The 18-Year-Old Who BEAT Mountain Biking’s TOUGHEST Race | Asa Vermette x Red Bull Hardline

At just 18, Asa Vermette has firmly established himself as one of mountain biking’s most exciting young riders. Growing up in Durango, Colorado, he’s risen quickly onto the world stage, with a Junior World Title, U.S. National Championship win, and a podium at Red Bull Hardline Tasmania. This film follows his journey to Wales, where he faces downhill’s toughest race and seeks redemption in his debut Red Bull Hardline season.

Produced by @Sleeper.collective
Supported by @envecompositesvideo

#redbullbike #asavermette #mtb #redbullhardline

Subscribe to Red Bull Bike on Youtube: https://win.gs/SubRedBullBike
Get the FREE Red Bull TV apps for all your devices: http://onelink.to/yfbct7
Watch Red Bull TV: https://win.gs/WatchRBTVBike

See into our world: http://goo.gl/J49U

Follow Red Bull Bike on:
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@redbullbike
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redbullbike/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RedBullBike/

This is Asa Hermet’s introduction to the world. Welcome to Red Bull Hardline Tasmania. His first elite race and he seems to take everything in his stride. I’m Asa Verette. I’m 18 years old and I live in Durango, Colorado. He’s only just turned 18 and here he is, yesterday’s fastest qualifier. Every weekend I go to a race, I I’m there to try to win. So that’s just my mentality. This is the first time he’s going to go up against the world’s elite riders. So, AS’s trip to Hardline Tasmania was his first time doing a hardline event, first time to the southern hemisphere. Red Bull Hardline is literally the hardest racetracks on planet Earth. The original idea for Red Bull Hardline was how do you take the hardest World Cup track and then intersperse it with the biggest jumps that exist. So at the World Cups, 17 18 year old riders ride in the junior category. And coming into hardline, there’s no categories. It’s an invitational race for the best riders in the world. So he was able to race against all the elites, which he hasn’t really had a chance to do in the past. And for him to go out and just qualify first was a big statement. And as the youngest ever Red Heartline male competing, congratulations on that number one seating position. We are looking forward to seeing it. Thank you. Just 18 years old. Oh yeah, this is a massive day for Ace of Atta, the junior world champion. Being the last dude to drop on race day was crazy. Ace of on track. The last man down the mountain. Can he deny Jackson Goldstone that win here today? Asa incredible corner speed. Sets up wide through the speed trap of the so skilled even though he’s so young. Rides like a veteran. Really smooth there. No, not getting anywhere with side. Oh no, mistake. 37 is the time to be hast red. Jackson Goldstone wins red for Hardline Tasmania. I got second place, which was It’s good. It’s not perfect. I think he’s definitely pissed he got second. just because it was so small. And I think leaving there too, if he watches the race back, he missed one major line. And I think he’s kicking himself for that one. Troy Rosen, you’ve got everyone talking about that local inside line. I mean, it pays to be local. Um, but yeah, I got to thank a couple of local boys about that. Oh, I took that uh last sneaky line from Troy. I watched his uh him do it up at the top there before my run. I was like, dang, that looks a lot faster. I think I got to do it. The Canadian has got the Australian line and that might be crucial. Jackson saw it on the video. Asa didn’t. The only thing I’ve been thinking about is just if I would have took that inside line. Like I just run it over and over and over in my mind so many times. It’s insane. Is he going to do it? Goes outside. I don’t think he also a bit of a mistake. Turn up at Red Bullard in Tasmania his first time and do that and not do the Australian line. Yeah, pretty special. Yeah, I’m very very hungry for uh the next hardline in Wales. It’s gonna be good. [Music] Boom. House. Sick jumps. Built the jumps before the house. I mean, it was just a big like metal shop. Tore it down. My dad knows that more. He pretty much build the entire thing. I help whenever I can. But so yeah, we built the Ace. We built it for with a flat roof so we could put a step up and then he can do the flat flat spinner flat drop, right? Yeah. I’m Josh Verette and Asa’s dad. How would you rate Ace’s building skills? Well, good thing he can uh ride a bike. Building like a house with my dad is I’m learning a lot for sure. I’m not really doing as much as he probably would want me to, but