As easy and luxurious as it seems to have a custom trail to be built for you, the reality is that time/resources and not having pure freedom on the land can make the trails extra challenging and rowdy. The land in Fiji is steep, slippery, and hard to cut into. There was no time to tweak landings, corners and lips, and therefore it was a challenge for these two to not only ride an unfamiliar trail extremely fast and together, but also to know that five cameras from the NWD crew were pointing at them constantly.

There was also an overarching demand that they had to throw down ‘one–off, sick, runs–of–their–lives’ without a second chance or minimal line inspection. I asked Fairclough about this experience with Semenuk and why he chose to be part of the Rad Company:

“I respect Brandon as a rider and as a person, certainly his growing up in Whistler has shaped his overall well rounded DH abilities and he is rad to ride with. He’s always thinking about new lines and new ways to ride the terrain and I would like to think that is similar to me. Both of us eyeing up the terrain together trying to find the fourth landing of a triple!