The world’s toughest downhill mountain bike race made its way to one of the most iconic and demanding ride destinations on the planet: Vancouver’s North Shore. British Columbia, Canada is known for its roots, mud, and highly technical trails, and the inaugural Cypress Mountain Hardline course delivered a unique blend of high-speed sections, massive features, tight wooded terrain, and spicy rock rolls. It was a true Red Bull Hardline build, bringing a whole new level of challenge to British Columbia’s Coast.
Fresh off a hectic UCI Downhill World Cup season, some of the biggest names in racing made the trip to BC, including FOX Factory riders Jackson Goldstone, Bernard Kerr, Asa Vermette, Gracey Hemstreet, and Jess Blewitt.
- - Gracey, Jackson, and other riders taking the first look at the track.
From the first track walk, the puzzle had begun. Riders studied every feature, searching for the fastest lines and weighing the risks of each decision. The challenge was clear: find speed without pushing their bikes or bodies beyond the limit. With classic Canadian rain adding another layer of complexity, every line choice had the potential for either a costly mistake or a serious advantage.
- There is much more than just the rider in this battle. The Frameworks Team putting finishing setup touches on overall UCI DH series winner Asa Vermette’s bike.
The first practice laps in the rain made certain sections particularly unpredictable, but the riders approached the challenge with confidence, tackling the course feature by feature.
- Big hits were the name of the game. Benard and Gracey taking-on one of the bigger off camber jumps higher up on course.
By qualifying and race day, the weather had cleared, giving riders a faster, cleaner track. As the week progressed, the course continued to evolve, with riders reporting that conditions were getting quicker by the day.
Finals delivered an unreal atmosphere and no shortage of drama. Front-runners Jackson Goldstone and Bernard Kerr both made costly mistakes that took them out of contention for what could have been podium finishes. Asa Vermette, meanwhile, put together a clean, confident run to claim the win and make history as the first-ever men’s champion on the Red Bull Hardline BC course.
On the women’s side, local hero Gracey Hemstreet absolutely sent it, becoming the first woman to conquer the challenging new course. With a historic win on home soil, Gracey etched her name into the Hardline record books.
The Winning bikes:
Asa Vermette’s Frameworks DH
Fork: Fox 40
Shock: Float X2
Gracey Hemstreet’s Norco TEAM DH
Fork: Fox 40
Shock: Fox Float X2
