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:

•  🏁 Hard MTB League and the $100k prize purse

•  🍟 Merida attacks with new Dirt Jump Bike Models

•  🍎 Crankworx Silverstar: Warm-up for Joyride Whistler

👇 Quick Picks

🚨 Americas firsts - National Championships 2026

The 2025 Monster Energy Pro Downhill Series hit Big Bear Lake, CA this weekend, and it was all-out chaos with the National Champs on the line! Asa Vermette crushed it in Juniors, locking in the win with style. In the Elite categories, Kailey Skelton dominated the women’s field with a blazing run, while Ryan Pinkerton laid down the fastest time of the day to take the men’s crown. Dakotah Norton keeps impressing us with a podium result after his heavy injury during offseason.

💥Crankworx Whistler is coming - The hype is real!

What started in 2004 has become the global MTB homecoming — and this year, it’s bigger than ever. From August 8–17, 2025, Crankworx Whistler returns for its 20th edition, bringing together the world’s best riders, fans, and industry legends. 🌍 The first Bosch E-MTB challenge arrives in Canada for the first time and Joyride will be unbelievable! Get ready for insane tricks, unforgettable vibes, and the purest celebration of mountain bike culture at the place where it all began.

🏁 MTB on top: Ferrand-Prévot wins the Tour de France Femmes

Pauline Ferrand-Prévot just proved why she’s the ultimate all-rounder in cycling. Her mountain biking roots — all about raw power, technical skills, and going full gas — gave her the edge to crush the Tour de France Femmes after changing to the road. With insane control and next-level endurance, she turned the road into her playground. Total domination. The olympian champ and multiple worldchamp in Cross Country followed her dreams conquering the road side of bicycle racing and showed the world what MTB athletes are made of!

RACING

HARD MTB: WHERE GRAVITY, POWER, & GUTS COLLIDE

You’ve never seen a race series like this before.

The Hard MTB League, founded by MTB madmen Adam Pishl and Braydon Bringhurst, is tearing up the rulebook and throwing down a fresh, brutal take on racing. The goal? Find the most complete rider on the planet — the one who can climb, descend, float, flick, and survive the gnarliest terrain imaginable.

Forget long, drawn-out formats. These courses are 30-second, high-stakes puzzles that demand more from a rider than just speed. They test your line choice, balance, timing, power, and adaptability — all under pressure.

Oh, and did we mention?
$100,000 is on the line at the 2026 Finals.
And it gets even bigger in 2027.

🧱 THE FORMAT: BUILT TO BREAK SPECIALISTS

Hard MTB League features four unique courses, each engineered to test a different type of suffering.

🔹 TRAIL

Not your flow trail. This is flow with fangs. Tight lines, brutal rhythm sections, forced creativity, and feature-packed segments that’ll test your tech finesse and split-second thinking.

🔹 SLALOM

Welcome to a twisting nightmare. Expect natural off-cambers, strategically placed obstacles in apexes, and slippery terrain that’ll make you question every tire pressure choice you’ve ever made.

🔹 DOWNHILL

Pure chaos. Rock gardens that eat carbon frames, janky jumps, blind drops, and zero forgiveness. This is as close to Rampage as a race series can get — but you’ve only got 30 seconds to make it count.

🔹 CLIMB

Yes, uphill. And no, it’s not just pedaling. We’re talking steep switchbacks, off-camber roots, and punchy lines that feel closer to bouldering than biking. Legs and lungs meet line choice and technical grit.

🏁 Combine your time across all four formats.
🎯 Lowest total wins.
💀 One crash could cost the whole thing.

🚵 WHO'S THIS FOR?

Hard MTB isn’t about specialists. It’s built for hybrids, monsters, and innovators — riders who can send a chute, float a double, and power up a near-vertical scramble without a dab.

Think of it as the World’s Strongest Rider — a four-discipline crucible where finesse matters just as much as force.

📆 FULL HARD MTB LEAGUE SCHEDULE

🗓️ 2025 PRE-SEASON

• Oct 20–21: Women’s Camp (skills, scouting, media prep)

• Oct 22–25: Kick-Off Celebration + Invitational Race (Top riders get their first taste)

• Dec 15: 2026 Courses Officially Revealed

🗓️ 2026 SEASON

• May 19–23: Open Qualifier (anyone can try. few will survive.)

