Riding Kong in 2021 with James Weingarten. Bring on 2022.

Happy New Year's to all of you out there in the land of interwebs. As we bid farewell to an interesting 2021, and usher in 2022, I want to thank you for supporting the channel through these challenging and strange times. May your 2022 be filled with prosperity and bike rides with friends!
I have posted Kong video's before, but this trail somehow never seems to get old to me. Interestingly enough, this is the first time I have had my DH bike with me in Virgin, so that made up for the amazingly dry and blown out conditions. It is worth noting that James Weingarten is riding this on his trail bike and being an absolute legend as usual.
This was filmed with my autonomous Skydio 2 drone and my main camera on my helmet, instead of the normal chest mount-gimbal setup. The gimbal perspective looks so much better in my opinion, but it is honestly too dangerous to ride this one with that thing hanging off of my chest.
I certainly don't recommend that you ride this, but if you do, make sure you do 30 push-ups for Jordie and throw a rock, opposite armed, off the cliff. RIP legend. Big respect.
The easiest way to support my channel if you have enjoyed my content this year is to support my amigos over at Worldwide Cyclery. Every purchase you make with this link- worldwidecyclery.com/Nate, gives a piece of the pie to this channel. Replace your bald Minion for the New Year!
#followcamfriday
You can watch the entire edit here- bit.ly/LongFormatVideos
Buy a tee shirt from James- bit.ly/AnimalFundraiser

[@natehills9388]

Happy New Year to all of you! Thank you for the support this year, bring on 2022!

[@petedog9581]

If you can't jump the fence at the beginning of the trail, you have no business going any further. lol. Happy New Year! Thanks for sharing all the great riding. Still the only MTB content that is a can't miss.

[@natehills9388]

Exactly. Also, if you can't do 30 pushups for Jordie, this may not be the trail for you, lol. Happy New Year!

[@petedog9581]

@@natehills9388 I can do 30 push-ups but Kong is outta my league. We will have a great 2022 with FF.

[@aknmtbr]

My goal is to just survive flying monkey.

[@murf003]

@@aknmtbr - the entrance drop was a mind fk couple years ago.

[@iamjmp]

Crap, back to the drawing board. Agree, this channel is 🔥🔥

[@roberttemme6162]

Epic close to the year!! The POV doesn't show just how steep this terrain is. The drone shots give us a better idea. Where you guys see a line, I see death or dismemberment. Great job. Looking forward to your vids in 2022.

[@jatakasawa]

My feet are sweating watching this ishhh! HNY! Many thanks for the vicarious adventures!

[@natehills9388]

Happy New Year!

[@chadclark2070]

That trail is the real deal, I headed out from the Midwest to ride it. Well I rode Flying Monkey, and could only get to the first real drop on Kong. Way over my pay grade, watching you guys kill it gets me fired up to fly back and try it again!!!

[@natehills9388]

Get it.

[@jasoncapecod]

Nate the Great and Weingarten letting it all hang out.. like Kong himself, that ride is a hairy beast what makes this vid great is the sound , just the natural sound of the bikes and terrain... tremendous!!!!

[@natehills9388]

HNY Jason!

[@8664antonio]

King's of Kong.

[@mtbguides_Rich]

The drone footage really shows the scale of the place 👍

[@zachjohnson1579]

Best Kong yet!! Unreal camera work on this one 🤯🤘

[@natehills9388]

Happy New Year!

[@ronsanderson99]

Dude, I know you’ve ridden that many times but it always scares the shot out of me when I see those hucks!! Well done once again…

[@phoenixeasyrider6026]

Shouldn't have watched this one before my Cardiologist appointment! My blood pressure and pulse rate are still spun up! Very good video. Happy New Year and a "safe" new year?

[@michaelsteven1090]

Spectacular..I've seen all your vids and this one is the best!

[@kirkrasmussen9629]

So this is where MTB gods go to get challenged😬. Pucker factor was off the chart👏👏

[@hadleybennett6875]

James is a freak of nature for riding Kong on that bike. My man has been shredding that baby for quite some time!! Big props

[@natehills9388]

I can't believe both James and bike are in one piece after what he has done to it this year. lol

[@radred512]

Outstanding!! way to end the year in style!!!

