What is Redbull Hardline?
It’s a downhill mountain bike race, thanks for listening, that’s it. Nah, I’m just yankin’ ya. There are A LOT of downhill mountain bike races but this one is special.
For one, if you don’t know, the Redbull Hardline is hands down the most gnarly/scary downhill race going on right now.
Not to say that regular UCI World Cup DH races aren’t gnarly but just look at this feature they were considering last year (before being scrapped probably due to build quality and a couple bad crashes during practice).
It is actually bat-shit INSANE to sit there and think “Hey, you know what would be great in the middle of a race course where riders are pushing themselves and completely exhausted…a 70ft jump over a canyon“. And that’s definitely part of what makes Hardline great. It is insane. I don’t think that’s it though, there’s something more there.
NOW, the main reason this race is special has nothing to do with racing, or bikes, or location, or even prize money. Hardline is great because of the community and comradery it creates. It doesn’t feel like a normal race and I think I found the best example of this I’ve seen yet.
What is Redbull Hardline, Actually?
There are tens of thousands of mountain bike YouTube videos out there from the top pros in the sport. I’m sure we’ve all watched countless POV race runs, VLOGS, interviews, etc. but this video Matt Jones posted a few days ago had me all in my feelings for some reason.
There’s nothing insane going on, there’s no race, no World’s Firsts, just some guys hanging out and riding, getting ready for Hardline.
So what is it about this video that had me feeling all giddy?
If you watch it (which you should, why haven’t you watched it yet? Go watch it) it doesn’t feel like you’re watching the top athletes in our sport preparing for a race that toes the line between “holy hell, that was awesome” and “OSHA should exist for mountain biking”.
Its just some guys being dudes. Its relatable. The stress isn’t there, the competitive nature is toned way down, the scowls and intense concentration is traded for jokes and banter. It’s FUN.
Watching these guys hang reminded me of riding with my buddies. They don’t seem like they’re elite competitors and that’s what I think makes this race so great. Everyone is coming together to hangout, have fun, help each other, and make it down (the faster the better).
It almost felt like a cross between watching a video of you and your buddies and some sort of Disney movie (a-la Johnny Tsunami or Brink). You have the whole cast of characters there:
- The older wiser ripper who will destroy your ego (Bernard Kerr)
- The young wide eyed prodigy, all smiles and stoked to be there (Jackson Goldstone)
- The other young prodigy, knows he’s fast and doesn’t hide it, might have a dark character building arc (Ronan Dunne)
- The goofy guy who maybe isn’t as fast as the other’s but will throw some WILD borderline un-hinged stuff (Matt Jones)
- The guy cracking jokes at everyone but then absolutely ripping down the hill (Theo Erlangsen)
I can picture myself there hanging out and riding with them (which I definitely could not do, I would either be 10 miles behind them or dead). That’s why everyone loves Hardline, viewers and racers included.
2025 Redbull Hardline Info
When is Redbull Hardline 2025?
- February 7th and 8th
Where is Redbull Hardline 2025?
- The event is being held in Tasmania at the Maydena Bike Park
Where can I watch Redbull Hardline 2025
- The event will be streaming live for free on Redbull TV