just being busy with like training and stuff, but yeah, it’s been super cool. When we dirt bike and we downhill, always wanted to beat me. You got it. Yeah. Always wants to be taller taller than me now. And he he’s almost there. Most important part of a house is the I think it’s good for kids to have different tools so they can succeed at what they’re good at. Yeah. Hey, watch this, too. Nice job. The pedal. It came off your bike. I’m going to cut it off. It’s just like I just saw he had that drive to bike and to be one of the best. Luckily, my buddy owns a shop in Durango and he usually hooked us up really well, so I got him the best I could. I think the white one was like one of my first like pro jerseys or whatever where you get your name and number on it. And this one was like the one at US Open when I beat Nico. Yeah. So Ace is a second generation of download rider. His dad did this all himself at an amateur level in the US was a pretty good rider and you kind of need a dad like that to put you in a situation to gain these skills. the first World Cup win in Fort William. And then my World Champs jersey is hanging up there, too. Dog say what’s up. I mean, it’s basically just like a biking town. Like, everybody hear bikes. You’re always seeing bike racks and everything on cars. I grew up here. I don’t really know anything different. works. I have a whole another box of stuff. I mean, I think it’s heaven for a kid like him. Just Yeah. Anything he wants. So, if you want snow, you can go to the mountains. Here we go skiing for the first time this winter. If you want dirt bike and mountain bike, you can go down to the desert. Pretty much the best of both worlds. The bull cut there is a little younger. We’ve got a sick spot. We’re on the state line of Colorado and New Mexico. So, moto with my dad down in Aztec, which is sick. And yeah, I mean, it’s basically been whatever just what I’ve always normally done. We’ve been riding bikes. As long as I’m on my bike, it’s a good day. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. There’s nothing again. [Music] So Asa grew up not too far from the Rampage site and watching that competition has always been one of his favorite things to do. I think it’s something that’s really shaped him as a rider. I think that gave Asa a skill set that he can carry over to Hardline. 2019 was the first time me and my dad went to Rebel Rampage and like the sights and everything. So I’ve pretty much I mean I’ve been there ever since I like started getting good at biking kind of. I love hitting big jumps and like just scaring myself honestly. It’s like I like it. And I mean Rampage is the perfect place to do that. It’s definitely a big part of my riding. [Music] [Music] something just [Music] that was Peter Jameson showing us all the local stuff. You’re low as could be right now. [Music] [Music] rider. Yeah. tonight. So stop playing games. Yeah. [Music] Yeah. I went so deep on the flip, dude. You went huge. Boom. Whales hard blinded. Yeah. Just announced it. Going to be insane. Boom. Yes, we’re about 6 weeks out from Hardline Whales. Uh, he had a really good result at Tasmania. It’ll also be his first time at that track. It’s a different beast from Tasmania. If it rains, it’s going to be wet. Taz, you definitely seemed like a warm-up for Wales. Hello and welcome to the toughest downhill mountain bike race in the world. I don’t think any other race compares to this one. You’ve got these massive features that you don’t see in traditional kind of downhill races. The difference with this one here in Wales is the bits of track that link those are so extreme and so difficult. People describing the big rock at the top as a Red Bull Rampage feature and you wouldn’t argue with it. It’s on a different level of difficulty. There’s nothing compares to Red Bull Wildline Wales. So, dude, how’s it going? How’s it going? Good. Good to see you. What was the place we’re saying? Like the ry [Music] Boom. Coming into this week, I mean, my expectations always to try to win at any race I go to. So, how you doing? That’s so welcome. Just been watching it ever since I’ve like been growing up. Hardline’s like one of the most iconic races and I’ve always wanted to be in it. I did Tazzy and this is like the most iconic one in Wales. I’m so stoked to be here. It’s crazy. Yeah. It is though. It’s sick. I like it. So sick. [Music] This is the gnarliest section for me probably. It’s like a shoot you have to break down into. And race pace seems like it’ll it’ll hook, but it’ll just be gnarly in the beginning. Pretty gnar. I think ASA likes it though. You know, this kind of track. That BM is insane. Holy Basically