Red Bull Hardline Finals Photo Epic

Sep 24, 2017
by Tristan Tinn  


Today, in the depths of the Dyfi Valley—Atherton territory—a fierce battle was fought by a select few. Red Bull Hardline returned to North Wales with a host of talent, both homegrown and from further afield, to add a new conqueror to a growing list of champions. Dan Atherton’s creation takes no prisoners, as many of the challengers came to realize. The track combines vast gap jumps and giant slabs, all knitted together with some of Wales’ slimiest slop.

With the weather well and truly not in the riders favour leading up to the weekend, the track was far past moist. The soft, sketchy conditions have been taking their toll throughout the weekend. Saturday practice brought a dry spell, which stretched into Sunday and almost outlived the race.

Despite the long technical track being shortened slightly, with the riders unable to battle the wind on the top section of track, they were still showing signs of fatigue by the finish line. Kaos Seagrave came into the finish in an almighty nosedive reminiscent of Rémi Thirion’s crash earlier in the season, but fortunately he managed to ride it out. Adam Brayton, despite topping the list of favourites after qualifying fastest, came a cropper in the final wooded section on the last run of the day. Last years champion Bernard Kerr made mistakes throughout, battling the rain and leaving the door wide open.

Craig Evans took chances to take the title! Bernard ended up on the second step, with course creator Dan Atherton sitting comfortably third.

Low cloud shrugs the hillsides as the valley awakens
Low cloud shrugs the hillsides as the valley awakens

Make it to here rubber side down later on and youre doing well regardless of your time.
Make it to here rubber side down later on and youre doing well, regardless of the time.
The stable
The stable

Huge slab huck into sniper gateway in the fresh morning sun
Huge slab huck into sniper gateway, bathed in morning sun

We dont want the medics getting stuck now do we They seem to be well equipped..
We dont want the medics getting stuck now do we! They seem to be well equipped..

Charlie Hatton wisely sat the Sunday out after a nasty fall on the step up. He is keen to return for 2018 Big things to come from this one..
Charlie Hatton wisely sat the Sunday out after a nasty fall on the step up. He is keen to return for 2018! Big things to come from this one..
Dan completes a landing check before being the first to drop in for the day
Dan completes a landing check before being the first to drop in for the day

Oscar Harnstrom gets his boost on for the boys
Oscar Harnstrom gets his boost on for the boys

Bernard soars out of the cannon
Bernard soars out of the cannon

Mudd certainly isnt down under today
Mudd certainly isnt down under today

Bernard shows off his big feature frills after a long stint in New Zealand last winter riding some of the southern hemispheres best trails.
Bernard shows off his big feature frills after a long stint in New Zealand last winter, riding some of the southern hemispheres best trails.

After a crash earlier in the weekend Gee was playing it safe and spectating we hope to see him fighting fit for the next world cup season
After a crash earlier in the weekend Gee was playing it safe and spectating, we hope to see him fighting fit for the next world cup season

Craig Evans flying under the radar saving his strike for later
Craig Evans flying under the radar, saving his strike for later

Bernard provides the fans a step by step on how to boss the step up
Bernard provides the fans a step by step on how to boss the step up

Laurie charges into the renegade step up during practice before going on to lay down a worthy time
Laurie charges into the renegade step up during practice before going on to lay down a worthy time

Dan Atherton course designer and budding astronaut
Dan Atherton, course designer and budding astronaut

Al is used to hanging around in the valleys
Al is used to hanging around in the valleys

Alex Fayolle delivers some steeze to the waiting fans
Alex Fayolle delivers some steeze to the waiting fans

Graeme Mudd seems to be living up to his name and adjusting to the Welsh slop as opposed to his native australian terrain
Graeme Mudd seems to be living up to his name and is adjusting to the Welsh slop, as opposed to his native australian terrain

Don t look down
Don't look down Laurie!

Dave Mcmillan launches the road gap in qualifying unfortunately it wasnt enough to get him in the top ten.
Dave Mcmillan launches the road gap in qualifying, unfortunately it wasnt enough to get him in the top ten.

Bernard is looked on form in qualifying many are tipping him for the win.
Bernard is looked on form in qualifying, many are tipping him for the win.

Gas2flat doing his thing on his way to take fastest qualifier
Gas2flat doing his thing, on his way to take fastest qualifier

Oscar Harnstrom sends it beneath brooding skies
Oscar Harnstrom sends it beneath brooding skies

Kaos decodes the line to the slab huck
Kaos decodes the line to the slab huck

Alex Fayolle hucks the slab before the deer gate. This feature is huge and definitely doesnt get done justice in the course previews
Alex Fayolle hucks the slab before the deer gate. This feature is huge and definitely doesnt get done justice in the course previews!

A tight shot to show just how precise this hit is.
A tight shot to show just how precise this hit is.

