Dylan likes two things, bikes and coffee. So what happens when you combine the two? Well you get a video filmed solely on an iphone that outlines the adventure. Enjoy.
The Crankworx Slopestyle event is now complete and Norco Factory Team rider Sam Dueck took home some cash with a 4th place finish. Sam lay down a huge lap first run down which held out for a final score good enough for 4th place. When all was said and done, this is how the results came through. Way to go Sam!
1: Cam Zink
2. Mike Montgomery
3. Casey Groves
4. Sam Dueck
Thursday at Crankworx up in Whistler entailed two main events. Slopestyle Qualification/Best Trick and the Pumptrack challenge. First off was Norco Factory Team Rider Sam Dueck at the Slopestyle. On Sam’s second run he pulled a massive backflip off the whale-Tale then a Superflip on the next booter. Making his way down the course, he then Tail-Whipped off the final step-down and caught a gust of wind bringing him down. Sam was okay, a little swore but pleased with the run besides the small tumble. Plus, the run was enough to bring him through to Saturday’s Semi-Final. 16 riders move on to Saturday where the field will again be reduced down to a total of 8 riders for the final. Way to go Sam!
After the slopestyle qualification, The Pumptrack Challenge kicked off. Pumptrack is a bit of a newer competition but it is a lot of fun to watch. The corners are tight, the speeds high and the energy is awesome. For the event Bernard, Fionn, Nick and Angie were all representing Norco on the course. The field of riders was about 50 deep and Norco’s top finisher was Fionn Griffiths in 4th for the women.
Today was technically day 4 of the 2010 Crankworx Mountain Bike Festival, but it was also day one for the Ryan Leech Trials Shows. With a dozen or so shows happening this week, the first two were today. With an all-new setup for the demo, check out some photos from today. If you are coming out for any of the festivals check out the show, Ryan is an acrobat on a bike. See more photos at flickr.com/norcobikes
When thinking ‘vacation’, the mind automatically starts drooling over white-sand beaches, palm trees and margaritas right? Well, what if I told you that there was another option where the days are long, the beer is cold and the mountain biking is out of this world? The place is the Yukon Territory. Following the 2011 Norco Product Launch, I managed to sneak away for about a week and visit the midnight sun of the Yukon. Let’s start off by saying that I had a blast!
The Yukon has about 30,000 people that call it home and nearly 25,000 of them reside in the Capital of Whitehorse. Another town that you may have heard of in the Yukon is Dawson City. Situated about 500km northwest of Whitehorse, Dawson City was first settled back to the Gold Rush Days and is now home to about 1300 people. Once a year, the town doubles in size as the Dawson City Music Festival draws people from afar to enjoy some beer, bands and perpetual light. Bringing in artists such as Dan Mangan, Fred Penner, Elliott Brood and more, this is the largest music festival in Northern Canada. The thing about the Yukon that caught me off guard was the people. Living in the city you forget about the aspect of community, and neighborly kindness that is so important to a smaller town’s vibe. Well, it seemed to me that no matter where in the Yukon I was, the people were willing to go the extra mile to make sure I was having a blast. This closeness of the people is one aspect that makes me want to return time and time again. The music festival was really a gathering of people in a celebration of sorts. It is a celebration of the North, the people and the music. This is more than your typical festival.
After spending three days at the Dawson City Music Festival, the time to ride was upon me. Driving back to Whitehorse meant that I could meet up with my friends at Boreal Mountain Biking an the local bike shop Icycle Sports. There is nothing quite like local knowledge when on vacation to find the best spots to spend limited time.
Mountain biking in the Yukon is totally different from anywhere I have ever ridden before. The diversity of the terrain runs from open rock to dense forest, lush meadows to near desert conditions. One minute you may be riding at tight forested singletrack and the next riding a ridge above the beautiful Yukon River. Regardless the trail, somewhere along the way, there will undoubtedly be a stunning vista, a vivid glacial lake or the sight of a winding river. The views are even more spectacular than the best-in-class trails. When you are planning your vacation to Whitehorse, plan to ride the Yukon River Trail, Money Shot, Mountain Hero and more, much more!
At the end of any ride, a bevy is in order and in the Yukon this is no exception. The Yukon Brewery makes some of the best beer around. From the Gold to the Amber, IPA to the Stout, there really is no bad choice… Not only is the beer awesome but the brewery is also a big supporter of the local mountain biking community and the Dawson City Music Festival. When you head up to Whitehorse, check out the brewery, they do daily tours and make a beer that is ‘worth freezing for’. So, the Yukon in a nutshell is pretty straight forward. Good riding, great people, spectacular views, and you can enjoy it all with a cold beer.
Now, just to find my way back to the Yukon soon…
Dustan
