Cannonball 2026 – Still a Staple

Cannonball has become a household name in the Australian mountain bike community — and for good reason. I’ve been lucky enough to photograph this event for the past nine years, working alongside the Thredbo MTB team, and every year it reminds me why this place and this community are so special.

2026 was no different.

Great trails.
Endless chairlift laps.
Prizes galore.
More jumps and berms than your arms can handle (especially if you’re not used to arm pump).

This year the Thredbo MTB crew raised the bar again, adding new course features to the Dual Slalom and introducing fresh trail sections for the All-Mtn Assault. After listening to feedback about last year’s chairlift transition, they reworked the flow — and it showed. These guys really do know how to run events.

The numbers were a little down this year, which was noticeable, but Cannonball is still the bread-and-butter event for Thredbo. It’s not going anywhere. To lose it would almost feel like admitting that mountain biking isn’t fun anymore — and we all know that’s not true.

More likely, there’s just more choice now. Budgets are tighter. People are spacing out their events so they don’t break the bank. Not because they don’t want to be here — but because they’re at home watching the content roll in from mates who made it. I know if I wasn’t shooting this weekend, I’d be scrolling through photos and wishing I was there too.

So how did the photography go this year?

Interestingly, I found myself leaning heavily on the long lens. Maybe it was a subconscious attempt to avoid dust and stray wheels, but it felt right. I barely touched my wide or fisheye — lenses I used to reach for without thinking. I guess that’s what happens when you review your work year after year and challenge yourself to see the event differently, even if only for yourself.

With Interschools coming up in a couple of weeks, maybe that’ll be the time to go wide again. Either way, the new All-Mtn Assault course has a lot to offer, and I’m already thinking about how it’ll look through the lens next time.

All I know is this: Cannonball 2027 is already on my mind. Ten years of being part of this event is something I don’t take lightly. The people, the riding, the mountains — it never gets old.