Dan Atherton in 3 Minute Gaps - Video

by Clay Porter
May 23, 2011 at 16:02

When I heard the news last July about Dan Atherton breaking his neck while riding dirt jumps near his house, I was sure that he would struggle to get back to a normal way of life, let alone pin his downhill bike down a hill at uncomfortably fast speeds. How wrong I was. Since then Dan has made an amazing recovery and not only has he come back from the brink, he has come back to a level of riding that most of us will never achieve in our own lifetimes. It was amazing to watch him battle with himself in the week of filming with him to overstep what he was comfortable with, to take his riding to an even higher level. He is a true inspiration and for those of you who need reminding to make every day count should look at what Dan has achieved in the past eight months. He has sent out a message that it is important to never give up and that anything is possible if you have the right attitude.

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Dan’s section was shot in Queenstown, New Zealand in February of 2011.

Also if you missed the previous teasers:
Brendan Fairclough
Ben Reid and Matti Lehikoinen
Aaron Gwin
Sam Hill
Andrew Neethling
Must Read This Week

59 Comments

  • + 49
flag c2crider (May 23, 2011 at 17:09)
 Stoked to see dan get his own section, can't wait for the film!
  • + 13
flag gnarbar (May 23, 2011 at 17:39)
 +1
  • + 12
flag lbbieber (May 23, 2011 at 19:25)
 equally as stoked to see him in a neck brace! amazing recovery!
  • + 29
flag dirteveryday (May 23, 2011 at 19:53)
 +2. I've never understood why Dan chills in the Background behind Gee when he's just broiling with talent and drive. Great to see him step forward and get what he's deserved for years. And props to Clay for seeing it done!
  • + 6
flag Internetbiker (May 23, 2011 at 23:24)
 Dan's the man!

Great to see him back on a bike and awesome that he has a section in 3mg!
  • + 3
flag jdavidson (May 23, 2011 at 23:50)
 wheres the red bull helmet?
  • + 3
flag TheGoose (May 24, 2011 at 1:19)
 he hasnt been sponsered by red bull for a few years now, if he ever was at all . . . . . . . feel free to correct me if im wrong
  • + 5
flag WolfRidge08 (May 24, 2011 at 3:34)
 Red Bull sponsor gee and rachel as athletes, and provide support for the team overall by providing fitness coaches etc...
[Reply]
  • + 15
flag skinnersession88 Plus (May 24, 2011 at 0:56)
 Having fractured my C2 vertebra 4 weeks ago, and still being in a Halo for another 9 weeks, followed by weeks of physio. Missing out on the 2011 race season is gonna be hard. But have riders like Dan Atherton to look up to and help push you along, showing you that it is possible to get back on a bike, and come back stronger and faster than before is a massive inspiration. I wish Dan all the best with a full recovery and a amazing 2011 race season.
  • + 11
flag l2wto (May 24, 2011 at 4:27)
 get well soon buddy!
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  • + 7
flag BLIPDH (May 23, 2011 at 16:09)
 awesome! great to see dan back on the bike and shreddin
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  • + 7
flag brindog (May 23, 2011 at 16:47)
 Why do I wanna go rides some woops now !!
Soo sick !!
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  • + 6
flag jaketinnelly (May 23, 2011 at 16:23)
 Great to see some more epic filming here in NZ
  • + 1
flag sfellers (May 23, 2011 at 18:31)
 New Zealand is so killer!!! I think I am going to move there!
  • + 1
flag Sysics (May 24, 2011 at 12:26)
 Hey jake,

are the trails arounds Queenstown legal or did the 3 Minute Gaps team built there trails? I also remember a nice flowy track in "follow me" with Gee and Stevie!
  • + 1
flag jaketinnelly (May 24, 2011 at 22:09)
 Yeah, it is coronet peak.
Here's a 2009 event page, but I think its the same every year. National races here are raced on the tracks.
http://www.nzski.com/guides/09/coronetpeak/mountainBiking.jsp
  • + 1
flag chalky (May 25, 2011 at 4:43)
 Coronet closed after like the 08/09 season or when ever it was
  • + 1
flag ctd07 (Jun 4, 2011 at 1:35)
 the rooty trail in the woods is down from 1 Mile/Fernhill loop onto Skyline side, its possibly the best trail I've ever ridden [joins onto turd sammich on Skyline], 15mins of pure rooty gnar all the way into town! :-D
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag hoolydooly (May 23, 2011 at 21:52)
 So happy to see Dan get a film segment. Gee has really been in the stop light for the last few years but now its Dan's turn to shine. hopefully it will be the film that they show at SGC this year! GET STOKED!!!!!!!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag luvin-dh (May 26, 2011 at 17:08)
 Cant wait for this movie to come out. Its awesome to see Dan back riding as well shows how determined he is check out http://www.pinkbike.com/video/198870/ for a helmet cam of this track
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  • + 4
flag leelikesbikes (May 23, 2011 at 16:17)
 2:02 to 2:07 = so rad
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  • + 1
flag DanB25 (May 25, 2011 at 8:06)
 Anyone know the music to this? Sounds like some trance or something, which is great for revising to Smile Bonus points if you can help me as this is a hard one lol
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag jonnyqt (May 23, 2011 at 23:14)
 ahh how love watching a movie filmed on a hill that I just rode .. and bit's that I rode in the wet on a 6incher..., NZ4EVA
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag kkcrfman (May 24, 2011 at 3:00)
 I wish that they would re-open the chair lift at Coronet Peak for the summer season coming up. That would be sweet!
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  • + 2
flag Supreme37 (May 23, 2011 at 16:23)
 I feel proud just owning one of his bikes Big Grin
  • + 1
flag Toby-G (May 23, 2011 at 16:33)
 like do u mean own it? or the same brand?
  • + 1
flag baggins (May 23, 2011 at 16:46)
 You were in today's VOD!!
  • + 3
flag Devinallan000x (May 23, 2011 at 17:31)
 whata inspiration. I thought it was tough it was riding after my injury
but after seeing this, its mindblowing
ride on dan .


