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00:00My name's Rob Warner. Hello everyone. On a quest to ride the world's greatest trails.
00:06Never had myself down as an Attenborough type.
00:09And meet the people who live in some of the wildest places on earth.
00:13Hola! I could be a cowboy.
00:15As a downhill World Cup winner, I've had a lifetime of competition.
00:20But no chance to enjoy the ride.
00:23Woah!
00:25Oh, for f***ing sake.
00:28So I'm taking the best young athletes to seek out epic trails.
00:33That's the first sight of the Himalayas out the window right now.
00:37And to make sure they don't miss out on the wilder side of the world.
00:41Oh my word!
00:42This time I'm in Africa.
00:45Oh, it's delicious.
00:47With slopestyle pro Matt Jones.
00:49That seems racing, load up.
00:51Matt arrived on the international dirt jump scene while still at school.
00:55And it's one of the world's top competitive riders.
00:59Together we're in the tiny African state of Lesotho.
01:03Left a bit, left a bit, left a bit.
01:06Entering a whole different racing scene.
01:08Just running away with it!
01:10Facing my biggest fear.
01:12I don't think I can do this.
01:13And finding Matt, a new fan club.
01:17I've never seen anything like it.
01:18Nor is Matt.
01:27Landlock Lesotho is nestled in the middle of South Africa.
01:31It's smaller than Belgium, but packed with massive mountain ranges and steep, untouched trails.
01:38Here you are then Matt.
01:40Kingdom in the sky.
01:42Lesotho.
01:43Isn't it Lesotho?
01:44Could be.
01:46Load her up.
01:48I've heard that the riding here is second to none.
01:52Do you want to drive?
01:53Can I?
01:54Yeah.
01:54Do you reckon yes please?
01:55That'd be sick.
01:55There's nothing I like more than being chauffeured around.
01:58I think we're going to have a good time here.
02:00It's a place that is literally all about the mountains.
02:05The Kingdom of Lesotho is Africa's highest country.
02:09From the capital Mazeru, we're heading up to an isolated mountain top community known
02:15as the Witchcraft Village.
02:18The highland trails that lead back down have been carved by horses and cattle and will give
02:23us some truly epic riding.
02:29Should we stop and get a drink?
02:31100% yeah.
02:32Well if we're going to stop, I'd be pretty keen to have a haircut.
02:35Would you?
02:36Yeah.
02:37It's just hot isn't it?
02:37I've got a serious load of hair from travelling around.
02:43Come on then let's find you a hairdresser.
02:48Lesotho only has a handful of roads that attract dozens of local traders.
02:54You could just do it if you want.
02:55Do you want to cut my hair?
02:58I don't need to because I have found a salon that is open.
03:02Look at this.
03:03So could I get my hair cut today?
03:06Yeah if you can get it.
03:07Right now?
03:08Yeah.
03:13It was too long for Africa wasn't it?
03:15I was ambitious coming here with a full head of insulation.
03:19How's my hair looking?
03:20Much shorter.
03:21Much shorter.
03:26That's all.
03:27What are you doing?
03:29Come here.
03:33You made me bleed Rob?
03:34No you made yourself please.
03:36Are these stitches?
03:37No.
03:38That's it.
03:38A bit shorter.
03:39That's it.
03:40Now she's getting there.
03:41Don't listen to him please.
03:42His hair hasn't grown for the last 10 years.
03:44Now it's looking good.
03:46Now yeah baby.
03:48Don't move.
03:48No seriously.
03:49No man chill.
03:50Go on then.
03:58I'll see the funny side of it in a year when it's back.
04:01Where we're going it ain't gonna matter what haircut you got believe you me.
04:05Perfect.
04:10On our way to the witchcraft village we're calling into Simong Kong.
04:14The start of an epic trail and the centre of a generations old culture of horse racing.
04:21There's literally horses everywhere you look ain't there.
04:24With so few roads horses play a crucial role in mountain life.
04:29Racing them has become Lizutu's national sport.
04:35The roads are rough aren't they?
04:36You can almost see why horses make more sense.
04:40Look at that view.
04:42We are here to see our Mr Salamani.
04:45Okay.
04:46Quite a big deal in these parks.
04:48Mr Salamani is a local horse breeder.
04:51And today he's racing his fastest runner.
04:55Do you think this is it because we're at the end of the road?
04:58No this is it.
04:59I reckon.
05:01Come on let's go find the main man.
05:06Are you Mr Salamani?
05:09Salamani?
05:10Yeah man.
05:12Nice to meet you.
05:13Nice to meet you.
