Red Bull Hardline BC: How to watch Canada's biggest downhill spectacle - Canada News Beep

Red Bull Hardline is finally coming to Canada. And if the early footage from Cypress Mountain is any indication, it’s gonna be a good one (weather permitting).

On Saturday, Oct. 17, some of the world’s best mountain bikers will tackle the brand-new course on Vancouver’s North Shore. The jumps are huge, the drops are massive and the steep rocks are making a World Cup track look like a Sunday cruise.

Now in its 12th year, Red Bull Hardline is one of the most intimidating events in mountain biking. First held in Wales in 2014, the event combines downhill racing with the massive features typically associated with freeride and dirt jumping.

When and where to watch Red Bull Hardline BC

The event takes place over two days at Cypress Mountain in West Vancouver, British Columbia.

Friday, Oct. 16 is seeding day, with riders completing timed runs to determine the starting order for Saturday’s final. The main event takes place Saturday, Oct. 17, with racing beginning at noon Pacific.

A completely different kind of downhill track

The new Cypress Mountain track was developed with input from Hardline creators Gee and Dan Atherton. Lead builder Justin “Viper” Wyper and his crew spent months turning the steep, rocky terrain into something worthy of the Hardline name.

Red Bull says the track is 2.08 kilometres long and riders will hit speeds of 72 kmph. The largest drop on course is 10.67 metres and the biggest jumps are 24 to 30 metres.

“The track here on Cypress is steep and rocky. Everything that you find on the North Shore. To build a 2.3km track in five months is pretty big undertaking. Probably close to 7000 man hours have gone into this thing. We have kinda just done exactly what we’ve dreamt of, for years and tried to make that,” said Wyper.

Even the world’s best are nervous

Hardline is supposed to be exactly that; a hard line. And it always has been. The Wales track looked ridiculous. The Tasmanian track raised the bar once again. Now the Canadian course is living up to the Hardline reputation. Finn Iles offered a pretty straightforward assessment after getting a look at the track.

“I think it’s super, super good. It’s just that this first hit, this first speed, is really gnarly.”

Even the world’s best riders will need time to figure out this track.

Canadian content

The home crowd will have plenty of riders to cheer for. Jackson Goldstone, Finn Iles and Gracey Hemstreet headline a some serious Canadian contenders. Hemstreet arrives as a two-time Hardline champion.

Bas van Steenbergen, Dane Jewett, Jakob Jewett, Harry Molloy, Jack Menzies, Johnathan Helly, Mikey DelesalleLucas Cruz and Tegan Cruz are on the official rider list.

The international field also features some of the world’s best: Brendan Fairclough, Bernard Kerr, Asa Vermette, Rónán Dunne and Jess Blewitt.

Complete rider list for Red Bull Hardline BC 2026

The invitation list includes 28 riders from around the world, with 12 Canadians among them. Here is the full list supplied for the event.

Watching in person

For fans hoping to catch the action from the sidelines, Saturday’s race-day tickets are sold out, although limited tickets remain for Friday’s practice and qualifying sessions.

With some of the biggest features ever built for a Canadian downhill race, a stacked international field and a dozen Canadians on the invitation list, Red Bull Hardline BC promises to be one of the biggest mountain bike events of the year.

Red Bull Hardline BC: How to watch Canada’s biggest downhill spectacle

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