Many of the best mountain and slopestyle riders in the world will gather in Oregon in September for a joint event from Natural Selection and Proving Grounds.
On Sept. 10, Proving Grounds will bring the ethos of Natural Selection’s snowboarding competitions to mountain biking.
That weekend, the 32 best big mountain and slopestyle riders in the world will drop into an expanded Flying Blind Dirt Park in Prineville, Ore. The massive dirt park showcases huge doubles, berm presses, and rhythm sections.
What’s next? Probably a wild and highly competitive ride, if the 2021 Proving Grounds results indicate anything.
The competition, which began in 2019, partners with Natural Selection this year. As with Natural Selection snowboarding events, this year’s Proving Grounds riders will choose their line to best showcase their personal skill, style, and strengths.
The men’s field of 20 athletes includes Carson Storch, Cam Zink, Emil Johansson, and Andreu Lacondeguy, all of whom will skip qualifying on Thursday, Sept. 8, and drop straight into Saturday’s Super Final. If you’re planning to watch it (see how below), we wouldn’t recommend skipping out on that qualifying heat. Clemens Kaudela, Adolf Silva, and more will fight for five open finals spots in a 15-rider field.
On the women’s side, 12 riders including Casey Brown, Chelsea Kimball, and Hannah Bergemann highlight a field competing on the same finals course as the men. Notably, Proving Grounds broke into new territory last year when it became the first pro freeride event where women rode on the same course as the men and earned equal pay.
Attend Natural Selection Proving Grounds 2022