05:13I'm Rob.
05:14Hello I'm Max.
05:15Nice to meet you.
05:16Can we have a look at your horses?
05:18Yeah.
05:18Oh look at that beauty.
05:20Wow.
05:21Hello so you want to give me a kiss?
05:23Eh?
05:26In the UK they call me the horse whisperer.
05:33Definitely not.
05:35Maybe Mr Salamani's horse can win me some money before we hit the trails.
05:40Just visualize yourself crossing that line.
05:43First place.
05:45Someone offers you a carrot.
05:46Say no.
05:47No pressure.
05:49But I am going to have a few quid riding on you.
05:59An African horse race.
06:01The Lizuto Derby innit?
06:05Perched on the edge of a sheer sided canyon.
06:08This has to be one of the most spectacular race meets on the planet.
06:15Oh thank you.
06:17I've just been...
06:18You're in mate.
06:20Oh look at you.
06:21What do you reckon?
06:22That's pretty cool right?
06:23Yeah.
06:26Perfect.
06:30Ladies and gentlemen.
06:32Biggest race of the day is coming up.
06:35Mr Salamani is the favourite for this one.
06:44Look at that well prepped horse.
06:46How much you got?
06:48230.
06:49That's me too.
06:49That's 130 there.
06:51Right.
06:51Who's betting to win and who's betting to lose?
06:53I bet he's going to win.
06:54Okay then.
06:55Done.
06:56Can you hold the money?
06:58Winner.
06:59Winner.
06:59Winner.
07:00You're going to see what Mr Salamani's horse can do in this one.
07:04With a child on it.
07:13Here they come.
07:16He's heading this way and it looks like he's yellow and in half left front.
07:20That's Mr Salamani.
07:22Mr Salamani's horse is running away with it.
07:24This one's coming up the race.
07:26Everybody's coming up the pressure now.
07:28Here's Salamani's going to have a good luck.
07:30Here's Salamani's going to have a good luck.
07:32Here's Salamani's going to have a good luck.
07:32Salamani takes the win in the zoo.
07:35Get out of the race.
07:36Woo-hoo-hoo-hoo.
07:39That was great, wasn't it?
07:40What up, Matt?
07:42Racing's racing.
07:42Well done.
07:43Yeah, dude.
07:43Look at that, bro.
07:44Some greenery for the scenery.
07:46Lovely.
07:47Warner wins again.
07:48Back on top.
07:50Yes.
07:51Good work, mate.
07:56Top of the world, mate.
07:58It's incredible.
07:59Thanks for taking us to the races.
08:01Thank you so much.
08:03Matt may have lost on the horses, but it's given him an idea for a race.
08:07One that sounds horrific.
08:09Right, shall we get down this mountain?
08:11There's a steep one kilometre trail from the race ground to the bottom of the gorge.
08:16Matt will ride it, but he's found me another way down.
08:22The world's longest abseil.
08:25Taking on a terrifying 200 metre high waterfall.
08:31There's nothing cool about this, mate.
08:33One thing goes wrong, you fall to your death.
08:37How the f*** have I ended up here?
08:39This will probably be the best thing you've ever done.
08:41It's going to be a cool race.
08:43I'm going to get to the top of the trail, mate.
08:44Good luck, dude.
08:45You got it.
08:47I've spent my whole career risking life and limb, but heights have always been my greatest fear.
08:53It's like being up in an aeroplane.
08:56Me and Rob had a little catch-up, and he is struggling with the notion of going over that edge,
09:00so he's going to have to find a way of dealing with it.
09:02Have you seen how far it is down to the river?
09:04I'm at the top of the trail, mate.
09:06I'm ready to drop in, so tell me when you're locked and loaded.
09:09All right.
09:23I don't think I can do this.
09:25Okay, Rob, mate.
09:26I'm dropping in in three, two, one, go.
09:32Coming.
09:33Come on, man.
09:46Come on.
09:48Come on, boy.
09:49Oh, hey.
09:51Oh.
09:52Oh.
09:53Oh.
10:03I've already hit unrideable train, this definitely isn't rideable, so we've got to get off on foot, which sucks, but
10:09I can adopt the mountain goat approach.
10:15I've made it about 50 metres down.
10:19Even on foot, Matt's making quicker progress than me.
10:22Come on, then.
10:25Please.
10:28Please.
10:37I just want to be at the bottom.
10:53I'm in the middle of f***ing nowhere on me home, dangling from a f***ing rope, trying to win a race,
11:01quite frankly, I'm still east of my problems right now.
