Weekday Diversions #5: Dirt Jumps, Hardline, and More.

It’s Wednesday, you’ve (almost) made it! The work week is halfway done, and the prospect of big weekend rides is beckoning. Until then, here’s a roundup of the best bike (and non-bike) content that’s caught our eye this week.

Cy Whitling (Editor)

Spring Passed the Vibe Check | Substrata

It’s all about the spot. Sometimes the spot is an indoor bike park, and sometimes it’s a sketchy unused piece of land where dedicated riders have carved in their jumps and trails. Regardless, the spot is a community center, a focus for collective bike energy. This video chronicles the demise of Calgary’s B-LINE indoor bike park, but also gives us a little taste of hope as the crew touches up their trails and gets their first sessions of the spring. This video made me miss the tiny, trash-strewn patch of land in Idaho where I spent too many hours scraping in jumps, and learning how to ride them. All the nostalgic feels.

Transition Factory Racing: Episode 2 Poland

There are so many stories that happen behind the scenes of World Cup racing that directly, and indirectly affect the runs we get to watch on the livestream, and the results. I really appreciate the different perspectives teams can offer through their web series, and it’s been cool to get a glimpse of World Cup life on the junior circuit through this series.

Parker White’s Bike Helmet Triple

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I know, it’s old news, but somehow I missed the fact that Parker White was wearing a bike helmet for his huge triple backflip at this year’s Kimbo Sessions. I love watching Parker ski, he’s got a unique style that just makes me want to huck my meat. Add in the bike helmet, and that’s all the excuse I need to repost this clip.

Dylan Russell (Social Media Manager)

Matt Jones Tests Hardline Features

Matt Jones brings us behind the scenes coverage of the testing of the new top section at Red Bull Hardline Wales. Somehow the Atherton's have done it again, building the scariest things to be ridden on a mountain bike. I know the scaffold-built river gap is huge, but the features leading into it are also just as gnarly. With the Wales weather being so unforgiving, it leads us to wonder if the wooden features will hold up. Either way, after testing it seems like they are gonna have to tweak that river gap anyway…

The Pilot Shreddit Segment | Amaury Pierron

To celebrate the 1 Year anniversary of their film "The Pilot" featuring Amaury Pierron, Sleeper Co just released the Shreddit Segment from the Commencal Test Track. Max over at Sleeper never misses a beat, and this project was no different. Nothing beats watching the cheetah go to work, Amaury has a work ethic like no other. This is apparent with his bolstered resume of World Cup wins. It's been exciting to see him get back up to speed this year, and push through adversity by coming back from an injury like his.

Zander Lingelbach-Pierce (News Writer)

Johnathan Austin Gets Loose at Highland

Jasper Penton has not posted on instagram since 2021. With the steeze lord's mysterious absence from the internet, a slew of stylish young people have stepped in to fill the void.

One such rider is Johnathan Austin. Austin embodied the creativity and style of the British sensation in a recent video at Highland Bike Park, transferring between jump lines and flicking his bike with ease. The crank flip to manual lander is out of this world.

How the kids these days got so good at riding is a mystery. All I know is that I would sell state secrets to be half as stylish as Johnathan.

Dennis Enarson’s Rooftop Combo

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“If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again” is a sage piece of wisdom written by someone who clearly has not seen BMX riders learning combo tricks.

When a BMX rider puts on a helmet, you know it's about to get real. Dennis Enarson recently attempted a flat tailwhip from one roof to another followed by a 360 off. After a couple of painful-looking bails, Dennis got back on the bike and landed it.

If one thing is clear, it is that BMX riders are ten times gnarlier than mountain bikers.