Another sick, bluebird day. Here's the view from camp.














Mmmmmmmmmmm....Jolly Ranchers.





With it being such a nice day, we decided to tear it up in Farwell some more. Besides, it was over 30C again, so why not pretend it's summer? Our first run was on the Fingers. It's a fast run, but it gives a good view of our later destination, Godsmack. Those lines in the background are where we are headed to.



Can't you just taste the fear?





Mitchell dropped theis line to get us rolling.




Actually, it's way freakier than the pics do justice. LOTS of exposure, and don one has ridden these lines in a couple of years. This shows it a bit better.





Somehow I managed to keep my feet on the pedals the whole way down, but I had to deal with a ton of speed to do it. Biggest headrush I've had on a bike in years.



It's just so much like skiing. Here's Kevin getting some face time.






Dan took another line, and it looked just fine.



JJ drops in.



The beauty of these lines is how long they are. The vertical is so deceiving. It just keeps coming at you. Too bad about the half hour hike a bike out under the now 34C sun. I got seriously burnt today (a week later my lips are STILL peeling).



We did a few more rides in town, but nothing can top this day for early season. Anyone want to go up there soon?


Wade Simmons Freeride Experience
July 9th to July 27th.
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Yeeehaaaa!!! Farwell Canyon and some jetboating onthe agenda today. First we hit a couple of classics in Farwell. This shot is a total fluke. I was playing around with the white balance in low light and forgot to reset for the bright sun. Sorta cool....



Steve hanging out...



Dan gets vertical on one of the many chutes in the canyon. It's way gnarlier than it looks.



Kevin (I think) on the same line. Everyone was spooked enough by this one that there were no takers on it the second time around.



After a couple of runs, we hit the xc for the tour out to the Fraser. It's about 30 km's to the confluence of the Chilcotin and Fraser Rivers, which was our destination. We were supposed to start at 2PM, but we hung around waiting for stragglers for another 45 minute, just in case. Remember this, as it became more important later.



After about 20km, wee got out to the canyon. Before we dropped in, a little fortitude was called for. (like it isn't wild enough out there).



The first part of the descent is pretty mellow, still following an old doubletrack.



That ridge is where we had lunch.



Once you get down a ways, the trail gets a little radder.



It's more like backcountry skiing than anything else.



Well, except that it was about 30C at this point (remember the -8 from a couple of days ago?).



Unique hazards for Canada in April, especially this far north.



Ahhh, the shuttle vehicle.



We went downstream for a ways, just to burn some more time in case there were any stragglers. It was a wicked ride. Lots of standing waves, some 360's, full on redneck style. Still, we saw no other riders come in to the beach.

Which was sort of funny, since Johnny Bejoin decided to chase us out and missed the ride. I heard he got back at about 4:30 am.....





Wade Simmons Freeride Experience
July 9th to July 27th.
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Another fairly cool morning, but it looks like the snow is gone. We met up with a full crew of maniacs at Red Shreds for a day of shuttles on the in town trails.



A few stars were out, like Super T, James Doerfling, Glew, et al.



For our warm up, we hit a steep line called Sweet Pete. Some good exposure here (about 100' of the side of this) keeps you sharp.



Then we went over to Mitch's Brew to get some more air. After yesterday's inspection runs, it was a lot smoother.



Well, except for Mitch. He looks ike he's posing for a backlit shot here, right?



Wrong. It was still a little slick, and he figured at the last second that he didn't have enough speed to make the gap from 14' up. His bike just about hit me, but everyone was OK.



The view from the repeater tower.



After the ride we retired to Shreddies place at the lake for a little outdoor ROAM premiere. About 150 people braved the chill to attend.



As usual, we had plenty of fire and beer to keep us warm.



Not enough wimmin though. It was the usual sausage party.



...although JJ is sorta cute....





Wade Simmons Freeride Experience
July 9th to July 27th.
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Hmmm.....a little colder this morning. Oh well, I should be used to it. It's still better to go riding than to sit around shivering inthe snow.



Nothing like a cold call first thing inthe morning.



Gustav, off the wall.



The Chromag boys showed up mid morning. Find your shoes yet, JJ?



The weather improved throughout the day. Masters tweaks it out.



Gustav throws a one hander on the road gap.



First group shot in the new van!!!



More tweakage from Masters.



..and still more tweaking.



Dan, with a stylie air and a funny face. I missed the shot on his whip. Pretty sure he had the back wheel in front of the forks on that one.



Kevin from Chromag throwing down with the hardtail and the clipless.



.. and everyone's favourite Williams Lake girly rider Nelly goes big on her new dualie.



Tyler (or is it Cody? Always get the groms mixed up) with a sweet X-up.



Mootchell in DH mode.




