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Follow our IG and comment on our post which of these three riders you think will win Hardline Tasmania: Ronan Dunne, Jackson Goldstone, or Asa Vermette before the race begins on Friday, Feb 7, 10 PM EST || Saturday, Feb 8, 3 AM GMT.

If you pick the winning rider, you’ll be selected at random to win the giveaway and we will notify you on IG if you do.

On Today’s Descent:

• 🇦🇺 The 360 Scoop On Hardline Tasmania

• 🗞 News Around The Trails

• 📚 Riding School: How to Table

RACING

🇦🇺 High Stakes & Rowdy Lines Down Unda!

The new downhill season is kicking off in epic Red Bull fashion.

Mountain biking’s biggest names are ready to tackle the gnarly gaps, massive jumps, rugged rocks, and venomous snakes at Red Bull Hardline Tasmania.

🤔 A Bit Of Context

Architected by legends Dan and Gee Atherton, Red Bull Hardline has come a long way from its 2014 debut in Wales.

Last year was the event’s first ever stop in Tasmania where Maydena Bike Park proved it’s got what it takes to host a major event. It’s clear the course crew has been working their magic again, tweaking and refining the track to intensify the madness.

Here’s what happened last year, so you’re up to spec.

• 🌦 Weather: Windy and slick conditions made finals day tricky, giving riders just 1.5 hours to dial in their lines

• 👧 Women: Gracey Hemstreet made history as the first woman to finish Hardline, setting a 3:56.586 time. Louise Ferguson also made finals but crashed twice.

• 🥇 Winner: Ronan Dunne dominated and edged out Bernard Kerr by 1.876 seconds. George Brannigan grabbed third, while Jackson Goldstone crashed early despite being on a potential winning run.

🤩 Who’s Going To Win?

It’s rad to see some veterans mixed in with the young guns. Elite dads like Sam Hill and Josh Bryceland or uncle Gee Atherton will be hunting the rookies for sure.

The first real hint of who’s flying came from the New Zealand Nationals where Ronan Dunne showed he’s already in beast mode, edging out Lachlan Stevens-Mcnab by just 0.15 seconds.

Word on the street is that Dunne has been grinding hard in pre-season training, so expect him to be one of the top contenders this week. In Matt Jones Hot Tub Podcast is was obvious how hungry the flying Irishman is.

We also can’t count out Bernard Kerr, the winningest rider in Hardline history, with 3 total victories to his name.

As for the prize money, the winner will receive $15,220 which is more than 6x what a rider can expect to make for a UCI World Cup win.

👯‍♀️ Ladies Ready To Shred

Last year, Gracey Hemstreet made history as the first female rider to complete a finals run in Tasmania and now Hardline has stepped it up with a dedicated women’s category—complete with prize money and its own podium.

However, superstars Tahnée Seagrave and Vali Höll announced they will not be riding, most likely to preserve themselves ahead of the world cup season.

🚧 The Course

Maydena’s track is as tough as ever.

Right from the start, riders will be battling rocks, tricky drops, and monster jumps. After a year of settling in, the course should be even faster this time around. The key to a winning run? Keeping the speed high, especially through the flatter transitions that separate the gnarliest features.

Once riders make it past the rocky chaos of the upper section, some fresh new lines include a motocross whoops passage and some new jumps to keep things interesting.

And then there’s the grand finale. As riders blast out of the trees, they’ll have to send it off a massive step-down straight into the final jump line in Dark Fest style, where last year’s crew launched a 75ft gap on their way to the finish. In practice, Matt Jones hit the first ever backflip at Hardline.

🍿 How To Watch 

You can catch the event for free on Red Bull TV and YouTube! Tune in on Saturday, Feb 8 at 1 PM AEDT / 3 PM NZDT / 2 AM GMT / 3 AM CET – or if you're in the US, that's Friday, Feb 7 at 7 PM PST / 10 PM EST.

🙋‍♂️ RECON’s Take

The future of downhill is more uncertain than ever, especially with fan resistance against moves made by the UCI and Warner Brothers. UCI World Cups are still the most competitive races and hold the most status for winning, but Red Bull Hardline brings a spectacle to viewers our sport has been missing.

