Kevin Landry’s Early Season Edit

Our homeboy Kevin just released this awesome edit of his early season shredding. Kudo’s to Artbarn for the work behind the lense.

Kevin Landry early season trail edit. from Art Barn on Vimeo.

Moving to the North Shore in 3 weeks!

We must apologize for the lack of blogging as of late. It has been an extremely busy fall. We’ve settled back into life on the coast and Amberlea and I are both back to work in familiar surroundings.

Amberlea has joined the team at Dare Communications where she is a digital media producer working on several exciting new projects.

I am back at Toyota and managing sales in British Columbia and the Yukon. It’s a been challenging but rewarding all the same. Toyota really is the best car company on earth (but I will admit my bias).

Master Holden began daycare in November and although he misses hanging with mom & dad 24/7 he has adapted and is doing well.

As Clive and Jo have been off gallivanting across the south Pacific, We’ve been subletting their fantastic pad in Kitsilano and it is time to move on and find a place of our own.

Our good friend Sarah helped us find an amazing home in our favorite place in the world Deep Cove. We can’t wait to take possession and move in on Jan 7th! We look forward to hosting you all soon!

Back in the saddle again!

Shortly after arriving home from our Europa odyssey I decided to head up north and catch up with some of the Whistler crew. Our destination was the south Chilcotin and a crew of 15 of us headed up to Tyaughton Lake where we had booked one of the Morrow Chalet’s. I opted to camp out with the local grizzly in the yard as I haven’t had too many chances to camp in the past couple of years.

The weather was against us so when we arrived around noon we decided to make a push for the alpine right away. 3 hours of climbing later we reached Camel Pass in extremely high winds, from there we decided to head over to Lick Creek and ended up taking one of the lesser used trails to connect over. We were treated to an awesome descent in loose powder dirt as we made our way over to Lick.

From Chilcotin Weekend

We lucked out with the weather and despite the high winds we got in some great views with the gang.

From Chilcotin Weekend

From Chilcotin Weekend

After stopping for plenty of pictures and various other shenanigans we rolled back into camp 6 hours later where cold beer and Todd’s veggie chilli awaited. Definitely a great way to get back in the saddle and reacquainted with the big mountains I missed so much.

With stormy weather rolling through for the rest of the weekend we had to stay out of the alpine and stick to the valley trails. This actually worked out great as it gave me a chance to ride several new trails that I normally miss because we’re out riding the big epics. Sunday we climbed and rode Cinnabar in the morning, took a hot tub break and shuttled up for a second run after lunch.

From Chilcotin Weekend

Monday we drove to Bralorne where shuttled up to the old Bralorne Powder Club, from there we hiked up to a local trail called Alphagetti which provided a beautiful 1500′lush and loamy descent. From there we headed further down the valley pedaled up to Carl Creek trail, the 1.5hour climb provided great views of the valley and the fresh snow in the alpine. The trail itself was a great line of swoppy and sometimes steep chutey singletrack.

From Chilcotin Weekend

From Chilcotin Weekend

All in all a great weekend with some old friends and good to make some new ones. Looking forward to many more adventures in the future.

From Chilcotin Weekend

Check out the full the slideshow here:

Happy Trails!

BI|KE – A Symmetric Vehicle by Filme von Draussen

Two wheels. Two pedals. Two points of views. This is a multi-angle celebration of the awesomest vehicle on earth: the Mountainbike.

Andorra

After a great week in Barcelona we rented a car and headed north to
Andorra which is a small princedom located in the Pyrenees between France and Spain and is just 25 km across. I came to Andorra to check out the mountain biking, specifically Vallnord Bike Park as it is home to MTB rockstar and legend Cedric Gracia and Commencal Bikes.

It even held a World Cup DH and 4X race in 2009 so it is a real mountain with a wide variety of terrain.

I was able to rent a 2012 Commencal Supreme DH V3 from Pic Nigre which was the perfect machine to tackle the 3000′ chundery trails of Vallnord. The bike was fantastic and begged to be ridden fast, the more I let it run the better it felt.

The trails are very loose, rocky and technical and definitely not for the timid. I took a couple of runs down the CG Signature trail which is a knarly fast and steep track that drops 1500′ in 3 minutes (if you’re CG). The other standout trail is the MaxiAvalanche top to bottom run that provides 3000′ feet of bar clenching descent littered with sharp rocks and ridiculously steep switchbacks.

