Tasmanian named rider of the week at Red Bull Hardline despite setback

Tasmanian Dan Booker was voted "Rider of the Week” despite a puncture and finishing 22nd at this year’s Red Bull Hardline event at the weekend. 

The 27-year-old was right amongst the leaders until a puncture took out his bike, but he remains happy with his result. 

Finishing 22nd in the race, Booker earned the "Rider of the Week" title as voted by his fellow competitors.

Dan, the sole Tasmanian in the Red Bull event, has worked as a trail builder at the Maydena track, and is considered a talent at an international level. 

“I was lucky enough to grow up in Tasmania, which has always had some amazing riding but has recently exploded with the government backing a whole bunch of parks for MTB (mountain biking) tourism,” he says.

Dan grew up racing downhill from a young age. 

“The house I grew up in was on top of a hill with a bit of land so my brother and I would build tracks down either side of the property," he said.

“My mum and dad let us go crazy. I was obsessed and would spend hours every day after school watching the New World Disorder movies, then head outside to build jumps and turns in the backyard.”

Canadians Jackson Goldstone and Gracey Hemstreet took first place in the Men’s and Women’s competition, Goldstone in 3:17.096 and Hemstreet in 4:06.465.

See Dan's jumps at the Red Bull Hardline event below