Riding Wit RJ Ripper

#followcamfriday from Green's Creek in Salida with special guest, Rajesh Magar. 

I couldn't think of a better way to welcome RJ to our country. Green's Creek is easily on my top 10 in the world list, so this seemed like a logical stop on the way back from the Yeti Tribe Gathering. It's not every day that you get to share one of your favorite trails with a celebrity.

RJ Ripper from Joey Schusler on Vimeo.

Have a look at this gem of a film from Joey Schusler. If you are not familiar with RJ's story, this is a brilliant watch. This one really put some things into perspective for me. RJ is a legend. 

Got rocks? Bucking today's monotony of smooth, flow-trails, Green's remains as rough as ever. Perhaps that is why this trail is so near and dear to my heart. This is basically a fist-fight the entire way. Oh yeah, and it is more than 25 minutes long, without any breaks, at race pace. Prepare to get reduced. I have raced this one a few times and I am not sure that I can think of a harder stage to race. Humbling, to say the least. 

As we began the descent, it took all of 5 seconds for me to realize that RJ was on the program. Slapping turns, laughing, jumping everything. It is amazing to me that people from opposite corners of the world can have such a similar eye for terrain. Same team. Brother from another mother. 

I cannot recall a time when RJ didn't have a shit-eating grin on his face. I mean, how could you not? With Joey at the helm, I was impressed at how fast RJ was able to make sense of terrain he has never ridden. The smile is 10 seconds faster in every situation. Never not. 

Maybe this is why they named this one "Green's" A record winter and continued spring moisture have the green levels peaking. Such a relief to see this, instead of 
"fire season", that is unfortunately becoming the norm. This particular stretch of aspen forest is as good as it gets. I need to get back out there when the trees start to change in another month. 

It wouldn't be the Colorado High-country without some proper stream crossings. Get wet! As I type these words, I find myself in Whistler. The contrast between this sort of riding and the chaos that is Crankworx, couldn't be more pronounced. Don't get me wrong, I love Whistler, but it is pretty hard to beat a solid romp in the mountains with a good group of friends. You can have a drink or two, post ride, wherever you are in the world. They just cost more in Whistler. And the line at the GLC is brutal.