The Pinkbike Podcast: The Heaviest Freeride Moments in 'Nothing's For Free' (with Tippie & Westerlund)

Aug 1, 2023
by Brian Park  
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Art by Taj Mihelich

A partnership between Freeride Entertainment, Outside Studios, and Pinkbike, Nothing's For Free is a full length film that takes a deep dive into the evolution of freeride mountain biking—and the enormous sacrifices that have been made in the name of the sport's progression. From fringe sport to global phenomenon, the film chronicles a three-decade journey with the pioneers, visionaries, and industry masterminds that pushed the sport to where it is today.

**Spoiler Alert: If you don’t want to know what happens in the film, especially surrounding that one extra-psychotic move, maybe skip this podcast and the comments under this article until you’ve had a chance to watch. Also this episode is even less family friendly than usual—not the thing to listen to with your preteens on the way to camp.**



We think some parts of this film will change the sport forever, and we're so excited for the mountain bike world to see it. Special guest host Jason Lucas and I sat down with director Derek Westerlund and one of the film's main subjects Brett Tippie to talk about why and how the film was made—as well as some behind the scenes stories of the film's biggest, heaviest moments.

Brett Tippie
Brett Tippie was his usual quiet, reserved self.
Derek Westerlund. Photo Peter Jamison
Whatever you do don't call Derek Westerlund a filmmaker. Photo: Peter Jamison.

Nothing's For Free is available on Outside Watch now. There will also be a limited free stream at some point in the near future thanks to GT Bicycles, a world tour of in-person events to be announced soon, and eventually other ways to view the film.

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Featuring a rotating cast of the editorial team and other guests, the Pinkbike podcast is a weekly update on all the latest stories from around the world of mountain biking, as well as some frank discussion about tech, racing, and everything in between.

Subscribe to the podcast via your preferred service (Apple, Spotify, RSS, Megaphone, etc.), or visit the Pinkbike Podcast tag page for the complete list of episodes.


Author Info:
brianpark avatar

Member since Dec 29, 2010
214 articles

65 Comments
  • 27 1
 Probably gonna get down voted for this and it may not help everyone...but I got sober from 5 years of poly drug abuse after tripping on psilocybin mushrooms and seriously reflecting on life. Psychedelics are in advanced stage clinical trials for multiple different mental health disorders. I know way too many people that have overdosed on opiates that could've been helped by this.

www.nytimes.com/2022/03/31/well/mind/psilocybin-mushrooms-addiction-therapy.html
  • 4 0
 All good - no one needs to be shamed even for the full depths of addition - costs less to help people than jail them or let them make other costs on society. There are genetic presdispositions to it. AND you may know the VA med system has now embraced micro-dosing (not willy nilly jam band style) for PTSD and many other issues - it effing works and I know b/c my lady is involved w/ this and the results are stunning. Congrats - and hoping you're getting stoked & high on your riding.
  • 4 0
 You're story is important. Mental health issues are actually really prevalent in action sports culture. A lot of mountain athletes self medicate with dopamine and adrenaline during the day and then other stuff in the evening. Congratulations on your sobriety.
  • 2 0
 @Mtn-Goat-13: Sounds like you already know Smile and thank you. This happened in 2009, I've completely turned my life around since then.
  • 1 0
 @MT36: Happened in 2009 and I was completely sober for many years after that. Nowadays I can enjoy responsibly if I want you, although I'd always rather do a pinch of psychedelic and introspect rather than drink and get a hangover.
  • 1 0
 @mkul7r4: Congrats again - for me i've always felt tapping this (very natural) place lies within and I can go there almost immediately w/ art, biking, some
music, repetitive tasks, or best - just sitting in the woods letting sound and peripheral / full-field vision take over - try to turn off the words. Just seems to provide a level of happy & stoke that logic doesn't. There's no one way.
  • 21 0
 Really good movie. I actually felt it could almost have been made into a series. So many story lines to follow.
  • 12 0
 Appreciate that! There's some interest in expanding something into a longer series—there are so many more storylines and people that deserve to be included in the telling of the sport. You can hear the agony of choice in Derek's voice during the podcast.
  • 4 0
 Agrreed - my & some buds were thinking this too, read yr mind. And is there a way to buy / support this? Pure gold. I could watch all this shit for months. So many gems & gold nuggets in this film, it's hard to even go into. People, ya gotta watch this. So damn good.
  • 2 1
 Brage hitting the Jaw Drop? No friggen way. I hope you guys let us know when the digi copy of this is available to purchase.
  • 2 0
 @brianpark: could you shed a little more light on the hush hush and covert ops vibes you all kept referencing regarding the jah drop? I'm assuming it's something along the lines of private property/protected eco-reserve but i hate wildly speculating in the dark (i prefer mildly speculating in the light), any bread crumbs you'd like to drop would be appreciated
  • 2 0
 @captaindingus: I believe the drop itself is on reserve land (or so the rumour goes). I know a few fellas that have been shut down/kicked out of there.
  • 14 0
 This film is so sick I dunno even know where to start. Lost it with Tarek & his crew at the end.

