Year: 2003

Mountain Biking in Penticton

Posted on by Smoke

So the Florida boys have come and gone. What a trip!

If you are wondering what the Florida scene is about, go to FreeRideSouth and have a gander.

Right away, their plane was delayed. Stuck in the sardine can on the tarmac in Phoenix for an extra hour. What luck. Then when they get here, I stuff them in the van for an extra hour.

They seemed pretty nervous driving on BC roads, too. Here’s what we went up, but we did it in the dark.

Anyway, we finally got to Ranch Relaxo and bedded down.

The first day we hit up the Peat Bog. Code 4 and Knuckleduster.

Here the boys are just about to be rudely awakened.

This is the chasm across at the beginning of Knuckleduster.

This is Jow showing the rest of the flatlanders how to drop in off a boulder.

This is Gary choking on it.

…..and Barb showing how it’s supposed to be done.

If you want to see a vid of this.. do the RIGHT CLICK AND SAVE on the link below.

—–VIDEO——

Thanks to Andy at FreeRideSouth for the vids.

Barb also got huck of the day for this one.

..and the scenic spin out.

The next day was Arawana, but you will have to wait a bit for those shots.

See ya later,

Smoke out.

Mountain Biking Kamloops

Posted on by Smoke

Wow.

I’m spent.

The Florida boys really threw it down out here. I will be updating you on that trip in a day or two when I get all my pics back. For now, let me update you on how the NSMB.com trip went.

I won’t bore you with the offical verision of events. For that you can go to NSMB.com .

When we got there, it was to find a stellar pad outfitted with several large beds and an outdoor hot tub. I think I showed marvelous restraint in keeping myself clothed and dry for about, oh, five seconds. Here’s the scene…

The first day we raged on the Peaks bike park. If you haven’t been, get there. I’ve got the hook up for cheap on hill accomodation if you want it. The One Way Traveller has unbeatable deals. I have no shots of it as we were too busy ripping the hill to stop and take photos. However, after the hill closed we went to check out a little hidden gem just outside of the ski area. Last year it was a feast of stunts and hucks, but unfortunately was decommissioned over the winter. At least a few good ones are still left.

I almost landed on Cam with that jump. Have a look at the extreme close up. Can’t you just smell the fear there?

Then we retired back to our palatial condo for maritini’s courtesy of the NSMB Hemingway.

This proved to be a little much for our intrepid team member, Colin. Or maybe he doesn’t trust my driving.

Anyway, Day 2 we spent shuttling on Harper and Lolo. Harper has some big new stuff, as well as some of the sweetest smoothie singletrack in BC. a real hidden gem. Here’s some examples.

Barb on a ten foot high ladder with a six foot exit huck.

Colin stylin out the inside line of the double spiral bridge.

To end the day we went up Lolo. A cold front was approaching and the wind was absolutely HOWLING at the top, and the rain was beginning to spatter. There was a lot of electricity in the air and I thought for sure that lightning was going to start popping at any second. Lolo has about three foot high grass at the top and then gets into crazy skinnies and hucks down in the forest. With the wind the grass was waving everywhere and obscuring the trail. So far, the most intense day of the year. Here’s an idea of what it felt like. Barb hanging it out in the tall grass:

Finished the day with a huge feast at the Oriental Gardens in Kamloops.

We rode some more on the weekend, but we were all somewhat flat after that.

Tomorrow, I’ll get you up to date on the Florida crew.