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:

•  🏁 Limits: Highs and Lows at Red Bull Rampage 2025

•  ⚡️ Hard MTB League is starting!

👇 Quick Picks

🚨 Revel Drops Wild Titanium Prototype: the RaTical

Revel Bikes just teased a next-level titanium full-suspension prototype called the RaTical. It’s rocking 130mm of travel and a mix of 3D-printed 6Al-4V titanium junctions welded to 3Al-2.5V tubing — seriously high-tech stuff. The bike also features a vertically mounted shock, a first for Revel, and swaps their usual CBF setup for a Horst link design (with Chris Canfield still helping fine-tune the ride).

🚲 Red Bull Cerro Abajo heads to Germany? 

For the first time ever, a Red Bull Cerro Abajo City Downhill race has popped up in the official UCI calendar — set for Stuttgart, Germany, September 4–6, 2026! 👀 Listed as a Class 2 event, it carries the same name as the legendary series known for wild urban descents in Valparaíso, Bogotá, and Genoa. Nothing’s officially confirmed by Red Bull or the city of Stuttgart yet, but the UCI listing has already set the MTB scene buzzing. Could 2026 be the year Germany gets its first Cerro Abajo showdown?

🚵‍♂️ Industry buzz - News from Liteville & NS Bikes

Syntace GmbH – known for Liteville Bikes – has filed for insolvency, but business is still rolling. The company says its restructuring is showing first positive signs, and talks with an investor are close to wrapping up. Meanwhile, NS Bikes announced on Instagram that founder Szymon Kobyliński has brought in a strategic investor to secure the brand’s future. A restructuring plan has already been submitted to court and, once approved, could keep NS Bikes – and possibly other 7Anna brands – in the game.

FREERIDE

🇺🇸 Too Heavy? Red Bull Rampage 2025

Virgin, Utah once again became the beating heart of mountain biking freeride’s wildest spectacle, which was founded back in 2001. Red Bull Rampage 2025 pushed the boundaries of what’s physically and mentally possible on a mountain bike. So many first visitors couldn’t stop emphasizing how big and dangerous everything at Rampage is, if you witness it in person and not through a screen!

Between wind delays, high-desert storms and some of the most jaw-dropping riding ever seen on the unique Utah dirt, this year’s edition felt like a perfect snapshot of what freeride is all about: chaos, creativity, and courage, all crammed into one terrifyingly beautiful week.

It wasn’t just another Rampage. It was a wake up call - these athletes risk everything to push the sport they love so much. Hard to watch sometimes, but typical for the progression in action sports - it is a fine balance to redefine the limits each year and injuries are part of the game, if we like or not.

Before the Drop: Building Madness

Every year, the multiple-day dig window sets the stage for the main event. Riders and their crews arrived to a battered section of Virgin’s desert cliffs, where sun-baked sandstone and loose shale meant long hours of shoveling, shaping, and praying that the wind stayed calm. The rain storms helped a lot this year making the Utah dirt perfect for lips and landings. Many lines were already there on the two Rampage sites this year and it was hard to find something new like Aiden Parish did, when he built the biggest drop over a lily pad-feature from years before - completely over jumping the middle part and impressing all viewers during practice.

The terrain for 2025 sat between classic Rampage zones from former years. It was steep, exposed and more raw ledges and ridgelines. This setup favored creativity. Riders like Tom Van Steenbergen and Thomas Genon carved graceful, trick-friendly flow lines. Others, including rookie Hayden Zablotny went full send on their routes that barely seemed rideable.

The tone was set early: everyone was there to make history or crash trying.

Hayden Zablotny: The Rookie Who Rewrote the Rules

Nobody expected a young rookie from British Columbia to walk away with the trophy, least of all Hayden Zablotny himself. He walked in the footsteps of freeride legend Wade Simmons who also won Rampage at his first try and on a bike from the infamous bike brand Rocky Mountain Bicycles.

Arriving in Virgin as a rookie, Zablotny was known in freeride circles for his clean style and effortless amplitude, but Rampage as a competition is a different beast. From his very first practice drop, though, it was clear something special was brewing.

The 22-year-old wiped out on his first run, leaving all the heat on his second and final shot. Going for his first win, Zablotny ripped a unique path down the Utah cliffs and totally made it his own. He kicked things off with a technical double drop straight off the platform at full throttle. Then came 360 flat spins, a flat drop backflip, an opposite 360 flatspin, and a massive suicide no-hander, mixing insane difficulty with pure style.