• June 2–6: U18 Development Camp (training + testing for youth)

• June 9–13: 19+ Development Camp (prep for the big leagues)

• Oct 20–24: THE FINALS — $100K PURSE ON THE LINE

In this league, if you want to stand on the podium, you have to bring every tool in the toolbox. Technical precision. Explosive strength. Tactical IQ. It’s a new standard for a new era of riders.

And fans? They’re loving it.
The early buzz is massive. Social’s heating up. Broadcast deals are in motion.
This thing has teeth — and it’s only getting sharper. The 2024 test event was a huge success:

👀 WANT IN?

Applications open soon — but only the most complete riders will be invited to 2025’s invitational.

📍 Learn more at HardMTBLeague.com
📸 Follow @HardMTBLeague on IG for wild clips, behind-the-scenes content, and course previews.

🔥 HARD MTB isn’t for everyone. But maybe it’s for you.
Ride hard. Ride everything. That’s the future.

INDUSTRY

🇺🇸 Merida Goes Full Send Into Dirt Jumping

This week, one of the biggest names in trail and XC just made a surprise appearance in the dirt jump world. And no, this isn’t some rebranded hardtail pretending to be a park bike.

🚨 MERIDA’S DIRT JUMP DEBUT: IT'S ABOUT TIME

With the launch of the Dirt 500 and Dirt 700, Merida just rolled out two new weapons for jump lines, pump tracks, and freestyle sessions. Whether you’re just starting to trick or already throwing 360s, these bikes are purpose-built for air.

🧱 ONE FRAME TO RULE THEM ALL

At the core of both bikes is a Category 5-rated 6061 aluminum frame. Translation: this thing is built to survive freeride-level abuse — rock drops, botched landings, and all. Same frame across both models. Two sizes (M and L). Compact geometry. Short chainstays. Low BB. Slack head angle.
Result: playful, snappy, and ready to whip.

💡 Geometry note: Both sizes share the same Reach for consistent handling. M = flickable for tricks. L = more stable for speed and bigger hits.

🔩 BUILT FOR DIRT, NOT GUESSWORK

Some brands make a trail bike and just slap a suspension fork on it. Not here.

The Merida Dirt series runs 26-inch wheels, singlespeed drivetrains, and 135x10 mm rear axles — all the hallmarks of a real DJ rig. Add a BSA bottom bracket, gyro-ready cable routing, and pre-lengthened rear brake hose (for barspins), and it’s clear: this frame wasn’t an afterthought.

Oh, and yes — it comes with a bottle mount. Hydration is not a crime.

🔻 DIRT 500 – €999

“The Gateway to Airtime”

Merida’s entry-level dirt jumper isn’t a toy. The Dirt 500 gives new riders a sturdy, legit setup to learn the ropes — or send ‘em.

Spec Highlights:

• 🪶 Fork: Manitou Circus DJ (air-sprung)

• 🛑 Brakes: Shimano hydraulic discs

• 🛞 Wheels: Alex rims / Novatec hubs

• 🦷 Tires: Kenda

• ⚖️ Claimed weight: ~12 kg

Perfect for park sessions, learning tricks, or just cruising around the city with style.

🔺 DIRT 700 – €1,999

“Pro Vibes, Daily Driver”

Stepping up? The Dirt 700 is a DJ with serious attitude — upgraded spec for riders who know what they’re doing and aren’t afraid to crash (a lot).

Spec Highlights:

• 🪵 Fork: RockShox Pike DJ (100 mm)

• 🛑 Brakes: SRAM Guide T (4-piston)

• 💪 Wheels: DT Swiss D1900

• 🦷 Tires: Maxxis DTH

• ⚖️ Claimed weight: ~11 kg

Throw down at the trails. Lap the pumptrack. Show off at the skatepark. Repeat.

🛠️ DETAILS THAT MATTER

Every feature is there for a reason:

✔️ Gyro-ready headset
✔️ Long rear brake hose (for barspins)
✔️ Short 160 mm cranks for pedal clearance
✔️ Wide riser bars and dirt-specific cockpit
✔️ Simple singlespeed setup
✔️ Comfy Merida saddle (yes, you’ll be landing on it)

This isn’t a trail frame in disguise — this is a dirt jumper, built from the dirt up.

🧠 FINAL THOUGHTS

Merida might be a latecomer to the dirt game, but they didn’t show up empty-handed. The Dirt 500 and Dirt 700 check all the right boxes — quality frame, smart geometry, legit spec, and dialed details.

Whether you’re chasing your first tabletop or chasing perfection, these bikes are built to go big, break in, and bounce back.

