Two-wheeled visual splendor across a Jurassic landscape. No one does it like Brandon Semenuk
It’s a new year, but Brandon Semenuk’s magical 2024 isn’t done yet. Last February, he dropped a nearly six-minute video called “Afterlife” featuring stunning imagery of Semenuk exercising his playful two-wheeled wizardry across Alberta’s flatlands, whose prehistoric splendor remains largely untouched. On Tuesday, Semenuk and his longtime team of builders, cinematographers and photographers were recognized for their collective effort when “Afterlife” was named Pinkbike’s Video of the Year.
This recognition is cool for a number of reasons, but first, if you haven’t yet watched “Afterlife,” you should do so immediately:
Semenuk just keeps finding ways to innovate in a world filled with creative and gifted riders. And no one polishes their work to perfection like him and his team. It’s a testament to their longevity together, and it’s what made the video stand out to Pinkbike:
“What truly sets Afterlife apart from this year’s nominated videos is its remarkable attention to detail. While the riding was undeniably fantastic and the trail build impressively unique, what elevates this video above the rest is the thoughtful choice of filming during the perfect season, the use of stunning natural lighting, unpredictable and creative camera angles, and the extraordinary location. That mixed with the integration of photography, engaging pacing and perfect song choice is why this project landed the top spot.”
No one is more inventive than Brandon Semenuk.
The video is also a testament to Trek engineering. The bike he’s riding for the shoot is an early version of the prototype “Sesh” that he went on to ride at Red Bull Rampage, which he won for a record fifth time this past October. Semenuk needs meticulously dialed equipment to execute his biggest ambitions when it comes to both competition and his creative pursuits. Trek’s team of prototype engineers have been working hand-in-hand with Semenuk for nearly two decades now, creating custom frames fit for a legend.
Congratulations to Semenuk and his team. There is no more deserving crew for wowing us again and again.
