#followcamfriday continuing the opening weekend tour with a stop at the Angel Fire Bike Park to ride with the man, the myth, the legend, Chris Boice. 

I only ride park. On opening weekends.... It's all blown out after that. Powder days are hard to come by anymore, so get out there while the getting is good. It only gets dryer from here. Dustbowl. 

This photo represents the dustiest turn of the weekend. Chris did just blow this thing up and all, but the dust factor was minimal, as compared to last year when I actually rode with a dust mask to prevent black lung. True story. Hide your berms kids, Chris is looking for holes to smash. Interestingly enough, the park was in such good shape that the holes were hard to find. #searchingforholes

Mr. Chris Boice is an absolute legend. Few people alive turn a bike like Chris. Races are won in the turns and Chris has won a lot of races. Now he mostly races RC cars, converts Sprinters into tiny homes,  and climbs rocks, but he is still unbelievably pinned, off of the couch. Pinned like I am hanging on by a thread pinned.... Chris Boice things. 

My Bike for AF
SPEC HERE

I couldn't be more stoked on my new rig. This is the perfect setup for crushing park laps and DH trails, despite being reasonable capable on the uphill... Not that I am trying to ride any uphill this weekend. She is build for smashing into things and giving less fucks. My kind of girl. 

I have been visiting Angel Fire for the better part of 15 years, racing and riding, and it is nice to see the place growing and evolving into a modern bike park. The builders have done an amazing job over the last handful of years, turning this place into what it is today. Good work squad. The trails are unbelievably fun to ride. Now if we could just fix the food scene in town. I will still drive to Taos for a proper taco until conditions improve. 

What park should I visit next? I am running out of opening weekends, but there is still a ton of snow in the high country to keep the alpine parks from opening on time. Any moisture is good moisture, and as a general rule, we need more of it. Always. I am interested to see when, or should I say "if" the alpine opens this season. Time will tell. Until then, I will be smashing low laps with the boys. 

#followcamfriday is never one to miss a party. Whistler Bike Park opening weekend mega-train shenanigans. 

If you follow my ramblings, surely you know that Whistler is one of my favorite places in the world to ride my bike. If this is your first time here, I'll try and break this down for you. Best bike park in the world, 100 of your closest friends, bikes, and trains for days. Oh, and partying every night. This sums up life in Whistler. Vegas of MTB.

A-Line may be the most videoed trail in the world. That definitely isn't going to stop me from riding this beauty over and over and over again. 50 person trains, all damn day son. I mean after all, Dirt Merchant was closed, so what is a squad supposed to do?? Laps. That's what. It really never gets old. 

Whistler is the Vegas of MTB. Basically, if you are here with industry folks, on an event weekend, it is generally rude to not go out and party.  Bad form. And so the cycle goes. Ride, party, find yourself underground, repeat. It would be rude not to. Oh yeah, and eat at Sushi Village 5 times. #whistlerlife done correctly. As long as you can balance the fish levels with the alcohol levels, you are sure to feel chipper the next day when you get out of bed at noon. Don't worry, the chair turns till 8. Repeat. 

Moisture levels were on point. Day 1 was reasonably moist. Moist like I can't tell who you are, or what kind of bike you are riding. Day 2 brought hero traction. I'll save you the loam-brown-pow chatter, but rest assured, things were perfect.  When your friend leaves tracks each time he rips a turn in front of you, things are prime. 

Dumped as. Billy Lewis doing his best Cody Kelly.  Pull up, not out people. Jumps are for boosting. Quit riding so fast everyone. 

The goal here is to get as many people in the air together as possible. You aren't doing it until things get sketchy. This train had one rule. The man in the lead cannot pedal. Sketch pass fest 2019 begin. That's what friends are for. 

Crank It Up isn't actually fun, but if you ride it 3 wide, insiding your friends the entire way down,  it may have been the most memorable run of the weekend. All the sketch. Mark is even riding with a 20KG camera bag to keep things honest. Seemed to be making him ride faster. 

So yeah, I'm out. Stay classy Canada. I'll be back soon, but for now, I am headed to New Mexico for some bike racing. Got to offset all of that poison I put in my body somehow. If you see me sweating on a transfer in Santa Fe, give me a high five. Yay bikes. 

This one made an impression on me. #followcamfriday reminding you to live life to the fullest, appreciate what you have and surround yourself with good people. 

My friend Daniel Soller sustained a spinal cord injury seven months ago while doing what he loves most in life. If you are reading this, chances are that you also live for riding. Just like Dan. To have everything you know change in the blink of an eye is difficult to quantify or comprehend. One thing is certain however, Dan is making the best of an unfathomable situation. 

,As mountain bikers, we all take risk. The sense of adventure is what is attractive about the sport. The rush, the feel, the connection with nature, and friends to share the experience with. This sport is dangerous. In my mind, most things worth doing involve some sort of risk and commitment. Getting out of your comfort zone is mandatory for growth. If I am being honest, I should probably have died long ago. I am very thankful that I have not been seriously injured or killed along the way. Broken bones are easy, and I've had my share. 

The worst injury I have sustained has been a broken ankle. I was non-weight bearing for three months. At the time, the thought of not walking or driving for a few months was hard on me mentally. When I compare that injury to the doctor telling Dan that he will probably never walk again, it seems pretty insignificant. I can't even imagine hearing those words. The mental strength that Danimal has, to keep a positive attitude in light of this situation is inspiring. Legend. 

