October 1st, 2022
Freeride is a popular discipline within mountain biking. It involves riding the most creative line possible with style, control, speed and magnitude. Hangtime is a women's freeride event comparable only to Casey Brown's Dark Horse or Redbull Formation (both of which are women led and have female athletes that are invite only). These events are taking the freeride industry by storm and helping to bring more women into the sport. Hangtime was held the evening of October 1st, 2022 on the Blue Steel jumpline at Galbraith Mountain in Bellingham, Washington. This event is the brainchild of Hannah Bergemann and is presented by Transition Bikes and Redbull. I attended simply to spectate and to capture the awe-inspiring event that was being held a mere two miles from my house.
Kaia Jensen, a POC/Ride Concepts/Liv Southwest/Maxxis athlete, coming off the right hip on the Blue Steel jumpline in Bellingham, WA.
Matilda Melton, aka Tilly, throwing a no-hander during the event. She really had the crowd hyped! Oh, did I mention she's 17?
As if the event isn't impressive in its own right, the average age of athlete that participated in Hangtime was 21 years old!
This ain't your average jumpline.
Blue Steel was carefully thought out by Transition Bikes and in 2019 built by Nico Vink, a Transition athlete. It is unique because it is a rather large jumpline, with mandatory gaps, that the public can access and ride any day of the week. It is also smack dab in the middle of Galbraith Mountain, a destination MTB trail network built and maintained by WMBC (Whatcom Mountain Bike Coalition) in Bellingham, WA.
Renata Wiese Pena, an Evil Bicycles athlete, sending the second big jump on the line with style!
People traveled from all over the place to watch these ladies send it! This jumpline isn't exactly something the public can drive to. You have to pedal or hike a few miles to get there, but as these people would surely assure you, its so worth it!
Hangtime and Ride Concepts athlete Brooke Anderson showing some style on the 2nd big jump.
Emma Olofsson won the Rider's Choice award and is sponsored by Looseriders as well as Pit Viper.
Tilly getting comfortable on the line and wowing the crowd.
Blake Hansen, a Specialized/Rockshox/Sram/Industry Nine athlete, hitting the first left sharkfin on the course.
Community is everything.
A huge thanks is owed to the WMBC, Transition bikes, Hannah, and the entire community as a whole for believing in the sport of MTB and for supporting the trails!
