Interview: Jess Blewitt on the Big Sends at Red Bull Hardline 2022 – Pinkbike

We managed to catch up with Jess Blewitt, the very first female driver at Redbull Hardline. Now we had to drag Jess away from signing and she was clearly in a bit of pain from a bad recent injury so it was a short comeback but certainly the first of many for this extremely talented rider.

First of all Jess, we can’t ignore your injury. What did you actually do?

I already had a flattened collarbone from my fall at Snowshoe last year and just snapped off part of the bone from it again.

Where on the track did it happen?

So they call it Renegade, it’s the metal ramp to the top of the step.

When was it?

So that was on Friday.

Aside from your injury, how was your week?

It was really good. I really enjoyed it, although that’s probably one of the gnarliest things I’ve ever ridden. Just like ticking things off slowly and I actually had a really good time. All the guys were super supportive and everyone just helped where they could.

Do you like the big features of Hardline compared to a downhill track?

I mean I love my descent. I love my big jumps, drops, whatever. So combining both together, that’s just my kind of track. I do it with pleasure.

What did you find the most difficult?

I don’t really know because everyone was kind of saying a lot of different things were harder than the others and then I hit it and I was like, ‘Oh, that’s fine’. Then someone else would say it’s hard, and then it’s okay. But I just want to say almost all the technical stuff. So further up, when you first got into the trees, there’s this tech area and then you go off this rock drop. I would say the tech section on this rock drop is probably the gnarliest, it’s just so slippery.

Which feature did you like the most?

Probably the drop after the Renegade.

How did it feel to be named Rider of the Week?

That was pretty cool. I was pretty excited about it. I wasn’t really expecting that, but yeah, of course, kudos to the guys for voting for me.

It’s been a really good year for you: lots of podiums, top 10 in the overall World Cup despite a crash and retirement at Fort Bill. How are you feeling next year? Are you looking forward to what’s to come?

Yes, I’m really super excited. I mean I worked pretty hard last year in the off-season, obviously after my accident, and then I came back and just expected some like top 10 finishes, nothing as big as podiums, and in the end I made it up to stand the podium. So I’m kind of interested in just, well, naturally sorting the shoulder first and then going into rehab and then right back in and firing again next season.

Do you think you will ride more hardline and formation next year as well?

Yes, I’ve decided this year to go to Red Bull Performance Camp rather than Formation, but I’d love to go back to Formation depending on the timing, but will probably get back together this year, we’ll see. I just enjoy all of that, just formation, hardline and downhill racing.

What struck us about the Worlds, as with women in general, is that it’s a massively growing area for mountain biking. How does it feel to be a part of this and see it happen?

It’s a pretty cool feeling. I mean obviously a lot of us girls now are trying to push the younger generation so when they all reach our age they have something for them. If we start now, we can start the process, because it’s not always instantaneous. So yeah, it’s just cool to see loads more chicks stepping in. Whether freeride, downhill, enduro, there is simply a much larger field of women.

What else do you think could be done to increase women’s participation?

I think it depends. So like some events it’s always difficult to get into because a lot of people want to know how someone drives before they invite them or it’s always such a risk. But everything has risks, but yeah I think that’s where it starts. Then of course how many guys they can have, so there’s always the problem that like more men, there aren’t enough women. So then they have to start reducing the number of men and add more women to balance it out and it just depends on what I think the event wants to do. But I think we’ll see when it becomes a level field.

Do you think we will see more women at Hardline in the future?

Yes. There have been a few girls who, as soon as they heard that I was keen on it, would say something like ‘yeah, she was keen on that too’. We called it 50-50, so to speak, but I think we’re going to do it now.

What’s next for you?

rehab Yes, I wanted to do Crankworx, but I’m not going to do that. So yeah, we’re just going to be rehab and then back to our national series starting next year.

Are you happy to come back home, it’s been a long trip to Europe?

Yes and no. I mean I’m enjoying being over here now, NZ is pretty far away but yeah obviously I still love NZ. It’s a good place.

Any thank you’s you’d like to post?

I want to say a big thank you to GT, the entire crew who have supported me this year and in the future. All the brands that support me, Red Bull helped me with that, the Athertons too. And thanks to mom and dad.