Many of you may be asking yourselves, “What is this mysterious GnarlBurl and what is this tour?” Well my friends, pull up a chair (or bike) and let me explain…
The term “GnarlBurl” is a witty combination of “Gnarly” and “Burly,” two words locals often use to describe the trails in the Pacific Northwest. The two were first combined by Brad Walton of Spectrum Techwear on a humorous t-shirt which depicted a large likeness of a Marlboro cigarette package upon which the words had been replaced with “GnarlBurl: Class A Trails” in appropriate fonts and styles (It can be seen at www.spectrumtechwear.com). As much of a joke as this may have been, the truth behind the humor is striking. Here in the Northwest our unique combination of trail features, conditions, and riders make for a special blend of mountain biking culture that no place on earth can imitate. It is this unique diversity that has lead to the creation of the GnarlBurl Flavor Tour.
The Gnarlburl Flavor Tour is a group of independent riders that will travel the Northwest riding some of the less traveled gems hidden in the Cascade Mountains, along the Columbia Gorge, and across the Pacific region. Preferring the adrenaline of a flowy decent to the grind of climbing fire roads, our stops will be gravity fueled riding, the likes of which only the Northwest can offer. At each stop we will ride with the local talent that has made the scene what it is today and some of the up and coming riders that will help it progress into the future. Besides just riding at amazing locations buried deep in lush evergreen forests, we will be competing at a few local events like the Beacon Blowout and Fluidride Cup, where Northwest riders of all varieties push the envelope a little further.
To truly comprehend the distinctive GnarlBurl flavor, you have to appreciate the people who ride here as well as the terrain they ride on. The core tour group will be made up of expert downhill racers, dirt jumpers, formidable four cross competitors, trail builders, and even a seasoned road rider turned mountain bike addict. Despite the differences in this group, we all share a common dedication to improve our sport, push our limits, and enjoy every moment we can possibly get in the saddle.
When you get a bunch of riders together who are this passionate about riding there is no way that they can keep the good times to themselves. With this in mind we are fortunate enough to have had Bones Over Metal agree to publicize our adventures throughout the summer. For each stop we will be writing a feature article, taking photos to accompany it, and hopefully collecting video footage for an end-of-season recap. Besides this, we will also be putting together a local knowledge collection for each trip. This will include clear directions to the trailhead, GPS tracks of the trail and shuttle routes, and other helpful info like where the nearest bike shop is. Hopefully we will convince an abundance of riders from across the continent to come sample some GnarlBurl for themselves and give them everything they need to have a good time when they do.
We will be riding at the following locations on the dates noted:
4/4-4/6 FR Cup in PA
-Slalom & DH races
4/19-4/20 Bellingham
-Various Galbraith trails
-Double Black Diamond
-Interview Brad Walton
5/17-5/18 Whistler (tentative)
-Bike Park, DJ’s, etc
5/24-5/26 Silver Star
-Silver Star Bike Park
-Kamloops Bike Ranch
6/6-6/8 FR Cup in PA
-Slalom & DH races
6/25 Kachess Ridge
-Kachess Ridge trail
6/20-6/22 Oregon
-Bend Trails
-Blackrock
7/11-7/13 Hood River
-FR Cup Slalom Race
-Surveryor’s Ridge area
-Syncline
-Post Canyon
7/25-7/27 Leavenworth
-Three Amigos
-Devil’s Gultch
If you are in the know about any of the places we will be riding, or if you just want to get out and rip with some bros, drop us a comment and we’ll get it all worked out. Of course this is mountain biking so any of the dates listed above could change. I will be sure you to keep you posted of any changes so check back.
The Tour is Supported by: Spectrum Techwear, Transition Bikes, e.13, 661, Kenda, and of course Bones Over Metal
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