Nate Hills
  • Home
  • Camera Gear
  • Blog
  • BIKES
  • #FCF Library
  • Media
  • Sponsors
  • Schedule / Results
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Camera Gear
  • Blog
  • BIKES
  • #FCF Library
  • Media
  • Sponsors
  • Schedule / Results
  • Contact

Is blogging still a thing?

So there I was, drinking beer and looking at the internet. What ever happened to my blog..... I don't think people even realize that I race mountain bikes for a living. I think people know me as that guy who posts weekly POV videos on YouTube about riding on the edge of some scary cliff in the desert. I am a Vlogger now, do I really need a blog? Well, after a two-year hiatus, I just turned it back on because it made me smile. Let me know what you guys think. Times were simpler then. More projects, more problems. Wouldn't trade it for anything. ​

Risk vs Reward

2/1/2019

4 Comments

 
#followcamfriday pushing the limit and accepting the risk with Lars Romig in scenic Sedona. Do me favor and don't do this. At least, read my ramblings below before attempting... 
How do you view risk?
By definition- Risk acceptance or risk retention means the fact of accepting the identified risk and not taking any other action in order to reduce the risk because we can accept its impact, the possible consequences - we simply risk it.
Picture
I have never fallen into the risk vs reward mentality. I have no need to justify my risk for a "reward". To me, mentally pushing past my perceived boundaries IS the reward.  I don't need a pat on the back, or a gold star. It doesn't have to be "worth it". Accomplishing a goal is all the reward I need. This is what gets me out of bed in the morning. If the internet didn't see it, I would still be doing the same thing... 
Picture
Some would categorize  this type of riding as reckless. Some would say that the risk is not worth the reward. I respectfully disagree. Admittedly, this is not everyone's cup of tea, and I completely respect that logic. However,  do not mistake calculated riding for reckless riding. Lars and I have spent years in this terrain, getting to know the nuances and limit of grip. This isn't the sort of thing that you just jump into and send. It is very calculated and mythodical. You don't just jump on a sport bike and race the Isle Of Man TT. This is a process of incremental steps, incremental experience, and above all, respect.
Picture

The infamous "White Line" is regarded as the crown jewel of Sedona gnar. I have ridden the White Line more than 50 times. I approach it with the same mindset each time. Complacency leads to mistakes. In avalanche-safety circles,  there is much talk as of late to the "expert halo". If you become too comfortable with your surroundings and get lucky enough times, this can lead to a false sense of confidence. Approaching each line with a similar respect level is important to stay alive. Removing outside influences and factors, and seeing clearly what lies before you. Comfort leads to mistakes. When I am not scared in dangerous situations, I am falling victim to "expert halo". That very notion keeps me up at night, more than the lines themselves. Be scared, have respect.
All of that said, the White Line was the "easiest" line that we overcame this week. Perspective.
Picture

 Lars had been wanting to ride this line for 5 years. Watching a close friend overcome fear and conquer perceived boundaries is fucking surreal. I did not ride this entire line and was scared for my life. I will ride it one day, just needing to get my head around it a bit more, and adjust my perspective. Lars is definitely the first person to ride this section of rock. Full respect for realizing his vision after looking at this ridiculous line for 5 years. I was in awe, and I am a man who has seen some shit. 
Picture
So where does this leave us? My inbox is full of requests, asking to be featured in a FollowCamFriday episode. I am not sure that you really want to be in one of my videos. If you tell me how rad you are, or how bad-ass your 10 year old is, we simply can't work together. Respect and humility are the only way forward. Lars has this in spades. We trust and understand each other. Our risk acceptance level is the same. This also applies to backcountry ski partners. No, I won't go backcountry skiing with you.... It's not because I am too cool, or that I don't like you. It's very simple, I don't trust you with my life. We haven't built rapport.  Lars and myself are on the same program. Kyle Mears, James Weingarten, same team. There are very few people in my life that I am comfortable with in life or death situations. Lars is on that short list. 
Picture
So yeah, I am not going to tell you not to try and ride these lines. To be crystal clear, none of this was done for a camera, all of this was done for passion and breaking down boundaries. My fucking bike fell off a cliff and landed in a tree this week. Perspective. Respect. I got a little too confident and got put in my place. I failed. I posted my fail to the internet because life is not all peaches and cream. The struggle actually is real. I don't live in a fantasy world, I fall down like everyone else. My farts smell and so does my dog. What seperates people is the ability to get back up and keep cracking. I have learned a lot this week. As I type this with a glass of wine, at 1am in my van, I thank you for reading. 
4 Comments
Adam
2/1/2019 10:11:54 am

DUDE!! Not lying, my palms were sweating when I was watching this! Damn bro, grande juevos! I watch pretty much all your videos Nate, but this one was one of the most gnarly. Well done. The tumble your bike took was crazy! Sick.

Reply
adam
2/2/2019 06:34:04 am

Hey Nate, I've been watching that crash where your bike takes a ride on its own (crazy!), and saw next to the vid that you are selling it? Just curious, are you selling because of the crash? Not interested in buying (I'm Jeff Lenosky's size) but just wondering? Cheers!

Reply
nate
2/4/2019 11:01:29 am

The bike isn't for sale, I was trying to be funny.

Reply
Adam
2/4/2019 11:10:21 am

LOL. It was funny, but also thought your were serious, ha! hope it survived the fall without too much damage.




Leave a Reply.

    The Vlog Blog. Stay up to date with the constant adventure that is my life! 

    CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL
    Just can't get enough?!?!​
    Become a Patron!


    Archives

    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    September 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    October 2013

    RSS Feed

©2012-2017 Nate Hills. All Rights Reserved