Gracey Hemstreet Makes History at Red Bull Hardline Event in Maydena

Gracey Hemstreet participated in her inaugural Red Bull Hardline event in Maydena and accomplished a remarkable feat. The rider from Sunshine Coast, B.C., etched her name in history by becoming the first female athlete to successfully complete a full race run on a challenging Hardline course.

In a noteworthy competition that saw two female riders qualify for the Hardline finals in Maydena, Hemstreet was accompanied by Louise Ferguson from Intense Factory Racing. The qualification list boasted prominent names like Tahnée Seagrave, Harriet Burbidge-Smith, Hannah Bergemann, and Cami Nogueira.

Hemstreet initiated the finals with a clean, impressive run, confidently navigating the 10+ meter drop and elegantly clearing the 70-foot finish line canyon gap. Her finishing time of 3:56.586 emerged as the fastest women’s time of the day, setting a new benchmark in the event’s history.

Following Hemstreet, Ferguson took on the challenging course. Despite handling the significant features adeptly, Ferguson faced some challenges on two dusty berms. Undeterred, the Intense racer persevered through two crashes, ultimately joining Hemstreet as the only women to conquer a Hardline course in the series’ decade-long legacy.

As a reward for her stellar performance, Hemstreet clinched the prestigious BF Goodrich Rider of the Week accolade for the Maydena event, further solidifying her place in the annals of mountain biking history.

After the thrilling conclusion in Maydena, the Red Bull Hardline series is set for a brief hiatus before returning to its Welsh home for the second and final event of the year. For those who missed the high-octane action on Saturday, the complete replay of the event is now available, offering a chance to relive the intense competition and remarkable displays of skill and courage on the unforgiving Hardline course.