kootenays

WSFE – Day 6

Posted on by Smoke

Today we hooke dup with another old friend, Heath Lockhurst. Heath has been building a trail near Blewitt for the last couple of years. It’s already about 3000′ vertical, and another 1500 should be added by next year.

Still, even though “Tasters Choice” isn’t all that ridden, it’s still steep and loose enough to toss a few of us around.

Nicole was on fire today, sending some healthy gaps with style.

The girls chose to just watch on this particular drop. Wade (shown) Heath and Gearge all pulled it off successfully, but only just. Sketchy runout….

The lower sections had some serious Shore flava about them.

Another day, another huge ride and a swim in the lake after.

We cut things a bit short to give Danika a chance to cook up a storm.

Her first real mountain bike ride in months, so we had to celebrate.

Well, actually, we cut things short because we have an epic in store for tomorrow, and we’re going to need all our strength for that. I’m even doing up lunches for everyone.

No, not liquid lunches…

Get some rest, people. Tomorrow is HUGE.

WSFE – Day 5

Posted on by Smoke

Ahh yes, time for “Cooking with the Stars.” What’s on for breakfast, Holmes?

It had better be good. We’re up Goldmember today. Another huge lap to line up. Mike looks concerned about the steeps…

Ahh, those trees are soft. Just run into ’em if you gotta. Or just boost over ’em. Whatever works for you….

Ian with a backpack. That’s a bit more Whistler….

Holt got out for the ride AGAIN. After riding the Koots for over a decade, we finally put it together for some rides and here we are riding every day.

Niclas with a perfect Mary Lou Retton dismount.

OK, sorta rough shots and they really don’t show it, but I managed to get the Burl Ives log clean from the start. I was pretty stoked on this one. Steeper and gnarlier than you’d think.

George and Jeff rode around the log and had a tough enough time just hanging on to the pooter. It’s so dry up here right now.

No problem. Lunch at a lake.

Round two I bailed again to get food (and recover the pack that I left at the lake). everyone else hit Slabalanche, which was probably the best trail we hit for the local stuff. It usually involves a harsh climb, so it doesn’t get much summer traffic. We lucked out and got an open gate.

Can’t tell you much about the ride, except that everyone seemed to have a great time without me….(sniff!)….

Ahhh, I rode it a couple of springs ago. It’s pretty sweet, lots of wicked rock faces and nicer woodwork than lots of other trails.

Oh, and it ends at a lake.

And there were steaks afterwards…

And drinking games…

And Danika joined us…..

Whew!! Sort of makes up for yesterdays lack of pics. Alright, tomorrow is Danika’s first freeride rip since she almost broke her neck at Worlds last year. Will she remember how to ride?

WSFE – Day 4

Posted on by Smoke

What the? Only 5 pics today?

Well, I’ll make up for it later…….

It some in town stuff today. We were all sort of punched by yesterday, and I don’t want to work the crew too hard. We rode up Mtn. Station, which is really similar to Fromme in North Van.

Skinnies and ramps and you gotta climb it all.

Oh, and a bit of new stuff too. The crew was sending it pretty hard on some really technical lines. Pretty wild.

There was a second lap on Placenta Descenta, but I skipped that one to prepare some food for the troops. More ripper steep DH riding, maybe another 2800 feet to a swim at the bottom.

Bonus pics for tomorrow.