Bernard has victory on his mind
Bernard has victory on his mind

The riders push up the field to throw together a quick train for the growing crowd
The riders push up the field to throw together a quick train for the growing crowd

Al Bond pro rider and mtb coach shows off his skills
Al Bond, pro rider and mtb coach shows off his skills

The riders perform a tightly packed train to the delight of the fans
The riders perform a tightly packed train to the delight of the fans

Kaos enters the finishing field sideways
Kaos enters the finishing field sideways

Al composes himself for the off camber left hander before the last jump
Al composes himself for the off camber left hander before the last jump

Muddy lays it down in the trees
Muddy lays it down in the trees

Taylor Vernon zips through the tree tops
Taylor Vernon zips through the tree tops

Dan Atherton cruises in above the crown
Dan Atherton cruises in above the crown

Craig Evans slipped under the radar to take the top step
Craig Evans slipped under the radar to take the top step

Mr Evans todays victor. He just doesn t know it yet
Mr Evans, todays victor. He just doesn't know it yet!

Alexandre Fayolle crosses the line bearing his battle scars
Alexandre Fayolle crosses the line bearing his battle scars

Bernard whips one out for the fans
Bernard whips one out for the fans

Theres a Kestrel in the forest
Theres a Kestrel in the forest

Brayton puts deploys the landing gear
Brayton deploys the landing gear

Craig Evans is chuffed with that one
Craig Evans is chuffed with that one!

Dan course creator congratulates Craig on his win
Dan, course creator congratulates Craig on his win
bigquotesThis year’s Red Bull Hardline was definitely the toughest it’s ever been, from the moment we started building the course we've been battling the weather. But all the riders who came have been amazing, it's been such tough conditions on the course but they all pushed hard all week and everyone rode awesome. Crossing the finish line for my final run I've never felt such relief and the fact that I was third made it even better.Dan Atherton

Craig Evans in first Bernard Kerr in second and course creator Dan Atherton in third
Craig Evans in first, Bernard Kerr in second and course creator Dan Atherton in third

Long Live Chainsaw
Long Live Chainsaw

Ladies and gentlemen your 2017 Red Bull Hardline victors
Ladies and gentlemen, your 2017 Red Bull Hardline victors

Boys and their toys
Boys and their toys
bigquotesI’m not feeling great. I didn’t win, so not great. It was so slippy, I think it had just started raining as the rider before I went off and it just went to ice instantly. It wasn’t ideal conditions, I tried to hang on to it and ride smart after that but not quite enough.Bernard Kerr

The winners and associated media feeding frenzy
The winners and associated media feeding frenzy

Craig enjoys the taste of victory
Craig enjoys the taste of victory!

bigquotesI didn’t think I was going to win at all so it’s a crazy feeling. I had bits where I was smooth and I had bits where I was a bit wild but I managed to hold onto it until the bottom. So yeah, I’m buzzing.Craig Evans

Results
1 Craig Evans GBR 02.31.29
2 Bernard Kerr GBR 02.33.30
3 Dan Atherton GBR 02.33.73
4 Laurie Greenland GBR 02.36.26
5 Adam Brayton GBR 02.36.40
6 Graeme Mudd AUS 02.36.73
7 Kaos Seagrave GBR 02.45.40
8 Taylor Vernon GBR 02.45.96
9 Al Bond GBR 02.49.99
10 Alexandre Fayolle FRA 03.04.31



MENTIONS: @redbullbike / @tris400d /



Author Info:
tris400d avatar

Member since Mar 10, 2007
54 articles

57 Comments
  • 61 2
 I bet that road gap must be breathtaking viewed through a 4.1" LED screen..

Hats off to anyone crazy enough to ride a bike down that course. Very humbling to see what those at the top of the sport are able to do on a bike. Absolute nutters.
  • 73 0
 Watched a few runs with my MTB averse girlfriend live yesterday.

Road gap: 'Is that what you do?!'

'Is it f*ck'
  • 49 4
 Get off your fucking phones!!!!
  • 3 1
 So true.
  • 20 3
 what's the point in an experience if you can't boast about it on social media?
  • 2 0
 Because social media wants all of the phone pics. Right.
  • 21 3
 What was up with the botched timing at the start? Rob and the other guy seemed to have no clue. Greenland was faster than Seagrave by 9 seconds, wasn't he?

