Do you make sure not to miss a single second of the Downhill World Cup season? Then this compilation of the best moments of the year is a must. And if downhill racing has somehow passed you by so far, give it a go anyway. Chances are, you will be ordering a full-face helmet and life insurance right after.
You may have thought that the most ingenious builder of extreme wooden features was Norway’s Brage Vestavik, but then you have not seen Windfell. British downhill racer Gee Atherton turned the destruction left behind by Storm Darragh in the beautiful Welsh forest of Dyfi into something extraordinary. Armed with a chainsaw, he created a line that defies logic. There is truly zero room for error here.
The best of Deathgrip 2
Seven years have passed since Brendan Fairclough released the groundbreaking MTB film Deathgrip. Now he is back with a second chapter, filmed over two years and representing the culmination of his passion for extreme mountain biking. In this edit, he is joined by fellow FOX Factory riders Jackson Goldstone, Hugo Frixtalon, and Kaos Seagrave. If you went riding with your friends, this is exactly how you would want it to look.
Up the volcano and back down
A long-time We Love Cycling collaborator originally did not want this film to be nominated among the best videos of the year, but we simply could not resist. Richard Gasperotti pushed several limits here. First, he managed to get an e-bike to Cape Verde, which goes against local customs regulations. Second, he climbed all the way to the summit of the Pico do Fogo volcano on that e-bike and then rode back down.
Follow the comeback of a downhill racer
A truly powerful story. It may not be as emotionally devastating as stories of riders who never fully return after injury, but it offers an incredible look behind the scenes of elite women’s downhill racing. This personal account is so strong that it will make you want to start following women’s downhill immediately. Myriam Nicole has been at the very top of the sport for more than a decade. In 2023, she suffered a serious concussion that ruled her out for an entire season. What followed was a story of resilience, crowned by an unbelievable winning run at round six of the Downhill World Cup in Loudenvielle, France. Expect goosebumps and possibly a tear.
Extreme snowboarding on an MTB
The phrase that someone is pushing mountain biking to a new level has been used many times before, often without justification. Brage Vestavik is the one who finally gave it real meaning. Watching him ride impossibly steep Alaskan canyons and launch at full speed off massive cliffs into rock-filled landings without hesitation or crashes feels unreal. The same reaction sometimes comes from watching highly technical trick videos, but those tricks can be trained. Brage Vestavik’s riding challenges everything a normal person understands about physics.
Poetry in the rain
The combination of visual art and masterful bike control has appeared before, yet it is still possible to be surprised by something new and beautiful. If you are looking for a short treat as the cherry on top, play this under-two-minute gem right now. It shows what riders like Tom Van Steenbergen, Carson Storch, and Georgia Astle do when it rains.
A road trip through Chile
If you have ever considered traveling to Chile, this film might tip the scales. Incredible riding set in breathtaking scenery tells the story of a 22-day road trip and one serious injury that even sheer determination could not stop.
It could have been just another trail-building-and-riding film, but what elevates this New Zealand video above the rest are shots that look like they came straight out of a wild video game. If first-person riding footage has started to feel a little stale in recent years, this one brings it back in the best possible way. Watch it just for the opening alone.
Inspiration from Iran, not just for women
For Faranak Partoazar, riding a bike was never just about sport, but about freedom. She grew up in Iran, facing obstacles most of us can hardly imagine. She shares how she secretly rode her bike at the age of twenty-one and gradually worked her way up to standing on the podium at the Asian Games.
Into the wilderness of British Columbia
Red Bull Rampage veteran Alex Volokhov takes us into the Canadian wilderness around Nelson in British Columbia. You can almost feel the untamed freedom of travelling through endless nature. “We have a generator, we have e-bikes, we have hot dogs, we have beer. What more do we need?” If you enjoy romantic country music, this video is an easy choice.
Golden Goldstone on natural trails
If you noticed Jackson Goldstone’s stellar run through this year’s Downhill World Cup, you might be wondering what he looks like away from the race tape. You will find out in previously unreleased footage from the film Anytime, shot in the forests of Vancouver Island.
If you have made it this far, you have earned access to a video in which British trials rider Charlie Rolls demonstrates exactly what phone booths and parking meters are really for in Brighton. If it reminds you of anti-gravity gloves from old sci-fi books, you will finally get your explanation. Yes, those gloves do exist, and yes, they are worn by a world champion from Great Britain.
