Darkfest 2025 is in the books. The jumps? Absurd. The riders? Unhinged. The footage? Next level.
Hosted once again in South Africa's gorgeous Stellenbosch mountains, this year's edition of freeride mountain biking's most extreme event pushed the limits of what should be physically possible on two wheels.
A Different Kind of Mood Board
From the moment the course—which included the first-ever ¼ pipe and the longest mountain bike jump ever built—was announced, the mood was set. Participating riders spent the whole event launching themselves into the air as if they had a personal vendetta against gravity.
As per Darkfest tradition, some riders shaved their heads. Some nearly shaved the trees. Everyone went big.
Insta360 Brought Viewers Closer to the Action Than Ever Before
As the official action camera partner of Darkfest 2025, Insta360 was on the ground (and in the air) to capture the action in 8K 360°. The result? The result? Darkfest, from angles never seen before. Whether it was POV backflips over canyon-sized gaps or buttery-smooth handlebar angles mid-send, Insta360 was there to capture it all.
In collaboration with the Darkfest team and riders, over 30 videos were shot, edited, and uploaded during the event—with more on the way. Catch all the best POV reels and content on @Insta360, @Insta360_Bike, @darkfest_mtb, and on the riders' own social channels.
Insta360 handed out the following awards at the end of the event:
- Best Run: Vaea Verbeeck (@vaeaverbeeck) and Bienve Aguado (@bienvenidoaguado).
- Hotshot Award: Jack Schliemann (@jackattack_mtb).
Big congratulations to the winners of the Insta360 Awards at Darkfest—celebrating the most creative shots, gnarliest sends, and best moments captured in full 360° glory!
Zero Fatalities (Again)
Despite the combination of thrill-seeking mountain bike riders and a death-defying course, Darkfest 2025 went by without so much as a dislocated shoulder. It was an exciting week, with riders throwing down harder than ever while embodying Darkfest's signature progressive, encouraging, and creative spirit.
For Insta360, partnering with Darkfest 2025 wasn’t just about capturing action—it was a chance to take the event’s storytelling to the next level.
We're beyond stoked to have helped bring that energy to fans around the world. A big shoutout to Darkfest for doing what they do best: building trails no sane person should hit, and then inviting the most talented maniacs on Earth to hit them anyway.
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