The Hard MTB League was born from a desire to answer a single, defining question in the mountain bike world: Who is the best all-around rider on the planet? Created by professional rider and filmmaker Braydon Bringhurst, the league was founded to fill a glaring void in the sport. While traditional competitions demand specialization that separates riders into strict categories like Downhill, Enduro, or Cross-Country—the Hard MTB League was built to celebrate versatility. Bringhurst, known for his unique background in both explosive track-and-field events and technical climbing on a mountain bike, envisioned a format that would test the full spectrum of a rider's ability, and provide the athletes with the support, common in other sports, to reach their full potential.

With the support of anchor investor and partner Adam Pishl, in the fall of 2025 the league transitioned from a visionary concept to a reality, debuting as a "Pro Invitational" to prove that a single event could push the limits of what modern trail bikes—and their riders—are capable of.