already knew the entire thing just cuz I’ve watched the videos of it so many times. I think I’m the most excited for the the road gap. That’ll be that’ll be sick. They do a good job of making these jumps look big on camera, but they’re even bigger when you’re standing there on top of them. Yeah, man. Oh It was like right into it. Get off a plane. Do like the big road gap. Big like onoff thing. [Music] That’s so good. Oh, that’s so good. The corner is so good. Hell yeah. I’ve been so impressed with Asa so far. It’s so cool to see him turn up and just be so relaxed. You can feel the dirt coming up. What are we doing here? I’ll do like one crank roll. You like pull enough to just do a turn bar. You know, if you didn’t pull, you wouldn’t be able to turn. You just like little one. Give it a look. Yeah, it looks so good. From here it looks far, but from behind here from the end little brake tap to get her down into it, dude. Ready? Ace. Yep. Got it, buddy. [Music] Ticked off the road gap with BK. You were just floating for so long. Helping Ara and like hanging out with him. Obviously, I’ve done this for 11 years is really cool. Honestly, if he’s going to beat me, he’s going to beat me. He’s an unreal rider. Me not showing him anything is not going to change anything. So holding it inside way further than everyone else. I reckon it’s going to be great. This is going to be sick. We were able to ride everything until like we’ve ridden all the tracks except for the 290s. So just got to take these things off. It’s a little bit windy right now. So I don’t know if we’re going to be able to hit them, but couple dogs walking up. Can we hit her? [Music] That’s so good. The ‘ 90s were probably the best feeling jumps on the track. There’s not many riders can turn up and deal with it like AC. You know, he’s come here for the first time. He’s one time training after two days practice. That is actually pretty unbelievable. Also, he just picked up that momentum really early on. You know, he’s not just taking on the features and getting through it and ticking it off, you know. He’s looking good doing it. I’m big when I walk when I talk. Another boy on a mission. Never put them in a box. Clawing to the top. Jaws open while they watch. Yeah, I’m getting to the chicken. I ain’t never going to stop. They love me in my city. Got to put it on a map, but I’m flying across the country. They be asking where I’m at. Where you go? Where you been? How we feel like that? Sh. Everybody looking this good white. Everybody want to be like me. Got them taking notes. Yeah, they looking for the key. Everybody want to be like me. Fast lane, steady whipping, two doors off speed. Everybody want to be like me, but that’s something. [Applause] Show the guys. Got it, Rick. Hell yeah. That’s more like it. Go. No. Nico wasn’t standing there anymore. Oh, nice job. He’s like a gazelle. So agile. We had another Red Bull Hardline event in Tasmania earlier this year. You qualify first and then you got second. Do you think that you can take the win here? I mean, that’s always a goal. Always going into a race with the expectation of being on top. So, I mean, we’ll see. We’ll see what happens. Who would be the main man to stand in your way, do you think? I mean, Ronan Dunn won it. That might roll off your He’s committed. He wants to win it. Yeah, for sure. Yeah. Asa, he’s definitely a bit of a dog, I have to say. He’s a savage rider. He’s 18 still. Yeah, it’s pretty savage like the way these juniors came up. I mean, there’s a bunch of fast dudes here, too. BK’s back on the bike. Ollie, he’s ripping. Yeah, he won a World Cup. Charlie Hatton could be really good, too. He’s a local. He’s got the sport of the Athethertons behind him and it’s their event, so I know this one’s a big one for them. There’s looks like a front over there. Yeah, there’s some wind in the forecast this afternoon. So, they made the call to get all the riders up early. That way, we can get the full course in without any weather cancellations later in the day. Uh, some of the big jumps are just so subjected to wind. Finals day, I like I went to bed like pretty late. I couldn’t fall asleep that night. Hopefully, it didn’t rain too much. So, it’s nice and dry up there, but we’ll see. It probably did rain, so it’s going to be a little scary. We’re ready. Overnight before race day, we got some rain, which just made that morning practice session really greasy. It almost seemed like one of those situations where more rain would have been better or less rain would have been better, but it was just enough to polish all the rocks. How much did it rain last time? Well, it’s currently raining, so but that