Puddle Style – 2

OK, day 2, and we’re down a few riders today.  One sick, one not signed up, and one just too beat up from yesterday to continue.   It happens, and I think there’ll be a ‘make good’ for next year.

Today it was time to go over a few more technical concepts, but mainly it was about conquering some specific features on the showpiece trail in Williams Lake, Snakes & Ladders.

The suspension bridge was not the issue, although it looks awesome with the leaves turning right now.

Neither was it about this steep section, although it is a bit of an issue for some.

Nope, today was mostly about the Sky Berms.

Nailed it…

Funny how people obsess about some things.  In actuality, this is an easy move.  The entry to the berm looks a little odd because of the angles, but once you commit to it…

…boom!  There it is.

The “Gates of Hell” is the other tricky part for some folks.  I love how it’s rated “More Difficult.”  While not an extreme part of the trail, it’s definitely a step up from intermediate.  At best, I’d call it a Dark Blue…

Denise nailed it easily, and it’s been bugging her for a while.  Lexi did the usual teenager manoeuvre and killed it on sight.

Mark was also riding really solidly, which is all the more impressive as he’s just discovered technical mountain biking at the age of 60 and was demo’ing different bikes all weekend.

The star of the clinic was definitely Lexi.  14 years old, and nailing everything.  Apparently she was afraid of a bunch of smaller airs.  We put those away in short order and moved on to some better ones.  Awesome progression in two days.

Great times with a tight crew today.  Might have to put on another one of these early next season to get everyone up to scratch in the Cariboo.

Singletrack Stampedin’ – Day 1

Alright, let’s get this show on the road.  Thanks to Monica and Ryders Eyewear for stylin’ out the ladies…

Also gotta thank Sirel for helping load bikes, shuttling the van, and just generally being eye candy for the riders this weekend. 

If you crank up this song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=QwxYiVXYyVs#t=18s), this next pic is just so much better…

OK, on to the riding.  We are in town today.  Although my favourite breakfast joint is closed, there were a zillion pancake breakfasts for Stampede, so we hit up one of those and then we kind of…uh…poached the parade.  It wasn’t quite started yet, and we accidentally drove down the middle of the route.  Well, what are ya gonna do, stop a van full of chicks that ride like this?

So fun to see Annie again.  She’s obviously still shredding hard.  So is our new friend Leanne.

So if you take a line of girls and send them off this jump like so:

Then if the first one sorta crashes you end up with this:

Luckily, nobody got seriously mangled.  Although our English Rose did get a pretty gnarly raspberry…

That was our cue to take a break, and head on over to the westside for some Snakes and Ladders…and cows.

I missed a great action shot here.  Suffice to say, we could tell it’s still springtime from the actions of the bull.

Alright, on to more riding.  Aja was killin’ it as always.

Monica and all the other girls weren’t exactly slacking off either.

Had to do a bit of a photo sesh on the sky berms.  That zone is a ton of fun.   The best layout of government funds I’ve seen in a long time.

Get up there Leanne!

I love this next one of Aja.  Check the angle of the head.  THAT’S anticipating the turn.

Lindsey is here on assignment for NSMB.com, and I got the impression that she doesn’t ride as much as the rest of the group.  No problem, she’s game to shred all of it, and with a big camera in the pack that’s not exactly easy.

Annie might have a "wee bum," but those are some big hips she’s showing there…

The last part of the new Snakes n’ Ladders line is the steeps into the canyon.  Hard to shoot in here, but here’s a taste…

You’ll just have to go there and see for yourself, I guess.

Was that a good day ladies?

Good, because it ain’t over yet.  Time to go to Let Her Buck!

Yep, we’re partying at the Saloon tonight.  Them city girls dress up real purdy, don’t they?

I was the DD tonight, but trying to dance to the band in cowboy boots in a sea of crushed beer cans made it seem like I’d had a few.  Now I know why comboys walk that way.  Those boots are tippy…

…and those girls are all on stage.  Nice work.

That was a long day, and tomorrow looks hot.  Good thing we bugged out at a reasonable hour, because we gotta go to Farwell in the morning….

Peel Out 2013 – 3

Well…THAT was a good party.  They sure know how to do it up right in the Cariboo.

OK, last day. Today was the big trail opening celebration for Snakes and Ladders, but it was a bit cloudy and a bit cool and I think some folks found it a bit easier to sleep in this morning.  No problem, we have a video of what you missed.

No worries, there were enough keeners up and about to make something happen.  I think I pulled a good 7 full van loads up to the top by 1:30.

I got a couple of runs in myself after 2.  No pics, sorry.   Had to shred.  Got this one of Seth on a random skinny.  So old school…

We rolled out the next day, after the requisite stop at the Gecko.  Terra/Tara double/double?

Another Peel Out.  Chevy says it best…

One more shout out to go for this edition.  This next shot is the hand that belongs to our buddy Mitch, who is representing Devinci out there.  I gotta say, brother really represents.  First on scene every morning with a professional presence, throwing down sick times riding courses blind against some of the best riders in BC, and still carrying the torch when the party dies down.

Your’re the King of the Cariboo, buddy.