If you find yourself in Northern Spain or SW France it is definitely worth the trip to check out this tiny little country and its rad downhill trails.

Barcelona – Gaudi Gaudi Gaudi

We arrived in Barcelona and settled into our rented flat in a great little bario called El Born which is only a few blocks outside the popular Gothic Quarter. Although El Born isn’t as well known as Gothic or Ramblas it is a spot quite popular with the young locals and for good reason as it is full of great little cafes, bars, shops and terraces that are not overrun with tourists like us.

Prior to our trip many suggested we spend time on La Rambla but it was seriously congested with people and could have been easily confused with the typical tourist trap style streets found in cities across the world. We did enjoy getting lost in Gothic and taking in all of the unique architecture of the period.

Nearby you can also check out of ruins of the Roman Empire dating back to 600AD. Hard to imagine what life would have been like back then, a full 1000 years before North America was even discovered.


The face of Barcelona has changed many times since as well but no one man has had a greater impact than Antoni Gaudi. Gaudi is the Catalan Spanish architect at the forefront of the Modernist movement, but to describe Gaudi as just a modernist would be a disservice. His projects are immediately recognizable for their curves and intricate hand made sculptures.

You could spend a week visiting Gaudi’s masterpieces but if you have time to visit a few I would suggest putting Sagrada Familia and Parc Güell, at the top of your list.

Construction of Sagrada Familia began in 1882 and is easly one of the most unique and intricately constructed churches anywhere. When Gaudi died in 1926 it was only 1/4 complete but they had just raised the first of 18 spires along with the Nativity Facade. There have been several interruptions in the constructions since Gaudi’s death like WWII, the Spanish Civil War and anarchists even set out to destroy the church burning and smashing the original models and plans in the late 50′s. Whether you are Christian or not you should definitely plan on spending a few hours there to take it all in, and I definitely suggest going early as the the line-ups can be horrendous.

Also be sure to check out Parc Güell which landscape was designed by Gaudi. He used the natural stone, concrete and tile to create a fairy tale like park. Definitely a fun place for Holden to play.

We also took in the Festival Gracia which happens the 3rd week of August celebrates the arts and culture of bohemian Gracia. Sadly our photos were lost from our night out there, 15 city blocks lit up and decorated with different themes using recycled materials. Add to that 2 dollar drinks and live music on every block and it made for a great party.

We also spent a day at the beach and relaxed taking in the sun and swimming in the sea. A very relaxing day capped with a delicious seafood dinner at El Ray’s on the Marina.

From Barcelona we rented a car and drove up to the tiny country Andorra to check out the mountain bike scene there. We really enjoyed our time in Barcelona and definitely recommend spending a couple of days there when visiting Spain. We’ll be back as we definitely want to head north and check out Costa Brava.

Andorra

Just arrived in Andorra and really stoked to ride some DH at Vallnord Bike Park tomorrow. I stopped in at Pic Negre Bike Shop and lined up a 2012 Commencal Supreme DH V3, which I’ve been lusting over for sometime now. Can’t wait to get my shred on! In the meantime check out one of the Commencal team riders at Vallnord here on the new V3.

From the Best Coast and Beyond…Hola Madrid!

We are more than just about the best coast, although it is the best place place on the planet and our home we still have a strong desire to get out to see and experience all this great planet has to offer. So as we are amidst our radical sabbatical we decided to hit the jet stream for a month long trip across the Atlantic and check out a few new places we have never been. First stop the Spanish capital of Madrid.

We didn’t know that the Pope was in town until we arrived at customs, which was a definite game changer seeing as how there were 1,000,000 pilgrims in town for World Youth Day from 190 countries. Now I was raised, baptized and confirmed Catholic but to be honest I feel much more Unitarian these days, I appreciate the moral guidance my christian upbringing provided but I have far more liberal views than the old school Roman Catholics. I really think the Vatican needs to modernize itself and change with the times. What I can say is the positive energy generated by 1M supercharged bible bangers was pretty amazing no matter who you pray to.