For people who grew up freeriding, seeing this laid out from OG to new school riders tore my guts out. Its one thing to see freeride history in long format (and yeah, its not 100% comprehensive - not the point) but having grown up seeing freeriding in mags, VHS vids, up to the evolution to where it is today - this film just feels cathartic. Not at all hanging on the past...I love where freeriding & bikes is today, but this film just hammers it in as a bigger part of your life than just your own rides. I'm sure its even deeper for the OG riders in the film and 100's of other ragers in the past most of us will never know.

Will prob have to watch this another 3-4 times. Totally badass. I wanna buy a copy.
  • 3 0
 3 thank you for saying that! I've probably seen the film 10+ times as it evolved and I still lost it at the premiere.
  • 1 0
 @brianpark: You're even closer to these guys than most of us - had to be unreal. I don't get that emotional over most things but this one just cross the line... instant classic. Such a range of everything here.
  • 2 0
 @Mtn-Goat-13: Oh man... as a "dad" age rider who watched all the classic films back in the day, you guys are really hyping me up for this! Can't wait to watch this weekend.
  • 1 0
 @discombob: Everyones different - i've watched it 3 times now and still digging in. Too much gold here. If u liked The Moment (supreme) and still love freeride, you'll be stoked
  • 13 0
 Is there an option to purchase it? I might want to own it to watch multiple times, but don't want to get an Outside subscription each time.
  • 5 0
 A digital copy that you could purchase woule be dope. I haven't seen it yet, but I would much rather buy it outright than sign up for another subscription. That's the only thing keeping me from seeing it right now.
  • 11 4
 Really great movie, but wish the Godfather would have gotten more recognition in it. Wade had little more than a cameo+ role, when in fact he was a major major player. I mean he is the Godfather for cryin out loud! Didn’t even mention that he won the first Rampage (showed a brief clip, but no voiceover) for example. Was the word FroRiders even said?

Also freeride didn’t just morph into slopestyle and rampage. Guys like the Sea-to-Sky crew (Remy, SVH, Yoann, etc) are all pushing the original spirit of freeriding forward outside of competitions. Maybe a little props for all of them would have been nice (I know one clip of Steve made it in the edit)

Worth watching for sure tho. Excellent!
  • 12 5
 Remy and Yoann just moved to the area a few years back..... bit early to include them in the history of freeride, don't ya think? Also listen to the podcast. There's so much they couldn't include without it turning it into a 3+ hour film.
  • 11 10
 Freeride isn’t being a YouTube influencer.
  • 13 1
 @freeridejerk888: everyone calls Wade the godfather of freeride because we got to actually watch him ride gnarly stuff on film. The only difference I see between the guys nowadays and Wade is that they film themselves as opposed to being filmed by a third person. Weird way to gate keep freeride.
  • 8 9
 @DKlassen8: I’m not gate keeping. Theese guys are doing it for views. There’s so many not known bc locals doing way harder stuff and don’t get any recognition.
  • 4 1
 @freeridejerk888: first I’m hearing about the hordes of BC locals regularly riding stuff harder than Remy / TdG…have you seen any of these features in person? They’re absolutely f*cking mental
  • 6 4
 @freeridejerk888: Like Steve Vanderhoek? Or does he no longer count because he's finally received some recognition? You're completely off base. Remi and Yoann sent it before they used youtube for exposure and they would still be sending it if they didn't. I hate influencers and thankfully, they're not like that garbage.
  • 3 6
 @scotteh: see. You have no idea because it’s not on YouTube lol
  • 4 0
 @freeridejerk888: if you want to go into the woods and build and ride unique features without filming, that is 100% freeride. It is still freeride if you do film it. It is also much easier to make freeride your full time job if you DO film it. Lets not forget that filming and editing also takes a lot of work. I have big respect for the guys that are just in for the love of biking and dont go chasing viewership numbers. I enjoy the content of the guys that do film.

