Above the Trees with Erik Fedko

I'd be lying if I said my palms didn't get sweaty watching this. Erik Fedko brings some incredible execution to the tree canopy of his hometown, Sauerland mountains, in this jaw-dropper of an edit.

The 26-year-old Sauerland native Erik Fedko has made a name for himself in recent years among the global slopestyle mountain biking community for his consistent, stylish, and elite-level riding, earning him a third place overall ranking finish in the 2024 World Tour. To finish his strong season on another high Fedko took his riding literally to another level. Standing on a 24-meter platform, with a launching point on a 3.20-meter-high tree trunk overlooking the Sauerland mountains at sunrise, Fedko leaped onto his bike and into a 60-degree steep landing ramp, directly followed by a 6-meter long 'Backflip Superman Seatgrab' off a 3.65-meter-tall kicker, all while having a mere 3 meters to each side to nail the landing.

“Standing at the top of the tree trunk for the first time was terrifying."

World-class skillset meets strong mindset and mental fortitude

This project required not only Fedko’s elite-level trick execution, but also immense mental strength to conquer the challenging environment. The elevated and narrow course forced him to adapt to the unique conditions.

"The biggest challenge up here is the mental game. Everything can shake a little bit, it can get windy, the sun can be in the eyes. […] Tricks that you normally stomp easily on the ground […] are here way more challenging due to those conditions," Fedko emphasized. To execute these stunts safely, meticulous preparation and mental focus were paramount. "Before dropping in on top, you want to make sure everything is fine with the bike, […] because up here in this height you want to make sure nothing goes wrong. The trick, you want to visualize in your head […] and then be ready to drop in,” he added.

Erik in his natural environment having the session of his life

Fedko also showcased an impressive array of tricks on the kicker line with a 4.5-meter-high drop at the top coming out of the forest. The first line he opened with a '360 Double Barspin' on the drop, followed by a '360 Windshield Wiper' and '360 Superman Seatgrab Indian Air to Barspin'. For his second run, Erik dropped in with a '360 Tailwhip' – a trick he landed for the first time on dirt – before throwing a '360 Downside Whip to Superman Seatgrab Indian Air' on the first kicker and concluding this section with a 'Double Backflip Tuck No Hander'. These tricks highlighted Fedko's technical prowess and proved why he is currently fourth in the FMB World Tour ranking.

Overcoming fear and embracing the challenge

With determination and practice, he overcame these fears. "The most challenging trick for me was the Ninja Drop on the 27-meter-high tree trunk – super scary up there. […] It was super tough for me […] mentally to prepare for this. […] We worked ourselves up, every 50 centimeters we jumped in and then we stomped the 3.20 meters up there and I was super stoked,” he stated with relief.

About Erik Fedko

Erik Fedko is a 26-year-old professional mountain bike slopestyle rider from Dortmund, Germany. His journey to the pro ranks started when he won the FMB Amateur Cup title in 2016 at the age of 18. In 2017 he entered the Red Bull District Ride 2017 as a wildcard and finished fifth among his idols. Known for his innovative tricks and fearless approach, Fedko has consistently secured top podium finishes at elite competitions around the globe. He has achieved significant results, including a silver medal at the Crankworx Innsbruck Slopestyle in 2019 and numerous top-three finishes in the Crankworx World Tour series. His standout performance at the Red Bull District Ride in 2022 further cemented his reputation as one of the sport's leading figures. Along with a few video parts, he finished the 2024 FMB World Tour in third place.