Dylan Stark is as punk rock as it gets. | Natural Selection Proving Grounds photo.
This past weekend was one for the ages in freeride mountain biking, with two major events going down across both sides of the Atlantic. With Red Bull Hardline pitting racers against arguably the gnarliest DH track on the planet, the world’s best freeride mountain bikers gathered in Prineville, Oregon to battle it out for Proving Grounds on a custom built course complete with features straight out of a video game. With nearly 30 athletes in attendance across both the men’s and women’s fields, it came down to the Super Final to determine who would take home top honors.
Casey Brown dropping into a massive run. | Natural Selection/Proving Grounds photo.
Cami soaring above the crowd. | Chad Chomlack/Natural Selection Proving Grounds photo.
On the women’s side, last year’s champion Cami Nogueira stepped it up yet again with a flawless top-to-bottom run, finishing as the only woman to hit the 26-foot Bomber drop at the bottom. That allowed her to edge out incredible runs from Casey Brown and Vinny Armstrong to take the top spot.
Brett Rheeder joined as a last-minute wildcard and took the win. | Trevor Lyden/Natural Selection Proving Grounds photo.
Emil Johanssen with some time on the big bike. | Aaron Blatt/Natural Selection Proving Grounds photo.
Bienve goes full moto. | Natural Selection Proving Grounds photo.
In the men’s competition, slopestyle superstar Brett Rheeder returned to competition on a whim, managing to link together an impressive bag of tricks on his single-crown DH bike to take the win. In second, freeride dark horse Dylan Stark literally put a lighthearted middle finger to the judges and pieced together a run with his signature amplitude. Third place went to Bienvenido Aguado, who brought some serious moto style to the biggest jumps on the venue.
About The Author
stash member Max Ritter
I manage digital content here at TGR, run our gear testing program, and am stoked to be living the dream in the Tetons.