We worked closely with Pacific Northwest-based Smith athlete Hannah Bergemann to help bring the new, award-winning Hardline downhill helmet to market. Hannah was integral in the creation, execution, and testing of the new helmet on the world’s best downhill tracks.
From the lightweight nature of the helmet, to the variety of cheek and face pad inserts included with the new Hardline, the feedback and suggestions were coming from the highest caliber of user. We sat down (virtually) with Hannah last May to pick her brain on the new Hardline Helmet and everything she contributed to in its creation. She’s been pretty busy since then but we’re thrilled to finally share the interview now that the Hardline is finally here.
SMITH: There were some design cues that you led the team to initially, which points of feedback did you contribute to the new helmet?
HB: Some of the most important things to me were the safety rating and “DH feel” of the helmet. It needed to have the highest safety rating possible to be qualified for the gnarliest tracks and freeride hits. My ideal helmet would be lightweight, with good ventilation and breathability, but also feel more solid and secure than an “enduro” full face helmet like the Mainline. Other key features for me were a stable, but breakaway visor with space to attach a POV camera, and multiple sizes of internal pads. Lastly, I just wanted it to look cool, and I think SMITH knocked it out of the park! It’s one of the best-looking helmets I’ve seen, and I feel really cool when I ride in it!
SMITH: All the tracks that you face are different. What about this helmet makes you feel adequately prepared for whatever you might face out there?
HB: The Hardline passes the highest safety standards for MTB, so I trust it to take on anything I want to ride – from casual bike park laps, to Hardline DH tracks, and Fest Series jumps. It feels really secure, solid, and comfy when riding.
SMITH: You’ve used it in a few different climates while you’ve been traveling. What has been your experience with its cooling properties?
HB: I’ve ridden with it in some warm climates like the humid rainforest in Tasmania and the Atacama desert in northern Chile, and many more! It has great ventilation and breathability for keeping you comfy on hot bike park days, hiking a big freeride line, or sessioning a jump line all while still having a really solid feel and the best protection possible.
SMITH: As it stands, the Hardline is one of the lightest DH helmets on the market. What are the benefits of having those weight savings?
HB: Having a light helmet helps make it super comfortable and can help reduce fatigue on long days. It can also help persuade me to grab the full DH lid over my half shell for when some pedal laps get a bit spicy.
SMITH: What’s your current favorite trail or track out there? Where are you looking to take the Hardline helmet next?
HB: My current favorite trail is Dream Track in Queenstown, NZ. I got to ride there this winter, and I think about it all the time. There’s a reason it’s called Dream Track! Next up, I’ll be taking it to a DH race in BC, Canada, called Psychosis, and then to Fest Series Poland!
SMITH: Can you tell us something more about your event Hangtime? What is the structure and what are the reasons that push you to do it?
HB: It’s an all-women’s jump jam based where I live in Bellingham, WA on our biggest jump line. I started it in 2021 to provide a platform to elevate women in freeride MTB, and help build and grow our community. It’s a low-pressure event where we session the jumps together and spend lots of time hanging out and building connections. Because of the recent news about women being in Rampage for 2024, I’ve had to take a year off of hosting Hangtime this year to have enough time to prepare for Rampage, but I plan to bring it back in the future!
SMITH: What can we expect from you in the future? What will be your next big objectives and dreams?
HB: My next big goal is to be invited to Rampage and lay down a run that I’m proud of at the event! I want to learn some new tricks to prepare for that, and just try and have a ton of fun riding my bike.
SMITH: Any closing words?
HB: It’s been a pleasure and honor to be a part of this helmet project. I am honored to be trusted to put this helmet to the test, and I can’t wait to see people wearing it in the wild next year.
Check out the Hardline for yourself, now available on smithoptics.com