The easiest way to think about Hardline versus the UCI could be by comparing Supercross to Motocross. While the former brings in the money and viewership, Motocross is more technical and challenging, with both being important series to a rider’s career. Hardline already has two stops and there’s rumors of Jackson Goldstone working with Red Bull to make a Canada event. Could it become a full on series?

MORE STORIES

❄️ 2025 UCI Snow Bike World Championships

The 2025 UCI Snow Bike World Championships are coming back to Châtel, France, this weekend (February 8th 2025). After a killer debut in 2024, the Super-G and Dual Slalom events will now both go down on the same day. The madness starts with Super-G at 9 a.m., followed by a high-stakes Dual Slalom showdown at 6 p.m. Riders can race both events, but no bike swaps are allowed. 100 UCI gravity points are up for grabs.

🇪🇸 Mondraker Drops 2025 DH Lineup

Veronika Widmann and Greg Williamson are hopping on board as the squad gears up for its second World Cup downhill season. Kicking off in 2024 with Ronan Dunne, Dakotah Norton, and Ryan Pinkerton, the team crushed it—stacking up wins and podiums like thieves. The team now climbs up the UCI ranking to 4th place with 793 points.

💪 Richie Rude Returns To Downhill

Big news with Yeti’s Fox Factory Racing rosters. EDR legend Richie Rude will be returning to DH for the first time since winning the junior DH world title in 2013. His plan is to ride mainly in EDR events, but sub in for select downhill events. Yeti also added 2022 Downhill World Champion Camille Balanche after a long bout of speculation.

⚙️ SRAM’s Non Electric Transmission Derailleur?

A newly published patent suggests the company is working on a mechanical version of its transmission derailleur, which is currently wireless. The design aims to simplify setup with a locking mechanism for chain tension and to move away from the standard derailleur hanger in the process.

🎨 Norco Athletes Get Custom Paint & Kits for Hardline

Erice Van Leuven and Gracey Hemstreet are absolutely dripped out.

RIDING SCHOOL

🛏 How To Lay Flat Tables With Ease

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 tabletop is a simple yet stylish trick that can take an average jump and make it look ten times more impressive.

There’s something incredibly satisfying about fully laying out a flat table, effortlessly floating through the air with style. But mastering this move isn’t just about throwing the bike flat—it takes the right technique, control, and a bit of practice. So, where do you even start?

Finding a jump

• Find a small to medium sized table jump with a smooth approach and wide landing

• Alternatively, a hip jump can be perfect for leaning into the tabletop, especially if it matches your preferred turning direction.

Getting it flat

• Hit the jump with normal trail speed, as you leave the lip, start rotating your bike and bring your shoulder towards the front wheel. 

• Twist your hips and bring the bike up towards you, manipulating it into the tabletop position 

• Curl your inside hand by twisting the grip to lay the bike flat.

Bring it back

• To unfold, rotate the grip in your palm and straighten the handlebars as you approach the ground. 

• Straighten out the bike in one fluid motion. With practice, you'll be able to hold the tabletop position longer in the air before preparing for landing.

More Tips

• No brakes take your fingers off of your brake levers to allow your inside hand to rotate around the grip

• Keep your knees in, avoid the common mistake of splaying them out during the trick. This lets you make your tables flatter and cleaner.

With Mastery, you can learn MTB skills from the pros. If you haven’t yet, be sure to join their waitlist—it's the perfect way to level up your riding

🎥 Video Of The Week

Ronan and Jackson chase Matt Jones down the Hardline course

🎧 Podcast Of The Week

All about the making of Hardline Tasmania’s insane course

🌊 Wipeout Of The Week

Hardline, Hardtime. Elise Empey eats dirt.

📊 Last Week’s Poll

Guess WBD is screwed…

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💰 Work For RECON

We’re hiring here at RECON. Do you think you have what it takes to help us write this newsletter? Just reply to this email with the words “writer” and we’ll send you the application link.

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