The number one issue I have with current freeride video content is that some people will film on trails that they did not build without taking the proper steps to not blow up the spot
  • 4 0
 @freeridejerk888: if "way harder stuff" exists, then why doesn't it ever show up in pro edits? surely if there were people skilled enough to send meaningfully harder stuff, at some point one of them would have gone pro / started filming...

i find it hard to believe that there are total unknowns out there sending stuff bigger / harder stuff than Holonko, Remy, Barelli, Spitz, SVH, Bolton, Sheffer, Matthews, Lunn, etc.
  • 2 5
 @DKlassen8: like the entire tour de gnar lmao
  • 1 8
flag bigmeatpete420 (Aug 1, 2023 at 12:04) (Below Threshold)
 @scotteh: literally ask anyone all Thoose names and they will only know 2. That’s what I mean.
  • 4 0
 @freeridejerk888: every single one of those names puts out edits on YouTube / social media, that's how i know of all of them lmao

Holonko (Lights Out), Remy (tons & tons), Barelli (TdG), SVH (Risk is Reward), Spitz (GG promos), Bolton (insta, etc.), Sheffer (Freeride Lives), Matthews (tons), Lunn (Rough AF).

i don't understand what your argument is. these guys are known to be top of the game and they're all filming...influencer or not, these are heavy moves and freeride AF
  • 2 0
 It is not just mountainbiking. Sooo many of these action/mountain sports have hordes of athletes in locales all over the world that are taking it to insane levels right now. We see a handful on youtube, but there are many, many more out there that have zero interest in taking the time to edit videos, be appealing to sponsors, etc. Remi and Yoann are not just insane athletes but also marketing professionals. Not all athletes are interested in being marketing professionals though.
  • 2 0
 @scott-townes: I think you're onto something here... like is this video from 2015 too recent to get him a mention in the history of freeride?
www.pinkbike.com/video/428159

8 years ago now... what's the cutoff? Someone enlighten me? I've been watching all the DVD releases from NWD, Kranked and Anthill since 2005 and still enjoy these new youtubers.

Remi probably had recorded plenty in 3rd person before this even, but this was the first one I remember really standing out long before he started his channel. Doing it "for the views"... is it not obvious these guys have to be passionate about the sport to spend the countless hours becoming so creative at it?
  • 3 0
 @MT36: I think that's a sensible take: "Not all athletes are interested in being marketing professionals though."

I guess if people don't know, they just... don't know. Should they dig harder to discover the really real hidden freeriders of Canada? Some might, but maybe they are also too busy getting out whenever they can, riding half as well as anyone from the lists above, and simply have the youtube algorithm point out to them the people feeding it for a living in between the rest of their busy lives. Everyone's gotta earn a living.
  • 1 0
 I think it's safe to say that guys like Remi, Yohann, SVH and the rest are really the present as far as freeriding goes..

As for YouTube, it's a way to help these guys get paid. What's wrong with that? Not a lot of opportunities for that...
  • 1 2
 @discombob: Its not about a specific number of years but you do need time to understand the impact. It doesn't matter how its presented as long as it happened... You either missed the point or don't understand it. Oh well.
  • 7 0
 so many interesting concepts that made me reflect on & question who I am…and be thankful for Mountain biking as a whole. Thanks guys for the laughs & the tears. Thx for the podcast & the movie.
just wanna ride my bike now
  • 9 0
 Hey... I changed Tippie's fork springs at the first Rampage..How did I not get a call for this movie? LOL
  • 8 0
 Any chance of there being a digital copy we could buy?
  • 3 0
 I really appreciate that I saw Brage smashing the Jah drop here first. Way more impactful as rad full circle ending than as a 30 second youtube clip. Good job not leaking. More featur length films please! Also Brage needed to be a strong ass man to hold on that one. Jeeeez
  • 5 1
 Might need to change the podcast artwork there folks. A certain someone is obviously chilling with e.t....
  • 2 0
 I won't say the name but I hope he's enjoying a hot cup of Monster watching the sunrise on the overpass, getting abducted & tested by aliens (its all human made craft here anyway but whatever), enjoying some sick solo lines on his favorite trails AND fine tuning V3 of the Grim Donut. Hoping we get a 1:45 minute movie on that.
  • 4 1
 I can't get the movie to play, so apparently even when you pay for it you still get nothing.
  • 4 0
 Sent you a DM. Anyone else?
  • 5 0
 @brianpark: Good to go now. Thanks Brian!
  • 2 0
 Robbie Bourdon deserved more recognition.
  • 3 0
 SWEET
  • 1 0
 Nothing is for free, but GT Will bring it for free.
  • 5 4
 Just gonna put this here...

www.thisisthemomentmovie.com
  • 1 0
 Awesome, thanks for the link. (it's free on redbull btw)
  • 1 0
 great pod! Hopefully this is avaible on appleTv soon.
  • 1 0
 I got chills when the Neil Bender section started.
  • 1 0
 Brage is a beast! He really reminds me of the original freeriders.
  • 1 0
 Man I’ve missed Jason, almost as much as I miss Levy
  • 1 1
 will be free Aug 4
  • 1 0
 What do you mean by that?
  • 2 0
 @dantecusolito: He means you won't have to pay currency
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