The Wade Simmons Freeride Experience — Day IV

What a bunch of silly asses….

Day Four, and it’s time to hit Arawana. Still buzzing from Pwers Creek yesterday (how does each day get better than the last one?).

Oh, well I guess it’s just the company we’re keeping.

Luke is apparently very excited by this trail.

This is the trail which is home to the infamous “Bud Height” gap.

Here’s Nicole “just one more time” having another breakthrough.

Just another day at the office for Mr. Simmons.

Likewise for Ms Haley.

Of course it’s more than just hucks and gaps.

…and Gary proves that not all the landings are smooth.

But the cold ones at the beach are ALL smooth.

Yup, each day better than the last.

German Freeride — Day V

Once we got Phil back from the hospital and safely stowed on the sofa back at the farm, it was off to Arawana. Here’s the boys getting scenic in the canyon.

Kurt from Freedom Bike Shop led the way for us.

We took in a few runs today, and were treated to some stunning scenery on all of them.

The Tominator found the ground at one point.

The bottom of the Canyon, on Ivy League.

Hubertus finally stepped it up today too. He was suffering from a minor shoulder injury he got on day one, and has been pretty mellow up to this point. Yay H!!

Last run, and a great day.

Return of the Jedi Council — Part III

Day 3, and the crew is just getting warmed up. A little re-match with the Arawana trail today. I happen to really like this trail, and so do the mosquitos. However, you have to have a good tolerance for flat landings to really enjoy this one. Poor Pete (the builder), he got roundly cursed all day for his penchant for stupid trannies. Well, I guess the local bike shop likes him, but he really needs to learn how to make good landings.

He does great things with skinny logs though.

This is where I got stung by wasps. Note to self, dont stand right on the nest, even if it is a good angle.

This used to seem really hard. Now it gets nailed on sight by nearly everyone.

Barb on a natural line.

Skip really benefitted from his trip out here this winter. He went from the back of the pack last year to right up front this year.

Marvellous Ed was on a mission today. His mission? To do all the really dumb lines. Here he is on an 8 foot “dorp to falt.”

Paul, in his natural element. The skinnier, the better.

Bud Height. The big wood to wood. Just about the entire crew hit it today. I used to fake this shot with Photoshop to make it look cool. Now everyone just nails it on sight.

Poster shot of Skip.

Marvellous, on another skinny “dorp to falt.”

…and I quote, “That looks impossible. Wanna see it done?”

It lands you in a small gap almost immediately. It’s really stupid, and loads of fun to watch Ed pile into the bushes from.

Right around the corner, Paul proves that he can hit the air when necessary.

This is a wicked little road gap. I finally did it after looking at it for a couple of years. Pretty easy, but another stupid little micro tranny. Jedi shows us how its done.

Not to be outdone, Barb puts her stamp on it.

And the big stupid drop award goes to….

…no one. The jump immediatley after the flat landing from 25′ up is uber stupid and makes a potentially good move ridiculous. Oh well, maybe another time.

Here’s Jedi leading a train across the barbwire funbox gap. Where’s that train?

Well, Ed paid the piper for his earlier antics by face planting the first step up. There’s video of this, but you’ll have to wait months for it. Sorry, but I’m sort of busy to be editing video.

We still had enough in the tank for another half lap, so we cracked off a quickie of the fast part, and then hit the beach for some well earned swims and beer.

Ahhhh, beer at sunset. What will tomorrow bring I wonder?

More weirdness. I am sure. Ed, you slut.