The second Red Bull Formation is in the books and the landscape of freeriding once again looks different.
“We are here and we are powerful. We have the opportunity to collaborate and expedite our progression together, giving us wings to pursue goals in this space on our own terms.”
Katie Holden – founder of Red Bull Formation
For the past two decades plus, the world’s best extreme downhill mountain bike riders have descended to southern Utah to shape and carve their way into mother natures unforgiving terrain but also to shape and carve their way into legends. There is only one Red Bull Rampage winner and it comes with the biggest of big bragging rights.
Well….men, the ladies are here and Red Bull Formation packs a punch of kick ass ladies showing that they too are legends of the dirt.
Just as the landscape of the dirt changes at the work of the rider and their dig crew, the landscape of mountain biking is changing because of the work of these ladies collectively.
“I love the position we are in two years into creating Red Bull Formation,” said Katie Holden, founder of Formation. “Right now, in this moment, we can create what we want our segment of this industry to look, act, sound and most importantly, feel like. Not only can we impress the minds and souls of the riders, but those that are watching us. We are building this from the ground up rather than trying to backtrack or pivot in already established spaces. Collectively, we have the power and knowledge of everything each and every rider and digger has learned along the way to build this into a powerful space in the mountain bike industry. It is a big opportunity and a special place to be.”
Hannah Bergemann wins the Evolution in Action Award presented by Arc’Teryx at Red Bull Formation in Virgin, Utah, USA on 31 May, 2021 
Vaea Verbeeck, Cami Nogueira, Sam Soriano, Casey Brown, Katie Holden, Hannah Bergemann, Jess Blewitt, Vinny Armstrong, Chelsea Kimball pose for a portrait on the final day at Red Bull Formation in Virgin, Utah, USA on 31 May, 2021 
Hannah Bergemann lands the double drop she built in the middle of her line at Red Bull Formation in Virgin, Utah, USA on 31 May, 2021 // SI202106010041 // Usage for editorial use only // 
Katie Holden smiles at Red Bull Formation in Virgin, Utah, USA on 31 May, 2021.
Red Bull Formation is a first-of-its-kind progression session for women’s freeride mountain biking. For the past two weeks, eight of the top female freeriders, alongside a selection of industry mentors, diggers and other professional athletes, have worked together to create top-to-bottom lines that illustrate their skill, style and power as well as push the women’s field further than ever before.
“I wanted and continue to want to create a space that is progressive, collaborative and reflective of the time we are in,” said Holden. “We are in a place and space where we as riders, diggers or support teams, where we can push and support each other to reaching a new level.”
The first event was held in 2019 and was a transformative moment for women’s freeriding, marking a tangible shift in the scene. After a year-long hiatus, Red Bull Formation returned to Virgin, Utah, one of the most iconic landscapes for the freeride mountain biking movement.
“Looking at the current and the future, the talent pool of ladies is mind blowing,” said Holden. “As we continue on the platform we are building, other opportunities are going to grow from this that will allow for women to pursue freeriding as a viable career on their own terms. We are painting on a blank canvas right now. This is not to lessen the impact that the men have had on the industry, because without Rampage or other contests like that, my dream of starting Formation became a reality. As an industry, we all collectively can mentor and grow with each other. I want to pass forward the opportunities I was given and to let the next generation write their own book of rules.”
Consider the first two chapters done. What will Chapter 3 bring? Follow along #redbullfreeride