#followcamfriday entering the green room with Chris Boice on one of my all time favorite trails, Fooses Creek. 

It is always a pleasure to watch one of my friends ride a trail for the first time. I have 6 or 8 runs down Fooses, have raced it a couple of times, and would consider this one of my all-time favorites. I don't know it like the back of my hand, but I do understand the nature of the trail and the flow of it. I know Chris Boice well, and knew he would appreciate the rawness that Fooses can offer. Such a pleasure watching him dissect and enjoy this one. 

This was our second lap on Monarch Pass for the day. We rode Greens Creek first. Ticking off these two classics in a day is always the goal when I find myself in the area. The crest itself is fun and all, but these two are where it's at if you like to maximize the technical riding. 

Perhaps we spent too much time messing around and eating snacks before attempting our second lap. I never like to rush my friends when we plan these rides, but we were definitely in a monsoonal flow and afternoon rain was basically guaranteed. As we started out for Fooses at 11ish, the skies were black and the rain was coming. We took shelter in the trees for a moment, before entering the last stretch of alpine to access the start of Fooses. 

It's never the goal to ride in the rain, but I do somehow appreciate a proper downpour, especially on a root infested, natural trail like this one. It is not very often that you get to ride slippery tech trail in Colorado, so you won't hear me complaining. Although riding in the wet is frowned upon in modern mtb culture, sometimes there is no other option. This is real mountain biking. May as well make the most of it. 

The top section of Fooses is legendary. With a bit of moisture, you can ride way too fast down it. Despite being soaked, head to toe at the bottom, this was one of the most memorable runs i've had in a long time. Between the epic conditions on a proper track, and watching one of my best friends pick it apart, this one will be burned into my brain for a while. 

Sorry dog, you can't have any of my ice cream. I earned this one. 

When one portion of tacos is just not enough, #followcamfriday is here to help you with your content gluttony. 

Yes, this is the second episode that I have posted from the Angel Fire Bike Park this season. It's just that good. Maybe it's the company, maybe it's the moisture levels, maybe it is the fact that there are rocks and roots on the trails. Whatever the reason, this place deserved a revisit. 

It is always amusing chasing Chris Boice and Janker Teddy Jaramillo. Basically, it turns into a game trying to inside each other. This is highly entertaining to witness first hand. Chris knows the rules of engagement, always protect your inside. Rubbing is racing, checkers or wreckers. 

Remember to never take yourself too seriously. Janker's head is in the right place. Fun first, never not. This one almost ended badly as it turns out that wet wood is a recipe for disaster. Falling down on the infamous lava rock at Angel Fire is never a good way to end the day. 

The green room is seldom visited in New Mexico. Recent moisture has left the forest lush and the roots slippery. There is actually mud on my bike. Things are looking up. Nothing makes my job harder than chasing people in the dust. I will roll the dice in the mud any day over riding in the cloud that comes off back wheel in front of me. At least I can see the trail. 

I don't think the dirt can get much better than this. If you are leaving black tracks behind you, you are doing it right. As hero as the conditions get. Perfection. Keep it up Angel Fire, Love your work!

#followcamfriday I only ride park,  jank tour continues with a lesser known diamond in the rough. 

How had I made it this far in life and not ridden Pajarito before? It seems as though every trip to New Mexico somehow involves Angel Fire. And tacos, lots of tacos. It just so happens that Pajarito has some of the best raw riding I have ever seen, and some of the best tacos at the bottom of the access road that I have ever tasted. Win, win.  Put this park, and El Parasol on your short list. 

Los Alamos is known as the birthplace of the Atomic bomb. The security checkpoint on the way to the mountain was the first clue that things were a bit different here. When the guard asked me if the camera in my window was recording, I just smiled and turned it off. 

In today's trend of making everything easier and more accessible for the masses, Pajarito is a breath of fresh air. The lack of maintenance and prevalence of jank make this place legendary. You will fall down, you will break things, you will progress as a rider. If you can ride these DH tracks at speed, you can ride anywhere. It's like Angel Fire, just steeper, with less manicuring, and with less people. Much love. 

The vibe here is priceless. No ego, 25$ lift tickets, slow lifts and trails that are as rough as it gets. So very refreshing. I haven't been so out of control while chasing my friends in a very long time. The people here are amazing too. This was opening day for the season. Maybe 100 people showed up to ride, and most of them knew each other. Solid fam. 

