DarkFest is back—strap in for another action-packed session. DarkFest is a huge event, with local and international riders assembling for big jumps and high-risk tricks.

DarkFest 2024 will take place from 3rd – 10 February at The Hellsend Dirt Compound at Vuurberg farm near Stellenbosch. (Tickets here). If you’ve seen the course, you’ll know how dramatic it is. Sam Reynolds and the DarkFest team are currently putting the finishing touches on the hugest of courses for a wild week of fevered activity, where some of the best riders in the world will be pushing the limits of MTB performance. 

How huge?

The immense 110-foot jump at Darkfest already broke records when Tom Isted landed the longest mountain bike dirt-to-dirt backflip. Measuring an unbelievable 120 feet, Tom’s huge and quite terrifying send is the longest backflip on dirt. Check out the craziness here.

 

 

While skill, inventiveness, and confidence are essential traits for charging at Hellsend, it’s clear that a very large chunk of fearlessness is also needed.

Two South African riders, Ike Klaassen and Theo Erlangsen, are in the mix for Darkfest 2024.

 

Ike Klaassen © Eric Palmer

DarkFest 2024 Rider List

Men:

 Sam Reynolds

 Clemens Kaudela

 Matt Macduff

 Ike Klaassen

 Theo Erlangsen

 Adolf Silva

 Vincent Tupin

 Kade Edwards

 Kaos Seagrave

 Paul Couderc

 Daniel Ruso

 Elias Ruso

 Bienve Aguado

 Kurtis Downs

 Szymon Godziek

 Dawid Godziek

 Sam Hodgson

 Nicholi Rogatkin

 Matt Jones

 Brendan Fairclough

 Tom Isted

 Graham Agassiz

 Johny Salido

 Carson Storch

 Dan Paley

 Talus Turk

 Dylan Stark

 

 

Women:

 Vaea Verbeeck

 Casey Brown

 Chelsea Kimball

 Robin Goomes

 Vero Sandler

 Harriet Burbidge-Smith

 Vinny Armstrong

 Gemma Corbera

 

Stay updated on the build on Sam’s YouTube channel and the Darkfest Instagram.