Everyone has a slightly different story about the inception of our sport. For some it’s simply a logical progression of cyclocross, while for others it originated in the UK with the fabled Rough Stuff fellowship. Some even argue that mountain biking has been around for as long as mountains and bikes, which probably makes sense. I, however, am an American, so with the combination of pride and ignorance unique to my nation I’ll gladly tell anyone who asks; mountain biking was definitely born in Marin County, California.
We’ve all heard lore of Gary Fisher, Joe Breeze and a handful of other crazies thrashing modified cruisers on the fire roads of Mount Tam and paving (or un-paving, if you will) the way for today’s machines. Yet compare even the most basic of today’s rigs to the “klunkerz” of the 70’s, and it’s hard to believe that our sport is only about fourty years old.
Advances in technology have consistently expanded the two-wheeled realm of possibility, giving birth to a startling variety of progeny all under the monicker of “Mountain Biking.” From double-crowned downhill machines to seatless trials rigs, the scattered offspring of the Klunker sometimes have little in common but two wheels and a fanatical, genetic love of dirt.
One of the brood is the Slopestyle freeride bike. The spawn of Downhill and BMX, Slopestyle as a discipline is characterized by big hits and techy features designed to test a rider both technically and artistically. It’s loved by both athletes and spectators, and for some, Slopestyle even embodies whatever brand of crazy first caused those folks in California to take their bikes off-road. Basically, a good Slopestyle rider is a rare breed, with the cahones of a downhiller combined with the fancy skills of a dirt jumper.
(c) Yorick Carroux / Red Bull Content Pool
Alongside Big Mountain and Dirt Jump mountain biking, Slopestyle events have come to comprise the “freeride” direction of the sport, with the largest festivals regulated and promoted by the 2010-established Freeride Mountain Bike world tour. Working with some already well-loved and successful freeride events, the FMB World Tour touches down all over North America and Europe, providing exceptional events for both riders and spectators.
The tour is regulated by the Freeride Mountain Bike Association (FMBA), a non-profit organization run by pro riders, event organizers and opinion leaders, all of whom aim to give freeride mountain bikers a voice in the direction of the sport. The overall goal of FMBA is to provide consistently judged international events with a high standard of safety, all while progressing the sport and continuing to push boundaries.
Perhaps the best example of such rider collaboration is the Joyride Slopestyle, which falls on the final day of Kokanee Crankworx in Whistler and comprises one of the last stops of the FMB World Tour. Crankworx has made a definitive name for itself in under a decade, becoming a self-proclaimed “supercharged magnet for the world’s best riders,” and a major destination for industry professionals- as the final event and a FMB World Tour stop, you know the Joyride’s going to be good.
This year’s Joyride Slopestyle course has been painstaking designed by the riders (and for the riders) to be as aesthetic and challenging as possible- a truly grand finale. Are you ready?
Watch Red Bull Joyride live Saturday July 23rd, 5:30pm PST at redbulljoyride.ca
Follow Red Bull Canada on twitter. #redbulljoyride
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