Dan Atherton

Dan is “an inspiration to a generation of bikers.” Not only is he “one of the world’s greatest bike handlers” but he is renowned for his physical and mental toughness. He has been called a ‘“creative genius” by Pinkbike for his prodigious trail-building.

Dan has dedicated his career to pushing the boundaries of mountain-biking . He’s the driving force behind spectacular moving image pieces as well as the creator of Red Bull Hardline, the most challenging downhill race in the world. GoPro footage of Dan’s 2016 Red Bull Hardline run went viral with over 35 million views worldwide bringing downhill mountain-biking to an entirely new audience.

He has devoted the last three years to building the spectacular “Dyfi Bike Park” which is now nearing completion.

Dan started racing BMX in Somerset when he was fourteen years old and has had top flight results in BMX, Enduro, Downhill and Four Cross (including a National Championship, numerous World Cup and EWS podiums and a 2008 World Cup win). But in 2010 his love of Dirt Jumping led to an accident which threatened to end his career when he broke his neck at the C1 vertebrae.

It is a measure of his character that he returned to racing at the highest level. In 2012 he saw international victories at Superenduro (where he took 5 out of 5 stage wins) and the Maxi Avalanche.

But Dan has always considered himself a rider first and a racer second. In 2016 he largely stepped back from racing to mentor the Atherton Academy, coach local school-kids and work to develop the MTB community in Wales through the creation of Dyfi Bike Park.

Dan still likes to shake things up at the races occasionally. His 2017 Redbull Hardline podium is clear proof of this!