Dan is stoked. I have raced and ridden with him for many years and he has always lived for bikes. Dan raced a klunker at the GJ Offroad last year. Yeah, no suspension, some of the roughest trails in the country, that is how much Dan loves bikes. Danimal is crazy. That is why we love Dan. And ultimately, why I sincerely believe, he will walk again. Until that day, he is going to stay positive and make lemons out of lemonade. Perhaps with some tequila mixed in. I haven't heard Dan complain once. Next time you complain about your wheel size, or the weather, or your morning coffee that wasn't perfectly prepared to your discriminating standards, think about Dan. Dan's legs don't move. Your first-world problems don't seem so important now, do they? Perspective on what actually matters in life. I am very fortunate. 

This is heavy shit. Riding with Dan, making this video, processing all of the emotion. I've been crying a bit. Heavy. I truly am thankful for my health and my friends. Dan is very fortunate to be surrounded by amazing people that help him do this sort of thing and help him to feel normal every day. Without that support structure, things would be very different. Without my friends, I would be nothing. My entire current situation is because I have surrounded myself with amazing people. I am very fortunate. 

When I asked Danimal if he wanted to shoot a FCF episode, I had the idea to do a fundraiser to help him with the unforeseen costs associated with this sort of thing. When I mentioned this to Dan, he basically told me that his financial needs were sorted and that we should donate to the organizations that helped him get through this, and be able to help others. This is a testament to Dan's character. Dan can't walk, and all he wants to do is help others that are struggling with similar injuries. Inspiring. 

So, here is the deal. Craig Hospital and the High Fives Foundation have helped Dan get through this injury and basically make it possible for people with spinal injuries to get back to "normal" life and give them the tools and support to succeed. If you are interested in making a donation, the links are below. If Dan can inspire anyone with a spinal injury to get back out there and live life to the fullest, it would mean the world to him. And to me. 

High Fives Foundation
Craig Hospital

​

If you can't see the cliff you are riding on, does it actually exist? Sedona's most notorious in the dark. #followcamfriday

Riding and filming the infamous White Line has been done to death. Mountain biking is evolving rapidly and this sort of thing is becoming more common. Not that I am suggesting you go ride it however... This line is spooky, to say the least. I am all about pushing boundaries, both mental and physical, so adding some darkness into the equation seemed like the logical choice. Can you really fear what you cannot see?

l have ridden this more than 50 times. Maybe 100. I still never take it for granted, because if I am being honest, you actually can die, but let's just say that I have become all too comfortable with this sort of thing. I enjoy exposure. Not for the camera, but for my mental state. Somehow cheating death is pleasing and stimulating to me. My adrenals have been used to the max for many years, and honestly, it takes this sort of thing to get me fired-up anymore. That fact in itself, is a scary prospect.  

The classic sky line from chicken point. Gaping area of many slack-jawed tourists as their Pink Jeep tour guide tells them that people ride their bikes on that formation. We are those people. I feel like a tourist attraction at times up there with 50 people gawking at us as we risk our lives for our own amusement. But the night. The night is different. Darkness and silence replace the chaos found during the day. 

Lars went first. This was a 77 second exposure taken from below. It's reasonably sharp as I was holding my breath for most of it. It's stressful to watch your best friend and his headlamp on the cliff above you. Never have I felt so helpless in the moment. This must be how the tourists feel. Now I understand. 

Fucking surreal. Not sure that there is an eloquently written sentence that can do this feeling more justice. I'll just leave it at that. 

Look closely. Yup, that is a javelina running willy-nilly down the middle of the trail,  mere inches from Lars' front tire. I guess there is a first time for everything. The creatures come out at night, as the saying goes. Interestingly enough, when I think about this night, I remember the pig sighting more than riding the White Line. Somehow it just meant more. Over the course of the evening my emotional state went from terror, to relief, to pure excitement for our encounter with nature. Emotional rollercoaster, to put it lightly.

And then we went to Lars' house and drank wine. Lots of wine. Some people drink to forget, we drink to celebrate a life full of surreal experiences that most will never have the privilege or motivation to experience. This isn't everyone's cup of tea after all. But for Lars and I, this night will never be forgotten. Oh the places my bicycle takes me. I am very fortunate. 
​In case you wondered, we had bacon for breakfast. 

If you have a hangover at night, you have perhaps taken things a bit too deep. #followcamfriday finding the limit in Sedona with Lars Romig

When was the last time you were hungover? As a man who appreciates a cup or three of red wine, I definitely can relate to waking up feeling slightly worse than when my head hit the pillow the night before. If you are hungover in the evening, it may be time to reevaluate your priorities. Or, just get after that hair of the dog, and keep the party rolling.  

As I learned on this ride, if you have lights, you don't actually need to race daylight. Not that we were riding slow, but the imminent threat of getting darked on is somehow diminished when you have 3000 lumens strapped to your bike. Usually the beauty of sunset is contrasted by the need to get the fuck out of the woods. Not this time. 

Admittedly, night riding has never been that appealing to me. I guess when you ride for a living and days are planned around riding, I already get more miles than I can handle. I know, first world problems, right? But seriously, night is when I work, eat and sleep. And drink wine. This might cut into my wine drinking time... 

Would you just look at it! The twilight situation with the rock reflection is reasonably stunning. I was amazed watching the footage for the first time. For a man who spends quite a bit of time in the editing cave, it is not often that I am amazed. Pretty cool option for filming, moving forward. 

Why not choose Sedona's "hardest", most revered ride to film at night for a first go. Seems safe to me. If you can't actually see the cliff to the right, is it actually there? This may be an easier time for people to ride this if they are scared of heights. Or maybe, we are just telling ourselves that. Either way, it was rad. 

Lars is my danger-man when things need to get done. This definitely isn't for everyone, but I can always trust Lars to be up for my ridiculous ideas. Anything to up the levels and progress a bit. Mediocrity is boring.  

As I count, my bike currently has 8 batteries strapped to it. I didn't even bring water on this ride because I needed to cut weight. 8 batteries without being an e-bike. My how far we have come. I need an intern to manage my battery charging situation. Email me your resume.