- Colin Wiseman
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- bikemag.com
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- August 22, 2025
“Fest Series, for both of us, made a pretty big impact on the career path we wanted to take and the style we wanted to chase,” Ryan McNulty says. “Woolley Fest fit that Fest Series mold—more of a gathering than a contest. It made perfect sense because a Fest Series event hadn’t happened in North America for six or seven years.”
Pure stoke as the session gets underway with quick shuttles back up in Talus’s old blue Dodge. Left to right: Scott Scamehorn, Ryan McNulty, Torsenn Brown, Armen Davis, and Jaxson Riddle.
Woolley Fest is now about to go down in Sedro Woolley, south of Bellingham, Washington, on August 30. There are 40 invited riders, including some of the biggest global names in freeride, four big jumps, and a good dose of flow in between. Eight hundred tickets are available to spectators, and the event will feature raffles, food, and beer on-site, with one crew making it happen. That crew is under the banner of Hesh MTB LLC.
“After our film shoot last August, we knew the line worked well,” Ryan adds. “Nico Vink had always been great to us, inviting us to Fest Series events. Seeing that and knowing that we have the opportunity to give back in that way—how much of a difference that made to us seeing those events when we were teenagers, then being a part of those events—is something that we're super stoked to do this year and actually get it out to people.”
(Left)Torsenn Brown getting up to speed line through the flow section before the road gap. (Right) Ryan McNulty lets it breathe off the 65-footer during the second night of testing and filming.
But it didn’t come easy. An event like this requires a six-figure budget at minimum. There’s the build, insurance, and on and on—it adds up. After last year’s test event, Talus Turk says, “The pictures and clips speak for themselves—we know we can have a good time there and show the public what’s going on in our world. We decided that we wanted to make something bigger and get more of the community involved.”
Jaxson Riddle brought his timeless style all the way up from Utah to help test the Woolley Fest line.
Funding came from the duo’s sponsors, but also from a group effort involving Torsenn Brown, Cole Goodnight, and Evan Bradley. They built a pitch deck and found support wherever they could. Pfriem Brewing stepped up as a major sponsor, alongside a handful of local brands and core mountain bike companies, who understand the value of an in-touch freeride gathering. They’ve been selling Hesh merch and putting all the funds towards Woolley Fest. Woolley Fest isn’t making anyone big dollars, but it’s poised to break even, which is a win in today’s sparse financial landscape. Simply put, Woolley Fest is a passion project intended to give back to the mountain bike community.
“This isn't half-assed—big mountain freeride competitions in North America come with insurance headaches, legal contracts, all that stuff,” says Zack Goodwin, owner of The Lookout property where Woolley Fest will take place. “We’ve put a lot of money into it up front to make sure we’re doing everything right and everyone is protected. It’s pretty surreal to see it taking shape.”
Hayden Blazotny catches the last rays of light on the last day of filming during the test event.
The proof is in the pudding, as they say. The test event last year went off without a hitch. You’ll see it in Hesh MTB’s “Bring The Pain,” and in the photos, here. With four times the riders, hundreds of onsite spectators, and a few more jumps, the Fest Series will return to North America and hopefully inspire the Pacific Northwest riding community.
“When I was 14 or 15, I went to Carson [Storch and Kyle Jameson’s] Black Sage Fest [in Prineville, Oregon],” Ryan says. “At the time, biking was just a hobby for me. Being able to see those riders up close, walking through the crowd, taking pictures with people, it was so eye-opening. These dudes are real. This is a possibility. Seeing this jam style event, where the riding is high level, but the mood is laid back, it inspired me to take the path I’m on.”
Experiments in style. Ryan McNulty whipped out off the 65-footer as shadows fall on The Lookout.
Indeed, with Woolley Fest, Talus and Ryan are showing that they understand the big picture in a way that goes well beyond their years. With the bulk of their careers still in the foreground, they’ve chosen to dedicate significant time and energy to something that brings folks together and inspires the next generation. It shows the strength of the community already in place, and, hopefully, will only build from here.
“We have this amazing bike community up in our corner of Bellingham and Whatcom and Skagit County, and even over to Canada and Seattle—this whole west coast loves this shit,” Talus says. “People understand what we're trying to do, and they want to make it happen. Thanks to the effort of so many people, whether buying a shirt or a sticker or donating money, time, and energy, it’s happening.”
