HIGHLINE is a multi–discipline mountain bike festival – four massive days of adrenalin–soaked thrills and spills – that takes place in Mansfield in March every year.
This year was Highline's third, with the event already boasting a significant national and overseas following despite its relative infancy.
Previously as a mountain bike rider in Australia if you wanted to showcase your talents or consider competing, overseas was your only option.
This grass–roots festival on a domestic stage set about changing this, bringing freeride and gravity culture to the High Country.
Shannon and Narelle Rademaker are the driving force behind Highline, and it is their unwavering commitment and passion to the industry that developed a low–key jump jam into a four–day spectacular.
Highline's humble beginnings date back to 2018, with a contained jump jam on the toboggan course at Mt Buller.
"It was the prime location for riders to execute tricks and showcase their skills, and as it was the opening weekend we drew quite a crowd of spectators," said Shannon.
"There were only about eight riders at that event, primarily friends and colleagues who trained and kicked around together on their own backyard set–ups.
"We had one jump and a couple of kickers, and it was a great weekend.
"Initially, it was just a bit of fun and an opportunity for our local riders to get out there put on a show."
The success of the event and the positive feedback inspired Shannon to put it on again in 2019, re–building the course, going bigger and better, and incorporating a proper drop start and four features.
In 2020, Mt Buller ceased to be an option and the Rademakers began to consider alternative locations off–mountain.
It was the panoramic views that drew Shannon and Narelle to Blue Range, a private property minutes away from the Mansfield town–centre, when they first started scouting a location for their festival in 2020.
And it was the unerring belief in the vision by land–holders Louis Van der Heyden and Tamara Watson that then made the festival a reality.
Read all about the Highline Mountain Bike Festival, and how a small jump jam evolved into an internationally renowned competition drawing interest and competitors from across the country and the globe.
Article in the current edition of North East Living, available from the local newsagency and supermarkets.