Boop. 

These woods hold as much dated jank as I have witnessed, this side of the North Shore. If you don't like wooden things, it's because you suck at bikes. Or hate fun. Your choice. It has to be said that this is part of mtb history, and to not experience the jank first hand would just be rude. Teddy nose-pressed this log and landed on that stump. Bonus points. 

This is the smoothest and only part of the mountain devoid of rocks. Sort of looks like Colorado. While ripping through aspens never gets old, there is a certain feeling of accomplishment that one gains after making it down a steep chute with rolling boulders and chunder trying to break your wheels. To each their own, but I am looking for punches in the face, not pats on the back. 

So what does all this mean. Do yourself a favor and make it a point to ride here. You will get reduced, you will feel accomplished. You will grow as a rider. Riding smooth flow trails on your 10K carbon space ship is not exactly it's intended use. Do the right thing and blast that rig through the jank until you can't hang onto the bars any more. Now you have earned your tacos. Enjoy. 

It's a tough job but someone has to do it. Join Shawn Neer and I for some preseason laps in the Trestle Bike Park. #followcamfriday chairlift season. 

Ah yes, chairlift season is finally here in Colorado. A wet spring has left a bunch of snow in the alpine and made opening the bike parks a bit of a chore this year. Props to the trail crew in Winter Park for making this happen for opening day on Saturday, June 19th. These lads don't get enough credit for what they do so you can show up and blow up their work. 

It looks like Shawn Neer is about to die here, but I assure you this was intentional. Full nose manny all the way to the bottom like a champion. Shawn has a unique approach to riding, a perfect blend of creativity and speed. Shawn jumped on a plane after filming this and headed off it Italy for the first EWS round this weekend. You would be foolish to bet against him. Wish him luck. 

The infamous Banana Peel. It had been a long time since we had ridden this and it was nice to see some updates and improvements to the line in recent years. Keeping freeride alive, one jank bridge at a time. The bridges make squeeking sounds as you carve around them, but that just means they love you. A love ballad composed by rusty nails and weathered wood. Music to my ears. 

Another classic Winter Park feature that has endured the test of time. The sun has not been kind to the paint job on this puppy, but it rides just as good as it ever has. 

Little dangler for the people. 

So, come on out this weekend and smash some laps with the homies. See if you can hang onto your bike for 6 or 8 laps. Don't forget that beer dehydrates you, so maybe stick to water for optimum success. Enjoy!

My favorite time of year is upon us. Fat kid season in full swing with Chris Boice and Teddy "janker" Jaramillo. #followcamfriday laps with the lads.

There is just something special about running laps in the park on the big rig. I will go on record here and say that I have much love for brake bumps, holes, and rocks. The rougher the better. We have these amazing bikes with suspension after all, may as well use every inch of it. After years of racing at and visiting the Angel Fire Bike Park, this place will always be special to me somehow. 

We couldn't have timed the conditions any better. I have ridden in the snow a bunch of times over the years, battled dust and ball bearings, but this time was perfect. Moisture levels peeking. Riding in a dust-free train with the homies is what this sport is all about. Nothing better. 

Teddy Jaramillo is half my age. Chris Boice is old like me. Chris definitely influenced Teddy's riding when he was growing up, so it was honestly pretty special to see the similarities in their riding style. "Janker" as Teddy is affectionately known is absolutely pinned, and it is always a pleasure to see the kids getting loose and having fun. This gives me hope for the future. Yay bikes. 

After Chris retired from DH racing full-time, he started Rally Van. Chris' precision from the race track is carried over into his van builds. Like any good racer, attention to every single detail is mandatory, and these vans are a telling testament to that mentality. As dialed as they come. If you need a van and like to ride bikes, Chris Boice is your man. I may have just cost you a bunch of money, but trust me when I tell you that you can thank me later. 
Check out RALLY VAN HERE

In addition to being one of the most genuine and stoked people I have ever met, and being an absolute crusher on the bike, Teddy builds a ton of trail and has aspirations to make a career out of his craft. If you have ridden out at Glorietta in Santa Fe, you have tasted Janker's handywork. There is more fresh trail going in out there this summer, so if you are in the area, have a rip. If you are looking for someone to build you a proper track, get in touch, Teddy is your guy. 