When he rolled into the finish corral, the crowd knew they had just witnessed something historic. The score confirmed it: 96.00. The highest Rampage rookie score since Brandon Semenuk’s debut in 2008. And Hayden’s line was so sick it scored his crew the Digger Award.

Thomas Genon: Breaking the Curse

Thomas Genon’s relationship with Rampage has always been a mix of brilliance and heartbreak. The Belgian veteran and former slopestyle specialist, one of freeride’s smoothest and most stylish riders, has spent nearly a decade flirting with podiums during his 12 appearances but never quite landing one.

This year, he came in quietly, with no hype and no pressure, just focus - after he got a last minute frame from his former sponsor Canyon. His dig crew built one of the most balanced lines on the mountain: fast, flowing, technical, and unmistakably Genon.

Right out of the gate, his 360 off the exposed start drop had the crowd roaring. Then came a double drop combo into a natural hip where he threw a clean downside whip. The flow was perfect, the speed relentless, and the control absolute.

He crossed the line shaking his head, knowing he had finally put down the run he had been chasing for years. The judges agreed, rewarding him with a score of 94.35 and second place. It was a long-overdue moment of redemption for one of freeride’s most respected riders.

Tom Van Steenbergen: Redemption on the Ridges

If there is one rider who embodies resilience, it’s Tom Van Steenbergen. His horrific crash in 2021 left him with a shattered body and a long road back. To see him back at Rampage, dropping from the same cliffs that almost ended his career, was emotional enough. Watching him podium again made it legendary.

Tom’s line was bold, a reimagined version of his 2022 build, this time with a massive Caveman drop near the top that left jaws on the desert floor. The trick required absolute precision: launching off a flat rock slab into free fall, grabbing the bike mid-air, and somehow landing composed.

From there, he linked a series of huge step-down drops with spins and flips - TVS didn’t try to top his enormous front flip step down from last year, but played it smart mixing amplitude, tech stuff and tricks - his highlight was a corked 720, which is so hard to do on a big bike!

Legends, Carnage, and Wild Style

Even at 39 years old, Rampage legend Cam Zink just can’t stay away from the desert cliffs of Virgin. His first run was already solid — classic Zink stuff with big commitment and that signature old-school power — but as the first rider to drop, the judges played it safe and scored him a little low. On his second run, Zink was absolutely on pace for a podium, maybe even the win, until he went down on what looked like a simple move near the bottom. You could see the frustration on his face — he knew how close he was. Still, the dude continues to prove that age has nothing on heart and guts.

Then came one of the heaviest moments of the day: Bienve Aguado Alba’s crash. Midway down his line, he took a brutal hit that literally snapped his YT Tues frame clean in two. It was the kind of crash that makes the whole crowd go silent. Thankfully, Bienve walked away — shaken but okay — which says a lot about how tough these riders are.

Dylan Stark, who had been one of the most hyped riders coming into the event, suffered a big slam in his first run and decided not to go again. Smart move, Rampage isn’t the place to gamble when your body’s already hurting.

Polish powerhouse Szymon Godziek, a favorite for the win, had a nightmare week. First a food poisoning, then a wrist injury — but he still lined up for finals like a warrior. Sadly, his luck ran out when he came up short on a front flip drop, sending him over the bars in a terrifying crash. The collective relief when he got back on his feet was huge, it could’ve been much worse.

Meanwhile, Jaxson Riddle came out with his signature moto-inspired style and all the steeze you could ask for. This year, though, the young dad wanted to show he’s not just about flow — he’s got the tricks too. Multiple backflips, a wild flip heelclicker, and that trademark Riddle confidence made his runs pure entertainment. The hometown hero energy was real.

Reed Boggs kept his reputation as one of the most consistent Rampage senders. He rode down a near-perfect line that scored 90.33 points. Crazy thing is, that was only good enough for fifth. That’s how insane the level has gotten; what used to be a winning run a few years ago is now just “pretty good.” Many fans would love to see Tom Isted getting a higher score, hopefully we will see him back next year after he got 10th this time.

On the women’s side, Kirsten Van Horne sent one of the most iconic moves of the event, taking the Best Trick Award with a huge no-hander down her massive bottom drop — total commitment and control. Janelle Soukup brought her signature flow and energy, lighting up the venue and hyping the crowd with every hit.

And let’s not forget the next-gen crew on the men’s side: Finley Kirschmann, Aiden Parish, and Tomas Lemoine all putting down standout performances. Aiden Parish blew minds in practice when he overshot the biggest feature on the hill — a 67-foot gap — and ended up sending it to a ridiculous 92 feet (28 m). Finley and Lemoine both brought fresh style, a send it attitude and creativity, with Finley casually riding in Vans slip-ons, jean shorts, and a cotton tee, proving you don’t need fancy gear when you’ve got confidence and control.

