Red Bull Hardline Is Coming to Cypress Mountain — Here’s What Vancouver Needs to Know

One of the most extreme mountain bike races in the world is coming to West Vancouver — and Canada has never hosted one before.

Red Bull Hardline will take over Cypress Mountain on October 16 and 17, bringing some of the world's best downhill riders to a course featuring massive jumps, technical rock gardens, steep natural terrain and drops exceeding 10 metres.

This isn't another stop on the traditional downhill racing circuit.

Hardline was created specifically to push beyond the restrictions of conventional World Cup racing, combining downhill mountain biking with features inspired by freeride, BMX and dirt jumping.

After more than a decade in Wales and an expansion to Tasmania, British Columbia becomes only the third home of Red Bull Hardline.

And if there was going to be a Canadian edition, the North Shore makes a lot of sense.

Why Hardline Is Different

Red Bull Hardline was created in 2014 by brothers Dan and Gee Atherton.

The idea was relatively simple: build the kind of downhill course that couldn't exist within the normal limits of World Cup racing.

That changed what course designers could build.

Hardline courses can feature enormous gaps, exposed sections, motocross-sized jumps and drops of more than 10 metres, connected by genuinely difficult downhill terrain.

It has earned a reputation as one of the toughest events in mountain biking — partly because winning isn't the only challenge. Riders first have to decide whether they're comfortable hitting every feature on the course.

Weather can make things even more unpredictable. The 2023 event in Wales was cancelled because of high winds.

Now that formula is coming to Cypress.

Why Cypress Mountain?

The location isn't random.

Vancouver's North Shore played a major role in the development of modern freeride mountain biking.

During the 1980s and 1990s, riders on the North Shore began building increasingly technical trails through the forests of Mount Fromme, Mount Seymour and Cypress, incorporating steep terrain, roots, rocks, drops and eventually the wooden features that became closely associated with "North Shore" riding.

That influence spread well beyond Vancouver.

Hardline takes that same basic philosophy — technical terrain combined with features that push what riders and bikes can do — and turns it into a competition.

For the Canadian course, Red Bull and the Atherton brothers have also brought in two riders with particularly strong connections to the region: Jackson Goldstone and Gracey Hemstreet.

Goldstone, from Squamish, won Red Bull Hardline in Wales in 2022 and later captured the 2025 UCI Downhill World Cup overall title.

Hemstreet, from Sechelt, won the first women's Red Bull Hardline Tasmania competition in 2025 and returned to win again in 2026.

Both have been involved in shaping the Cypress course.

Who's Racing?

The invitation-only field brings together established Hardline competitors and some serious Canadian talent.

Among the confirmed Canadians are Jackson Goldstone, Gracey Hemstreet, Finn Iles, Bas van Steenbergen, Dane Jewett, Jakob Jewett, Lucas Cruz, Mikey Delesalle and Tegan Cruz.

International riders include Rónán Dunne, Bernard Kerr, Brendan Fairclough, Asa Vermette, Jess Blewitt and others.

That makes the inaugural Canadian event more than a demonstration. Some of the strongest downhill riders in the world are coming to race it.

What the Weekend Looks Like

Friday, October 16 is Practice and Qualifying Day.

Practice runs from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., followed by qualifying from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Saturday, October 17 is race day.

Riders get a final practice session from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., followed by the main race from noon until 3:00 p.m.

For spectators, there are designated viewing areas along the mountain rather than unrestricted access to the entire course.

One of the main viewing areas is located mid-mountain near the road gap.

You can hike there, but Red Bull estimates the designated spectator route takes more than 45 minutes.

There is another option.

You Can Take the Chairlift to Watch Hardline

Cypress is operating the Lions Chair during the event, allowing spectators to reach the mid-mountain viewing area without hiking the entire route.

The lift takes spectators from the base at approximately 915 metres to mid-mountain at approximately 1,275 metres.

A single-day Lions Chair ticket costs $22 plus tax and includes up to three uploads.

There is one important catch: the chairlift ticket is only an add-on.

It does not include admission to Red Bull Hardline.

You need an event ticket first.

Getting a Ticket Is a Little Different

This is probably the most important thing for anyone planning to attend.

