MUST WATCH: Caleb Holonko Turns the Lights Out

Sep 19, 2022
by Kona Bikes  

The definition of progression is to move toward an advanced state. Gravity rider Caleb Holonko takes a few of BC’s familiar big hits and turns them into generation-defining moments. There are plenty of riders that do it, but only a few that you’ll remember.

Video: Ollie Jones
Photos: Kaz Yamamura

Caleb Holonko Riding in Pemberton for Kaz Yamamura

Caleb Holonko Riding in Pemberton for Kaz Yamamura
Caleb Holonko Riding in Pemberton for Kaz Yamamura

Caleb Holonko Riding in Pemberton for Kaz Yamamura

Caleb Holonko Riding in Pemberton for Kaz Yamamura

Caleb Holonko Riding in Pemberton for Kaz Yamamura

Caleb Holonko Riding in Pemberton for Kaz Yamamura


Author Info:
konaworld avatar

Member since Nov 18, 2008
137 articles

175 Comments
  • 595 3
 Soooooo, I was shitting my pants doing the double drop the first time… and this guy freaking gapped the full thing hahahahahaha !!! Mountain biking is the best f*cking sport!!! And Caleb, I love you haha, SEND IT !!
  • 72 0
 Beyond the Gnar?
  • 19 0
 @djyosh: More like Above the Gnar!
  • 36 0
 Send this dude to Rampage
  • 10 0
 that impact/bottom out was big. would be hard to hang on to the bike
  • 12 2
 But where was the bit where he flicked the light switch?
I don't get it
  • 9 0
 I don't know how you guys do that... That jump over the railway? If it goes wrong, there is no way you survive that? Even the Gnar??? HOW???? I do a 3foot drop and pat myself on the shoulder =)
  • 4 0
 I think the double was called the Rutherford Gap originally, way back about 2005? I was shitting my pants just walking it, let alone dropping it. Riding has progressed a long way.

Props for sending the double, Yoann. I can't comprehend gapping it!
  • 14 0
 @saladdodger: incorrect lol. there's a dude who bailed and fell straight to the bottom and somehow lived.
  • 2 17
flag BoneDog (Sep 20, 2022 at 8:56) (Below Threshold)
 @wda1wustl: rampage is a whole scale up from this IMO
  • 2 0
 @kirny6: Oh yeah that shit was fu*#(g scary!!! :O
  • 4 0
 @kirny6: To be fair, that guy wasn't upside down. If you were mid-flip and somehow didn't get wheels across the gap, you would probably die.
  • 8 0
 I was hoping Yoann commented on this. HA! Made my day.
  • 2 12
flag valrock (Sep 22, 2022 at 13:58) (Below Threshold)
 @saladdodger: survive? You never fell of a tree? Camera trick, those walls like what? 2m tall at max. This is just a cool video spot... the double drop shit Yoan is talking about is a different story tho

Also, 3ft drop from a beginner takes more courage than 30ft drop done by a pro rider. So keep sending it Big Grin
  • 12 0
 @valrock: Uhhh... The fall down from the train gap is massive, and will at best, f*ck you up badly if you fall down it. It is much higher than 2m. Here is how it goes to fall from the train gap: www.pinkbike.com/news/video-tom-walker-is-back-walking-and-riding-after-his-horrific-train-gap-crash.html