[@gregstevens2917]

That trail is a beast...y'all smashed it, nice job!

[@BenoitSCIARRINO]

Congratulations, a very physical and crazy journey !!!

[@RhymesWithPorridge]

Definitely the best of the year. Excellent drone footage.

[@gregpowell5024]

Nate, thanks for great vids through the year. This one is epic. Thanks for all the inspiration for those of us lesser mortals. Keep rocking it!

[@simonrevel1464]

One of your best video. Great job Nate. What a place with some incredible colours. Awesome

[@SeanKWhite-lk5zf]

As always…beautifully filmed and stellar riding. Cant even get my head around riding terrain that bananas. Happy New Year!

[@barbbrazes869]

Wow! You 2 are amazing! So fun to watch! Scary AF

[@whatda2662]

A perfect way to end the year. Great footage, amazing riding and good vibes from you guys. Stay blessed and have a happy new year Senor Hills and Senor James!

[@natehills9388]

Happy new year!

[@norkisserrano]

That was pretty badass trail. Gnarly exposures. You guys rips it like a champ.

[@miguelnavarro2571]

I don't even see a line @ 4:10 🤯 This was gnarly and SAF

[@jesseijvj9697]

That's crazy fun 😎👍👍

[@hackerism8069]

so calm ...... stress buster ngl..Always watching the things that i should do !!

[@GoFastDontCrash]

Cool to see some drone footage again, I would imagine not all trails are ideal for it. Insane trail! Scary!

[@andydennier6162]

Kong indeed, holy crap!

[@mc540flip]

Nice way to top off the year with some sketchy, chunky, sphincter clinching gnar!💪🤘 Oh and James on a trail bike-geez, extra clinch!

[@kwspreu]

My butt-hole was puckered big-time and I wasn't even riding!! Great job and so sick the skills you and James have.

[@fooblahblah]

Mad props. That shit looks gnarl.. Happy New Year!

[@mrjasongagnon]

Completely bananas! Thanks and Happy New Year!

[@natehills9388]

Happy new year!

[@deetidwell]

That was a rad way to end '21, thanks for your dedication to riding with the best riders and trails and giving us the ability to live vicariously through your shenanigans Nate dawg!

[@natehills9388]

Thanks for following along! Happy New Year Dog!

[@ryand1072]

Love the drone + POV footage, happy New Years!

[@natehills9388]

Happy new year!

[@davidnicholson6680]

Amazing footage. Great way to end the year. Have a terrific 2022, Nate!

[@natehills9388]

Thanks! You too!

[@allenrichards5086]

Thank you, Mr. Hills, for all your quality riding, filming, and editing this past year. Shred on in 2022. PS- Nate and James are so freaking good at riding, I've walked, my bike came too lol, King Kong and that is very uncomfortable, let alone riding it as they do!

[@natehills9388]

Happy new year!

[@mykaub]

UNREAL! Much respect for this skilled riding! palms are sWEATy! haha 🍻&💙from🇨🇦

[@MountainBikingTrips]

BIG RESPECT! I wish you a happy new year 2022 and lot of new FREERIDAY Trails :)

[@natehills9388]

HNY!

[@gregwebster8784]

Videos of that trail never gets old. Happy New Year!

[@natehills9388]

Happy new year!

[@SubmarinersDive]

Simply Epic! 🤘

[@iamjmp]

So sick!!

[@ericbeaudry8704]

As always, nice edit Nate! Happy New year too!! Thanks for helping my covid and winter days inside the house... From Montreal Canada

[@natehills9388]

Any time! Happy New Year!

[@wasatchbackmtb4312]

This is the edit I've been waiting for! Kudos Nate...

[@natehills9388]

Cheers!

[@AZMTB]

My. GOODNESS. Yet another video from Nate makin my damn hands sweat!

[@scottfast03]

Happy new year! Cheers to a great 2022! That ride looks spicy! 🌶🌶

[@natehills9388]

Happy new year!!

[@aneczka2114]

Mad respect!

[@MTBraging]

pretty sick edit right there !!!!

[@jstnpmx]

Appreciate all the sick vids this year! 🤙

[@natehills9388]

Thanks for following along. Happy new year!

[@andrefoersterling1965]

Happy New Year from germany ! Incredible ride ! So cool !