Because Cypress has limited parking capacity, spectators can't simply buy general admission and drive up separately.

There are two official ways into the event.

A Carpool Vehicle Ticket includes parking and general admission for everyone in one vehicle, up to eight people including the driver.

Friday's Practice and Qualifying vehicle ticket is listed at $77 plus taxes and fees. A two-day vehicle ticket is listed at $225 plus taxes and fees.

The second option is a Cypress Coach Lines shuttle and admission package. Friday's package is $50 plus tax per person and includes round-trip transportation and general admission.

Shuttle pickup locations include Park Royal and the Vancouver Art Gallery.

As of October 6, Saturday's single-day carpool ticket and Saturday's shuttle package are sold out.

So if you're planning on going, check the current inventory before making plans.

Ride-share drop-offs and privately arranged drop-offs are not permitted at the event.

Red Bull Has Been Building Events Like This for Decades

Hardline makes more sense when you understand what Red Bull actually does.

The company sells energy drinks, but it has spent decades building a media and events business around sports that traditional leagues and broadcasters didn't always know what to do with.

Red Bull Rampage, for example, began in Utah in 2001 and helped turn big-mountain freeride into one of mountain biking's signature spectator events.

Hardline followed a different formula.

Instead of sending riders down a largely natural mountainside and judging their chosen lines, Hardline created a timed downhill race on a deliberately extreme course.

That distinction is important.

Red Bull isn't simply sponsoring an existing championship at Cypress. It's bringing one of its own sporting properties to British Columbia and building a course specifically for it.

A Few Things You Might Not Know About Hardline

The name "Hardline" isn't exaggerating the difficulty.

The event has previously been cancelled because conditions made the course too dangerous to race. Wales lost the 2023 edition to high winds.

It also took years before women officially competed at Hardline.

The first women's competition arrived at Hardline Tasmania in 2025, where Canada's Gracey Hemstreet became the inaugural champion. She won Tasmania again in 2026.

And Canada's connection to the event predates Cypress.

Jackson Goldstone won Hardline in Wales in 2022, years before a Canadian edition existed.

Now both Goldstone and Hemstreet have helped shape the first Canadian course.

That gives Cypress something most first-time host locations don't get: two Canadian riders who already understand what it takes to win Hardline helping influence what the Canadian version looks like.

Why This One Matters for Vancouver

Vancouver hosts plenty of sporting events.

Hardline is different because the location is part of the story.

The North Shore isn't simply providing a mountain large enough to hold the race. The riding culture developed here helped influence freeride mountain biking internationally.

Now one of the sport's most extreme competitions is bringing that progression back to the place that helped establish it.

And for locals who have spent years riding Fromme, Seymour and Cypress, watching the world's best riders attack a purpose-built Hardline course in their own backyard should be something entirely different.

Red Bull Hardline British Columbia

• Where: Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver

• When: October 16–17, 2026

• Friday: Practice and Qualifying

• Saturday: Finals

• Livestream: Saturday's finals will stream live on Red Bull TV

Explore More of West Vancouver

Coming to Cypress for Red Bull Hardline? Just down the mountain, West Vancouver continues to see a new generation of homes take shape.

The Summit at Uplands is one of them — a collection of new homes set above West Vancouver, surrounded by the same mountains, forests and coastline that make this part of the North Shore unique.

Explore The Summit at Uplands on The Couve for project details, homes, pricing and availability.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still get tickets for Red Bull Hardline at Cypress Mountain?

Some ticket options remain listed, but Saturday's single-day carpool and shuttle tickets are sold out as of October 6. Red Bull currently lists Friday options and a two-day carpool vehicle ticket. Availability can change, so check the official ticket page before making plans.

Can I drive myself or take an Uber to Cypress?

Not normally for this event. Spectator access is restricted because of parking capacity. Attendees must use an eligible carpool vehicle ticket or the official Cypress Coach Lines shuttle. Red Bull says ride-share and privately arranged pickup or drop-off are not permitted.

Can I watch Red Bull Hardline without going to Cypress?

Yes. The finals on Saturday, October 17 will be streamed live through Red Bull TV.