Vail DH

#followcamfriday dusting off the big bike for some DH laps on Vail MTN with James Weingarten.

Riding a proper DH rig just feels special somehow. I built my Yeti SB165DH several months ago as a park/DH rig, in hopes of riding it at Whistler. Well, as we are all well aware, the pandemic had a different plan, and Canada doesn't want dirty Americans in their country currently. Can you really blame them? I bet the brake bumps are at record low-levels on Aline, right now. 

Despite Vail owning Whistler, the Vail bike park is lacking. The employees are often rude, the trails are in desperate need of an update, and if I am being honest, I have never been treated with respect or made to feel welcome at Vail. Mountain bikers are treated like second class-citizens in Vail, but they sure are happy to take our money.  I just try and block all of that out, and enjoy riding my bicycle down the hill, as fast as possible. As it so happens, dealing with all the negativity over in Vail is somehow balanced out buy the smile that riding DH runs puts on my face. I'll call it a wash. Tolerable once or twice a year for some laps, but I don't make a habit of it. 

Vail has every opportunity to make this a world- class operation. I know that they hold themselves to this standard in the winter. It sure would be nice if they tried a bit in the summer, or at least were nice to us. So much wasted potential. I surely realize that mountain biking is not making resorts money in the summer, unless you happen to be the Whistler Bike Park. Maybe that is the problem. Corporate profit rules everything. It sure would be nice to keep more employees working, year-round, and support the local businesses in the village. But I digress. I am just a second-class mountain bike dirtbag, what do I know? 

Despite my disdain for Vail as a corporate entity, we did have fun riding our bikes on this particular day. It rained the previous night, and the trails were not as dry as we had heard. The lack of smoke in the air was enough to make my day honestly. After basically smoking a pack of cigarettes per day, thanks to the wildfire situation in Colorado, fresh air was a welcome respite. We are nowhere near as bad as Cali, but the health levels been less than ideal, to say the least. I am really feeling for my friends in the west coast right now. Such a bummer. 

James and I made a quick stop at the Frisco Adventure Park before driving over Vail Pass. I am constantly amazed at this place. We are so very fortunate to have this park and owe a huge thank-you to the trail boss, Cody Landers. These jumps are truly a work of art. The community that surrounds this park and the overall vibe is absolutely amazing. Kids, families, pros, and noobs, all riding together and enjoying the outdoors. This is such a valuable resource for Summit County and is actually turning people into life-long cyclists and growing our sport. Thanks for all that you do Cody!

Building community and making everyone feel welcome is the correct approach for growth. Nothing here has to do with corporate greed, people will not yell at you, or make you feel unwelcome. Sort your shit out Vail Resorts. You can do so much better. You owe our mountain communities more. You owe your employees more. Simply being nice, would be a great place to start.