Cheers to Angel Fire for keeping things raw and real. There is plenty of jump and flow, but this place has stayed true to its nature from day one. In today's constant trend of the sanitizing and dumbing down of trails, it's very refreshing to have someplace to shake some shocks. I broke a set of handlebars in a race run many years ago here. That is what we are dealing with, and I absolutely wouldn't have it any other way. Long live the jank!

#followcamfriday exploring a moist Mountain Lion with James Weingarten

The first time I rode this trail was in the snow. It was way below freezing and I was wearing a down coat on the climb. I could barely feel my hands, barely see the trail, but still had fun on my bicycle. Perhaps I am doomed to never ride this one in normal conditions. If conditions were normal, it would be too crowded to enjoy, so I guess I will keep trying to find the worst of days to ride this one. 

I remember commenting to James on the climb how un-burned in the lines were. Chunder everywhere. It looked as though it hadn't been ridden much this year. Well, that was because it hadn't been. I am sure that this is all melted now, but last week there were still a few piles of snow to remind us who the boss is. Sometimes you ride into the pile of snow and go over the bars. Snow is softer than the ground, may as well send it. Penguins don't hold back, why would James. 

Mountain Lion is located in Golden Gate Canyon State Park, enabling a 10ish mile loop with some solid climbing and tech. I am a man who can appreciate some old-school tech. If I am being honest, riding mtb specific, bench-cut groomers is low on my list of priorities. Long live the jank. The more eroded and technical, the better. This one gets a ton of hiking traffic, making for plenty of exposed roots and rocks to keep us honest. Making flow from jank always makes me smile. It's like when you are about to lose a game of chess, and you make one move that changes everything. Success tastes better when death is narrowly avoided. 

It's been a long time since I have been rained on during a bike ride. As this is my job, I guess I have the luxury of picking when I ride and usually can avoid this sort of thing. Well, you win some, and you lose some. I still didn't have to put my jacket on, but I came close. Fortunately the decomposing granite surface that this trail is mostly comprised of does remarkably well with the moisture. Kitty litter has amazing grip in the wet. No mud to be found, just slippery rocks and roots and wooden bridges. 

Riding in the rain is actually quite refreshing. As long as you aren't damaging the trail, I don't see any reason not to. We get way too many sunny days on Colorado, so why not make the most of the change in the norm. The best time to ride is when there are no other users on the trail. I purposely time these things to avoid people anymore and rain ticks that box nicely. Sure, there is water all over my lens and the footage is barely usable, but I do enjoy the feels and lack of people. 

There is just something special about the dark, dank woods that never ceases to amaze. Just the pitter patter of tires on the ground and the occasional squeal of wet brakes to bring you back to reality. This isn't typical in Colorado, so make the most of it while you can. Moisture is life. 

Sampling Colorado's newest, directional, bike only DH trail on Maryland Mountain in Black Hawk with Dacre Dunn. What a time to be alive. 

I honestly don't have any idea where the name for this new trail came from. But if I was a betting man, I would guess that it has something to do with the current state of trail politics in the state of Colorado. Nothing is easy for our collective user group, but let me tell you that this is a giant step in the right direction for the Colorado MTB scene. Directional, purpose built MTB trails? Really? Are we in the PNW? Whistler? New Zealand? The future looks bright. 

Gary Moore from COMBA shot me an email on Saturday. New trail he said. Directional, DH, it will be fun he said. Gary was looking to get eyes on this project that he has been working on with the city of Black Hawk for a couple of years now. I basically cancelled my plans and made this a priority. Interestingly enough, this was the first I had heard of Maryland Mountain and had no idea that Black Hawk was trying to offer something more than well...,  just casinos. Black Hawk built this amazing trailhead, complete with statues, fancy bridges, and a hiking trail to the top of Maryland Mountain to promote some outdoor rec opportunities in this casino economy. Gary approached the town asking for some MTB specific opportunities and they obliged. As this was city property for the most part, many of the usual hurdles of dealing with land management that has been unwilling to accommodate our user group  was out of the picture. And so this project had legs. 

Gary asked me to come and film "Hard Money" This trail was designed by Black Diamond Trail Designs and High Country Conservation and has had the finishing touches put on it in the last couple of weeks after the snow melted. This is the product of thousands of hours of volunteer work, blood, sweat and tears. The passion is very evident and the end result is a work of art and will be well loved and well used by the MTB community. The grand opening is Memorial Day Weekend. If you are looking for some fun next weekend, this is the place to be. 

