Harriet Birbidge-Smith aka Haznationbikes on Instagram had the amazing opportunity to attend Red Bull Formation a Women’s Freeride event in Virgin Utah. The ladies really elevated the level this year, Harriet gives us the inside scoop below.

Harriet and Jess Blewitt. Photo by Katie Lozancich.

‘Over the past week, I was lucky enough to be a part of Red Bull Formation in Virgin, Utah. As the alternate rider, I was able to ride and dig with everyone throughout the week, learn, watch, and see what it takes to create a line out here in the desert.

The days started with breakfast around 5:30am, thanks to our amazing chefs on site, we were fuelled for the most important hours of the day.. when its not too hot!

We spent the next 4-6 hours digging while the temperature was at its lowest, before turning in for some lunch, then heading back out. It was crazy to see the kind of exposure we were working with out here, especially coming from Australia, as someone who’s never ridden or been to Utah before.

The first 3 days were strictly dig days, with riders creating their own unique lines down the mountain (the 2013 Rampage Site). I worked on some of the lower features, including the insane double drop to finish a lot of the women’s runs off.

On the third dig day we squeezed in some early riding to brush off the nerves and sessioned the bottom trick jump, so rad to have Carson tow us in for a few speed checks! As well as seeing Cami’s bottom road gap.

The days were long and tiring, but it was so sick to see everyone going hard, and clearly passionate and stoked to be out there, all the diggers and riders were on the same page! It was also so motivating to have so many female riders in one spot, and we were all on the same motivation level, we all wanted to push ourselves and womens freeride.

The ride days started, and the first day some nerves were definitely still there, and few questions of “did we go too big”? But after some testing and adjustments, it was clear that everything was going to work, and it was pretty rad to see some of the first hits, and confidence in their lines that come from it.

Desert whips. Photo by Re Wikstrom (Red Bull Media)

It was both humbling and motivating to see - everyone out there was not only dedicated, and hard working, but we all got along so well as a group. It was just a rad group that was all excited to see everyone succeed and push themselves, as well as have a good time.

Womens Freeride and Formation for me, is the future - and I can only see it getting bigger and better in the years to come, the progression is moving at an insane pace. We have the riders, young and old that believe in it, as well as people like Katie Holden and the team at Red Bull that are working tirelessly on events like these.’

Harriet working in her spins before she came to Utah. Photo by Vibe Imagery

Inside Formation with Harriet Burbidge-Smith