Green River Classic 2024, Presented By In The Hills: RECAP COMING SOON
Bikin documents the Green River Classic 2024, presented by In The Hills. The event was fast, loose, and precisely what you’d expect from a freeride event in the Utah desert.
Day One: Blanco
Blue Castle—think “blue” ski run. Riders pick their lines and stay off the brakes as much as possible.
Bikes jumped over the fire. There was a live punk band and plenty of drinks that night.
Day Two: Daylight
The second day at the old Semenuk drop, mega quarterpipe, and event staple.
At night, a premiere of the crew’s latest film – Rock Bottom Tour – YT x ITHG.
Day Three: Sugarman
It was a slow start, but things picked up with a trick jump jam. Riders sent it one last time before the awards ceremony. Winners took home hardware, but it’s less about the podium in freeride.
Video Coming Soon
Dunulator: Riding Sand, Freezing, and Finding a Story
“If the sand is cold, we should be able to ride our bikes on it.”
That was the thought as we headed for Little Sahara Recreation Area, a stretch of dunes in the Utah desert. The logic was simple: colder sand should mean firmer sand, making it easier to ride.
It was the coldest I’ve ever been. Riding was a struggle at first, but we figured it out. And when we did, it was one of my best experiences on a bike.
Day One: Testing
We started testing the sand in a lower, softer area to see what worked and what didn’t.
Guess who showed up with his three-wheel Moto?
Day Two: Sand Mountain
At 6 AM, we headed for Sand Mountain, which is precisely what you would expect. Climb it and ride down. We spent the rest of the day filming, riding, and figuring out how to make the most of the sand.
In collaboration with our friends at Sorta Homeless, check out what they filmed while on location.
Final Thoughts
Riding sand is fun. Next time, we’ll bring dune flags; if you go, you should, too.
Bikin: Raw Riding
As the industry leans into high-end videography and flawless execution, the next generation of free riders is pulling the other way. Instead of chasing cinematic drone shots and slow-motion perfection, they capture the raw, unfiltered energy of riding—filmed with the grit and style of a skate video. As Alex Butler pointed out in his recent piece, “The Local Boys Showed Up,” this shift isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s a return to the roots of freeride. Alongside the release of InTheHillsGang’s film HILLBOMB came another project, a little quieter but just as pure: Bikin. A group of Bozeman riders set out to document freeride in its most straightforward, most unpolished form—just bikes, friends, and the kind of sessions that make you remember why you ride in the first place.
“I’ve always loved skate films, and skating has influenced me in many ways, including in my riding. I just wanted to make an MTB video that was more about creating a vibe than anything else. I love that look you can only get on older Panasonic handy-cams, mixed with a quality soundtrack and clips that flow together effortlessly, getting better and better until the ender.”
– Alec Erickson, the filmer behind Bikin
This skate-style approach isn’t just a nostalgic choice—it’s a deliberate rejection of the hyper-polished MTB films we’ve seen over the last decade. It’s a return to the roots, a reminder that good riding isn’t about perfection but pushing yourself. And a soundtrack as timeless: a curated mix of soul, hip-hop, rock, and classics.
- It Ain’t Over ‘Til It’s Over – Lenny Kravitz
- Choose U – Project Pat
- Mayonnaise – Smashing Pumpkins
- Get It While You Can – Janis Joplin
- Still Not a Player – Big Pun
As Erickson puts it:
“It doesn’t matter how good you are. If you do something that’s out of your comfort zone, it’s a worthy clip.”
Bikin captures that unfiltered, DIY freeride spirit, bringing skate energy into mountain biking in a way that feels right.
