About 6 months ago I received a WhatsApp voice message from Johny saying “Yo Bro, Freeride Fiesta 2024 is in January, you’re coming right?”.
I was lucky enough to photograph the first Freeride Fiesta of 2021, and due to the pandemic at the time, we understandably took many precautions, including not having a public day for fans to witness the breathtaking riding first hand. Knowing that this year was obviously going to be different and my eagerness to get behind the lens to photograph these chaotic individuals, I had no choice but to write Johny back and say, “Damn right.”
The Freeride Fiesta featured nearly 45 riders training on-site for four days, holding a night session on the illuminated drop-off and step-up at the end of the track, and then holding a public day where fans from all over the world flooded the event site watching and meeting the athletes they follow on social media and dreaming of one day racing like them. Over the last four years, this event has become a fan and rider favorite – hard-hitting features, incredible atmosphere and athletes supporting each other to develop their riding skills,
The Freeride Fiesta 2020 was a spectacle, the Freeride Fiesta 2024 was overwhelming.
Talus Turk on the first part of the course, a step-down with a take-off that looks into oblivion. James StokoeElias Ruso across the gap in the road James StokoeThe top step-down that immediately took you into a quick right turn to maintain your speed and overcome the gap in the road. James StokoeHayden Zablotny makes shapes over the gap in the road. James StokoeThe presenter Johny Salido about the shark fin. James StokoeJames StokoeKurtis Downs on the Moto Booter James StokoeNot only can these athletes ride bikes, it turns out they’re pretty good skaters too. James StokoeJames StokoeKurtis Downs was left upside down without his bike and somehow got away. James StokoeKurtis is not impressed with Bienve James StokoeTalus over the transitional hip James StokoeChelsea Kimball plays on the second-to-last feature of the course, the terrifying drop. James StokoeTalus and Hayden came on scene and said, “We need a lip to flip this drop,” so they built one – both Talus and Hayden flipped the feature first, but here’s Johny, out of it at his own event Letting the Groms Overwhelm! James StokoeBoostin’. James StokoeJonny Moreira also shot the drop and thrilled the home fans James StokoeDuring the windiest part of the day, athletes relaxed on the mini ramp. Leo Smith (@landosteezy) had a lot to show the freeriders. James StokoeJames StokoeAs always, Bienve causes a stir. James StokoeMax Grayston with the Sui on the drop. James StokoeJohny Salido James StokoeThe first day of practice had the Athletes comfortable enough to tackle the step-up side by side as the sun sets over Guadalajara. James StokoeJames StokoeReece Wallace saw an opportunity to remove the guardrails from Fortaleza’s VIP area and leave. James StokoeChelsea Kimball with the no-hander step-up.James StokoeJames StokoeJames StokoeBig Rik (Nicholi Rogatkin) James StokoeKurtis Downs James StokoeJames StokoeJoshy Heathcote with a crazy extension. James StokoeReed Boggs James StokoeVaea Verbeeck may have had the worst delays on the way to the Fiesta, but once she made it there, she didn’t flinch in the slightest. James StokoeJames StokoeJames StokoeJames StokoeJames StokoeVaea Verbeeck James StokoeJames StokoeJames StokoeMany thanks to Johny and his family for such a great event! James Stokoe
