Bairnsdale mountain biker Hudson “Huddo” Tarling has taken on some of the world’s top riders after securing a wildcard entry to the Red Bull Hardline event in Tasmania, widely regarded as the most extreme downhill race on the planet.
The 2.75km course drops 925 metres in elevation and features daunting obstacles, including 10–metre-plus drops, a 25–metre creek gap jump, and speeds reaching 80km/h. Despite a mechanical setback mid-run that forced him to stop and refit his chain, Tarling finished 19th, ahead of several elite international competitors.
“The best experience of my life,” he said of the race.
Tarling, who has represented Australia on the UCI World Cup circuit and at the World Championships in Champery, Switzerland, also competed in the Crankworx series across Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, winning the Under-19 Crankworx Cairns event.
While supported by Raw Racing and a small group of sponsors, most of Tarling’s racing and travel expenses are self-funded, with assistance from family and friends. Balancing two jobs alongside training, he is now preparing for his first season in the
Elite category.
From Mt Taylor in East Gippsland to some of the world’s toughest downhill tracks, Tarling’s determination and skill continue to put Bairnsdale on the global mountain biking map.
