I never imagined I’d be riding a FEST event, let alone hosting one.
From being a grom on the sidelines at Black Sage to helping bring the series back to North America years later, it’s been a wild journey. I’ve said it before, but events like this matter then most: they inspire the next generation, bring the world’s best riders to our backyard, and create a platform for up-and-comers to shine.
This event only happened because of an incredible crew. It wouldn’t have been possible without
@talusturk @ryan.mcnulty and
@torsenn Even after last year’s test event, there was a massive gap to bridge from where we were, to where we are now. Countless calls, emails, permits, planning sessions - everyone hustled to make this happen.
An absolutely crucial component of this is the venue - thanks to
@___the_lookout for putting your trust in us and our vision.
One of the best parts of the week was seeing nearly every rider on course with a shovel in hand. I don’t have the official numbers, but we might’ve had the highest
@trailshark.shovels per capita a couple weeks ago.
With a freshly built course, everyone jumped in to shape, tweak, and rebuild as needed. Massive thanks to
@clemenskaudela @spencerbhamx @scottybhamx @mattbegg_ @drewstuesse @armendavis and everyone else for making the course the best it could be.
@drewboxold @josh.woodward and
@ohadnir1 killed it behind the lens all week. Keep an eye out for what these guys have put together - it’s going to be good.
There’s too many others to mention, but these guys all helped things run smoothly throughout the week:
@sketchy.descents @forrestinthetrees @pnw.yami @devin.stimach and
@rusty_dubstep all came in clutch, giving us the chance to actually ride our bikes.
And finally, to all the riders who showed up. It’s a big ask to invest your time, money, and energy in an unproven event. We’d never done anything on this scale before, and it was unbelievable to see everyone having the times of their lives on and off the course. This year’s success is in no small part due to you; it sets the stage for something bigger and better in 2026. Looking forward to seeing everyone next year (or sooner)!
