Watch The Moment

The Moment is a captivating documentary film about the birth of mountain biking. The feature is directed by Darcy Turenne and stars renowned mountain bikers, Wade Simmons and Brett Tippie. The two enthusiasts are well-known for changing the sport’s landscape in British Columbia, Canada. The film takes the audience on an immersive journey to discover how the pair and their friends pushed the boundaries of the nascent sport in the 1990s.

The Moment portrays the true spirit of mountain biking exploration and adventure, and how it has evolved over the years. The movie captures the riders' efforts to uncover new terrains, trails, and challenges while also exposing the arising tensions within the biking community.

The film begins with the history of the sport in the early 80s, with pioneers like Gary Fisher and Charlie Kelly building the first mountain bikes. It then proceeds to shed light on the development of biking trails in the hills of British Columbia. The riders used logging roads, backcountry access, and newly built mountain bike-specific trails to explore the region’s challenging terrain.

The Moment features exclusive archival footage of Simmons, Tippie, Richie Schley, and other noteworthy riders performing dangerous stunts on their bikes, at times risking their lives for the thrill of it. The documentary shows how the riders were always exploring, and how their findings led to the creation of legendary trails and groups - the 'North Shore' (North of Vancouver) and the 'Free Radicals.' As a result, Simmons, Tippie, and the gang snagged magazine covers and sponsored deals, thereby globalizing and growing the sport.

The movie also highlights the intense rivalry brewing between these riders and a newer generation of riders who saw mountain biking as a more extreme sport. The new breed of riders saw The North Shore group as conservative and accused them of slowing down the development of the sport. The younger riders found more thrill in performing jumps and flips that were incredibly risky and had strong appeal to the spectators.

The Moment expertly portrays the relevance of the older generation's riding style; it shows how they focused more on flowing technical trails with speed and fewer jumps, something that would win races. The movie's success is in showcasing the impact of these two generations' riders on mountain biking, how they both impacted the sport's evolution and contributed to where we are today.

Despite the complexity of the sport and its politics, the underlying message within The Moment is one of camaraderie and friendship between the riders. The movie communicates how the riders supported each other, both on and off the trails. The Moment is a beautiful tribute to the sport and its community, and the willingness by the pioneers to help the younger generations to push the boundaries even further.

In conclusion, The Moment is a must-watch film for mountain bike enthusiasts and people who enjoy watching documentaries about sports with a rich history. Even for individuals with no interest in the sport, the movie’s cinematography, soundtracks, and captivating storyline make for an enthralling watch. The Moment serves as a reminder of how the boundaries of any adventure sport can be pushed, both by the pursuit of thrills and the camaraderie of the community who participate.

The Moment is a 2018 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 17 minutes.