Band of Brothers

A bunch of guys from the States, mostly related. How will I keepthem under control? Ahhh, the dog will help…..

The trip started a bit slow. There was yet another accident in front of us. We didn’t have to render first aid this time, but we did get to hang out on the highway for a good portion of the night.

I should probably introduce you to another new face around here. Courtenay will be helping out from time to time. She’s seems to be an OK rider….

Here’s Matt on the Peat Bog.

…and here’s Kevin on the same stunt.

Here’s Kevin on the ground.

Jason isn’t related to the rest of them. He’s some kind of foreigner with an unnatural interest in sheep. New Zealand is it?

Courtenay shows us how.

More advice from Courtenay.

Another way to get high in Canada.

Or you could try this way.

Ted on a new stunt on Code 4. Quite a bit of new work on the old trail this year.

Jason again on the road side gap.

Oh, Jason. Is that you? I can see that you’ve never ridden a DH bike before. Yeah….obviously.

Chris throws down a gap. Funny how a little competition between the brothers goes a long way…

The BMX skills look a little rusty there, Matt.

Oh Jason, you’re such an ass….

Wade Simmons Freeride Experience
July 9th to July 22nd.
Click for details….

Return of the Jedi Council — Part I

Welcome to Canada, eh? What a bunch of loonies…..Tony, Ed, Panama, Pierre, Paul, Stu, Stouph, Mark, and Skip. Thanks for showing up at midnight. At least traffic is light.

Just like last year, we put all the bikes together that night. Bedtime? How does 3 am sound?

We decided to make an early start to the day. As usual, we came across an accident on the highway. This time, a happy ending. The 78 year old rider of this motorcycle walked away from the scene with minor scrapes, and Barb got a job offer from the Princeton Ambulance station.

Bladder break!

Maybe this canyon just scared the piss out of them.

We rolled into Penticton around noon, and took some lunch bbefore heading up to the Peat bog for some warm up laps. Here’s Skip getting reacquainted with a teeter.

Stu goes big on the Knuckleduster.

Skip again, same drop with a different perspective.

Barb got inspired to put the boys in their place.

Skip, mocking death.

Barb, on the Knucklduster road drop.

Stouph gaps a bridge in the sun.

Get that front wheel down, Ed.

Skip at sunset.

Last run of the day. Beleive it or not, this was the lamest trail of the trip.

Get ready, ’cause if that’s lame, then the rest of the tour should be legendary……

Kobau Cruising

Or “How Tired I Felt After Hammering the Peat Bog All Day Yesterday.”

Funny how tired we all felt after spending a couple of days at…

Oh God. We have to do this again?

I noticed that the crew over at PureMTB.com were wondering what happened to all the carnage shots.

Well, here you go.

Actually, everybody pulled out a good one today. FunBobby pops some wood.

I did too, only bigger.

Round log, sketchy teeter totter, and FLEXING BICEPS.

Eric keeps it upright (I think it’s Eric).

Trask getting a little “Head” on the Head Drop.

Barb gets her share.

Eric reverting to form.

Back in the open again.

A bit of rain made a huge difference to the dust. The clay was unbelievably grippy. Gary couldn’t quite get over how hard you could corner in it.

Some trail hazards here are unlike anywhere else in Canada.

Another epic sunset at the pub at the end of the ride.

…And the traditional passed out in the smelly van shot.