 They built us jumps. The people celebrated. Fun was had. Again, I can't reiterate this point enough. These trails absolutely do not build themselves and take thousands of man hours and dedication behind the scenes. COMBA and BMA are hugely responsible for holding all of this together. I urge you consider donating to these local Colorado trail organizations. If you don't have the resources, you can come out and dig. Better yet, try and do both. Most of this is made possible by donations, so please help these wonderful organizations that are fighting the good fight for our user group. Everything helps. Follow the links below to show your support. 
COMBA             BMA

The end goal of this project is to have 4 directional, mtb only trails, culminating with a true double black DH track. There are currently 12 miles of amazingly fun and unique riding on Maryland Mountain. This place has some Floyd Hill vibes, and will surely be a favorite with the Front Range crowd. There is a climbing trail so that you can basically do as many laps as you want, have a snack at the car, and get right back out there on the trail. Each lap is roughly 1000ft of vert. 

Dacre Dunn is an absolute beast. Riding trails that you have never seen before, at full speed, being chased with some jerk wearing a GoPro is no easy task. Basically, go as fast as possible, hit all the blind jumps, don't die. No big deal right?? I always joke that everything is JRA (just riding along), but it takes a special breed to make things look as smooth and effortless on the first go as my man Dacre Dunn. On this particular day, I watched Dacre tomahawk himself between two aspen trees and shake it off like nothing happened. Pure legend status. I would have had to go to the hospital directly if I hit the deck like that. Legend. 

 So, to sum things up, you are definitely going to have fun on Maryland Mountain. I am very thankful that the concept of directional MTB only trails is catching on in Colorado. There is a time and place to ride dangerously fast, and a trail devoid of other user groups is ticking that box off nicely. I can't wait to see what the future holds for this place. Again, huge thanks due to all of the people that have poured time and energy into this project. Love your work!

#followcamfriday keeping the levels right where they need to be with Marty Schaffer and Dacre Dunn on Chimney Gulch in Denver. 

Energy is infectious. Riding is always fun, the trails are always interesting, but there is just something special about the chemistry among people that makes things that much better. When people are actually having fun in real life, it translates to an amazing experience and video. You can't fake this sort of thing. The energy coming from these guys is palpable. It is undeniable. It is real. 

Nothing in any of the videos I have ever produced has been rehearsed, staged, set up, or given much thought for that matter. Everything is organic. What you see before you is as raw and real as it gets. I don't session sections, searching for the perfect line, practice trails, or make a solid plan ever. This is the only way to capture real riding . That is why this formula works. This is first run for Marty and despite living relatively close by, Dacre hasn't spent much time on this descent. This is the formula that I enjoy most. You can't make this shit up. 

Marty Schaffer is a Canadian citizen, professional ski guide and fellow Yeti Cycles ambassador. As the border is still closed, Marty is probably as close as I will come to Canada this summer. Just hearing him repeatedly say "soury" every time we pass someone puts a smile on my face and makes me miss the Great White North even more. 
When Party Marty isn't shredding bikes, he is running Blanket Glacier Chalet. Go heli skiing with Marty HERE. 

Dacre Dunn works for Yeti Cycles and manages the ambassador program. He is technically our boss I suppose. Here you can see Dacre aggressively managing Marty in this turn. Got to keep tabs on those damn ambassadors in the wild. Making sure we are influencing properly, that sort of thing. Dacre is influencing the ground with his rear wheel mostly though. Good man that Dacre Dunn. I haven't met a Yeti employee that doesn't absolutely crush it on the bike. It all makes sense now. 

I honestly don't know how much longer this can continue. The dirt for the last 3 weeks has been unreal. The brownest of pow, the stuff of dreams. I have basically been planning my visits around the weather and I have yet to be underwhelmed. Back to the "levels" thing. Perfect conditions just amplify the levels, so when you get a proper squad extra hyped with a fun trail and perfect dirt, there is just nothing that compares. Again, this is something you can't fake in editing, or tell people to do. This is real. This is energy. 

My friends lift me up. Levels. I am fortunate, no question. Recently, life has been dictating that I squeeze in quick rides by myself, and I do enjoy that. But... there is nothing like riding in a tight train with some legends. Live for it. 

