International top mountain bike slopestyle rider Erik Fedko became the first person in the sport to prove he has the mental fortitude to deliver his world-class tricks on a 24-meter elevated bike parcours above the trees. Starting from atop the highest treetop, he descended with full speed into the lush green forest before launching himself over a big gap, soaring over the tree line. This unprecedented feat took place at the Green Hill Bikepark in the picturesque Sauerland mountains, providing a stunning backdrop for a display of meticulously trained tricks on a course that left no margin for error.
The 26-year-old Sauerland native Erik Fedko has made a name for himself in recent years among the global slopestyle mountain biking community for his consistent, stylish, and elite-level riding, earning him a third place overall ranking finish in the 2024 World Tour. To finish his strong season on another high Fedko took his riding literally to another level. Standing on a 24-meter platform, with a launching point on a 3.20-meter-high tree trunk overlooking the Sauerland mountains at sunrise, Fedko leaped onto his bike and into a 60-degree steep landing ramp, directly followed by a 6-meter long ‘Backflip Superman Seatgrab’ off a 3.65-meter-tall kicker, all while having a mere 3 meters to each side to nail the landing.
World-class skillset meets strong mindset and mental fortitude
This project required not only Fedko’s elite-level trick execution, but also immense mental strength to conquer the challenging environment. The elevated and narrow course forced him to adapt to the unique conditions.
The biggest challenge up here is the mental game. Everything can shake a little bit, it can get windy, the sun can be in the eyes. […] Tricks that you normally stomp easily on the ground […] are here way more challenging due to those conditions. Before dropping in on top, you want to make sure everything is fine with the bike, […] because up here in this height you want to make sure nothing goes wrong. The trick, you want to visualize in your head […] and then be ready to drop in.
Erik Fedko
Overcoming fear and embracing the challenge
Standing at the top of the tree trunk for the first time was terrifying. The most challenging trick for me was the Ninja Drop on the 27-meter-high tree trunk – super scary up there. […] It was super tough for me […] mentally to prepare for this. […] We worked ourselves up, every 50 centimeters we jumped in and then we stomped the 3.20 meters up there and I was super stoked.
Erik Fedko
Erik in his natural environment having the session of his life
Fedko also showcased an impressive array of tricks on the kicker line with a 4.5-meter-high drop at the top coming out of the forest. The first line he opened with a ‘360 Double Barspin’ on the drop, followed by a ‘360 Windshield Wiper’ and ‘360 Superman Seatgrab Indian Air to Barspin’. For his second run, Erik dropped in with a ‘360 Tailwhip’ – a trick he landed for the first time on dirt – before throwing a ‘360 Downside Whip to Superman Seatgrab Indian Air’ on the first kicker and concluding this section with a ‘Double Backflip Tuck No Hander’. These tricks highlighted Fedko’s technical prowess and proved why he is currently fourth in the FMB World Tour ranking.