11:08Oh, come on, I must be nearly there.
11:10I must be nearly there.
11:16I've come nearly there.
11:18I've f***ing done it, haven't I?
11:23Oh, my days, man.
11:30That was one of the worst things I've ever done.
11:41You're joking!
11:43You're here already.
11:45How was that?
11:46The worst bit was getting over the top.
11:49Look how you just come down.
11:52I really thought when I hit the ground that I might feel, you know, absolutely, like, ecstatic, and even now
11:59I don't.
12:00Like, sat here looking at it, it just brings out this emotion in me that I don't ever want to
12:05f***ing do anything like that again in my whole life, quite frankly.
12:08Well done.
12:09Thanks, dude.
12:25If you do hear a sort of crunch and noise, stop.
12:30We're heading to the foothills of the Maluti Mountains, to a village that's completely cut off from normal life,
12:37in search of one of the country's most epic rides.
12:42F***ing pal.
12:45He grabbed that handle.
12:46Yeah, I'm holding on, mate.
12:47The community above is known as the Witchcraft Village, after stories of satanic worship here.
12:54I have, though, been assured the witches left town decades ago.
12:58We're getting out into it now, mate.
13:01Notice we're going up all the time as well.
13:03That's a good sign.
13:12Do you see how close you were to the edge there?
13:14No, was I really close?
13:16Oh, yeah, I can see it in the mirror.
13:19Look at that drop.
13:20Look at the drop.
13:21I'll just keep your eyes on that road.
13:22Where do I go here?
13:23Left a bit, left a bit, left a bit.
13:24It's super rocky.
13:25Let's play a bit.
13:26Go on, mate.
13:32Very nice to village up there, mate, look.
13:36Oh, my God.
13:39Blimey.
13:40There's a big mud pit coming up, but it spreads quite a way.
13:44Yes, I can quagmire.
13:45It just needs to be triple fast.
13:47Would you put it in four high so I can carry speed?
13:49Go two-wheel drive for this.
13:52Speed is your friend.
13:54Momentum will get you through this.
13:55I think we're going to get stuck.
13:56No, no, no.
13:59Go on, a bit more.
14:01Yeah, she's going.
14:02Good work, Matthew.
14:04All right.
14:05Low, low, low.
14:07Low, you've got to go low, bro.
14:09You've got to go low, bro.
14:11How?
14:12Harder.
14:12Keep the gas on.
14:13I'm still on it.
14:15Do you want me to drive?
14:16I've got it stuck, haven't I?
14:17Yeah, you've really got it stuck.
14:18What's behind this?
14:19I've just got to find some hard ground.
14:20There's a lot of rock.
14:23Let me have a go, mate.
14:25I've been waiting for this moment.
14:53I've been waiting for this moment.
14:56Come on!
14:59Come on!
15:01Come on!
15:02Woo-hoo-hoo!
15:03Yes!
15:08Yes, bro!
15:10Woo!
15:10Yeah!
15:11That was insane!
15:13Thank you!
15:14Thank you!
15:18Well done.
15:19I wouldn't have managed that.
15:20Let's go to the village.
15:25Do any of you know Daisy?
15:28Where's Daisy?
15:29Come on!
15:30This is the Daisy way.
15:32Daisy is the village chief and farms this mountaintop with four families.
15:37They seem pretty excited about Daisy.
15:40Daisy's the main man.
15:42Let's hope he's got a room for the night.
15:46Daisy, bro!
15:47All right, all right.
15:48Nice to see you.
15:49Are you all right?
15:49All right.
15:50Do you get many mountain bikers up here?
15:52No, we were the first.
15:54We are the first!
15:55Yeah!
15:56We were the first!
15:57Woo!
15:57That's cool.
15:58Has he got anywhere that we can sleep the night?
16:00Yes, we are going to sleep here.
16:01Can we see?
16:02Can you take us in?
16:03So this is it, is it?
16:05This is home for the night.
16:07All right, it looks beautiful in here.
16:10Hotel Witchcraft.
16:11Luxurious.
16:12We're sleeping in a village which is at the top of the mountain bike trail.
16:16We couldn't be in a better location to get up and ride tomorrow.
16:18And they've been kind enough to put us up.
16:20Oh, is that my chair?
16:21That's your chair, mate, yeah.
16:23How's that?
16:25That's not bad.
16:26It is an African igloo.
16:28Room for two of us in here, is he?
16:30Perfect.
16:35Oh, good!
16:47I like it here.
16:54It's a beautiful place.
16:58We're surrounded by the most wonderful people on the planet.
