Redbull Hardline

[Headshot]

Broadcast was a bit of a dud after PB released the results the day before. Conditions were pretty scary. Not often you see a top pro braking hard before a lip and going around the drop off...

[Capricorn]

 

My respect for Gee-man is on the up: the guy throwing down a backflip. His rampage prep has definitely stepped up a level.

[Dirt Tracker]

Trackwalk of the beast. 

 

[Capricorn]

https://www.instagram.com/p/B2XT2qngO5o/

 

[ig_embed']https://www.instagram.com/p/B2XT2qngO5o/[/ig_embed]

[Capricorn]

Gee flipping that sick kicker

 

[ig_embed']https://www.instagram.com/p/B2WsexYHk4I/[/ig_embed]

[Capricorn]

Live qualifying on Youtube:

 

https://www.pinkbike.com/news/coming-up-live-qualifying-hardline-2019.html

[ChrisF]

WOW !!

 

 

 

Respect !!!  They are constantly over the edge, but the way these guys bring it back each time ...

 

 

Gotta feel for Joe Smith .....

[thebob]

Happy for Bernard! He showed good speed at the World Cups, but never strung together an error free run. Joe would have been a solid second

[nigelhicks]

I know that the video never shows the gnar of a track. . But other than the jumps. And those 2 rock drops at the bottom. I don't see any rock gardens like MSA or Fort Bill ... Or roots like Val Di Sole.. so .... For me although the guys racing it are saying it's the best track in the world. ... Hmmmmm. Where are the brunis and perrions? .

[MORNE]

I know that the video never shows the gnar of a track. . But other than the jumps. And those 2 rock drops at the bottom. I don't see any rock gardens like MSA or Fort Bill ... Or roots like Val Di Sole.. so .... For me although the guys racing it are saying it's the best track in the world. ... Hmmmmm. Where are the brunis and perrions? .

Minaar was there last year for the track walk etc and indicated that its a bit next level crazy and the "Pro's" cant really risk riding it just to break something and be screwed for the rest of the year. He rode it but walked most of the big features.

 

road gap around 2min, we can all agree that GM is no chicken.....so that tells you how scary it must be

 

[Duane_Bosch]

 Hmmmmm. Where are the brunis and perrions? .

For me it's kind of like the difference between the TT and Moto GP. The one is for the nutters and the other is for the pure breed of racer.

 

Both carry huge risks. Both are spectacular. But they should be kept separate. And there's room for both.

 

But I do agree with what I think you're saying. It's not a world cup. It's not Worlds champs. It's an off season exhibition event.

[T-Bob]

For me it's kind of like the difference between the TT and Moto GP. The one is for the nutters and the other is for the pure breed of racer.

 

Both carry huge risks. Both are spectacular. But they should be kept separate. And there's room for both.

 

But I do agree with what I think you're saying. It's not a world cup. It's not Worlds champs. It's an off season exhibition event.

 

I'd say it's the WC for those riders who are hugely talented love to go big, enjoy a different kind of riding and aren't going to fit into being a UCI World Cup racer. To 'race' on the WT you need a certain kind of thing. You know Kerr, Masters, Gee, Brendog are all super talented and stack up the top in this kind of event but you'll not find them consistently placing top 10 in the World Tour. You also won't find some of those downs and jumps on the race course at places like Leogang! 

[Gambithunt]

That rock chute, every time someone rode down there I held my breath. It's super steep with a sharp left-hander and if you don't make it, you are going over the edge.

 

Also, that rock section further down, super technical and then a massive drop off a rock at the end. Completely insane.

[Duane_Bosch]

So mad

[tinmug]

Hardline will be much more fun if they randomly shot slimy banana peels at you. 

[Headshot]

I was a bit in Nigel's boat, but I watched all the Youtube videos that came out before the event this year and those gave a pretty good idea of the steepness and size of the features. That said, I'd like to see the WC top 5 - 10 giving this a go.  I do think that a longer track like MSA is probably harder on the body overall.