ps. laughed my ass off when I gee doing the Iphone cam. ahahah
  • + 0
flag sask250 (May 23, 2011 at 20:08)
 Is Gee even in this movie? Why was he with them? Just to be a bro, or what?
  • + 2
flag goonrider (May 23, 2011 at 20:37)
 i think gee has a seperate segment
  • + 1
flag savmeister (May 24, 2011 at 0:23)
 it was gee,s segment but he was injured at the NZ champs so dan stepped into his shoes
  • + 2
flag Supreme37 (May 24, 2011 at 2:19)
 Toby-G yes i have his 2008 WC frame with his saints, e-thirteen lg-1, kris king headset, and signed rear shock. oo and Gee's Seat Post Clamp Razz

baggins Yeah man! im stoked Big Grin
  • + 0
flag Sysics (May 24, 2011 at 12:28)
 An Atherton Replica ist also available in some shops!
  • + 1
flag Supreme37 (May 24, 2011 at 13:32)
 No i picked it up from Wales myself the shock has "atherton 8" scratched into it from when he raced it in 2008 (Y)
  • + 1
flag Supreme37 (May 24, 2011 at 13:35)
 oh and the replicas don't have "Dan" or anything on them they just have the paintjob... they are pretty different to be fair. and they only startedproducing replicas of the 2010 frames which are white..
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  • + 1
flag Forrest66 (May 23, 2011 at 19:19)
 so glad to see Dan is doing well and working his was back up too the top of his game
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  • + 1
flag FatTireTOKWA (May 23, 2011 at 23:41)
 i love seeing Dan riding again like this again.
I would love to see Rachel soon too!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag craigkrupa (May 23, 2011 at 18:16)
 So happy he's back, and in this film. Can't wait much longer for this film to be out!
[Reply]
  • - 3
flag andywild (May 23, 2011 at 23:48)
 - He might have been out of the game for a while, but I seriously hate when people start excusing themselves! There's no need for excuses when you're this good! It's like you have to say sorry on beforehand, to prevent people from saying you suck...
  • + 4
flag WAKIdesigns (May 24, 2011 at 1:09)
 There's too much "be cocky" culture these days, some humility never hurts. You are told from young: life is shit these days get to know this! stand up, fight for your rights, don't show any weaknesses, lie about your experience if needed! -
Bullshit! nothing changed since ages.

It's always better to set yourself a bit back and be brought out by people, rather than stucking your nose up, and be pushed down. Sure, "I'm sorry I'm alive" doesn't do any good to anyone as it is lying to yourself, but at the end of the day you are who you are, you can what you can, no matter how much forward or backward you put yourself. As soon as you get 25 or so it doesn't take much to identify a douche... humility is a rare virtue these days - respect DAN!
  • + 1
flag gnarbar (May 24, 2011 at 7:34)
 what WAKI said....if Dan is humble and down to earth, than so be it, he's a far better rider than anyone commenting on this article
  • + 2
flag OneMoreCrank (May 24, 2011 at 8:45)
 classic Wakidesigns comment, says something in a few hundred words which could be said in far less.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag caiocrz (May 24, 2011 at 3:58)
 so sick! the guy has so much talent yet underrated.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag MBUKrules (May 25, 2011 at 11:54)
 great to see dan back, have great season man
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  • + 1
flag stillbmxing (May 24, 2011 at 14:33)
 Great to see him back on a bike....SWEET
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  • + 1
flag JHewitt (May 24, 2011 at 10:32)
 I actually wanted to see that iPhone cam! Could have been so funny
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  • + 1
flag teamdoa (May 24, 2011 at 4:52)
 The guys got some serious balls coming back from an injury like that.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag Rockurshoxoff95 (May 23, 2011 at 18:56)
 great to see Dan in 3MG gonna be sick !
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag dom69foco (May 23, 2011 at 16:14)
 great to see, well done Dan!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag BeastlyBrant (May 23, 2011 at 16:09)
 oh god this is getting me stoked to race
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag amacdonald (May 23, 2011 at 16:16)
 Glad to see Dan back killing it, gonna be a sick movie
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag bmxtb (May 23, 2011 at 16:14)
 nice! sweet to see dan rippin!
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag UncleCliffy (May 23, 2011 at 17:04)
 True inspiration.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag alibrann (May 23, 2011 at 16:47)
 Wow! Looks to be a great film... Big Grin
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag angrynipples (May 23, 2011 at 16:54)
 this dude is the man.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag DH-DANIMAL (May 23, 2011 at 23:05)
 coronet peak ftw !
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag Caliber38heavy (May 23, 2011 at 16:11)
 THAT. LOOKS. SICK.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag conradogt3 (May 23, 2011 at 16:13)
 SICK !
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  • + 0
flag garyd6959 (May 24, 2011 at 12:15)
 best yet!!!
[Reply]

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