won’t concern a youngster like you. [Applause] [Music] So much ner and they look pretty drippy, but they’re like the worst things ever. They look like granite, but they’re just like like roots basically. [Music] [Applause] staring the top is gnarly. Like I could tell after his first two practice runs he was lacking confidence. Yeah. I just like just didn’t I just don’t feel that good on the bike today. But we’ll see. We’re going to be bringing you all the live racing action as our elite field of riders compete to get their hands on the trophy. the double winner of Red Bull Hardline last year, taking the wins Tasmania and Wales. This year, a big crash in Tasmania, a broken pelvis and comes back from that, bruised his liver at the last World Cup race a couple of weeks ago. He’s going to go all out here, Elliot. Last year, this is where he made up his time. He’s taking it a little bit easier here, but it’s smooth. They went deep off there. So, on the move and goes deep over there as well, and now he’s on it. 2.2 up there. That’s split number one. Fast over the top of there, Elliot. 5.2 up. Oh, that was beautiful. Right on the line there. So hard on that exit right hander not to get snagged up. This is going to be the benchmark. Coming down to the last jump. It’s been incredible run. Here he comes. D crosses the line with a 229.4 K. The threetime winner. That was insanely quick over the top of there and he almost got in trouble, I would say. So curve crosses the line.9 off. Yeah. Let’s see what Clark can do there. His first Red Bull Hardline Wales. An incredible start. I had the best I’ve seen that first maybe 5 seconds. That was really, really nice. Oh, look at it. The bike sliding in there. He had to get on the brakes. So, he was great. And now he goes down. Big one. And he’s up and crosses the line. He was moving. Jones goes down. Can anyone get near that time? That 229.4 of Ron Dunn. If anyone can, it might be this man, the 2023 Elite Men’s World Champion. Light across there and far. That was quick. comes in there fast. Straight through there and he’s up. So fed out with what Lori was trying to do jumping out of there. We have now nearly a second into the green net and had straight down there from Charlie taking it to Ro tonight. This is looking breathtaking. He’s kick there as well. He holds on his green 2.2 up there. Now here comes Charlie Hatter and he goes fastest 3.3 into the green 226 the fastest time of the weekend by far. That was unbelievable. He’s just seen that qualifying time. Get smoked by about 3 seconds. He’s got to find that now. I feel the fire. I blow the dust, the flames within. Yeah, baby. Give me trust. I’m burning down the fears. One rider left at the top. It’s ace of the sounding the first time here for him. Second at Red Bull Hardline Tasmania at the start of this year. What can the man from Durango do? Elliot takes across there on that frameworks bike. Runs right around the outside. Gets that compression. Yeah. Look how calculated and smooth he is. Hard to tell how fast he’s going exactly. This will tell us he’s very much in touch. He’s in touch. So ace of the man was this big. It’s been looking good. And it’s green now by over half a second there for the American. Oh, amazing. Look how fast he’s going into those turns. Speed out in a minute. Scrubs over there. It is second into the break. Where’s he finding his time at? He has this incredible average speed. He’s been waiting for this. He is all these expectations, all the pressure. He surrounds media and he is executing on it here in this is so so fast and absolutely direct over the top of that rock on the right. Not many riders dare to do that today pulling it off perfectly. Doesn’t get stalled on the exit either. Amazing. Surely if he can keep it going like this. He’s going to be faster again at that next split. You can tell the speed he’s carrying. Faster than everyone through that right hand B. not getting caught anywhere. It’s just so immaculate from Hast then charging down the last one. This is a master class by a generational talent. Ace of Her going to be the second rider to turn up from Red Bull Hardline. Well, a winner his first attempt. Jackson Goldstone the first comes down the line. up and AC is your hard life champion and his very first attempt. That was unbelievable. I mean, I won Red Bull Hardline Wales. Insane. A little bit of redemption from Tazzy. I saw today was the youngest rider to ever win hardline. He made history today and he just rode so well out there. He just looked like a veteran at the young age of 18. No, it hasn’t sunk in yet. Was I back at the top? Was I back at the top? precision. Yo, this was nice.