I even managed to get within 100 feet of the big papa himself

Now I do wish that every tourist site in the city wasn’t filled with tens of thousands of people but c’est la vie, so we embraced it and took in all we could. We enjoyed a morning at the Prado gallery and I was really quite taken with the natural landscape paintings of Carlos de Haes, a Dutchman who refined his art capturing breathtaking Spanish landscapes.

Here is an example of his work, his Masterpiece on display at the Prado: La canal de Mancorbo en los Picos de Europa (1876) Oil on canvas

Further to the museum we spent much of our 3 days in Madrid roaming the streets eating, drinking and taking in the grand architecture, much of which is older than our own great country. Rather than bore you with more text I thought it best for this little slide show to provide you with 77,000 words worth.

Adios and see you in Barcelona!

Whistler Bike Park

For most gravity driven mountain bikers Whistler has become the mecca of downhill riding. And for good reason, as Whistler was one of the first mountains to offer lift service for mountain bikers back in 1998. Over the past 13 years Whistler has continued to evolve and now offers 50 trails covering over 200km and provides 1500m/4900′ of descent (when you add the two zones like WB does).

Whistler Bike Park really is the most progressive bike park in the world, beginners and experts alike can find the trails they have been dreaming about. Whether you’re on a flowy trail like B-Line that encourages all riders to pump and rail its berms and rollers or you decide to get some air time on A-Line which is perhaps the most influential jump trail in the world you will love your time in WBP.

Elements of Perfection: Air from Whistler Blackcomb on Vimeo.

Elements of Perfection: Roots from Whistler Blackcomb on Vimeo.

I had been a season pass holder from 2005-08 and it felt like a homecoming when we rolled back into town. With the Bike Parks BC contest we were given rentals and guide but as this was our last stop I was really just looking forward to getting out on my V10 and shredding with my friends. Amberlea decided that she would take full advantage though and picked up a Kona Garbanzo rental bike and booked a 1/2 day lesson to continue her own personal progression. Whistler offers a plethora of choice when it comes to camps and lessons, and for those wanting to really step up their game I would highly recommend the Summer Gravity Camps owned and operated by our friend Andrew Shandro.

2011 SGC Youth Week Teaser from Summer Gravity Camps on Vimeo.

We met up with our crew of old friends on Saturday morning and uploaded Fitzsimmons for a B-line warm up. Our crew included Todd Hellinga, Sarah McQueen, Cam Somerville, Carlos Zavarce & Jerry Lemons, which was a bit of throw back to the days racing Ontario Cup when we all used to race to ride. We chased each other down the trail hooting an hollering as we pumped the berms and rollers trying not to brake and find some early morning flow after one too many pitchers of beer the night before.

Given the quality of trails and volume of riders that Whistler receives every week the park was in excellent shape. The trail crew at Whistler does a phenomenal job with the amount of traffic they receive. We hit up A-line next and collected some air miles, for those who have never ridden A-Line it has to be one of the most famous trails in the world and boasts at least 50 jumps over a 1200′ descent. We followed that up with a Dirt Merchant to Lower A-Line which is one of my favourite lower mountain trails. It definitely takes time to get the jumping brain back into shape, as there are few other places in the world that offer so many jumps. As the day progressed so did my confidence and I finally began hitting tranny again.

Elements of Perfection: Rock from Whistler Blackcomb on Vimeo.

After a half dozen laps in the morning we decided to head up to the Garbanzo Zone for a 3300′ top to bottom run. We started with Blue Velvet as it had just received some grooming and it didn’t take long before our old friend Slam Somerville got his first flat of the day. We took advantage of this and while Cam worked on changing his tube the rest of the gang hiked up to hit some of the features on Filthy Ape. We had a great time taking pics and sessioning the the steep and wall ride with a phenomenal view of the valley below.

Here Terry hits the Filthy Ape steep for the first time.

Yours truly takes a run at it.

Carlos & Todd each take a turn.

Todd finds some air on the wall ride

We continued on down the mountain and connected into No Joke which has long been one of my favourite Garbo trails. This trail has a bit of everything on it with plenty of rocks, roots and drops littered throughout. Here Carlos hits a nice drop with Terry in hot pursuit.

We regrouped with Amberlea at the GLC for lunch, shared stories of mountain domination and schemed our afternoon plans. After lunch we hit up a couple more lower mountain combinations like Ninja Cougar/Karate Monkey/WCSingletrack/Heart of Darkness. I was also stoked to ride French Connection for the first time and link that to Lower Whistler Downhill for a fast finish.