When Things Go Wrong

Of course, Rampage wouldn’t be Rampage without chaos.

Two of the event’s scariest crashes came within minutes of each other. Adolf Silva, known for his “go big or go home” aka LOCO approach, under-rotated a double flip on a monstrous step-down, slamming straight into the landing with brutal force. Medics rushed in, and after several tense minutes, Silva was evacuated with a suspected spine injury - later he posted from the hospital that indeed he had a lower back injury and was on his way to recovery. Exactly 10 years ago Paul Basagoitia also broke some vertebrates and was paralyzed - it took him years to get back on his feet, ride bikes and be an inspiration for many people. Paul was onsite this year and giving props to the rampage riders from today, who push this sport again!

Later, Emil Johansson, the Swedish slopestyle wizard who had been riding with surgical precision all week, tried a opposite Tailwhip drop down the exposed drop a the top and went down violently off a cliff and barely fell down more cliffs. The desert went dead silent.

Emil suffered a hip luxation and was walking with crutches after surgery still staying a the hospital for a bit. Both riders are now stable and recovering, but those few moments were a harsh reminder of what Rampage truly demands. This isn’t just performance; it can mean survival at 100 percent commitment.

Women’s Rampage: A New Era of Progression

Across the valley, the women’s Rampage zone was buzzing with its own electricity. Only in its second year, the women’s edition already felt like a landmark moment for the sport.

Robin Goomes once again set the standard, riding with a mix of flow, fearlessness, and technical precision that few can match. Her line was steep and exposed, featuring multiple flips and nohands that sealed her second consecutive Rampage crown with a score of 89.5.

Behind her, Hannah Bergemann delivered one of the rawest, most committed runs of the day. After missing last year due to injury, she came back swinging, tackling one of the steepest chutes in the women’s field and stomping a massive one-foot can off her final feature.

Georgia Astle completed the podium after a near-flawless run filled with style and control. Every rider dug deep, both literally and figuratively, proving that women’s freeride is evolving faster than anyone could have predicted.

RECONs Take:

Hayden Zablotny’s victory was a surprise, but well deserved - nevertheless as always the judges decisions are controvers for many fans and internet keyboard warriors. Robin Goomes’ back-to-back title was proof that women’s freeride is not catching up; it is already here. And the riders who crashed down reminded everyone that Rampage is real and high consequence - these riders are warriors! Healing vibes to the injured riders, especially to Adolf Silva, who has a long road of recovery ahead him!

SCENE

🚵‍♂️ Hard MTB League: A New Era of Mountain Biking Kicks Off Oct 24!

Get ready, riders — the game just changed. The Hard MTB League is rolling out its world premiere on Friday, October 24, 2025, and this isn’t just another race. This is the next level of mountain biking: Raw, fast, and built different.

A Track Like No Other

Tucked into the foothills just outside Boise, Idaho, the new Hard League course redefines what “epic” means. After hundreds of hours of design, testing, and straight-up obsession, this track blends art, passion, and purpose into one high-intensity ride. It’s compact, film-friendly, and spectator-perfect, you can see every wild turn and jump from a single spot.

The Vision of Braydon Bringhurst

The mastermind behind it all is Braydon Bringhurst: As a rider, filmmaker, and visionary. Known for pushing both the sport and himself to the edge, Braydon personally designs every challenging feature of the Hard League tracks. His goal? To create the most technically demanding, visually stunning, and mentally intense mountain bike competition ever built.

Big Money, Big Names

With massive prize money on the line, it’s no surprise that some of the top riders in the world are lining up for this premiere. Kyle Strait already dropped by during the Recon Podcast and said he loves this new format, because it is a perfect mix of skill, strategy, and guts. Expect a stacked roster and no shortage of jaw-dropping runs.

A great show live on site

The event starts at 1:00 pm, with gates opening at 12:00 pm at 5963 West Avimor Drive, Boise, ID. Due to weather, the date’s been updated to Friday, October 24, but the hype is still sky-high.

Witness some of the most versatile riders on the planet go head-to-head on a track designed to test every skill, every muscle, every moment.

🏁 Video Of The Week

Rampage 2025 is history - watch the highlights of the event here!

🎧 Podcast Of The Week

No shortcuts - Max Hartenstern about his rise to the worldcup elite:

🚵‍♀️ 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 the Recon Team with a special shoutout to Marc Brodesser!