Tag: freeride

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Mountain Bike Video Featuring Ethan Nell & Tom Van Steenbergen

Back at it again! Monster Energy is proud to announce the worldwide premiere of the “MESA 2” mountain bike video starring team riders Ethan Nell and Tom Van Steenbergen. The new 3:22 minute video is live now on Monster Energy’s YouTube channel. As the sequel to 2019’s viral video sensation “MESA”, the high-energy edit captures innovative MTB riding on natural terrain with the Utah desert landscape as a dramatic backdrop.

Fast-Paced Video Captures Unique Freeride Mountain Bike Action in the Utah Desert

The first installment of “MESA” already garnered more than 166,000 views – and counting. With “MESA 2”, Nell and Van Steenbergen revisit their formula of building hand-sculpted jumps in the virgin Utah desert landscape while cranking up the intensity a few notches: Get ready for steep drops, natural gaps, insane speed runs, and no room for error in this next-level freeride mountain bike edit.

As in the previous video, the two mountain bike trailblazers take on the Utah desert as a proving ground frequented by riders from all across the world. The natural terrain, lined by rock constellations and steep natural inclines, pushes riders beyond their comfort zone, making or breaking dreams.

Tom on a massive Superman in the Utah wilderness.

On that note, the video shoot began under challenging conditions. Van Steenbergen returned to finish filming this edit after breaking his femur jumping a road gap in mid-2020. Nevertheless, the seasoned MTB pro, known for landing the first double-backflip ever executed in the competition, came in without missing a beat.

Van Steenbergen once again headlines the video alongside Nell, a native of the rocky mountainside in Utah. The young rookie was raised in this harsh desert environment on a steady diet of motocross, BMX, and mountain biking. And it shows: Prepare for technical airs and no-holds-barred drop-ins. All filmed out in the Utah desert where the rock surfaces are unforgiving, and the consequences can be dire.

The high-octane action and vast desert landscapes find their perfect counterpart in the ethereal soundtrack, featuring “Lay Me in the Ocean” performed by Blood Red Sun. Cinematography by Calvin Huth and Peter Jamison captures the freeride mountain biking in its massive scale via follow-up cams, panoramic vistas, and aerial shots for another worthy entry in the MESA video series.

When riders like Nell and Van Steenbergen join forces, the outcome is bound to be classic. For proof, look no further than the double lines featured in ‘MESA 2’, with both riders simultaneously attacking the same runs with heavy-hitting tricks.

Both riders link up for some Sunset magic.

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Week in Action Ep2

Week in Action Ep 2 - Koa Smith, Donkey Bay

What a week in extreme sports this week! We had X games delivering world firsts, Donkey Bay was firing and the free ride MTB boys dropped the Loosefest XL edit. All the action from the week in the video below and I have put every featured video in the playlist below it (You can just press play, wide screen and enjoy all the videos back to back.)

Enjoy the Show

Here is the playlist of the featured Videos

If you enjoy the show please remember to subscribe!

Huge Thanks to: Chris Rogers – https://www.youtube.com/user/TheSaffabru Koa Smith – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0gp… Monster Energy – https://www.youtube.com/user/monstere… X Games – https://www.youtube.com/user/XGames Filipe Toledo – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChh_… Fest Series – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYbO…

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DarkFEST Freeride Mountain Biking Is Upon Us!

Darryl Brown testing the big jump. Photo: Eric Palmer

Stellenbosch sees the return of DarkFEST

Friday 8 February and Saturday 9 February will see the return of DarkFEST to Vuurberg Wines, Helshoogte Pass, Stellenbosch, and for those two full days the boys are going to cut loose! Sam Reynolds might be out of the competition, but it it still going to rock out over the weekend, as only DarkFEST can.

What is it? The biggest mountain biking dirt jump event in Africa.

Where is it? Vuurberg Wines, Helshoogte Pass, Stellenbosch.

When? Friday 8 and Saturday 9 February. Action starts at 9 am, and continues until 6 pm.

The local kid, Ike, testing the not small step up. Photo: Eric Palmer

Who? There are a crew of local and international riders, including Nico Vink, Tom van Steenbergen, Adolf Silva, Brendan Fairclough, Ethan Nell, Nicholi Rogatkin, Jordie Lunn, Graham Agassis, Matt Macduff, Tom Reynolds, Darryl Brown, Theo Erlangsen and Kurt Sorge, amongst others. Local legend Sam Reynolds unfortunately injured himself on a recent practice run, and is out of the event.

