Bones Over Metal Freeride and Downhill Video Blog

Last weekend I got the opportunity to both cover and participate in the Fluidride Race Camp. As many of you know, my love for riding is a two-headed beast. One head is for sure Bones Over Metal and the bike media I work on. The other head is my own riding and racing. Lucky for me, both of these heads want to go in the same direction and attending the Fluidride Race Camp allowed me to exercise both of these interests.

Simon Lawton is the “Isaac Newton” of body mechanics and bike riding instruction. Lars Sternberg and Casey Northern are like field generals of fast. To be able to watch them instruct others in the “laws of fast” and then to receive this blessing on myself was the highlight of my year. The only thing that would top it at this point, is the blessing becomes my instinct and I am able to win my next race.

This was the attitude in the air. Every student in Port Angeles was stoked to see that they were besting their last race times by 20 to 30 seconds. For many of us, our new times compared to our previous results on the race course at Port Angeles would have been enough to put us on the podium for the first time.

The skills taught by Simon Lawton are rarely found on a website. They can be seen in Fluidride: Like A Pro. However, to have one of these Pro Riders follow you down the trail and then point out what it was you were doing, that if you did it differently, you would find your own fast, well, that was not something reproducible in any piece of media.

Another highlight of the camp was the helmet cam video each camper got of one of their runs. Everyone was able to sit around the tent and watch while other campers were critiqued. In this way, we all learned everyone’s lessons. After feedback and discussions on how to go about doing it right, the remainder of the camp had riders helping each other. We found ourselves getting faster run by run.

Check out the other Camper’s Runs @ Virtual Descent

Every rider who wants to be faster, should treat themselves like a pro and take a camp like this one. Doors will be unlocked to a greater ability, and instinct will be forged out of proper training.