Whistler

Die Rasenmaher – Day 4

Posted on by Smoke

Back to Whistler. We had hoped to get up Rainbow today, but I wasn’t really willing to go unless t was sunny, and it most definitely was NOT sunny up there today. Full on massive black clouds sitting right on the landing zone. Oh well, lets go session A River Runs Through it.

One nice thing about the overcast was great light in the woods. Here’s Karen showing her professional side. She and Holger ALWAYS get the good shots.

The lovely Sabine from Austria.

I think you’ve already met Nadine. Yeah, surrounded by blonde lovelies. Sometimes I hate my job….

Look, another one! (Hi Linda)

Then a bit of sun came out, so it was time to play with the motion blur.

The colours were so rich. It’s that time of year when summer is over, but it isn’t quite fall yet.

This one is supa cool. I love the happy accidents.

Here’s the famous log bridge crossing (the same one that took out Oscar from Florida). I was really trying to get a sunburst effect without blurring, but no dice. These two shots are the best of a bad bunch.

Then back to the bush to session some skinnies. Ralph stomps a teeter.

I wonder what Holger thought he was going to do by spotting. Probably get squished. Rob J. isn’t too worried, as he’s a moderatley famous freerider in Europe. If you saw the 2007 Marzocchi article in Decline, you’ve seen Rob J before.

Round and round she goes…..

Fun with the drawbridge. I think we got more than half the crew over this one.

Unfortunately, my knee (which will never be the same after the Epic) chose this moment to go sideways on me, so I wasn’t able to go down to Trainwreck for the next stage, but maybe tomorrow it’ll be OK. I think a big sushi feed tonight will make it all better….

Die Rasenmaher – Day 1

Posted on by Smoke

Holger and Karen have returned, with many, many Germans. I think there were around 20 of them, but it was hard to keep track. Lots of them at any rate.

Apparently they’ve had worse luck than us with the weather this season, and they brought it with them. First snow of the year.

Not that it mattered a lot. Whistler is just fine with a bit of moisture.

Lots of the crew were here for their second year in a row, and you can tell that they’ve learned from experience. Like Stefan, rocking the jeans for the big park days.

Karen is still dealing with some child seperation anxiety, but she was a good sport about pushing her freeride skills. I tease her (because thats what guys do to pretty girls), but she can kick my ass on any kind of XC bike.

And we ran into Dan. Here ya go buddy, just for heckling me about not updating. How NOT to hit the gap…..

Look at them all!

Hey, at least they were stepping it up….

Heli Day

Posted on by Smoke

A bit of an Allied Assault on Rainbow for today. I think we picked a good day for it too.

Our C-I-C, Oscar, managed to take himself outta the fight the day before.

Something about taking it easy and not doing anything hard. Then they go out and try to hammer A River Runs Through It. Ooops. And shoulder blew out crossing the river. Ahhhh, clipless….

No biggie, at least he didn’t have to sit through the safety lecture at Blackcomb Helicopters.

Besides, it was such a crap day.

Oh, and the snow was sort of cold….

Yeah, right. Anyway, a big gang of guys from Florida who seem to know each other a little TOO well. I think they must shop at the same stores as well.

Except for this guy. I think it was Pietro? Anyway, hyper Italian guy, one of those smaller guys who kills it at every sport they try. Solid bike handler and fun dude. I like how he looks like he’s 500′ tall in this shot. Your new nickname is Godzilla…..

Oh…..how juicy is that?

AND you get the moon in these shots too.

….AND the heli.

Ah yes, Canada. Up close and personal. There was a little confusion on the steeps from time to time.

A few of the guys got it together to session this line though.

I thought that we were going to make it down in time to hit another big line off the other side of hte valley, but no dice. The Florida boys were just too beat down from a week in Whistler, and called it a day. Leo, Julian and I went for a little session down at TrainWreck.

…and that was that. Once more around Whistler and home.