Recap: 2026 Red Bull Hardline, Canada
Asa Vermette and Gracey Hemstreet Crowned Inaugural Red Bull Hardline British Columbia Champions
A new Cypress Mountain course brought technical downhill racing and large-scale freeride features to Vancouver’s North Shore for Red Bull Hardline’s Canadian debut. American Asa Vermette completed his winning collection across all three Red Bull Hardline locations, while Canada’s Gracey Hemstreet added a fourth victory to her record. Vermette stopped the clock at 3:30.061, finishing 2.620 seconds ahead of New Zealand’s Lachlan Stevens-McNab, with Oli Clark a further 0.120 seconds back in third. Hemstreet’s home-soil success made her the first woman to win at two different Red Bull Hardline locations. Coming off a thigh injury that curtailed his 2026 season, South African Theo Erlangsen returned to racing and the rowdiest track of the year and took 10th place plus the Rider Of The Week award.
Canada joined Wales and Tasmania as the third location to host Red Bull Hardline. Twenty-eight riders took on the new course on Vancouver’s North Shore, a region widely recognized as a birthplace of freeride mountain biking. The event expanded Red Bull Hardline’s international calendar into one of the sport’s most established riding destinations.
Red Bull Hardline creators Gee Atherton and Dan Atherton designed the course, which was built by head builder Justin Wyper and his crew. Local riders, including Jackson Goldstone, helped scout the site. The track descended 543 metres over approximately two kilometres. One of its signature features, the lily pad, involved a 30-metre gap leading into the final third.
Vermette clocked 3:30.061 to become the first rider to win at all three Red Bull Hardline locations. His victory followed wins in Wales in 2025 and Tasmania in 2026. New Zealand’s Lachlan Stevens-McNab finished second in 3:32.681, trailing by 2.620 seconds. Fellow New Zealander Oli Clark completed the podium in 3:32.801, just 0.120 seconds behind Stevens-McNab.
“I’m stoked, it was a good run and a good end to the season. Finishing three Red Bull Hardline wins in a row is crazy. I grew up watching the event, as a kid I watched every single one, and now winning all three is just crazy. I’m so happy,” said Vermette.
Goldstone was the final rider to start after setting the fastest seeding time. The Canadian led by 1.7 seconds at the second split before a minor crash ended his bid for a podium finish. He crossed the line in 4:56.921 to finish 15th in the men’s standings.
Hemstreet became the first woman to win at two different Red Bull Hardline locations. Her British Columbia victory added to three wins in Tasmania, bringing her total to four Hardline victories. Wales remains the only Red Bull Hardline location she has yet to win. “It’s so special winning here; the crowd is amazing, so cool to be close to home, it’s the best – best ever!” said Hemstreet.
Results
- Asa Vermette (USA) – 3:30.061
- Lachlan Stevens-McNab (NZL) – +2.620
- Oli Clark (NZL) – +2.740
- Tegan Cruz (CAN) – +4.535
- Michael Delesalle (CAN) – +6.361
- Dane Jewett (CAN) – +7.926
- Charlie Hatton (GBR) – +8.892
- Hugo Frixtalon (FRA) – +17.797
- Ronan Dunne (IRL) – +27.569
- Theo Erlangsen (RSA) – +38.662
- Brendan Fairclough (GBR) – +39.253
- Bas van Steenbergen (CAN) – +45.810
- Finn Iles (CAN) – +46.079
- Harry Molloy (GBR) – +48.741
- Jackson Goldstone (CAN) – +1:26.860
- Gracey Hemstreet (CAN) – +2:01.966 //