30 Years of “Absolute Abfahrt”: The anniversary is celebrated with packed stands and thrilling racing at the fifth round of the iXS Downhill Cup in Ilmenau. In the final, Max Becker capitalized on the withdrawal of seeding winner Lino Neumann to win the men’s race. In the women’s race, Karla Jörger turned the tables on Hanna Blochberger.

In 2024, the Swiss helmet, protection and clothing brand iXS launched the iXS Gravity Alliance, a program that supports privateer racers in the iXS Downhill Cups. Now iXS is taking the next step: the support program is now open to downhill, enduro and slopestyle/freeride athletes. The Gravity Alliance is not just a sponsorship - it is a movement for all those who are passionate about racing and contests. For people who chase podiums, celebrate runs and live the sport, not for the algorithm, but out of pure passion.

After a slightly longer planning period than usual, the iXS European Downhill Cup presents the 2025 race calendar, which includes six races in six countries, including downhill icon Fort William.

It takes pupils in Tanzania and Madagascar around 102 minutes to walk to school. That's 90 minutes more than pupils in Switzerland. The routes to school are often long and arduous, and often dangerous. The "Bike to School" program ensures that children and young people from poor, often rural backgrounds receive a bicycle at a reduced price. Thanks to a bike, pupils can get to school more safely and have more time and resources for their education. A collaboration with Intercycle will make school routes in Tanzania even safer: for every donation received by October 2024, Intercycle will donate two bike helmets from Ixs to the "Bike to School" project.

For downhill riders to be able to compete in races and for some to be able to ride at the front at some point, a strong foundation is needed. These are local races such as those organized by the iXS Downhill Cup. This is where the stars of tomorrow are born and where everyone can compete with their buddies and other like-minded racers. In the latest episode of iXS Trail Stories, we take a look behind the scenes of the legendary iXS Downhill Cup race in Ilmenau.

The iXS Downhill Cup has published the race dates for the 2024 season for the iXS European and iXS Downhill Cups series. Both series are made up of the popular classics and some new locations. The new venues include Lenzerheide, which is no longer part of the World Cup for the first time since 2015.

The 2023 downhill season is taking shape: Racement, the company responsible for the main organization, is presenting four races for the iXS European Downhill, from Losjni (CRO) to Maribor (SLO), Semmering (AUT) and the final in Verbier, Switzerland. The iXS Downhill Cup also has its finale in Switzerland: after the five German venues of WInterberg, Willingen, Steinach, Ilmenau and Bad Tabarz, the overall winners of the race series will be determined at the cult race in Bellwald.

The clothing and protection specialists at iXS have now given the "Trigger FF" and "Trigger AM" helmets more protection thanks to the Mips-Brain Protection System. Despite this, the full-face versions weigh just under 600 grams in size S/M. In addition to safety and comfort, the half-shell versions boast a three-stage adjustable visor, which makes it easy to place goggles, and an easy-to-use magnetic closure. Both helmets are available now.

There are products that you never really want to need, but which you can't avoid in bike sports. Helmets and protectors are actually limiting factors, but they are bitterly needed if you leave the desired direction of travel or man and machine unintentionally separate. And unfortunately, that happens to all of us from time to time.