I also disagree with a 30ft drop for a pro feeling as scary as a 3 foot drop for a beginner. The beginner KNOWS they aren't going to possibly die or get heavily injured. Pros know the consequences even more so than a beginner. They have just trained enough to have the best possible chance of stomping it, but they are definitely still scared, but they are brave and prepared enough to overcome said fear.
  • 6 0
 @valrock: 2m??? You meant 20m??? 2m is nearly my height.... you're out of this world if you think the walls are not higher than me! loolll
  • 1 0
 @wda1wustl: Amen to that!!
  • 2 2
 @leon-forfar: ok I take it back, from this POV it looks pretty high. Not really sure what was the guy in the video thinking, I guess natural selection at play Big Grin
  • 2 0
 @valrock: He clipped his pedal on a rock right before the lip. He just got hung up. Super unlucky, and super catastrophic consequences.
  • 1 0
 @leon-forfar: Do you have some information that we don't have? I have watched that video 1,000 times and he 100% came to the take off at almost zero miles an hour. Clipping a rock doesn't do that, he bailed. I guess you could be saying that he clipped a rock and that's what caused him to "try" and slow down but still. That is a do or don't drop. Hit a rock and pray for the best.
  • 1 0
 @kirny6: There is a rock on the side of the run-in that you have to miss (the big rock on the right). Hard to see in the video, but you can see he gets pitched just as he seems to pass it, slows up, and kind of fishtails right before he falls. That rock is close to the lip, and there just isn't enough time to come to a stop by that point. I don't know if he was going fast enough to begin with, but you can definitely see where it went wrong. Tom also commented on what happened in the comments on that article:

tommowalker (Sep 4, 2020 at 5:59)
@nvranka: my pedal clipped a rock on the right hand side of the run in, blew both my feet off the pedals, you can’t see on the video but it had been raining hard and the wood was wet, I tried to stop but actually went faster when trying to brake on the wet wood
  • 1 0
 @leon-forfar: sounds like he should’ve sprung for the toe cage pedals
  • 153 2
 Caleb Holonko is the best rider you probably didn't know. If he didn't hate social media at the level he did this boy would be one of the biggest names in freeride. But instead he keeps rather quiet and you get to stumble upon him and are reminded you are absolute shit at bikes.
  • 30 1
 Spot on!! If Caleb was invited to rampage he’d win the damn event
  • 14 0
 Caleb is legit AF
  • 118 0
 Rips and hates SM. Respect.
  • 6 0
 Ridiculous riding. Huge respect.
  • 3 0
 well then he needs an agent!
  • 5 3
 hate social media? The guy with 700 posts on insta Big Grin
  • 3 3
 @valrock: being asked to post on social media by your sponsors doesn't mean you live social media....
  • 129 0
 Holonko is really good at riding bikes.
  • 16 1
 This guy bikes
  • 12 3
 That was fucked.
  • 55 9
 I hate bikes and all bike videos generally. Backflip train gap is insane. Full jump over the lily pad too. Effin eh Cotton, Effin eh!!
  • 42 2
 You hate bikes?
  • 103 1
 I hate bikes, let me just log on to my favourite bike forum real quick
  • 1 1
 This is a perfect shredit. Just missing a locomotive pulling a CP manifest train up the tracks.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WnPgv5le0Q
  • 20 1
 I hate online shopping, so I signed up for eBay and Amazon today!
  • 3 0
 Did you think this was the YouTube comments section or?
  • 15 3
 @seanb4: Did you know ‘facetious’ is the only word in the English language that the vowels are in the order that we list them?
  • 30 0
 @jbob27: and sometimes facetiously.
  • 2 0
 @tkrug: touche
  • 5 0
 @jbob27: Now that is a knugget I can take to the cocktail party banter bank. TY.
  • 3 0
 @jbob27: If feel for you because you were so close, it is the shortest word that contains all vowels alphabetically. There's also abstemious.
  • 3 0
 @iamamodel: Haha I shot my shot. Use abstemious in a sentence explaining how rad this video was.
  • 1 0
 @jbob27: "That video was abstemious in it's use of..." Naaah, f*ck it. Ha ha.
  • 49 2
 Lilypad Shmilypad!
  • 24 1
 Solid comment
  • 5 2
 @CarbonShmarbon: agree. I’m a bit jealous tbh.
  • 37 0
 Caleb has been badass for a while now! A North Shore ripper with guts and style. I knew he was next level when I saw some shore edits years ago and then was confirmed when he flipped Brutus. Seeing this triple confirms it! Way to send it and cool camerawork guys!!
  • 39 3
 If you're gonna resurrect another rider's old features you better do a proper fuckin' job of it! That's how to respect the riders who came before you, outstanding job Caleb!
  • 27 0
 THIS IS FREERIDE
  • 23 0
 The Canadian answer to Brage Vestavik. Hope this dudes will make an edit together soon.
  • 24 5
 No lame ass long intro, music was epic, riding was just bang on, finally a worthy flick on this ever lamening website. Articles from 2005 are far more interesting than anything released lately.
  • 20 1
 Wow! How about fixing that broken/missing board on that first drop? LOL. Unreal gap. Made my stomach turn just watching it. Kudos.
  • 17 0
 Yoann, hold muy beer
  • 7 0
 Looks like there's boards there they're just painted black for some reason
  • 21 0
 CALEB! You psycho. That was insane. Just one upping everyone hahah
  • 18 0
 Hell ya Caleb I can't believe the slab huck, train gap flip is also ridiculous.
  • 17 0
 The lilly pad gap is a fade to black ender, to have that in the beginning only set the stage for the craziness. Hot damn, great job Caleb!
  • 1 0
 Totally an Ender! And the Backflip too!
  • 14 0
 Calebs gotta be one of the most talented riders in all of Canada right now. Not to mention one of the nicest/humblest people I have the pleasure of knowing. This guys gonna be a household name.
  • 12 0
 Agreed buddy! Absolutely insane Caleb, that was bonkers
  • 6 0
 One of the friendly guys to have beers with @thedumpsters!
Absolutely destroyed it Caleb!! So good
  • 17 2
 Caleb just went and one-upped all the "YouTube Freeriders" on the shore.
  • 17 4
 To whoever constructed that wood landing on Yoann's hit...wtf, solid build.
  • 12 0
 I found a Holonko listing in buy/sell. "A few riding marks on the frame but other than that, she's perfect."