📦 Shipping now at Merida-Bikes.com
🎨 Each model comes in two colorways
⚙️ Bring your helmet and your guts

🔥 Ride. Jump. Repeat.
That’s the Dirt Life.

🎮 Warmup: Crankworx Silverstar Was One for the Books

This week, the second stop of Crankworx Summer Series Canada lit up SilverStar. Riders came hungry for Red Bull Joyride invites, and they threw down in a way that felt less like a contest — and more like a full-blown evolution of slopestyle.

Let’s break it down.

🎢 FROM QUALIS TO FINALS: ENERGY THROUGH THE ROOF

Even before Sunday’s finals, Saturday’s qualifiers were chaos (in the best way). A brief rain delay couldn’t slow the momentum.

Men’s field:

• 🥇 David Godziek led with surgical precision.

• 👀 Ayden Siebenaler (CAN) made it known he’s not just the new kid.

• 💎 Tobey Miley (GER) laid down clean, stylish runs that foreshadowed what was coming.

Women’s field:

• 🏆 Alma Wiggberg looked untouchable.

• 🎯 Johanna Nussbaumer surprised everyone in her Crankworx debut.

• 💪 Lisa-Marie Blanc made a long-awaited return and brought the heat.

🚨 FINALS: HIGH STAKES, HIGHER AIR

Sunday. Blue skies. Wild crowd. Massive energy.

This wasn’t just about medals — wildcard invites to Joyride were on the line for the highest-placing riders not yet qualified. For many, this was the biggest moment of their season. For a few, it might just change their careers.

👑 WOMEN’S SLOPESTYLE: WIGGBERG RULES, NUSSBAUMER RISES

Sweden’s Alma Wiggberg is riding on a different frequency. Her 93.67-point run was all confidence and execution — trick combos ONLY, amplitude, and landings that looked effortless. She is ready for Whistler and is keen to dominate the female category in Slopestyle MTB!

But Johanna Nussbaumer from Germany stole the spotlight with her story. On her first Crankworx tour, the youngster on Rose Bikes earned silver AND a Red Bull Joyride wildcard. Cool under pressure, smooth in the air with a lot of tricks, and clearly just getting started.

Patricia Druwen did not have a great week, but still rounded out the podium, scoring enough to stay atop the Slopestyle World Championship standings. Expectations are high for the accomplished Red Bull athlete from Bergisch Gladbach, Germany - but the main goal is having fun on the hardest courses of the world and pushing the sport!

🥇 Women’s Podium:

• Alma Wiggberg (SWE) – 93.67

• Johanna Nussbaumer (GER) – 91.00

• Patricia Druwen (GER) – 86.17

🔥 MEN’S SLOPESTYLE: GODZIEK'S MASTERCLASS, MILEY’S MOMENT

David Godziek (POL) was impressed by the high level of the rising youngsters and still reminded everyone why he’s the one to beat. His first run was a slopestyle clinic — stylish, clean, and completely dialed. Judges gave him 92.83, and no one could top it.

Tobey Miley from Germany earned more than just second place. His Joyride wildcard win capped off a breakout year, going from wildcard at McGazza to the biggest slopestyle stage in the world. He called it “the biggest childhood dream of my life.”

Lucas Huppert (SUI) cleaned up in run two for a hard-earned bronze, the swiss rider is always a thread to the podium.

🥇 Men’s Podium:

• David Godziek (POL) – 92.83

• Tobey Miley (GER) – 90.50

• Lucas Huppert (SUI) – 87.83

🌍 A GLOBAL PROGRESSION PARTY

If SilverStar showed anything, it’s that slopestyle is going full global. From Canada to Switzerland, Sweden to Germany — this was an international style showcase. Creativity is up. Risk-taking is up. And the road to Joyride? Wide open.

🚁 NEXT STOP: RED BULL JOYRIDE

The biggest show in freeride is just around the corner. Emil, Kaidan, David and Tim will battle it out at the infamous Boneyard course!

The legends are ready. The wildcards are hungry. And the bikes are about to leave the ground.

📍 Whistler. August 17.
👀 Watch for Wiggberg, Miley, and Nussbaumer.
🎯 History might just happen.

🎥 Video Of The Week

Hard MTB League has a great video output, let’s watch their new piece:

🎧 Podcast Of The Week

Bennoit Coulanges about the new Worldcup format and racing under pressure:

🚵‍♀️ Giveaway Period Finished

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Forbidden Dreadnought 3 MX Giveaway. The winner is Kate M. from New Jersey and the bike is en route to her as you read this! 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