In the past few years, Canadian racers have made a huge mark on the top end of the global mountain bike scene, both in terms of quality and quantity. When it comes to downhill racing, two riders in particular, Gracey Hemstreet and Jackson Goldstone, are having a huge impact on the sport, bringing with them not only finely honed natural ability but also a whole new and exciting style of racing and riding.
Last year, aged just 20 (she’s now 21), riding for Greg Minnaar’s Norco factory racing team, Gracey had an amazing ‘step-up’ season. She won three World Cup rounds, taking numerous podium slots and scoring victory in Red Bull Hardline Tasmania three times.
Gracey was raised on a family-run BC bike park, so from a very young age she honed in on some of the gnarliest gravity trails around.
After just finishing second in the latest round of the Whoop UCI World Series, we caught up with Gracey to talk about chasing trails and rainbow dreams.
off.road.cc: Outside of the bike park, tell us a bit about the family mountain bike history – was that a huge part of life from your younger years?
Gracey Hemstreet: Growing up, my family were super outdoorsy people, down for anything really. My older brother, Layne Hemstreet, was super into riding bikes and would always get our dad to drive him to Whistler. After a couple of years of this, my dad and a few others came up with the idea to build Coast Gravity Park, so that Layne and all the ‘Sunshine Coasters’ had somewhere to ride downhill.
As the building of Coast Gravity started, I got my first full suspension bike and started to give mountain biking a go, and I loved it right from the beginning. I knew that was what I wanted to do.
ORCC: Can you explain the basics of the bike park – the scale, type of riding, etc?
GH: Coast Gravity Park is a gravity-fed mountain bike park with shuttle trucks that run you up the hill all day long. The park has approximately 20 trails, from green to double black, and pro line jump trails. The goal was to make all the trails as smooth and flowy as possible. In my opinion, it’s the best bike park in the world, as it’s always maintained very well by our amazing trail crew.
ORCC: Was most of your early riding done in the bike park? Was it always gravity-based, and how do you think those specific home trails shaped you as a rider?
GH: I started riding at Coast Gravity Park when I was eight years old and never stopped. I grew up riding with the boys, so I was always pushing myself to try to keep up. I was hitting double black pro line jump trails when I was 15, only because I was fortunate enough to have this place in my backyard [literally].
When things got racy
ORCC: Can you tell us how the competitive element came in, and was that alien to you at first? How did having such success straight off shape your outlook and ambitions for the future, and potentially make a career of it?
GH: My first race ever was Crankworx Whistler – when I was 11. I raced B-line with my dad following me down the track. Ever since then, I knew that’s what I wanted to do. I’m a very competitive person, so racing lined up quite well.
ORCC: How much of a leap was it for you as a junior to enter the World Cup (Series) scene and to have such immediate success?
GH: Going from local races to World Cup junior races was pretty awesome. I got on the podium straight away, and then the following year I was on the Norco factory team for my second year of junior. I’m still racing for Norco-Adidas Race Division.
Young pretenders
ORCC: In the past couple of years, there has been an explosion in terms of young junior racers coming straight into the elite ranks and winning. How do you think this came to be?
GH: The younger riders now are absolutely insane. They all have the best equipment and are straight on factory teams, so they have all the support in the world already – which makes a big difference, I think.
Under the hood of success
ORCC: Last year was huge for you; how did you handle that? Was it a surprise, and was there pressure on you? With making such a mark, did it impact your approach, your confidence and race plans?
GH: Last year was pretty amazing for me; three World Cup round wins and lots of podiums. I really felt the pressure after winning, and I found it a bit hard not to think about it. But now I’m feeling much better about the situation, and riding really well. It just all has to come together perfectly to get that win again.
Hardlines
ORCC: How differently do you prepare and approach events such as Crankworx and Hardline – and how far does Hardline push you in terms of risk, skills and intimidation?
GH: Hardline is a risky one, but also the most fun. I personally love the Red Bull Hardline events. They push you to do things you didn’t even know you were capable of. Riding in those events, you really have to trust yourself and your ability – and know when to say, ‘that’s enough’. If you don’t, then that’s when the accidents come into play.
ORCC: With Hardline opening up to more female riders, are we likely to see you in Wales at some point?
GH: Well, there is no Wales this year, but I was planning on racing it; next year for sure if it comes back. You’ll see me at Cypress (Hardline BC) later in the year most definitely.
Learning the ropes
ORCC: Being on a team with Danny Hart, run by Greg Minnaar, you have an amazing amount of proven experience behind you; what have you learned from them, and where has that experience been most valuable?
GH: Danny and Greg are both amazing people, so down to earth and just amazing role models and friends. Greg has always told me to believe in myself and to trust myself, and that even if you’re going through a rough patch, you never lose your skill; you always have it.
New year, new aims and new experiences
ORCC: The opening 2026 World Cup round in Korea had a very different kind of course, which caught a lot of riders off guard. What did you make of the race?
GH: Korea was very challenging, not what I’m used to. I prefer steeper tracks, not as flat and off camber. It definitely wasn’t my favourite track, but it was a good challenge. I need some redemption, that’s for sure!
ORCC: This year – World Series wins/overall, or World Champs, which would mean the most to you to achieve? And with the World Champs being a one-off race, how different is the pressure and expectation compared to a World Series race?
GH: World Champs; I feel less pressure there just because it has nothing to do with the overall or anything; you either win, or you don’t. I really want to win it this year, it’s a big goal!
