), Luke Whitlock (USA), Reed Boggs (USA), Talus Turk (USA), Tom Isted (GBR), Tomas Lemoine (FRA)

Key Dates & Info

📅 Women’s Competition: Oct 16, 2025
📅 Men’s Final: Oct 18, 2025
🎟 Tickets: Available Sept 4 via the official Rampage site (single & multi-day passes)

This October, the Utah desert will once again echo with the sound of tires thundering into the unknown. The cliffs will crumble, tricks will get bigger, and legends — old and new — will carve their names into freeride history.

Rampage isn’t just an event. It’s the edge of what’s possible on two wheels.

🎮 Zink Invitational 2025 – Raw, Real, and Absolutely Savage

If freeride mountain biking had a beating heart, it’d be pumping out of Cam Zink’s private Nevada compound — and for three wild days this summer, it was running at full tilt. The Zink Invitational 2025 just dropped its full highlight edit on YouTube, and it’s everything you’d hope for: massive sends, insane trick combos, and a rider list stacked with some of the gnarliest talent on the planet.

The Freeride Purist’s Playground

This isn’t your polished, over-produced contest. The Zink Invitational is built by riders, for riders, with a course that blends freeride’s biggest, rawest lines, slopestyle-style trick jumps, and brutally technical features that force you to dig deep into every part of your riding skillset.

There’s no panel of faceless corporate judges here. No tick-the-box scoring system. Instead, the event is rider-judged, which means your peers — the very people you’re sending alongside — decide who deserves the win. That keeps the focus on what freeride is all about: progression, creativity, and style.

Three days of send. Day one was all about finding flow — scoping lines, dialing in the massive freeride drops, and piecing together runs on a course that looks more like a dream Rampage build than a contest venue. Day two brought the tricks: 360s, flips, and no-handers off monster booters, with riders pushing each other to go bigger and cleaner.

By finals day, the pace was unreal. Huge double drops, combo spins, and transfers that defied both physics and common sense were flying left and right.

Aiden Parish’s Breakout Moment

When the dust settled, Aiden Parish stood at the top — a performance so dialed it didn’t just earn him the Zink Invitational win, it also scored him a Rampage Invite!

🎥 Video Of The Week

Brage Vestavik loves the NWD movies, his edits are like an Tribute:

🎧 Podcast Of The Week

History at Hardline and the Danger of Road Cycling vs. MTB in our Podcast:

🚵‍♀️ Giveaway Period Finished

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Forbidden Dreadnought 3 MX Giveaway. The winner is Kate M. from New Jersey and she has gone for her first shred on it! Stoked is an understatement… More to come, and keep your eyes peeled for the next giveaway bike!

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