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Bike Mag
Dylan Stark's Fan-Favorite BMX-Inspired Real MTB Photo Gallery
By BIKE,
18 hours ago
Photos and captions by Chris Wellhausen, Intro: Ariel Kazunas.
Dylan Stark took home X Games Bronze and the coveted Fan Favorite award for his Real MTB 2024 edit, filmed by Tyson Traner and photographed by Chris Wellhausen. “I’m stoked,” said Stark about the award. As a rider with roots in BMX, Stark told Bike Mag in an interview ahead of the judges’ decision that he’d always wanted to film a Real BMX segment, but, having never gotten the opportunity, Real MTB was big for him. “I didn’t want to waste my chance to prove myself.”
Photographer Chris Wellhausen documented the effort Stark put into his podium-placing film. “I don’t think I’ll ever drive around Southern California highways without noticing the spots Dylan hit for Real MTB,” he says of the experience. His shots certainly pay homage to Stark’s BMX background: from urban, dilapidated venues like abandoned buildings to unlikely (and certainly unsanctioned) roof gaps, Wellhausen captures Stark’s personality as much as his skill.
“Sometimes, I couldn't tell if I was going to be an EMT or a photographer,” Wellhausen admits of setting up for a shot. “But Dylan proved time and time again how calculated he can be.” And Wellhausen somehow manages to alude to this push and pull between consequence and confidence in his frames (maybe it has something to do with the sheer amount of concrete visible throughout), and his gallery is as much a thrill to scroll through as Stark’s final edit was to watch.
This was the first feature I photographed with Dylan for his X Games Real MTB part. When we stepped up to this, I couldn't believe he had even thought that he could do this, but he proved after multiple hits that anything is possible when you put your mind to it.
Photo&colon Chris Wellhausen
I had to get a view from the top before he started the session. As I was looking over Dylan's shoulder while he was prepping the take off, I felt a state of vertigo.
Photo&colon Chris Wellhausen
Within an hour of doing the dam drop we were searching around for new spot to be as productive as possible. He’d never seen this staircase before. As we pulled up into this school area we're like "oh we're not supposed to be going past this point" As we came around the corner we both just look over at the staircase gap and I could already see the look in Dylan’s eyes. Within a short few minutes, he threaded the needle, and got the hit just the way he wanted.
Photo&colon Chris Wellhausen
This abandoned building is really close to Dylan's house, and it was definitely one of the boxes he wanted to check off for Real MTB. Since it's right in the view of town, we were lucky no one hassled him. It was also a massive flat landing with the consequences of oncoming traffic coming out of the landing. He went back for a second time, landing square but his rim blew up. That ended the session.
Photo&colon Chris Wellhausen
Another wild urban feature, Dylan calls the “ Tony Willie Gap.” I couldn't believe it was something he visualized as being possible for a bike. We got into this schoolyard, tried to be as low key as possible, found the perfect bench to set up for his landing, and boosted him up the awning. He warmed up with the drop to drop and then took another go at it giving a Sui No Hander, riding away both times clean. Sometimes I couldn't tell if I was going to be an EMT or a photographer but Dylan proved time and time again on how calculated he can be.
Photo&colon Chris Wellhausen
Dylan and his hyper focus; trying to stay calm and just do what he does best: Go Big.
Photo&colon Chris Wellhausen
Each time we finished a spot we would scout for other spots so that we could set it up for another day and/or visualize what possibilities there were. With this roof drop, to get to the take off without obstruction, he had to ride along the ledge on the outer edge of the roof. The cool thing was the landing a nice grassy downhill landing. Dylan also has a great talent for spot selection.
Photo&colon Chris Wellhausen
We took a little break for the holidays and started off the new year with this I-15 step down. I don't think I'll ever drive around Southern California highways without noticing the spots Dylan hit for Real MTB. It was a windy day and Dylan expressed his concerns so we were going to wait it out.
Photo&colon Chris Wellhausen
Then as we tuned up every inch of the landing, he said “I am going the padded up and hit it.” When Dylan’s in that charged up mode, you just have to be ready to get the shot. He gave it two tries which proved the take off and massive landing worked well. He hiked up for a third hit wanting to do a a No Footed Can.
Photo&colon Chris Wellhausen
Unfortunately the wind kicked up when he hit it and it sent him over the bars at the landing. He rag-dolled, tomahawked, and starfished down that landing like nothing I've ever seen before. It was a scariest sight for sure. We ran down to meet him as he came to, and ran through the checklist after such a crash to check his stats. Amazingly, he just walked away with a bruised wrist and he was back two weeks later to put down an ender for Real Mtb.
Photo&colon Chris Wellhausen
Dylan fine tunes his spots just to make sure every inch is dialed.
Photo&colon Chris Wellhausen
Dylan has great relationships with his builders; he had Scribbles come from BC to help him build this step up for ultimate scrub.
Photo&colon Chris Wellhausen
Once Dylan accomplished that and wanted to send a corked 360 with the hand drag. He’s always coming with mad style.
Photo&colon Chris Wellhausen
Mt. Baldy Pipeline is one of the most iconic spots known to action sports. What a feature to select for his Real MTB ender. Dylan came with his dirt jumper and brakeless enduro to see which rode best in the pipe.
Photo&colon Chris Wellhausen
Settling on the brakeless enduro, Dylan pumped through the pipe, rode up the opposite wall so vert his back tire came off the wall, then came down fakie riding up the other face’s highest point to frontflip to stomp. Hell yeah Dylan!
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