LooseFest is a major annual event: built by riders, for riders, with some of the biggest jumps you can get.

Hannah Bergemann is no stranger to the MTB trail, having previously ridden (and placed podium) at ‘Redbull Rampage’, but that didn’t stop LooseFest being a challenge itself for Hannah to face. We had a catch up with her after the event to hear all about the big jumps, the excitement, and what it was like riding these iconic lines.

Where it started

As for many, Nico Vink (the MTB legend behind the jumps at LooseFest) has been a huge motivation in Hannah’s MTB career, admiring from afar his accomplishments and his skill at riding. Once they met, the admiration turned into something different - something more personal.

“I met him in person and realised just how nice and kind he was. From then on, I've been his biggest fan."

For Hannah, this event isn’t new, instead Hannah’s connection to LooseFest goes back half a decade to when she first got invited by Vink in 2021. While still developing her skills for big jumps, she decided to go and see if she was ready to take on the lines Vink had built.

“I wanted to come and check it out to see if I was ready. I was really grateful that he gave me the opportunity and trusted me to come all the way to Europe and see the jumps."

But, she wasn't ready to hit the line that year. Instead, Nico took her to another spot he was building, and that experience planted a seed that had been with her since, motivating her to get to the point of making those big jumps.

"Since then, riding the LooseFest line has always been a goal of mine because the jumps are some of the biggest in the world."

Second time lucky

For Hannah, going back to LooseFest this year for a second time was a chance to see how far she’d come in the past 5 years. But even for a rider with Hannah's experience, seeing the LooseFest line in person takes it to new heights.

"It was mind-blowing. I've seen a lot of big jumps, but these are on another level. There's a bike park with trails running through it, and then there's the LooseFest line, which literally gaps the entire bike park. One jump goes over about five other trails. It's absolutely insane."

Knowing that the jumps were built by a seasoned rider like Vink gave Hannah the extra courage she needed to make them.

"I also trust Nico's building, so I knew it would work. That gave me confidence that I could do it."

Taking the leap

There were two main features that stood out as the biggest mental tests for Hannah, the first being right of the start mark.

“Once I got over that, I felt like, ‘Okay, now I’m doing it. I can get the rest.’”

The tests didn’t stop there. Further down the line was the step-down, with very little visual reassurance for the riders. There's no seeing where you'll land until you're already committed, which strips the decision back to pure trust you’ll make it, which in Hannah’s case worked out.

“You just have to go off it and trust it. Everything works perfectly because Nico is so good at what he does. I had to trust that I had the skills, trust Nico, and it worked perfectly."

Protection that has your back

Hannah wore the ION X RE ZRO® Nico Vink ARCON HD Pro chest protector throughout the event. RE ZRO® armour is designed using shear-thinning technology, meaning it remains comfortable and lightweight, while not compromising on protection.

Hannah stayed rubber down, but the value of good gear showed up long before impact ever came into it. The armour gave her the confidence to commit to a line as big as LooseFest.

"Wearing it gives me confidence that I'm as safe and protected as I can be while doing that kind of risky riding. At this point, I almost wouldn't feel comfortable riding without it. It's super comfortable. I don't notice it when I'm riding, other than it making me feel more protected and prepared."

That sense of armour disappearing during the ride carries through to the rest of her setup too. She also wears ION knee pads featuring RE ZRO® armour as a baseline, along with elbow pads on other days.

"The knee pads are super comfortable, and I would feel weird if I didn't have them on. They're just part of my process."

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Women on two wheels

The successes of LooseFest weren’t just personal for Hannah. Completing her first top-to-bottom was cause for celebration itself, with five years of progress leading up to this point. But it was what happened after she’d done that really left its impact. One by one, other women who'd ridden the line began gathering, and before long a group of them were lapping the line together, trading runs and celebrating one another's laps in a way that had never happened before.

"It was the first time any women had ridden the whole line, and then we were all just doing laps together and having such a good time. That was a really special moment."

From a rider who wasn't quite ready in 2021, to leading a first for women's riding on one of the biggest trails in the sport, Hannah's LooseFest is a reminder that some dreams are worth the wait.

At RE ZRO®, Hannah is exactly the kind of rider we back, and we’re proud to see her in our armour. We’re so grateful for Hannah sitting down and having this chat with us, and we can’t wait to see what she does next - spoiler, it’s some pretty cool stuff!

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