The RW Invitational isn’t most backyard riding sessions. The fourth edition of Reece Wallace’s homegrown event gets underway today in Nanaimo, B.C., bringing together an invited roster of freeride athletes. Think progression sessions, camping and one of the most unique spectator experiences in mountain biking.

What began as a handful of jumps behind Wallace’s house has evolved into one of Canada’s most unique freeride gatherings.

“If you’ve never heard of the RW Invitational before, it’s basically some of the world’s top freeriders showing up to ride all this dumb stuff I spent all spring building,” Wallace says.

Every year gets bigger

Despite promising himself otherwise, Wallace admits the event keeps growing.

“Everyone keeps telling me events are supposed to get easier the more you host them,” he says. “I haven’t found that to be the case at all. Somehow this year I built an entire new course, invited more riders, more spectators, and even an on-site afterparty.”

The work behind the scenes has been enormous.

“I think I rebuilt every feature in the yard like four times because eyeballing it doesn’t really cut it as engineering.”

More than just riding

There are plans for a more than just riding.

“We’ve got an entirely rebuilt course, food trucks, beer gardens, afterparty, night events and a bunch of stuff that probably shouldn’t happen in someone’s backyard,” he says with a laugh.

The event has also remained remarkably rider-focused. Wallace says every ticket sold goes directly back into supporting the athletes.

“100 per cent of the ticket sales go straight back to the riders.”

With a sold-out event, that means there is $10,500 up for grabs in the rider purse.

A celebration of freeride

Friday evening the Whip Off starts things off from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. There are men’s and women’s categories. On Saturday, the Best Trick contest goes from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Then the event wraps up with an official on-site after-party.

“Honestly, it’s turned out to be one of the wildest weeks of the summer,” Wallace says.

If you’re in the Nanaimo area and haven’t got tickets yet, you’re too late. But maybe you could find a scalper in the neighbourhood?