Downhill mountain biking, commonly known as "downhill biking," is the most thrilling discipline in mountain biking, with extremely high demands on the track, bike, and skills. Although downhill is quite popular abroad, it is neither an Olympic nor a National Games event, so it inevitably struggles to gain traction domestically.
The shortage of professional athletes and events once relegated downhill biking to obscurity. But in recent years, amateur enthusiasts have brought it back into the spotlight. Last weekend, the inaugural race of the China Downhill Mountain Bike League, organized spontaneously by downhill enthusiasts, kicked off at Modeko Track No. 1 in Beijing, gathering over 70 amateur riders. With an entry fee of just 20 yuan, a champion’s prize of less than 1,000 yuan, and organizers "moonlighting" as competitors... this was purely a "fun for the community" event within the downhill scene.
The sport is niche, and organizing races even requires personal funding, yet the organizers and participants are thrilled—simply because of their passion. Veteran enthusiast Wang Jiawei told reporters: "Out of our love for downhill biking, we hope to see this sport thrive in China. But because downhill carries certain risks and isn’t suitable for riding alone, we launched the Downhill Mountain Bike League in Beijing to provide a safe platform for everyone to connect."
In the late 1990s, some people in China began to get involved in downhill biking. But as it is not an Olympic sport, its development has been rocky, with sparse and uncoordinated domestic competitions. In 2011, a group of downhill enthusiasts spontaneously formed a promotional organization dedicated to organizing races and spreading awareness of the sport.
"From when I first organized races alone with only six participants, to when the organization was established and our first race in 2013 drew over 70 riders, I’ve seen progress for downhill biking in China," said Wang Jiawei.
Downhill is a type of extreme sport and the most thrilling among all mountain biking disciplines. For this reason, some mistakenly think that riding downhill is about "gambling with your life." Zhang Hongmiao, chief operating officer of the China Downhill Mountain Bike League, said: "Downhill does carry certain risks, so we don’t advocate for taking on too much too soon. Training in downhill is a gradual process—you can’t recklessly take risks."
Recently, green cycling has become highly popular. More and more people are willing to escape the city, get close to nature, and enjoy the pleasure of riding. "Many of my friends, upon learning that I ride downhill, want to join in. But for safety reasons, I always encourage them to start with road bikes or regular mountain bikes, gradually working up to downhill bikes. We organize races not only to promote the downhill discipline but also to promote a healthy lifestyle—that’s our ultimate goal," said Zhang Hongmiao.
To engage in downhill biking, subjective safety awareness, protective gear, helmets... are all essential. Wang Jiawei stated, "We have clear regulations on the types of bikes allowed in our races, assess the technical abilities of participants, and purchase insurance for riders before the event. We also check whether their protective gear and helmets are complete. This is not only about protecting the riders’ personal safety but also about being responsible for the downhill sport itself." Ensuring personal safety is the top priority in downhill biking.
In recent years, many provinces and cities across the country have organized amateur downhill races of varying scales, providing platforms for enthusiasts to connect—but there has never been any coordinated effort.
Wang Jiawei said: "We really hope to hold large-scale, nationwide downhill races to elevate the overall level of the sport in China through exchange." Different cities across the country have varied terrains and mountain types, which also affect the technical demands of riding. "For example, tracks in the south often feature more turns, requiring advanced cornering and line-selection skills, while the north tends to have more high-speed straight sections. Only by creating north-south connections and allowing riders from different regions to 'link up' can we better refine individual techniques and improve competitive standards," said Zhang Hongmiao.
Looking internationally, downhill is an indispensable part of mountain biking, with events included in the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup and World Championships, where it enjoys great popularity. "Ultimately, we hope to see Chinese riders on the international stage, learning from top global athletes through competition, identifying our shortcomings, and improving. After all, riders from different countries have distinct styles and technical approaches, and our athletes should learn from their strengths during competitions," said Zhang Hongmiao.