10 YEARS OF TRIUMPH $ TRAGEDY
When the 2000s reached their crescendo with Steve Peat finally taking the world champion’s rainbow stripes in 2009, it rounded out a decade of monumental wins from the likes of Nicolas Vouilloz, Sam Hill and Anne-Caroline Chausson, and seemed like an era of downhill racing that would never be surpassed. But over the past decade, the sport has evolved massively. Past legends have retired making way for a new crop of talent, and advancements in technology and professionalism have elevated the competition to an intensity fiercer than ever before. New faces have come to the fore – from the seemingly all-conquering Aaron Gwin and Rachel Atherton to Danny Hart, Loïc Bruni and Amaury Pierron – and there’s been no shortage of drama. With this season’s racing delayed until at least September, we thought we’d cast our minds back over some of the highlights from the past 10 years. Helping us take on this formidable task is pro photographer Duncan Philpott who, having been on the scene since the age of 18, has long been found trackside watching the action unfold at first-hand. These days his work is focused on documenting the Enduro World Series, but he remains an avid downhill fan, so here’s his pick of the defining moments from the past decade’s racing...
2010-2011
THE RISE OF GWIN
DANNY HART RODE LIKE A MAN POSSESSED, KEEPING IT RUBBER-SIDE-DOWN AND EVEN THROWING IN A MASSIVE WHIP
off with a season fans will vividly remember, encapsulated in Clay Porter’s 3 Minute Gaps film. Gee Atherton and Greg Minnaar didn’t leave much room
