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Red Bull Hardline's Canadian Debut: Everything You Need to Know
The wait is almost over. Red Bull Hardline British Columbia is set to take over Cypress Mountain on Friday, October 16. Here's what to expect and how to watch.
Red Bull Hardline, the toughest downhill MTB event on the planet, is gearing up for a bold new chapter with the announcement of Red Bull Hardline British Columbia. Expanding the Red Bull Hardline legacy beyond Wales and Tasmania – uniting three events under one vision – Red Bull Hardline BC is set to take place on October 16, 2026. The event will bring the world’s toughest downhill race format to Cypress Mountain, located just north of Vancouver.
The event brings the same uncompromising Red Bull Hardline spirit, renowned Wales and Tasmania, to a new stage. Expect steep descents, massive features and a dramatic West Coast backdrop as riders push the boundaries of what’s possible – this time, on Canadian soil. Here is what you need to know:
Gee Atherton scopes out the landscape in Wales
© Dan Griffiths / Red Bull Content Pool
Here's everything you need to know:
Location: Cypress Mountain, British Columbia, Canada
Thursday, October 15th | Practice & Qualifying Day
- 9:30AM: Cypress Bowl Road Gate opens
- 10:00AM - 12:00PM: Practice session
- 2:00PM - 5:00PM: Qualifying runs
- 6:30PM: Venue closes
Friday, October 16th | Race Day
- 8:30AM: Cypress Bowl Road Gate opens
- 10:00AM - 11:30AM: Practice session
- 12:00PM - 3:00PM: Main race
- 5:30PM: Venue closes
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Red Bull Hardline British Columbia 2026 Riders
Check out the confirmed men's and women's riders taking on Cypress Mountain this October for Red Bull Hardline British Columbia 2026.
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What riders say
Dan Atherton
Dan Atherton has a vision for the Canadian event
© Nathan Hughes / Red Bull Content Pool
“When you think of Red Bull Hardline in British Columbia, everyone has their own vision of how it should be. So, the bar is set so high in everyone’s expectations,” said Dan Atherton, one of the creators of Red Bull Hardline. "When you think of BC riding, you think of huge rock slabs, massive trees, amazing dirt, kind of first generation growth – so to find a location that ticked all those boxes was insanely difficult and luckily we had local riders like Jackson there on the ground and even then it took two years of searching to finally find a location. The guys did amazingly and it’s going to be pretty special.”
With the build wrapped, Dan Atherton knows where he’ll be watching closest. “The middle section is one to watch,” he said. “It’s one thing after another, back-to-back, multiple linked features. To hit one is impressive enough, but then as soon as you land, you’re onto another drop, and then you’re into a road gap. It’s so cool.”
Jackson Goldstone
Jackson Goldstone is looking forward to shredding the BC course
© Bartek Wolinski / Red Bull Content Pool
A former Red Bull Hardline winner, and BC native, Jackson Goldstone said it will be a special moment to see one of his all-time favourite events take place in his backyard. “It’s going to be crazy to have the ‘full circle moment’ of coming back to race a massive event at home, as we haven’t really had that before," he said.
Racing a brand new track is a process, and he knows where the pressure will come from. “It’s going to take us riders a while to pick apart the track and get the speed dialled for all the jumps. That’s the fun part, but when we have to link everything together into a full lap is when it gets nerve-racking.” As for what he’s most looking forward to on the course, the big drops up at the top of the mountain are his pick. “From the trackwalks I’ve done, those ones are going to look incredible if we get a sunny day overlooking downtown. The feeling of dropping in the start gate on top of the world is going to be pretty special too.”
Goldstone also had a hand in bringing the course to life as one of the local riders on the ground during the build. “I’m lucky to be a part of the process to make this come to life. And helping the team out was a great time.” Lining up on Canadian soil makes this a one-of-a-kind edition for him: “I’ve been able to travel to some incredible places, but there’s no place out there that lives and breathes mountain biking more than we do in the Sea-to-Sky.”
Gracey Hemstreet
Gracey Hemstreet: excited to see Red Bull Hardline come to Canada
© Brett Hemmings / Red Bull Content Pool
A native of British Columbia, Gracey Hemstreet is pretty excited about the series coming to BC. “After walking the future Red Bull Hardline track, I’m pretty intimidated but excited. I think this will be the best one yet," she said. "Everyone’s going to be so stoked, and the crowd is going to be huge. Bringing Red Bull Hardline to Canada is something everyone has wanted, and it’s super exciting it’s finally happening.”
