The Incredible Story Of Sam Hill

The Man, The Myth, The Inside Line: How Sam Hill Changed Mountain Biking Forever

Most riders follow the trail. Sam Hill creates it.

A two-time overall Downhill World Cup champion. Three-time World Champion. Three-time Enduro World Series winner. Few mountain bikers in history have dominated multiple disciplines like Sam Hill—and even fewer have forced their competitors to change the way they ride just to keep up.

The Aussie Prodigy

Born in 1985 in Viveash, Western Australia, Sam Hill grew up tearing around BMX and motocross tracks with his brothers. But when his older sibling and his friends got into mountain biking, Sam had to keep up. His dad wasn’t initially sold on the sport, but eventually, he and Sam’s mom became two of his biggest supporters.

By the time he was 16, Hill was already a serious talent, competing in his first overseas World Cups in 2001. Back then, there was no junior category—young riders had to qualify for the big leagues outright. But that didn’t stop Sam. He grabbed a bronze at the Junior World Championships in 2001, then won back-to-back rainbow jerseys in 2002 and 2003. His 2003 run was so fast that it would have placed him third in the Elite category—despite a crash.

That’s when the world realized: Sam Hill wasn’t just fast. He was a different breed.

The Inside Line

Sam didn’t just win races. He changed the game.

Hill was known for his aggressive, no-compromise style—especially his ability to take the inside line. While others followed the traditional flow of a track, Sam cut corners way tighter, turning sketchy, near-impossible lines into high-speed gold. His confidence and precision forced his competition to rethink their approach, but none could match his control.

And then there were the flats.

At a time when virtually every elite rider had switched to clipless pedals, Hill stuck to flats. The industry had written them off as outdated, but Sam proved otherwise, using his unmatched bike handling to dominate some of the gnarliest tracks on the circuit. Inspired by his success, plenty of riders tried flats again—but nobody could ride them like Sam.

Legendary Runs

If there’s one moment that cemented Hill’s status as an icon, it was Champery 2007. Racing in horrific, rain-soaked conditions, Sam rode the steepest track on the circuit faster in the wet than most riders did in the dry. He finished third, but the run went down in history as one of the greatest ever.

Then there was Val di Sole 2008—the one that got away. Leading the race and on track for his most dominant victory yet, Sam slid out in one of the final corners. Even with the crash, he still took bronze, in a run so wild it made commentator Rob Warner scream himself hoarse.

Enduro Domination & The Next Chapter

After years of battling injuries and struggling with the grind of World Cup racing, Hill made a shocking pivot—switching from downhill to enduro. Many thought he was past his prime. Instead, he proceeded to win three straight Enduro World Series overalls (2017–2019), proving once again that he could win on any bike, on any track.

Now 39, Sam still rides—and still rips. His recent finals run at Hardline Tasmania was a reminder that he hasn’t lost his signature steeze.

Beyond racing, he’s built a business with F1RST, an exclusive training program where riders can learn from the legend himself. He’s also involved in trail design and consulting, helping shape the future of mountain biking—just like he shaped its past.