Ride United celebrates dirt bike riding
Over the past few years, Red Bull Media began releasing films that reflect on the passion for motorsports. A film based purely on celebrating the true passion and love for dirt bike riders, Ride United, directed by Amanda West, mirrors the concept of On Any Sunday, but directs its main focus to just soly dirt bikes. With Red Bull sponsoring a large amount of current athletes involved in motorsports, it’s more common than not to see former, current, and future champions throughout the film.
The film jumps between the stories of different dirt bike riders, from supercross athletes, freestyle athletes, and enduro athletes. The variety of sports included show the amount of diversity the dirt bike is a part of. While some may see just two wheels with a motor in between it, others see it as a way of expression through the different sports.
To kick off the film, the viewer gets a look at how Monster Energy Supercross athletes Ryan Dungey and Marvin Musquin train for the season. Supercross fan or not, the film shows the dedication these riders have, which includes practicing everyday in the intense heat of Florida.
The film jumps to the stories of other supercross stars, like Justin Barcia, but also includes a look into other athletes that take part in other sports, like off-road and enduro racer Toby Price. The cameras of Red Bull Media follow Toby Price through the intense training for the Dakar Desert Race, a fourteen day race covering miles upon miles of sand.
Other stories include that of female riders to present the diversity, showing that there are many female riders that have the same passion that men do for dirt bikes. Jolene Van Vugt is featured to show her own incredible talent and love for dirt bikes. Van Vugt is a freestyle motocross rider, who rides for the famous Travis Pastrana’s Nitro Circus and trains with him. The film allows her to explain her love for riding, that even though freestyle is a male dominant sport, she can do just as many back flips as the guys can.
Coming down to the end of the film, world renowned freestyle motocross rider, Tom Pages, is featured showing his innovative tricks that changed the game for freestyle. Most widely known as the most creative rider and inventive rider, bringing the bike flip and 540 flair to freestyle, it could not have been a better way to end the film. Bike flip and all, Tom Pages, closes out the film leaving the viewer wanting to see more.
One of the most compelling features of the film is the artist camera work that captures the raw drive and passion that resonates off of every athlete. Complete with Go-Pro point of view shots, to wide drone shots capturing entire training ground for athletes, it encapsulates the artistry of dirt bikes in all their glory.
Familiar faces from Monster Energy Supercross champions Ryan Dungey and Marvin Musquin and freestyle motocross innovator, Tom Pages, grace the screen telling their own story of their passion for riding. Ride United is a movie you won’t want to miss, even if you are not involved in motorsports, it will make you want to ride a dirt bike more than ever.