After three straight wins at Hardline, Hemstreet is lining up for her fourth, but this edition promises to be the most meaningful. The reason is simple: “BC is the best place on earth to ride a mountain bike, I think. When I come home, I’m just in awe of how amazing it is, and I didn’t realize how lucky I was to grow up here as a kid and ride.”
BC is the best place on earth to ride a mountain bike
On the course itself, Hemstreet has her eye on one section in particular. “I’m excited for the whole track, but I’m super excited for the last jumps. I heard that someone had jumped it to 110 feet, and I’ve never jumped 110 feet in my life, so I’m so excited to try.” And beyond the results, what would make the weekend a success? “Just having fun with everyone, everyone getting through the weekend safely, and getting a top to bottom. That’s the goal.”
Finn Iles
Finn Iles will take on his first Hardline on home soil in BC
© Monica Gasbichler / Red Bull Content Pool
Red Bull Hardline British Columbia will be Finn Iles’ first Hardline, and the Whistler-raised rider is heading into a course built around massive custom features. Asked what it’s like preparing for a track like that, Iles said, “The biggest thing is making sure that you understand the features. You know where your braking points are going to be, or your pedal points, or how much you think you’re going to need to pull.”
On how his approach differs from other events, he added, “I don’t feel very stressed about hitting the features themselves. I think for me, it’s more about being able to take the massive freeride features and turning them into a race feature so that you’re able to carry speed and ride the entire track with lots of pace.”
On what Red Bull Hardline could mean for the kids coming up in Canadian mountain biking, Iles said, “For them to come out and really get to see it firsthand is just going to be massive, and I hope that it does inspire a whole new generation of riders to want to be downhill racers or Hardline racers.” He added, “Mountain biking culture in Canada is built on people with a lot of passion and care for the sport. That’s one thing I hope people take away from this event: how much passion, energy and care goes into it, from the rider side and everybody involved in the event.”
Missed out on the action? Read our full recap on what happened at Red Bull Hardline's first Canadian edition, and watch the replay of the race on Red Bull TV.
Read more about Red Bull Hardline Canada
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Key facts
- Since its creation by Dan Atherton in Wales in 2014, Red Bull Hardline has built a reputation as the ultimate proving ground in downhill mountain biking, blending top-level speed with freeride‐style ingenuity on some of the toughest terrain in the sport. Over the past decade, it has redefined what’s possible on two wheels and inspired awe across the global MTB community.
- The Red Bull Hardline BC course is designed by founder Dan Atherton and Gee Atherton, and built in close collaboration by an experienced team of trail builders and riders, ensuring the technical legacy of Red Bull Hardline is carried into a completely new landscape.
- As with all Red Bull Hardlines events, BC will feature a select roster of elite downhill and freeride athletes from across the globe, each invited to take on a course that combines high‐speed sections, massive jumps and natural technical features. This time, those will be carved into the mountains of Vancouver’s North Shore, often hailed as one of birthplaces of freeride MTB.
- The unforgettable course at Cypress Mountain will be incomparable to other downhill bike courses, with elements borrowed from dirt jumping and BMX that aren't allowed in the World Cup and other UCI races. These include massive jumps and gaps, steep drops of 10m plus, 'rock gardens' and steep descents.
Watch: Red Bull Hardline highlights
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How to watch
The combination of Cypress Mountain’s terrain and Canadian mountain biking heritage promises to deliver one of the most spectacular editions of Red Bull Hardline to date. Red Bull Hardline BC will be broadcast live on Red Bull TV and Red Bull Bike YouTube channel on Friday, October 16 at 12 PM PT/3 PM ET.
Asa Vermette – winner in Wales in 2025
© Nathan Hughes / Red Bull Content Pool
Gracey Hemstreet sends it in Australia
© Graeme Murray / Red Bull Content Pool
Hannah Bergemann enjoys riding the Welsh landscape
© Dan Griffiths / Red Bull Content Pool
Gee and Dan Atherton celebrate a win
© Saskia Dugon / Red Bull Content Pool
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Red Bull Hardline Wales will return in 2027
Rónán Dunne takes on Red Bull Hardline at Dinas Mawddwy, Wales 2025
© Dan Griffiths / Red Bull Content Pool
While Red Bull Hardline British Columbia will make its debut in 2026, Red Bull Hardline Wales will return in 2027 – with a completely new track, continuing the event’s evolution and building on more than a decade of progression. Can't wait? Rewatch Red Bull Hardline Wales 2025.