[@natehills9388]

Happy new year!

[@jeffsaraiva7099]

Very scary stuff! Brilliant skill. Awesome drone footage! Happy New Year!

[@natehills9388]

Happy new year!

[@MrScottySteak]

So rad Nate!!

[@TheTrailSnail]

It's on my list!

[@dinobatchelor9404]

That was intense! Happy New Year……..!

[@natehills9388]

HNY!

[@mikemccarty8272]

Damn Nate!! Is there nothing you guys can’t ride? And James doing push ups before the ride 😂. Can’t wait to see what you do in 2022. Happy New Year!!

[@kylepietras6336]

Awesome!!

[@Pozitivi]

Woah! that's looks so fun!!!! 🤘 Happy new year Nate! 🎉🎆

[@natehills9388]

HNY!

[@Pozitivi]

@@natehills9388 ❄🗻🥂🗻❄

[@dimitarspasov1232]

Nice video Nate and HAPPY NEW YEAR

[@natehills9388]

Happy new year!

[@jonesypaddlearounddevon]

That one best filming Nate for start 2022 it shows what are yeti bikes can do brilliant love it 🇬🇧🚒👍👍

[@natehills9388]

Happy New Year!

[@silasfitzgerald7887]

Dude what this is insane!

[@macfawlty]

The Skydio footage is quite unique. Outstanding video, one of the best I’ve ever seen.

[@natehills9388]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@gabby07001]

Love your vids! Keep it up 👍

[@natehills9388]

Appreciate it!

[@reza2wheels443]

Great video do thanks for sharing

[@natehills9388]

Thanks for watching!

[@cbmtb]

Nate! That was sick! The combo of drone and pov footage was great. I have been down with a shoulder injury since August and can't ride yet, but I look forward to seeing your videos every Friday.

[@natehills9388]

Heal up!

[@mrvwbug4423]

Wow the drone shots really do give you a much better view of how absolutely massive the hits on Kong are. It looks almost doable for a mere mortal on go pro, but with the drone shot you truly see that you're literally hucking yourself off a cliff haha.

[@natehills9388]

Proper perspective indeed. Happy New Year!

[@knordberg]

Such sick drone footage. That was a good one to end the year on.

[@natehills9388]

Happy new year!

[@stumpy25lbs]

Well that was a treat 👀

[@markjones4896]

Ive watched this at least 10+ times you guys can ride , I'd like to see you and Remy ride that line together,,

[@rockstarkooler]

i always like watching this

[@huntnman]

intense!! but so good!

[@johnglynn7795]

Hello Nate, Great and unbelievable ride along with phenomenal aerial in Utah. One of your best rides yet! Happy New Year brother and let me know when you get to the Phoenix area for some suds. HNY, Jg

[@natehills9388]

Happy new year!

[@amgoatee3700]

Priceless POV, more of this Nate

[@natehills9388]

Happy New Year!

[@amgoatee3700]

@@natehills9388 Cheers, Happy New Year

[@bonsaibrew]

Sweet edit! I'm heading down there to ride in a week and this gets me stoked! Can't wait to do pushups for Jordie and slay some ridges

[@natehills9388]

Hell yeah, get it!

[@sukokino2409]

Best I seen,,

[@KB-gu2sc]

Awesome video!

[@natehills9388]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@eugenespreutels8305]

That's so bad ass! I think I will pass on that one. If it looks that sketchy on the gopro, I can't imagine what it looks like in person, staring down death! Great job you guys and Happy New Year!!!

[@natehills9388]

You got this! Happy New Year Eugene!

[@BikeLifewithRob]

Oh yeah, DRONE!!

[@natehills9388]

Just for you amigo.

[@robertosboby]

Nice speed nice style

[@willbros1499]

RETURN OF THE DRONE FOOTAGE!!! I love it. Insanely sick riding, as always! There's no better way to chronicle a trail than that. I actually like what I assume was "under visor" cam view on this one, because it does a MUCH better job of showing what you're facing as a rider, than with the gimbal that levels to the horizon. With your videos focused on the rider in front, a "gimbal" makes sense most of the time, despite my preference of "chin bar view," because I know you're not going to wear a full face all the time. This was a nice choice for this particular video.