Elements of Perfection: Dirt from Whistler Blackcomb on Vimeo.

There is a whole lot more to Whistler than the bike park. There are at least 50 great trails in the valley all a short (or long) pedal from the village maintained by WORCA. The Whistler Off Road Cycling Association boasts over 1500 members and is integral to establishment of a strong cycling community that is able to generate the funding necessary to ensure that these great trails stay great for a long time to come.

We decided that we needed to finish the day with a hike so Todd, Terry, Carlos and I headed up to RDS. While RDS isn’t officially in the park, it is best accessed via a 30 minute hike from Garbo Zone. It is a steep rooty fall line trail on the west side of Whistler mountain that takes its name from the brake burning 3400′ descent to Creekside. There was definitely some sliding going on though as it was a little wet up top, but as we descended the dirt got tacky, the braking less and the riding riding loose for an epic descent to Dusty’s for a beer.

Our return to Whistler really felt like a homecoming and after touring the best that BC had to offer I am confident in saying that Whistler is without a doubt the best bike park in the world. A big thanks to everyone who came out and while it was hard to leave we know we’ll be back soon!

Holden Turns 1!

Our baby boy is now a toddler. Everyone tells you time flies, you even say it to yourself sometimes, but watching your little one grow up shows you just how quickly time passes. We have shared 4 seasons with Holden. Being born half way through a hot summer he barely wore clothes for the first month of his life. Then we bundled him up oh so much in the winter. His little head use to fit cradled in our hand, and now he walks beside us holding one hand.

We knew during the pregnancy that our lives were changing, but it wasn’t until the birth day that we really understand how. The world that was all about Jer and I instantly dropped away, and this incredible little being filled both of our worlds. At first it is all just a blur. Eating, sleeping, crying, more crying…a complete whirlwind. But slowly things settled into the resemblance of a routine. We both got more confident in meeting his needs. And once we finally started getting some sleep, clarity somewhat re-entered into our lives.

I remember the first time I held Holden in my arms. I was excited and nervous (and exhausted) and surprised it felt a bit foreign. This little baby in my arms was really mine, a surreal moment. Exactly a year later I held him in my arms before putting him to bed and he melted into me, a part of me I couldn’t live without.

Jer and I have not been on this ride alone. We have had incredible family and friends with us every step of the way. The advice, the support, the reassurance, the celebration of his achievements. I am so completely and utterly grateful for the love that has surrounded Holden and continues to.

There has been much celebrating of Holden’s first year. First with the Bones family. A great BBQ at our house on a very hot day. Aunties, Uncles and his cousins Emily, Spencer and Savannah, and his great Grandpa there to share in the fun. There was good food, laughs, and many presents. I made Holden his cake, and he thanked me by eagerly eating the whole piece. My Mom and Holden have always been extremely close, and there were no shortage of hugs for his Gram and Uncle Cody who got much love too.

During our time in Langenburg, Holden’s first year was also celebrated. Nana and Papa hosted Great grand parents, Aunties, Uncles, and cousins Lily and Hunter for an afternoon party. Auntie Jill made an awesome Mountain Cake for Holden and Jer to both celebrate their birthday’s. Great Grandpa Fox was their just a day after getting his pace maker, what a special day!

Such a lucky boy with two parties already, we still wanted to celebrate Holden’s Birthday on August 7th. With such a whirlwind summer, it was wonderful that we found ourselves in Whistler on his special day. A bit of a homecoming with our return to BC. That morning he got a gift from Terry, a fire truck with a siren….oh how the many smiles began. Then there was great friends to share the sunny warm afternoon with at Lakeside Park. Jer cooked up a great meal and we enjoyed a fabulous summer day. This time Holden’s sugary treat was a big chocolate cupcake. The bright icing matched his snazzy new shirt. Again, he eagerly enjoyed his treat.

The day our family was formed, Holden’s day of birth has been well celebrated. Holden is now on his way into his second year. A new year of developments, advancements and achievements to come. I often watch in amazement of my little man, so full of love and curiosity, I am excited for what lies ahead. I will be sure to take every moment possible to enjoy the journey.