Queenstown mountain biker Jess Blewitt’s turning heads in a new video which dropped last week.
Blewitt, 21, recently took part in Red Bull’s ‘Sound of Speed’, a global series showcasing the best of the world’s mountain bikers in pure video form, combining their riding with ground-breaking filmmaking.
Her video, which dropped on Red Bull’s Bike’s YouTube channel last week, was filmed over several days at Rotorua’s Taniwha National Downhill track, where Blewitt’s competed over the years, with just the sound of the bike, Blewitt and the trail to enhance the experience for the viewer.
It’s already been viewed more than 47,000 times.
‘‘Filming ‘Sound of Speed’ is something I’ve always been keen to do,’’ she says.
‘‘It’s an epic way to challenge yourself and show the realness of mountain biking.
‘‘You need to go as fast as you can, and you want to show everything you’ve got.
‘‘When you watch people ride, you don’t get to be this close and personal — it’s fun that we can show it here.
‘‘I’m stoked I got to do this and in a place that really shows off the stunning forests we have in New Zealand; I love how the edit came out.’’
Blewitt, a four-time national champion, made the move from skifields to two wheels in 2018, claiming her first podium finish in UCI Mountain Bike World Cup at Val di Sole, Italy, last year, where she placed third, and has had multiple top-five finishes.
Continually breaking boundaries in the male-dominated sport, Blewitt’s also paving the way for female riders, and was the first woman to ride at Red Bull Hardline in Wales in 2022, the world’s hardest downhill event.
While she’s battled through injuries in recent seasons, she says she’s ready for 2024 and is committed, determined and driven to
finish — and win — championships.