#followcamfriday with that hero dirt timing once again with James Weingarten on Apex

I don't ride Apex very often. If I am being honest, I have always gotten a very bad vibe from the other user groups at this trail system. This is a vibe that I have not experienced anywhere else on the Front Range, or in the world actually. For this simple reason, I usually avoid the place. No sense in riding where I do not feel welcome. It basically ruins the ride. Last thing I need when I am trying to enjoy myself is catching attitude from entitled trail users. I have never encountered as much, as I have at Apex. And that is unfortunate, because the trails are absolutely amazing. 

I do my best to avoid busy times and try and time things as best as possible to avoid as many other users as possible. We started at 6pm for this ride for that very reason. Let's be honest, crowded trails are not fun for anyone. That much, we can all agree on. Hikers don't like being run off the trail by bikes and bike rides aren't actually that fun when you have to stop every 15 seconds to let hikers pass. 

So, all that said, I see the even-odd day split to be a huge step in the right direction. Bike and hike only trails would be a better answer, but we are living in Colorado and that seems to be a pipe dream due to land management and its continued resistance to address the need for trails specifically to mitigate user conflict and provide a positive experience for our user group that is only growing. So, Kudos to Jeffco for implementing the even-odd day situation and improving the experience for everyone. 

I am not sure that we could have timed this one any better. We opted to not ride the top of Enchanted because of snow on the trail but did manage to ride the bottom bit. The dirt couldn't have been better. Endless traction. There are some places on the Front Range that are unrideable with this much moisture. Green Mountain for example, right across the road was surely unrideable at this point. The soil and high sand content at Apex do amazingly well with moisture and this was as good as I have ever seen it. Powder day. 

It's no wonder this place is so popular, the trails are amazing. We are very fortunate to have these places to recreate, so close to a major city. We all need this outlet, more today than ever. I am pleased to report that I didn't feel any tension from other users on this particular day. Everyone we encountered was pleasant and smiling, just as it should be. The even-odd day thing seems to be working. In the 6 or 8 times I have ridden Apex over the last 20 years, this is the first time I have ever felt welcome. Thanks Jeffco, keep up the good work. It's a wonderful start, now if you could just start working on some MTB only trails, that would be great. 

#followcamfriday proving once again that timing is everything. 

The outdoor industry is booming right now. Covid has caused everyone to reevaluate and reset and trend towards spending more time outside than ever before. As good as all of this is for my livelihood and greater humanity as a whole, the Front Range cycling experience is leaving something to be desired lately. 

Now I can't really complain, because obviously I produce videos that make people want to go outside and ride, and am certainly contributing to the over crowded trail situation, but things are getting a bit out of control. This was my first time riding Falcon a couple of years and I was astonished at how much traffic this old trail has seen since Covid. The trail is basically three times the width. They even added another huge parking lot to meet demand. I will say this again- more people outside is a good thing. But, where is the tipping point? When is the outdoor experience forever altered enough to lose its original appeal? These places were once for escaping the crowd and communicating with nature. Again, I can't really complain, I am the guy with 3 cameras and a drone chasing me, but where does it end?

The best way to avoid the crowd is with proper timing. Timing is everything. Rule number 1 is to start late enough in the day that you will be finishing in the dark. If you are heading up the climb when all of the hikers are headed down for the day, you are off to a good start. Pack clear lenses and maybe a light. You are going to need them. Rule number 2- pick a day where it rains in the morning. There is something about a gloomy morning that demotivates people from even thinking of going outside. The key is to let the dirt dry out just enough to not leave a track, but still provide amazing traction. On this particular day, the rain made the trail completely unusable until about 5pm. Perfect timing. Your patience will be rewarded with an empty trail and hero traction. 

We are very fortunate to have these resources available to us, so close to a major city like Denver. Looking down into the city is surreal as you descend some of these high speed sections. There is certainly something special about this trail and it is easy to see the appeal. It's just not that appealing to me when it is littered with people. It's not even fun. Timing is everything. 

No one trail users experience is more important than another's, but overcrowded trails are not fun for anyone. I am not sure that there will ever be an answer to this issue, I certainly don't have one. Best thing you can do is keep the expectations low, be nice to everyone, and start as late in the day as possible. We all desperately need the release that outdoor recreation provides, now more than ever, just be wise with your timing and set yourself up for success.