After giving quite a show to the crowd of 30,000 people last year in a descent that took him to the top step of the podium, Jackson Goldstone will attempt to take on a challenge of a completely different kind this year.
Victim of a spectacular fall last February during the Red Bull Hardline in Tasmania, the 20-year-old Canadian tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee as well as the medial collateral ligament. The Hardline is intended to be an even more extreme version than the descent, which is already not for the gentle.
Courtesy Jean-Baptiste Benavent
Even though he is back on his mount, Goldstone is not ready to take the collar again, but he is present at Mont-Sainte-Anne this weekend.
Behind the decks rather than on his bike, the phenomenon from Squamish in British Columbia will try again to excite the crowd, Saturday evening, during the post-race party which is back this year in force. He will take the stage from 10:30 p.m.
Last year, the party ended abruptly when a walkway at the Convention Center collapsed. Despite several ambulance transports, no one suffered serious injuries. This year, everyone will be outside under a tent for the three evenings of the World Cup.
“It was something I discovered during my recovery and it kept me busy,” Goldstone said. There are three or four of us DJs and we’re going to have fun. It should be fun. I did a few events during the season. You don’t need your knees to be a DJ and I’ve done a few small events in Whistler.”
In his first season in the elite category in 2023, the rider from the Santa Cruz Syndicate team impressed the gallery. He was the only one to sign two World Cup victories and he took second place in the cumulative ranking.
“2023 was a completely crazy year,” he summed up. There were ups and downs due to injuries, but I didn’t miss too many races. With my two victories and my 2e cumulatively, I made a dream come true.”
Revenge in his sights
If he gets better and goes to Europe soon for some film projects, Goldstone will have to wait until February before competing in his next competition since the calendar ends at the end of the week. He will return to the scene of the crime.
“I will be back at Hardline and I hope to be able to enjoy my revenge on the course,” he said with a smile. I’m very sad not to start at Mont-Sainte-Anne, but I will have another opportunity next year. The fans are incredible. Since I arrived, people have stopped me for photos and it’s really cool.”
“My knee is 90-95 percent recovered, but I need to get my strength back,” added the man who is under contract until 2029. “I felt so good when I rode my bike again.”