I don't know, man. I've seen your edits....
  • 3 0
 Sure it didn't say Honzo?
  • 1 0
 @takeiteasyridehard: you mean the process x listed by Caleb Holonko? Yes, I’m pretty sure
  • 3 2
 @samdeatley: It was an old Kona joke...
  • 10 0
 Can anybody body else picture Jordie Lunn right alongside this guy, just losing his mind after every send and bringing him in as a partner in the Rough AF edits?
  • 10 0
 Holy shit Caleb... gapping that rock is bonkers.
  • 10 0
 That 2x6 is stressed!!
  • 8 0
 Big bike, bold riding and questionnable editing... thats freeride! Looks like he uses lots of sag on the fork though.
  • 8 0
 Max pressure can't hold the weight of his balls
  • 8 0
 Okay.. if this guy isn´t invited either to Rampage... what's the point in that "competition"?...
  • 7 1
 Some riders don't want/need to do Rampage. I've always said there are rippers out there that could have a career in Pro DH but they don't want/need to race.
  • 8 0
 So good to have some heavy music to match some heavy riding!
  • 8 0
 Pretty sure I seen a Operator for sale on PB that looked just like that.
  • 12 0
 I'm sure it's in mint condition
  • 25 0
 @clappedbikeenthusiast: username checks out
  • 8 0
 That was burly AF
  • 8 0
 Holy shit.
  • 6 0
 The slab gap!

