ReReturn of the Jedi – Day 3

Now that we’re set up in a great base of ops with the Riding Fool Hostel in Cumberland, it’s time to really get this party started.

Today we were cutting loose on the legendary Two Sheiks trail at the old Forbidden Plateau ski hill. Our old friend Mitch the Bitch was also along to help find the way.

The opening move was this little stepdown as demonstrated by Lairy Nick….

Panama had a different interpretation of the move, but he seems to have seen the light, and the dirt…

A broken finger and some scrapes…I’d say he got off light.

Some trials moto riders pointed out a new line for us to hit, so we hiked around the corner to Jake the Snake.

A couple of tight walls and gaps greeted us there.

I thought it was sort of ironic that the moto boys went around any airs, but I guess it IS good manners that they stay off the hits.

Here’s Scott exiting the wall. I like this shot lots for some strange reason. Eye of the beholder, eh?

Speaking of gaps, I manged to leave this mark with my FROMT wheel. Go figure…

Alright, back to Two Sheiks, which has “no stunts to speak of, except at the top.”

Well, I think there’s maybe a tendency to view a trail differently when you go around all the wood stuff. There was a ton of stuff on this trail, and really cool stuff at that.

For example, there was this really high skinny/stepdown combo move.

Seriously up there.

But with a nice little exit air.

There was also this funbox type of move, which sent you around a corner into some serious booters.

We spent lots of time here, especially Lairy Nick.

Then there were these two nice ladies. They left after us, hiked to the bottom, and then hiked back up before we were even half way.

Some good reasons to return. I don'[t know who is doing the work out there, but they are doing it right. Call me, I have some nails to donate…

A late lunch with a view back towards Cumberland and Comox Lake.

After lunch we got into some rad natural rock lines. Tons of singletrack, a bit of climbing, and then a few klicks of XC to get outta there. The ride ends at some nice swimming holes. Check out that mohawk.

ReReturn of the Jedi – Day 2

Well, a missed ferry meant a quick ap in a local North Van park, along with some entertainment from the local beach partiers.

“Oh, look at the homeless people….thats so sad.”

Yeah, homeless but with $80k worth of mountain bikes.

Anyway, an early start put us on Vancouver Island pretty early, so we managed to hit the Dumont trails for a full day. And a full day it was…

Right off the bat the crew started throwing down on the stunts of Nanaimo.

Dumont is nice in that there are lots of mellow moves. This stunp drop was probably the harshest thing there, and it couldn’t have been more than an 8 footer.

Newcomer Lairy Nick demoed his Kinrade-ish style for us. Get used to seeing this kid.

Another of the young’ns out for this tour, Scott (or Mongo as he became known).

The oldsters were well repped as per usual. Here’s Panama out for another round.

Also Po’, proving that he can “step up” when the situation requires.

Oh wait, ther were some bigger moves. Now I remember.

The last teenager is Flash. More about him later. You just need to know that he’s afraid of bears and somewhat gullible.

Panama again, getting the big airs off to an early start.

Maybe too early…

Yeah, that Nick kid again.

Our friend Gabe (he’s Canadian, helping out). Having the time of his life.

After an absence of four years, Chaos has returned to Canada. Living up to his name too. He cased this one.

Some post ride refreshments….

…and a post ride haircut. Mongo get trimmed….maybe all the ladies will like Mongo bettter.