How does one attend? Tickets are available here www.quicket.co.za/events/64964-darkfest-the-fest-series/

More information? Check out the old faithful Facebook event link for more information here https://www.facebook.com/events/755601598144716/

Check out the 2018 Highlights

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Mountain Bikers “Send it to the Moon” at The Audi Nines MTB 2018

Adolf Silva pulling Best Trick. Photo: Klaus Polzer

Sam Pilgrim Rules Audi Nines

After six days of film shoots and sessions in the moonlike landscape of the quarry, the riders gathered on the evening of Thursday, September 14, to celebrate their successful “moon launch”. British mountain bike legend Sam Pilgrim was selected by his peers for the top honor of “Ruler of the Week,” and also won the category of “Best Slopestyle Line” at the Audi Nines.

“The Audi Nines is the best event of the year for me,” said Pilgrim. “You’ve got six days to perform to your highest level. I ended up winning two of the categories, which means a lot because everyone who voted for me, they’re all professional mountain bike riders. I’m stoked about it.”

Sam Reynolds best of Freeride

Pilgrim was joined in the winner’s circle by his countryman Sam Reynolds, whose run through the freeride section was voted “Best Freeride Line.” Winners were also chosen in the category of “Best Freeride Trick”—claimed by Adolf Silva’s incredible Cali Roll, a world’s first on a downhill mountain bike—as well as for “Best Slopestyle Trick,” where Dawid Godziek’s quadruple tail whip—also a first—took top honors.

Silva crashed repeatedly before finally landing the Cali Roll, a spectacular aerial maneuver in which the rider lets go of his bike midair and spins 360 degrees before re-mounting to land. Godziek’s equally impressive quadruple whip involved a dizzying flurry of motion, as he spun his bike around the handlebars four times in midair before landing his jump.

Worlds most unique Freeride Location

When The Audi Nines’ relocation to the stone quarry in Germany’s Rhineland-Palatinate region in cooperation with Bikepark Idarkopf was first announced, many were curious how the unusual new location would work out. However, the events of the past week have made clear that the quarry, after extensive modifications by an experienced team of trail builders, was indeed a perfect venue for a world-class mountain bike event with a unique take on its presentation of the sport.

“The location worried us at first,” said Reynolds. “We weren’t sure if it would live up to the previous location in the Alps with the epic views. But once the “moon props” came in, like the satellite dish and all the cool ramps, the venue actually had a lot more character than ever before.”

“It’s the most unique location I’ve ever ridden a bike in,” he added. “It looks like a video game.”

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DarkFEST Week 4 – The Big Air Course is Ready

Course Ready & Athletes Arrive

The world’s best started arriving this week for the Big Air madness at DarkFEST.

Most of the riders have arrived this weekend and have been introduced to the monster creations. More riders means more excitement and we have already seen some big tricks go down.

At first sight jaws hit the floor, the first big air is around 100ft now and is seriously intimidating. Some riders were feeling the jet lag and took a while to adjust. After watching Sam, Nico and Clemens hit it, the lag and fear quickly was pushed aside. They followed the boys that had hit it before to feel what speed they needed and after a couple attempts they were all making it through the course.

Difficult Conditions for Big Air

The wind has been really unpredictable and changes direction constantly, so every morning and evening we go up to see if it is being kind to us. It can also drop or pick up in a matter of minutes. You might get to the top and almost be blown away, thinking there’s no chance of riding, to having it be perfectly still, perfect conditions moments later. Such a tease!

The huge step up at the bottom is in a different direction to the top two big features, so often when the wind is too strong for those they can still drop in from the hip landing and have a trick session.

Ready for Action

With what’s been going on here the past few days, I think we’re in for an amazing show on the 10th! So head to the DarkFEST OPEN DAY and book your tickets before they’re sold out!!!

Photo: Eric Palmer

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Darkfest Week 3 – The Build is Done

Work Hard, Play Hard

As the DarkFEST course nears completion, the boys have been smashing it all week with the diggers and with a few tiny sprinkles of rain and some spade work, have managed to compact most of the line. Mountain Bike heaven or hell depending on who you ask…

Mountain Bike Gods bless with more rain!

With a little more much needed rain on the forecast, the guys got everything ready for it and took advantage of getting some time behind the bars on the big line at Hellsend Dirt Compound with Brendog and a few locals.

The course is complete and now the line just needs to be tweaked for the arrival of the rest of the world’s best free ride Mountain Bikers next week.

Week 3 Video

Tune into the week 3 video of the DarkFEST prequel, as next week the mayhem begins! Remember I will be live, on site from next Thursday, so be sure to follow my Instagram channel – Captain Kais World

Join the Mayhem

Tickets are available online to come and witness the mayhem live, on Saturday 10 February, just outside Stellenbosch.

You can Purchase tickets – HERE

Space on the mountain is at a premium and believe me when I say, you do not want to miss this! The world’s craziest free ride specialists charging one of the biggest lines ever built, including a monster 80ft Gap Jump. (See Sam testing it in the picture above.)

