Fluidride Race Camp in 30 seconds:
News and Info
If you live in the greater Pacific Northwest you know that Stevens Pass Ski Area is planning to open a bike park in 2010. What you probably don’t know is what is the scope of the Master Development Plan or at what stage the whole process is at. There were several parties represented at the meeting held in Everett on Wednesday night. Stevens Pass was well represented, the mountain bike community had less than one would have expected, and then there was representation from the other user and advocate groups like the Mountaineers and the Sierra Club. The US Forest Service is conducting an environmental analysis as required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for all proposed projects in the Stevens Pass MDP. The most pressing issue is to get feedback for the Scoping letter by July 3rd. Continue reading ‘Stevens Pass Bike Park: Update’
Last week, I opened an email to learn that the Washington State DNR (Department of Natural Resources) would be having a public hearing that evening to educate trail users about new rules in the WAC . Rumor had it that access to virtually all DNR lands would be prohibited and unsanctioned trail work would be considered criminal. The reality was not as daunting — yet there were many doubts from speakers about whether vague wording in the new rules would protect their rights to use public land — or eliminate those rights.
Among the mountain bikers who showed up were Matt Patterson and Graham Barry and several others from Dirt Corps; Justin Vander Pol from BBTC; my husband; and myself. Continue reading ‘Save Our Trails — A Conversation with the DNR’
Fortunately Ignacio Soltero from Brooklyn Bike Riders sent stellar shots of this year’s US Open of Mountain Biking that happened almost in his backyard, at Diablo, because I had the misfortune of missing that comp.
Many of the usual suspects dominated, with Steve Smith, Sam Hill and Bryn Atkinson taking spots one through three on the men’s pro DH podium, and Fionn Griffiths, Kathy Pruitt and Joanna Petterson taking those same spots on the women’s pro DH podium.
Seattle’s Pro Parks Levy was just the first income source that helped the Colonnade concept become a reality. The levy, approved by Seattle voters in November 2000, freed up $198.2 million for more than a hundred projects and programs, including $1.8 million for the project officially named I-5 Colonnade.
Other funding came from REI, Starbucks, Vulcan, Bikes Belong, King County (for a Youth Sports Facilities Grant) and the City of Seattle, as well as private donors.
Continue reading ‘Colonnade — The Money’
On Wednesday night BBTC.org held a reception out at the new Duthie Hill
mountain bike park location….
The reception was conducted by Justin Vanderpool and the new BBTC Director John Lang. King County, Various Local Bike Shops and many concerned riders were in attendance for this first look at the what will be King County’s Newiest Bike Park. Building on the ongoing success of The Colonnade, BBTC and King County have begun the work on this 120 acre park off the Issaquah-Fall City Road. King County has given a total of $150,000 in grants and further funding is being sought to complete work on this park that is scheduled to open December of 09. Continue reading ‘Duthie Hill Report’
Once a year the freeride course on Beacon Hill in Spokane, Washington lends its rock faces and dry eastern forest dirt to a downhill race. Unlike last years race, this race had near perfect conditions, zero scandals, and smiles for everyone. It wasn’t all perfect - let’s see, Saturday was hot and very dry. For those of us not used to sun stroke, dangerous even. But then it rained early Sunday morning and drizzled during the morning’s activities making the dirt perfect! Continue reading ‘Beacon Blowout 08′
First off - I have to apologize for not getting April’s results out in a timely manner.
No excuses…
| April’s Picture Of The Day Winner: We gave the April POD to Carl Warren for his piece “Blind Ambition.” |
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This is a shot of Mike Estes on his new Brodie out at Syncline, WA. The great thing about this photo is how the contrast of the shot brings out the gradation of drab colors, as if it was a painting. These colors also help to bring the viewer into the rider’s mind space. It seems forbidding, yet some how alright. Check out Carl’s galleries on this site: Main Gallery FR Cup#1 Fr Cup#2 |
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| May’s Picture Of The Day Winner: There were a lot of similarly good photos for the month of May. |
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We can’t overlook this picture that Karen Johanson took of Darren Berrecloth at the BearClaw Invitational. More than any other dirt jump or freeride related photo that I’ve seen, this photo shows us that moment when it all comes together. The perfect exposure and focus are the reason we can view the photo ins this way. We see shots like this a lot in trail riding, were the photographer is right in the cockpit with the rider. The photos of the rider nearer to the ground are easier to get. But, in all these kind of shots we can see that “Moment” at it’s finest.Check out Karen Johanson’s portfolio site. | |
Simon Lawton — professional downhiller and founder of first Downhill Northwest and now Fluidride — moved to Seattle in 1996. Two years later, he met Chris Leman from the Eastlake Community Council, who had seen Simon loading his bike for races, etc. Turns out both had envisioned mountain bike trails in the area below I-5 — and Chris had connections in city government from his work on the Council.
Suddenly, Simon found himself going to meetings with everyone imaginable — bike commuters, community councils, anyone who might work with him to create the Colonnade. Continue reading ‘Colonnade — The Concept’
Pro Men: 1) Lars Sternberg 2) Andrew Mitchell 3) Bart Mcdaniel
Pro/Expert Women: 1) Katie Holden 2) Leanna Gerrard 3) Dawn Lambert 4) Joy Mutoli
Full Results: DH 2 Results DS 2 Results
This weekend was supposed to rain in Port Angeles, WA for Fluidride Cup Race #2. We got rain. At night while we all slept and dreamed of fast lines. We woke each morning to sunshine and perfect dirt. A perfect weekend for speed. In fact, I heard many racers talking about dealing with the speed of the course. “I feel I’m a little behind my bike.” “I’ve never felt faster” It was fast and the final times showed this. It also is possible that this is why there were so many injuries. But, we won’t dwell on this. Healing Vibes All. Now, there are three things that I must share about this weekend with you all… Continue reading ‘Fluidride Cup #2 Recap’
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