Who sees this feature and thinks "ya know I should probably just gap the whole thing"?
  • 7 0
 Rampage wildcard for this guy ? Please
  • 5 0
 That lillypad rock gap is pure insanity! Did you notice how much thoses wooden planks are suffering upon Caleb landing on them!?
  • 4 0
 his filler/b roll is still better than most mtb edits. could have just been 2 clips and id still vote for it for video of the year
  • 6 0
 That slab gap! holy shit Caleb you are an animal.
  • 7 0
 this guy fucks.
  • 6 0
 Ironic He rides a Kona and his name is Holonko.
  • 9 0
 Kona Holonzo Kono Sholonky
  • 7 0
 @owenskyle4: hahahahahahha
  • 3 0
 @yoannbarelli Well you did two landings and he only did one. Two is more than one, so really yours was more harderer ; ) It’s science.
  • 5 0
 Everyone can finally stop riding bikes now. This man has won. Game over.
  • 3 0
 Next level. So damn sick. You’re an animal Caleb and it’s only a matter of time before it’s recognized
  • 4 0
 I am impressed. Hell ya Caleb
  • 3 0
 That on-off gap was ridiculous! Even just watching people hit that normally is nail biting.
  • 4 0
 He also deserves the photo of the year award !
  • 6 0
 for which one - i could imagine 3 photos to earn that title.
  • 3 0
 Holonko; does it without the gnar build up and production. Sends it twice as big and twice as clean; absolute talent.
  • 4 0
 Best part is, he is a awesome guy!
  • 1 0
 Wow, totally awesome, much much respect.

But yeah, that compression on the lily pad drop. That’s the kind of hit that I imagine would have exploded a bike from 10 years back. Are modern bikes that much sturdier?
  • 4 0
 Nutters
  • 4 0
 duuude whaaaat
  • 3 0
 Level of riding and insanity compensates oversaturation. Great one!
  • 3 0
 Freeride!! So damn good! F@ck the Lilly pad
  • 3 0
 All hail the King (of the Shore).
  • 2 0
 Watched the first 15 second 10 times, still dont understand, still scratching my head.
  • 3 0
 Sleeper Rider. Nice to meet you!
  • 1 0
 Damn this was higher def than real life! Epic. Sick music, no BS, only shredding!
  • 2 0
 Could not think of a better surname for this guy. This was Holonko!
  • 3 0
 holy shit
  • 2 0
 This vid is the best kind of insane
  • 2 0
 whaaaaat.... this is really next level !!
  • 2 0
 Kid, you kinda good on bikes. Keep it up.
  • 3 0
 Absolute animal!
  • 4 0
 Fully deserving of the 'MUST WATCH'!
  • 2 0
 About as heavy as it gets
  • 2 0
 Whoa this guy is nuts wtf
  • 1 0
 Absolutely rad riding!
And the song just fits.
Can anyone tell me what sing and artist this is?
  • 2 0
 Bouncing it from the youtube comments - props to Marc Jahnchen who trainspotted it. Taheda - Apocalypse Inside
  • 2 0
 On that landing by the nobblys of your tyre.
  • 2 0
 Did he really back-flipped the train gap or I am getting crazy?
  • 1 0
 this video colour grading is exactly what I do... click Auto button in lightroom Big Grin
  • 2 0
 Mental. So good.
  • 2 0
 Wowowww
  • 2 0
 Oh man. That was insane.
  • 2 0
 GANGSTA!
  • 2 0
 Ridiculous man
  • 1 0
 holy crap that was awesome!
  • 1 0
 Atta Boy Caleb. I'm sure your Mom is proud!
  • 1 0
 That was truly a must watch!
  • 2 0
 quite nice
  • 1 0
 Amazing riding! I would love to see what he could do at Rampage.
  • 1 0
 Excellent bike sports performance
  • 1 0
 You know its gonna be good when the "must watch" is in all caps
  • 1 0
 Boner Vid, and i mean BIG Boner
  • 1 0
 UNREAL to watch this after seeing some of this stuff in real life!! BIG UP
  • 1 0
 It was scary when Yoann did it.. this is just crazy. Props.
  • 1 0
 Was there a plank missing on that landing?
  • 2 1
 painted black
  • 1 0
 Wild moves!
  • 1 0
 yeah so actually wtf
  • 1 0
 You win at biking
  • 1 0
 Sending it like Seth.E.
  • 6 9
 YES 60FPS!!!! So much better to watch the gnarly details!
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