Woodward East: Mislav Reports for Spring Training
April 03, 2008
Another early start at the airport...
6:50 - Zagreb to Paris (Air France) 2 h flight
10:25 - Paris to Atlanta (canceled because of wind 13:30) 10 h flight
20:28 - Atlanta to State College 2 h flight
22:30 – Drive through State College
23:30 WOODWARD EAST - TAKE TWO!!
As you can see my current location is Woodward East in Pennsylvania, USA. It has been two years since I first came here and I can say that I was waiting anxiously to come back for the entire time.
What is Woodward? …heaven! A huge place full of skateparks (indoor and outdoor), dirt jumps, FMX jumps, resi ramps, foam pits, gymnastic equipment, and Pro riders like Daniel Dhers, Jamie Bestwick, and Antony Napolitan. Oh…and me?!
Coming here from where I live something that is hard to explain. Croatia is place with no dirt jumps, no foam pits, no resi, and no skateparks. So, when a person like me, who loves riding so much, comes to such a place for the first time. . .you cannot might be able to understand why I’m so passionate to use all my time here 100%.
Unfortunately, there was small problem ...my bike and gear didn't arrive!! I spent the first day planning out everything I would do when it showed up. Luckily, after two days, my bike finally arrived so I was able to rock and roll!
Although it might seem strange, I actually learned all the tricks that I wanted to in first day! First try! It was crazy to work on one trick all year in Croatia and then come here and clean it first try! It makes me sad a little because I know that I have spend years trying to learn tricks in crazy conditions, and here, with the right equipment and gear, it was so simple.
I tried a backflip tail-whip and did it first try into the foam, then took it to the resi and did it second try. I learned so fast, it was like, “ok, Next?!”
After three days of riding like crazy, my friend and I where invited to have dinner in Don Hampton’s house and see the DH Production office.
It was very cool and a great way to end my ‘spring training’.
Before I sign off, I’ve got to say thanks to Don! Don Hampton is amazing person and has been a great friend from the first day that I met him. He helped me a lot, and introduce me to a lot of great riders like Aaron Chase. So, THANKS DON!
I can’t wait to go home and keep working on all the great tricks I learned. See you all this summer!
- Mislav
Casting Off Stereotypes
April 02, 2008
I just read an interesting article in an outdoor magazine about the stereo-typing of fishermen. Yes, it was interesting! (my co-worker is chuckling at me)
It talked about how quickly people would judge the type of fishing a guy was doing based on whether the fellow showed up with matching and coordinated vest/hat/hipwaders and pulled a rod out of his BMW vs. the guy in the stained tanktop and a plaid shirt off-loading a beat up boat he drags behind his ’87 Chev ½ ton. Based on clothing alone, the other fisherman said they could very quickly tell which one was going fly fishing and which one was fishing for sturgeon.
K. . .here’s the best part – the gear the guys used immediately created an "apparent or perceived" class difference between the two men, even though they were both engaged in the same sport and may share the same passion and love for fishing.
This got me grinning as I thought it was only OUR sport that had these goofy sweeping generalizations. You know what I’m talking about. . .
We all enjoy rolling on two wheels but it’s always pretty tough for me to get a roadie to wave back if I’m riding on a mountain bike. Or how Triathletes only seem to see or acknowledge other ‘wedge-head’ helmeted riders on bikes equipped with aero bars.
. . .and geeze! Don’t even get me going on those dread-locked baggy-clothed, skate shoe wearing dirtbag mountain bikers you see high fivin’ each other in the lift lines. They probably just use the chairlift and their bikes to go check on their crops. Right!?
COME ON NOW, THIS IS ALL WRONG!
Some of the nicest mountain bikers I know sport dreads. Some of the most unexpected ‘looking’ people are wicked talented riders and people who you would be (and I am) proud to hang out with, to ride with, work with and travel all over the world with!
So, why is it the longer some people are in this sport the more snobbish they seem to become? Not everyone of course. . .not you! I’m talking about those other guys. I’m sure you still say HI to a slower rider as you pass them on your road bike or stop and ask them how their day is going when you meet them on the trails. I’m talking about "all those other guys" that don’t do that. You know, riders that are too busy to take two minutes to make the simple acknowledgment from one rider to another that we’re all out here having fun.
Together!
I think that is why I like riding with beginner-intermediate riders so much. ‘Cause they still LOVE the sport and are just so stoked to be out there doing it, but they don’t care what they wear, or if their bike has the best fork. They are out there acting like little kids and just riding for the fun of it. Like we ALL should be.
So, promise me this OK? When you finally drag your bike out of the shed and dust it off to go for a pedal remember to wave to the other riders out there. Give ‘em the smile that acknowledges you both are out there for the same reasons.
For 2008, no more sweeping generalizations! Go Have Fun! Fire a few more high fives around, even if it is to that dread-haired hippy dude beside you in the lift line! Don’t judge that book by its cover. You never know, asking him or her how their day is going may change your whole out-look on riding.
Enough rambling, gotta go ride!
Norco Supports Brothers Biking Across Canada in Memory of Father
March 13, 2008
While most people use their summers for barbecues and beach days, the Teeter family will be pedalling their bicycles across Canada for ALS.
The Teeter brothers – Michael, Aaron and Adam - lost their father Steve to ALS in 1994.
The Brothers Bike for ALS is their dream to raise funds and awareness about the disease that took their father.
”As a family who has lost a loved one to ALS, our hope is to encourage others by sharing our story,” says Adam.
The brothers, along with their wives Juliet, Amy and Heather, will be on the road from May 28 to August 2, 2008. Adam and Aaron, who live in London and Hamilton, Ontario, respectively, will join Michael in Langley, British Columbia to kick off their tour. Their goal is to raise $52,000 as they bike through many communities from coast to coast.
“We want this fundraiser to celebrate our father’s life and give hope to those living with this terrible disease,” says Michael.
“Our father's life serves as a reminder that we can’t control the end of our days. What we can control is the quality of the life we live in the circumstances that we find ourselves. We decided to take control of our grief by organizing this fundraiser,” says Aaron.
For information about their tour check out: Brothers Bike 4 ASL
Source: ASL Society of Canada
Dylan Korba: One-Of-A-Kind!
March 03, 2008
There are many young riders that come and go. One day they’re hot, then the next they’re gone. Over the last decade, I kept noticing this one local kid, Dylan; he always made me double take by pulling these amazing trials moves off out of the blue. He has exceptional and diverse riding skills (always has a new trick with style), he’s hilarious (usually by making fun of himself), and he has an great work ethic.
You can learn a lot from Dylan, his training techniques might not be too wise to emulate (ie: who needs a foam pit), but his priorities are solid. It would be easy for him to be totally romanced by all the opportunities that riding has brought and totally forget about school. He stuck to his values though and is now finishing up his fourth year Economics degree. Smart Kid! Props to you my friend, both on and off bike!!
- Ryan Leech
Read the FULL INTERVIEW on NSMB.com