Wade Simmons Freeride Experience
July 9th to July 27th.
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Ahh yes. April 20th...the unofficial start of the season out here. As usual, I went to Williams Lake to kick start the festivities. It looks like someone else was having fun too.



OK, that was from last year, but it was new to me and Dan (Skogland came along for the ride). We made it up to the Puddle in time for a couple of quick laps and to try out the beautiful new rack that HUKK made for me. Sorry, no riding pics today.



I did run across this bike though. It's a 2 wheel drive enduro machine that a frieind brought back from Africa. Seems that one of the Paris Dakar racers had a spill on it and left it in the desert. When John's BMW broke down, there were no parts to be had but this was sitting there ready to ride. 700km range on those big tanks. The front wheel has a hydraulic drive similar to a Bobcat that gets up to 15% of the powere when the rear wheel starts to slip.



Super cool....

Wade Simmons Freeride Experience
July 9th to July 27th.
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Finally...a new bike. Well one of them anyway. Thanks to Ian at Chromag I've got a keeper in this fine Gypsy. And thanks to Tyler it's well equipped with SRAM, Avid, Truvativ, and Rockshox. And thanks to Richie it's got some lovely Mavic as well.



...and of course thanks to the crew at the Cove for letting me pillage the shop while puttingit together. Soon I'll have the superpimp ride from Cove to show off, but the frame is still in the queue for heat treatment so you'll just have to wait for me to get that one built.



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Greetings race fans, and welcome to the 1st Annual Bridle Path Time Trial, sponsored by our friends at HUKK Bikes.

Turnout was a respectable 53 riders, off which 14 were actually (gasp!) female.



Here's prooof....



You're a handsome devil...what's your name?



Ready, set, aww hang on, I got something in my gums.



..and the finish line.



So, basically, I came last. Technically I beat Seth, but he's only about 12 or so, and a few of the girls. The Lantern Rouge is it's own kind of honour. Really.

Amber won for the ladies, and Mike Hunter (yes, that's his real name) took the mens title.



Full results should be available here someday soon.

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Rebuilt quite a bit of Corkscrew and Salvation this past Sunday. A great time was had by all. Gotta hand it to Barb, she sure knows how to throw a good trail day. Kudos to Schneiders Meats, IGA, Central City Brewing, The Raven Pub, Bean Around the World, Cove Bikes, and of course.......me.

It was good to see Chaz out there working in the mud like...well like no other shop owners I've seen in a while.



It was a pretty gloomy day, but lots of folks came out.



Around 60 people for lunch, which was salmon, hamburgers, and hot dogs. Oh, and a bit of suds if you knew where to look.



Big rocks need many supervisors.



Big ramps need big rocks ot hold them in place.



"No no, there's not enough flow that way. Stand back ten feet and straighten it out...."



Good to see the union boys putting in their time too.



Wildlife shot.



There ya go little fella, you're safe now.




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ONLY 2 SEATS LEFT!!!
July 9th to July 27th.
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Sweet, I'm a pro.

Did a little charity work of sorts this week. Gotta encourage the youngn's to get out there and ride, dont ya know? To that end, I went out for an XC ride with SPOKE, a high school racing league. A bunch of pros showed up, including Wade, Elladee Brown, Lisa Sher, Jenelle Cassidy, and Nels (uh oh, missed his last name. One of the Wrld XC champs at any rate). It was fun, although a bit of a struggle for my fat ass. Spring training is a bit late this year. Huge props to Tyler Morland for lending me a bike to ride. Thanks buddy.

Hi Elladee....



Anyone want Wade's signature?



I think that might be a yes. I even got to sign a few (cue sound of ego inflating). I actually doubled my all time signature signing total here. Neat.

So we did a bit of a climb. Hey, it's hard to keep a true Sportsman down. Just say no to crack, kids.



Some random riders on the descent.







..and there you have it. Next up, NSMBA Trail Day on Salvation and Corkscrew. Be there.....

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Won't they ever leave me alone?

Oh looky what the cat dragged in. 'Ole Wyld Willy is in town, huckstering his latest venture, Spectrum Techwear.



I'm still getting my bikes ready (still waiting for parts), but I managed to get out for one ride with the crew. Dan gets a little air in the early season here.



Willy, "Gettin 'er done" on his new Transition.



Ian from Idaho was back with Willy for the tour too. Or as we like to call him in Canadian, "Eric".



I know, that makes no sense at all. You kind of had to be there.

Here's Brad hanging on to a savage drop.



Dan decided to one footer it. Yeah...he meant to do that.



Funny lookin....



Natural wall rides.



Some exposure.



Some more exposure. Ian drops in.



Chaz on the steeps. Cool over exposure on that one.



Big spoon or little spoon?






ONLY 2 SEATS LEFT!!!
Wade Simmons Freeride Experience
July 9th to July 27th.
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