[@natehills9388]

Thanks for supporting the channel this year!

[@stevencole7331]

What amazes me how many MTB tire prints there are on that trail 10 years ago probably not many would ride this trail all the way through without walking a bit of it but that maybe to difficult in spots

[@erikk.2435]

So sketch, but so awesome.

[@UncleSam493]

That was actually uncomfortable to watch, crazy good riding bro beans

[@MartyMeyerdierks]

Intensity can be felt via full face helmet deep breath. You guys were feeding off each other😆

[@joseluiszamorano4060]

Guuuaaauuuuuu...brutal!! Happy new free covid year!! Oouuuhh yeahhh from Spain

[@piciu256]

Here we go again!

[@natehills9388]

Never gets old, this one.

[@NH-il6uc]

Damn! Well done. My “bike” can’t do that…

[@koho]

Nate - wtf? This is a new pinnacle of mtb videography. Please tell me there's a third person flying that drone. (If not ... how???). And the syncing of the sound ... from *both* bikes - thorough! Keep pushing it in 2022!

[@namkul]

I believe the drone automatically follows Nate as he goes down the trail. Synced to the phone or chest cam

[@hamstergraphics]

Skydio drone. Very good at tracking.

[@natehills9388]

The drone is tracking me. The audio is from my head cam.

[@MaraHoris]

Hi, Nate super video 😉👌 nice trail 😗👌🚴🏞️💯🤗☠️

[@natehills9388]

Thanks! 😃

[@abstraddic0442]

Should've brought BKXC with you guys on this ride, would've gotten some great sound bites. Great video !

[@jessewarner5137]

That dude would die on this trail he’s not good enough

[@abstraddic0442]

LOL.............LMAO......DAMN.

[@mannyfnsc29]

Since you didn't show the opposite handed rock throw, I'm assuming you failed miserably and looked like a little schoolgirl. Ha. Awesome riding as per usual, Nate. Happy New Year!

[@natehills9388]

I play hockey lefty and baseball righty. ha

[@federicomarmolejo1952]

Fantastic footage combination of drone and POV camera, the Kong of Kongs. Nate in your opinion is Kong the most technical trail in the US?

[@natehills9388]

Thanks for watching. Kong is pretty mellow compared to some of the other lines around Virgin.

[@truthbike]

When you see James slow down you know its going to be steep!

[@natehills9388]

Truth

[@denisacal]

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@kresokresovski7515]

Big one for end of the year, so appropriate! Again, seeing James on 140 mm bike doing Kong makes me wonder do you even need more travel in your bike? Great video, just awesome!

[@petedog9581]

You do with my big ass. James probably weighs 140 lbs... and is one of the best riders on the planet.

[@kresokresovski7515]

@@petedog9581 🤣 true to that! Less ability, more travel!

[@petedog9581]

@@kresokresovski7515 Definitely "tons" less ability and about 195lbs. My Stumpy 29er would buckle on drops like that. I would need an enduro build at the very least.

[@kresokresovski7515]

@@petedog9581 have same bike as James, but much more kilos or lbs, and much less skill, that is why I so impressed with his riding!

[@natehills9388]

James could ride this on a gravel bike ;)

[@xav_1029]

POV: Oh that looks fun. I think I’d try it. Drone: No f’ing way I’ll ever ride my bike down that.

[@natehills9388]

Haha, pretty much.

[@brandonperez2267]

This one is on my short list. I just turned 40 so I should probably just get ass over there and try it.

[@natehills9388]

Age is merely a number. Get it.

[@natepacker1621]

Curious Nate how this trail stacks up with others you've ridden. Highest consequences? One of the sketchiest?

[@natehills9388]

It's up there for sure.

[@christiansoleta7556]

My hands are so sweaty. Btw, were you carrying maracas in your pack?

[@natehills9388]

The pack is for the drone when it is not in the sky.

[@desertgravity7975]

JW legend on the 140 travel Santa Cruz, holy fak

[@natehills9388]

Legend indeed.

[@robbiesharp311]

Who is the monument to? Respect.

[@natehills9388]

Jordie Lunn. RIP

[@robbiesharp311]

@@natehills9388 Just read an article about his adventures and his friends. He was loved. Thank you for showing us and sharing Nate.