When Matt MacDuff got the call to create a segment for X Games Real MTB, it was equal parts thrilling and daunting. For a rider who thrives on pushing boundaries, this was a golden opportunity. But there was a catch—he hadn’t ridden seriously in a while and creating mind-blowing footage meant not just hitting the trails but building them too.
“I had nothing to film and nowhere to train,” Matt admitted. “The only way to pull this off was to go all-in at the compound.”
The compound, his personal playground and proving ground, became the epicenter of an all-consuming mission.
Building the dream
With the clock ticking, MacDuff and his crew pushed themselves to the brink. The compound needed a massive overhaul—ramps, stunts and entirely new features. This wasn’t just riding; it was full-scale engineering.
“Overtime became our standard,” Matt said. “Overtime on our bodies, overtime on our bikes and overtime on our credit cards.”
The pace was relentless. Every waking hour was devoted to construction, testing and training. Nights were no exception, with sessions under floodlights and temperatures dropping well below freezing.
The open loop wall ride
One of the most ambitious stunts in the part was the open loop wall ride.
“The idea didn’t make much sense to me at first,” Matt’s longtime filmer and friend confessed. “But with Matt, that’s kind of the point.”
As temperatures dropped and wind gusts threatened to derail the plan, the team pressed on. Building and testing the open loop became an all-consuming task. “It’s one of those things where everything has to be perfect, or it just won’t work,” Matt explained.
Back to the streets
Mountain biking isn’t confined to trails and parks for Matt. His roots in street riding shaped his vision for the part.
“Street mountain biking doesn’t get enough credit these days,” he said. “I wanted to go back to my roots and show what’s possible in urban environments.”
The grind behind the glory
What most viewers won’t see in the final edit is the blood, sweat and teamwork that made it possible. From sourcing materials to building ramps by hand, the process was as grueling as the riding.
“We didn’t have a budget,” Matt said. “We scavenged wood, pulled nails and built everything with recycled materials.”
The team’s efforts went far beyond physical labor. “Everyone was exhausted,” he recalled. “We’d be out in the cold at 10 p.m., just grinding….
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