I wish the commentating wasn't so hyped up to make this event seem legit.
  • 26 1
 You make it sound like the event isn't legit. Warner's overhyped commentary aside, the track itself makes a mockery of some of the WC courses and should raise some eyebrows in the UCI offices. Major props to Dan, Olly Davey, and all the Dyfi Diggers for crafting such an awe-inspiring track.
  • 19 0
 would be cool to see what some of the Fest crew would do in this mix....
  • 18 5
 They'd do great on the jumps but the tech parts not so much.
  • 7 0
 Vink used to ride World cups
  • 5 0
 Sam Reynolds was there this year but didn't qualify, think for him not coming from a DH background it was the techy rock sections that he didn't feel comfortable with, especially once the rain and mud was added to the mix. Obviously killed it on the jumps though, throwing some 3's and a superman!
  • 6 1
 @mollow: Careful bud, just cause they prefer hitting huge jumps most of the time doesn't mean that most of them couldn't dust us on the tech.
  • 4 2
 @morganbrewer: yeah I'm not talking about mere mortals like us "bud". They would have to compete with the worlds best.
  • 10 0
 Congrats craig that course is insane!
  • 6 0
 if every spectator was holding a beer instead of taking a shitty picture theyll never look at again on a phone the world would be a better place
  • 2 0
 I dunno why, but I kinda hate photos of other people taking photos
  • 8 0
 FK YEAH SHEFFIELD
  • 5 0
 I knew the road gap was big, but I didn't realise just how big until I saw the photo on thie page!
  • 1 0
 55 feet from take-off to landing!!
  • 5 0
 Congrats Fayolle and Mudd as non-GBR winners! Not only did you turn up but you also did yourself proud!
  • 3 0
 Absolutely! Anyone who rode any of that isn't normal but anyone put down a full run is a hero
  • 6 1
 Medics in a landy cus they actually need to get to incidents...sucks for Jeep I guess Razz
  • 4 0
 Looks like they were using landies for the uplifts too this year...? Has the jeep thing fallen through? Wouldn’t be surprised, they couldn’t get up the hill the year I was there so it was a bad situation for everyone. “Yes I’d like one of those ‘off-road’ vehicles that can’t get up the damp field please...”
  • 2 0
 @ThomDawson: The (2 year) contract expired so Jeep no longer sponsor the event. Although Gee was still driving one
  • 1 0
 Man, I miss my Defender - divorce is a bitch.
  • 3 0
 @teamtoad: Your wife was your defender?
  • 2 0
 that truly looked like the hardest, most adrenaline pumping dh course i have seen. i needed an hour after watching the race just to calm down. we are def putting hardline 2018 on our schedule for our trip to wales & scotland.
  • 2 0
 Do it, spectating there is ace. You won't regret it!
  • 5 1
 not bad with no Accreditation , is this the start of REDBULL'S global domination?
  • 1 0
 Thanks Keith, just read this. Had a ball, roll on the next one!
  • 4 0
 That course is just nutty. The goddamn road gap, Jesus.
  • 3 0
 Would love to know who was using flats vs clipless. From what I can tell it looked like Dan Atherton and Craig Evans were.
  • 1 0
 I know that Bernard was using clips.
  • 2 0
 ..hey Dad, would you do that on your bike??
...uh, no son. The reality is that my balls arent of the size required. sorry son.
  • 3 0
 "So yeah, I'm buzzing." *Chugs entire bottle of champagne*
"So buzz, I'm yeahing."
  • 2 0
 Haha! Exactly that, he poured half on his head first mind!
  • 1 0
 Was Dan Atherton wearing a Moto helmet? Looked huge to me. I know all those trek folks are on Bell who also make all kinds of helmets.
  • 2 0
 Midway through watching this last night I thought, how come Andreu didn't get an invite?
  • 1 0
 very true
  • 1 0
 I'll just walk around this feature, Okay, I'll walk around this one also, and this one. Shit, I don't even need the bike. Entire track was sketchy.
  • 1 0
 Where was the timing equipment? Nothing at the start and seems like nothing at the finish arch. Maybe I missed it?
  • 2 0
 Not sure where it was at the bottom, presumably behind the RedBull arch, but at the start it was on the landing of the cannon jump, the one just before the Renegade step up.
  • 1 0
 @Jack-McLovin: It was on the finish line, behind the arch. The timing tent was off to the right looking up the track.
  • 1 0
 The best sport pic I ever seen. Congratulation !!! What camera and what lenses was used?
  • 1 0
 Hi, thanks. Canon 5diii and 6D were used with a mix of 12mm Samyang Fisheye and 70-200L f4 mostly. All EXIF is shown on the individual photo pages.
  • 3 0
 Coolest trophies ever.
  • 2 0
 They could have made them so much better! Maybe make a fake bar that had #1, #2, #3 cut out instead of a sticker/painting... and a Chain silhouette around the outside!
  • 3 1
 Would love to see Aaron Gwin taking part in this
  • 2 0
 Jordie Lunn should have been invited.
  • 1 0
 There's a bloke with a hairdryer in the pic of Kerr on the step up. Does he have his own fluffer now!
  • 1 0
 This race is very same gnarly and insane that Rampage Maybe more
  • 1 0
 This race is very extreme and insane that Rampage,maybe more!
  • 1 0
 How*
  • 1 1
 Polygon DH9.
  • 1 2
 Poor Bernard. If only he was running the coil spring...
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