Must Watch: Riding the Most Iconic Sea to Sky MTB Trails in One Epic Ride
If you don't already know Matthew Fairbrother, you should educate yourself. Fairbrother is one of the most impressive endurance athletes in mountain biking, and his adventures are, without fail, some of the most inspiring ones that you can witness, and Threads in the Dirt is no exception to that claim. Fairbrother's latest adventure is an attempt to ride Canada's entire Sea to Sky corridor in a single day. But it's more than distance; as a passionate mountain biker, it means linking the highest descents in Pemberton, Whistler, Squamish, and North Vancouver. Not only is this a massive undertaking in terms of distance, but Fairbrother will also be tackling some of the world's most well-known and respected mountain biking trails.
From sunrise to sunrise, over 30,000 feet of climbing and descending, and 200+ miles of distance, this is Matthew Fairbrother's homage to what the Sea to Sky area means to the MTB community.
“This isn’t just about endurance. For me, the Sea to Sky has always felt like the birthplace of mountain biking; it’s the place that shaped the sport I fell in love with on the other side of the world,” says Fairbrother. “This film is my way of giving something back, of tracing the lines that connect us all through the dirt.”
Mons Royale / Matthew Fairbrother
The Numbers:
- Distance: 332km (206 mi)
- Climbing: 10,250m (33,628 ft)
- Time: 23 Hours, 48 Minutes Elapsed, 22 Hours 15 minutes Moving
- Locations: Pemberton → Whistler → Squamish → North Vancouver
The idea for this project stemmed from Fairbrother's desire to see and experience this area. Not just a place for mountain biking, but really see it for the significance it holds for our sport and the community that has always called this place home. As is typical with any adventure Matthew embarks on, it’s one of determination and grit that highlights the young New Zealander's hunger for the rawest experiences possible.
“Along the way, I share the story with three voices: a member of the Lil’wat Nation, one of the founding figures who helped shape this scene, and a modern creator carrying it forward. Together, we explore how this land, its people, and its trails became connected like a mycorrhizal network beneath the forest floor and how those unseen threads continue to inspire riders everywhere.
At its heart, Threads in the Dirt is about honouring the past, appreciating the present, and keeping the legacy alive for those who come next.”
-Matthew Fairbrother
Mons Royale / Joe Roberts / @Jumpintoframe