In February last year, Maydena Bike Park in Tasmania, Australia, became a major spot for mountain biking. It hosted the Red Bull Hardline event, an extreme downhill mountain bike race known for pushing even the best riders to their limits. This event was held outside North Wales for the first time, bringing the intense Hardline challenge to Australia.
This year’s race made history, especially with the participation of female riders in the finals. Gracey Hemstreet from Canada and Louise-Anna Ferguson from the UK became the first women to compete in a Red Bull Hardline final. Their accomplishment is a big step forward in including women in a sport that has been largely male-dominated.
“I absolutely loved Red Bull Hardline in Tassie,” Hemstreet says. “It was my first Hardline, and it was the most insane experience. The people were amazing, and the course was next level! I can’t wait to see what changes they make for 2025.” Her success, along with Ferguson’s, showed the incredible skill and determination it takes to complete such a challenging race.
A HARD RIDE
Each year, the world’s best downhill mountain bikers are invited to take on the famous Hardline course. Originally held in the Dyfi Valley in North Wales, the event was created by professional rider Dan Atherton. He wanted to build a course that was tougher and more extreme, mixing elements from other action sports like motocross and BMX.
The Tasmanian location, with its rugged landscape, provided the perfect setting for this challenging course, which includes massive jumps, steep drops, and rough, rocky areas. The Hardline course isn’t open to everyone. Only the most talented and experienced riders are invited because of how dangerous it is. Riders get a week to test the course before the race, allowing them to see if they’re ready to face it. The invite-only nature of the event, combined with the high risks involved, makes Hardline one of the toughest challenges in the mountain biking world.
A VISION SPLENDID
Dan Atherton, a professional mountain biker, has been the main designer of Hardline courses. Known for his adventurous spirit and technical skill, Atherton picks out remote, scenic spots and turns them into extremely challenging courses. When he first found the Dyfi Valley in Wales, he was amazed by the huge mountain and waterfall next to it. “It had huge elevation, incredible terrain—everything you could want on a mountain for a downhill track. As soon as I saw it, I knew we had to conquer it,” Atherton says. In recent years, Dan has worked with his brother, Gee Atherton, another top rider, to create courses that test even the best bikers. Each year, they add more challenging features, which keep pushing the sport of downhill mountain biking to new levels.
A TRUE TEST OF SKILL
The Maydena Bike Park course in Tasmania was a mix of man-made and natural elements, providing riders with plenty of challenges. It included a 575-metre drop and gap jumps as wide as 23 metres. Known sections of the course, like Baxter’s Highway, the Road Gap, and the Shark Fin, were especially risky. Riders had to be careful of the weather too, as rain and strong winds could make the track even more dangerous.
This extreme course required riders to be both precise and fearless. Some riders reached speeds of over 70 km/h on parts of the track. With a course this tough, even small mistakes could lead to serious consequences. The design of the track, paired with Tasmania’s wild environment, made the race as much about mental focus as it was about physical ability.
READY, SET, GO
On race day, a crowd of 5000 spectators gathered to watch the riders in action. The event started with Brannigan from New Zealand. Gracey Hemstreet’s amazing ride earned her the title of Rider of the Week, which brought loud cheers from the crowd.
The success of the 2024 event has already generated a lot of excitement for 2025. The next Red Bull Hardline race in Tasmania is scheduled for 7 and 8 February, with tickets going on sale in November. Fans and riders alike are looking forward to another thrilling event at Maydena Bike Park. This event has helped put Tasmania on the map as a must-visit place for mountain biking, thanks to its unique landscape and outdoor culture.
“Red Bull Hardline has a global reputation for being the ultimate test in downhill mountain biking,” says Nic Street, the Minister for Stadia and Events in Tasmania. “Tasmania has long been a bucket list destination for mountain biking because of our unique environment and hospitality, and now the best in the world are coming to prove themselves at Maydena. I am confident that this is set to be the best Red Bull Hardline yet.”
MORE THAN A RACE
Red Bull Hardline is not just about racing; it’s an event that changes what’s possible in downhill mountain biking. With features borrowed from BMX, dirt jumping, and motocross, Hardline pushes riders to develop new skills and face new challenges. The course is designed to test the limits of what a mountain bike can do, inspiring both the riders and fans who watch.
Each year, Red Bull Hardline isn’t just a test for the riders; it also helps the sport of mountain biking grow. The event’s focus on inclusion, environmental responsibility, and achieving athletic excellence has made it a significant moment in the world of downhill mountain biking. As riders prepare for 2025, fans everywhere will be watching as these athletes take on one of the world’s hardest courses, facing both the mountain and their own boundaries.