17:02And I think we're going to the pub, right?
17:04It's pub time.
17:08The Witchcraft Village has its own brewery.
17:12Do you want to drink hopos?
17:13Oh, hopos is a drink?
17:15It's a bit homemade brew.
17:18Like a beer?
17:19Yeah.
17:19Ah, homemade.
17:20And why is everyone singing all the time?
17:23It's because they drink hopos.
17:26Can I try some?
17:28Yes, you can.
17:29Is that all for me?
17:30That looks like quite a lot.
17:31Is it warm?
17:33No.
17:33No, it's cold.
17:36Go on, roof a bit down.
17:39Oh, it's delicious.
17:42It's delicious.
17:43It's delicious.
17:44It is delicious!
17:46It's nice.
17:48That's not bad.
17:49It's not too bad.
17:50It's not as strong as I thought.
17:51It's very smooth.
17:52It's really nice.
17:53It's got quite a lot of flavour.
17:55I think this is responsible for a lot of the kind of moves we're seeing tonight and a lot
17:59of the relaxed behaviour.
18:05Yeah, baby!
18:07It might not be the best preparation for our big ride tomorrow.
18:11I'm thinking our hoppers is kicking in a bit.
18:15But I've never felt so welcome.
18:17Yeah!
18:24We're the first guests they've had.
18:26Imagine that, the first guests ever seen in a village.
18:29And, yeah, they welcomed us with kind of open arms and smiling faces.
18:33This mad sort of African community on top of a mountain, it's got everything it needs.
18:39And that, you know, there's no getting away from that.
18:41They grow their own vegetables.
18:43They've got their own animals to kill and eat.
18:46They've got their own bar at the very top of the hill.
18:49And they take you in and they make you one of your own, one of their own.
18:52And that is an incredible, an incredibly special feeling.
18:57And it's one that I'll never forget.
18:59Yeah, it's been, it's been one of the greatest days today.
19:02I've loved every second of it.
19:16Oh, I don't know if you've lost up like a log.
19:20Shut up!
19:24How's it going, Rob?
19:25Nearly there, mate.
19:27Shouldn't take too long to build.
19:28It's one of the biggest audiences I've ever had building a bike, though.
19:32Where's my mechanic?
19:33I'm ready, bro!
19:35From the Witchcraft Village, there's an epic 20-kilometre trail down to the closest town.
19:41And Lesotho's only pump track.
19:44An absolute treat for Matt.
19:49It's been an amazing stay.
19:52Thank you very much.
19:54Ta-da!
20:01It's pretty cold for Africa.
20:03Oh, yeah.
20:15Sick, isn't it?
20:18Yeah, boy!
20:19Yeah, boy!
20:20Woo-hoo!
20:21Free ride!
20:43Good bit of track, that.
20:53Well done.
20:54Woo-hoo!
20:59F***!
21:00F***!
21:02Oh!
21:14Jesus!
21:17That bit almost killed me.
21:30And there's the end of it, down there.
21:31That's your pump track.
21:40All right, kids!
21:45For some pump track action, you are the pump track specialist, mate.
21:49Show these kids what you can do.
21:51Come on.
21:58Matt now instantly picks up the pace!
22:05His corner speed is outstanding!
22:15He goes off the track!
22:18What's he going to do now?
22:19Look, he's building up something big!
22:21Make some noise if you want to see a backflip!
22:26Oh, my God!
22:27God, watch this!
22:34Oh, my God!
22:39Oh, my God!
22:49Oh, my God!
22:56I've never seen anything like it, nor was Matt.
23:03Mate, that was good.
23:04Backflip to crowd please, really.
23:05He loved that, didn't he?
23:06I couldn't have hoped for a better reaction.
23:08That was amazing.
23:10What an incredible day we've had.
23:12Rode one of the best trails and topping it off with Matt doing his stuff in front of
23:16these kids.
23:17Oh, I'm loving it, mate.
23:18Sick, dude.
23:19Well done.
23:21Definitely emotional.
23:22I'd love to think this is going to have an impact, and they'll remember that for a
23:25long time, and they might come here more often, and mountain biking's a great thing, and it's
23:29clearly global.
23:30So, yeah, long may it continue.
23:32It's been absolutely incredible, and I've absolutely loved every second I've been here.
24:06It's been absolutely incredible, and I've always loved every second I've been here for a long time, and I've been
24:06here for a long time, and I've been here for a long time, and I've been here for a long
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24:06here for a long time, and I've been here for a long time, and I've been here for a long
24:07time, and I've been here for a long time, and I've been here for a long time, and
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