Gracey Hemstreet is building the event she wishes existed before Hardline

When Gracey Hemstreet remembers her first Hardline in Tasmania in 2024, she remembers not being ready.

“I showed up very unprepared,” says Hemstreet. “Because there wasn’t really anything between racing or freeride or whatever you do, to Hardline.”

Two years and two Red Bull Hardline victories later, the Canadian is doing somethihng about it. And with Hardline coming to Canada for the first time ever on October 16-17, there’s no better time to offer what’s she’s creating.

On Sept. 17, Hemstreet will host Project 17 at Coast Gravity Park on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast. It’s an invitational progression event for women. It’s designed to give riders an opportunity to tackle bigger terrain before finding themselves staring down a Hardline-sized jump.

“I thought this event would be pretty unreal, to just bridge the gap,” Hemstreet says.

The missing step before Hardline

If you don’t know, Hardline combines elements of downhill racing and freeride. Think of a course filled with giant jumps, technical terrain and tracks riders simply wouldn’t encounter on the World Cup circuit. While it’s still a race it attracts a bunch of freeride types as well as racers. Many just want to ride the course.

But it creates a difficult progression problem. Some of the world’s best World Cup racers and freeriders have never ridden anything like Hardline.

Project 17 hopes to fix that. And it’s focused on women.  The purpose-built progression line at Coast Gravity Park is designed to introduce riders to the speed, scale and technical challenges they’ll encounter at events like Hardline.

“The goal isn’t to make it easy. It’s to make it possible,” Hemstreet says.

A stacked group

Hemstreet has assembled an impressive group for the first Project 17. Newly crowned junior downhill world champion Tilly Boadle is confirmed alongside World Cup racer and Hardline competitors Mille Johnset and Jess Blewitt.

Canadian enduro standout Andreane Lanthier Nadeau will also participate, along with Arleigh Kemp, Cami Bragg, Indy Deavoll, Lina Frener, Tayte Proulx-Royds, Teagan Heap and Zoe Witwicki.

From Hardline rookie

Hemstreet’s first trip to Hardline Tasmania in 2024 was an eye-opener. ince then, she’s had some of the event’s defining moments. From winning in 2025, and then again in 2026, The Candian DH champion has aslo stood on the top step at the World Cup multiple times.

Building something permanent

The course itself is a serious build. Massive jumps, beutifully sculpted berms, honestly, it’s a work of art.  Hemstreet credits her dad, Remy Morton and his crew and Dylan Dunkerton with helping turn the idea into something riders can actually ride. Of course Red Bull is supporting the build while Norco, Hemstreet’s downhill team sponsor, is also backing the project.

“I can’t believe this is actually happening,” Hemstreet says.

Project 17 confirmed riders

Gracey Hemstreet
Andreane Lanthier Nadeau
Arleigh Kemp
Cami Bragg
Indy Deavoll
Jess Blewitt
Lina Frener
Mille Johnset
Tayte Proulx-Royds
Teagan Heap
Tilly Boadle
Zoe Witwicki