The warmth of the January Mexican sun brought some of the world's best Free Riders to the fourth annual Fortaleza Freeride Fiesta at La Soledad Bike Park, Guadalajara, hosted by Johny Salido & Oscar Tobogangster.
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 fortunate enough to shoot the first Freeride Fiesta in 2021 and due to the pandemic at that time we understandably had a great deal of precautions in place including there being no public day for the fans to come watch the mind-bending riding first hand. With the knowledge that this year was obviously going to be different and my eagerness to get behind the lens to shoot these chaotic individuals, I had no choice but to message Johny back saying, "Damn right."
Freeride Fiesta consisted of close to 45 riders onsite for 4 days of practice, a night session held on the illuminated drop-off and step-up located at the bottom of the course, then a public day where fans from all over flooded the event grounds to watch and meet the athletes that they follow on social media and dream to ride like one day. Over the last four years this event has grown into a fan and rider favorite - gnarly features, incredible vibes and athletes supporting one another to progress their riding,
Freeride Fiesta 2020 was a spectacle, Freeride Fiesta 2024 was mind blowing.
Talus Turk on the first feature of the course, a step-down with a take off that looks into the oblivion. James StokoeElias Ruso on the road gap James StokoeThe top step-down that had you immediately into a fast right hander to keep your speed to be able to make it over the road gap. James StokoeHayden Zablotny making shapes over the road gap. James StokoeThe host, Johny Salido on the shark fin. James Stokoe
James StokoeKurtis Downs on the Moto Booter James StokoeNot only can these athletes ride bikes, turns out they're pretty good skaters too. James Stokoe
James StokoeKurtis Downs found himself upside down without his bike, somehow he walked away from this. James StokoeKurtis is not impressed by Bienve James StokoeTalus over the Transition hip James Stokoe
Chelsea Kimball playing on the second to last feature on the course, the terrifying drop. James StokoeTalus & Hayden showed up to site 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 not letting the groms one up him at his own event! James StokoeBoostin'. James StokoeJonny Moreira also flipped the drop - stoking the home country fans James StokoeDuring the windiest part of the day, the athletes found themselves relaxing on the mini-ramp. Leo Smith (@landosteezy) had to show the freeriders a thing or two. James StokoeJames Stokoe
Bienve bringing the stoke, as ever. James StokoeMax Grayston with the sui on the drop. James StokoeJohny Salido James StokoeThe first day of practice had the
athletes comfortable enough to attack the step-up side by side as the sun goes down over Guadalajara. James StokoeJames StokoeReece Wallace saw the opportunity to remove the guard rails from the Fortaleza VIP area and drop out of it. James StokoeChelsea Kimball with the no-hander on the 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 had maybe the most brutal travel delays to get down to Fiesta, but once she made it onsite, she didn't hold back one ounce. James StokoeJames StokoeJames StokoeJames StokoeJames StokoeVaea Verbeeck James StokoeJames StokoeJames StokoeThanks Johny and his family for such a sick event! James Stokoe