Be sure to follow Monster Energy and photog boss, Eric Palmer

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Darkfest dirt jump build begins in Africa

Darkfest Begins

Every year a crew of pretty mental MTB guys, led by the indomitable, Sam Reynolds, descend on South Africa for Darkfest. Their goal is quite simply to build the biggest and most radical line in dirt jumping.

Darkfest 2017

Darkfest 2017 saw the scariest step up jump ever built. At 60ft high it provided the perfect platform for the world’s top riders to push the limits. Adolf Silva even hit the double backflip, much to the amazement of the local crowd watching.

This year the gents are promising an even bigger line, with three of Sam’s favourite jumps from other events, including finishing with another mammoth step up jump. The crew behind the build are some of the best in the business.

Sam Reynolds

Sam Reynolds is one of the World’s top Mountain biking chargers. At the forefront of Slopestyle and Dirt Jumping, he competes around the world at the biggest events, such as Rampage and Nine Knights. He is the general of the Darkest crew.

Nico Vink

He has been riding bikes for 27 years and still loves it as much as on day one. Nico is renowned for not only building, but also sending some of the biggest jumps the MTB world has seen to date.

Clemens Kaudela

The Austrian daredevil has become one of the top names in the freeride world and is also an accomplished builder of jumps and trails. He joins Nico on the bog machinery building the insane Darkfest run.

Check out the Week 1 Darkfest Video

This year the event moves to Frranschoek near Cape Town, which is going to mean for bigger crowds and some seriously hot temperatures. Every week I will keep you updated with the build and how you can get to the event! Check the first week’s video…

All images by the legend, Eric Palmer!

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African Dirt Jump Adventures with Nick Clarke

Nick falls in love with African Dirt

When Nick Clarke arrived in South Africa for the Mega Loop build three years ago, he did not know what to expect. The ultimate Dirt Jump was the goal. Turns out he fell in love with the Southern Tip of Africa. Maybe it was the awesome people, the really good riding or simply the laid back lifestyle. Whatever you choose, he chose to come back for Darkfest and two consecutive Night Harvests and would have stayed for ever, if not for a visa problem.

He loves a Dirt Jump

Nick loves dirt jumping and lucky for him, he made friends with the gents at The Trails Crew who quickly adopted him and took him to all the top spots. From Potato trails in Cape Town to the Garden Route trail park, he got a taste of all that SA had to offer. Oh and he took out back to back Night Harvest titles…

Not just riding!

He did not just ride either! Nick worked with myself as the co-commentator for Bmx at the 2017 Ultimate X event, did some work with Monster Energy and was a barmen at Aces n Spades, one of CT’s best bars. He really embraced the Cape Town lifestyle.

Check out the Video

Lucky for Nick, he got some serious video shot of the entire trip, thanks to Thomas Sandell, and now you get to watch the highlights from his African Dirt Jump trip! So sit back, pour some maple syrup over your biltong and enjoy the video, eyyyy!

Support Captain Pugwash

If you want to follow Nick Clarke’s adventures back home in Canada, he won’t be back here for a while sadly, then head over to his Facebook Page and Instagram and show him some love. I am sure he will appreciate it and you will be entertained!

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Darkfest 2017 – Official Video of Insanity

Good Lord, I thought I would have gotten used to the insanity of Darfest after seeing it for myself, but one watch of this video and it all came crashing back down. Seriously, if you are not at this event next year, you are missing out on the most crazy thing you will ever see in South Africa. So sit back, down a tequila and prepare for Darkfest insanity…

The Fest Crew made their way down to South Africa to take on the infamous Pure Darkness jumps. Sam Reynolds, with the help of Nico Vink & Clemens Kaudela, revived the beasts and added a few more to the party and what a party it was! In true Fest fashion, these boys went faster, higher and bigger than ever! With features like a 60ft roll in, 55ft gaps and a 35ft lip that sends you 25ft into the air it is definitely not one to be missed!

Best Trick: Adolf Silva – Double Flip
Best Line: Andreu Lacondeguy
Best Whip: Kurt Sorge
Biggest Slam: Adolf Silva – Tripple Flip Attempt
Dark King: Clemens “C-Dawg” Kaudela – for killing the course build, riding and parties
Cam Zink, Graham Aggasiz

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Nick Clarke slays Cape Town – MTB Freeride Mayhem

First off it was a hell of a good time entertaining this guy while he was in Cape Town. The Canadian kept us all entertained with his list for life and endearing way of talking. You will note in the intro he is in the Predator Tank at the 2 Oceans Aquarium, something he wished to do naked, but was asked very politely to do in a speedo. The guy kills it on a MTB and was the Night Harvest Champion this year. So put up your feet, crack a cold foamy one and enjoy the ride eeeeey!