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| Photo Credit: @brenmacs |
After all the good times we had hitting the trails at Coast Gravity Park with Team Education Minimum we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to reconnect with the guys for some wild laps at Whistler Mountain Bike Park. The guys were clearly on a mission to hit the biggest jumps in the park… at the expense of a couple broken wheels, of course. Crankworx was happening and while it was incredibly busy and the lift lines were long, it was astounding to see all the pro athletes and feel the energy of competition and solidarity amongst the riders.
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| Team Education Minimum |
We rode lap after lap of Crabapple Hits, Whistler’s most iconic jump line. With the largest jump measuring in at around 64 feet long, these were the biggest jumps Tanya had ever ridden.
Her Trek Session 8 is the first DH bike she’s owned and the idea of sailing through the air for 64 feet was considerably intimidating. Always determined to master new skills… Crabapple is now Tanya’s favourite trail and she can’t wait to go back and style it out!
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| Jumping Skills Required |
Last winter while we were planning our adventure, FX revealed the prospect of jumping the iconic Kenny Smith Train Gap. He had seen it in a number of photos and thought the massive Pemberton gap jump might be a possibility for him. Just before we left for the West Coast, he mentioned that the train gap was closed, and with a mixture of disappointment and a little relief, it looked as though it wasn’t going to happen for him this year. Tanya was certain it was still open… and she thought she knew exactly where it was.
Once in Pemberton, excitement mounted as we discussed the plan to take a walk and check out the jump. We woke up feeling motivated and focused. After driving just a few km from our camping spot to the historic freeride site, we hiked in to inspect the jump. With the sun starting to part through the clouds, we examined the kicker and the landing, briefly discussed the process and headed back to the van to grab FX’s Specialized Demo 8. There was no decision making and no apprehension. The jump is big and the consequences could be substantial, but the elation that followed the success of landing such an epic accomplishment was colossal.
After such an adrenaline filled couple of days, we decided to take a break and hike Nairn Falls - this was nothing like the Black Tusk hike we previously completed. It was just a couple of km and it was a leisurely relaxed trail. The hike was effortless and beautiful but the swelling and pain that followed after FX was stung by a trio of hornets was not as picturesque.
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| Nice hike but beware of hornets! |
Travelling with the van has provided us with the opportunity to meet a number of incredibly talented athletes, artists, and adventurers. We met Brendan in the parking lot of Whistler Bike Park. A skilled photographer with a relaxed, good-natured disposition; Brendan offered to shoot us on a few of the big jump lines in the park. Thanks for the brilliant photos and for capturing both of us in the air simultaneously on Crabapple – ultimate goal for any couple who rides DH together.
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| Photo Credit: @brenmacs |
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| Photo Credit: @brenmacs |
After the hitting some of the largest jumps in Canada, riding iconic trails, and scoping out freeride locations we ended the week by deciding to put away the DH bikes and give our leg muscles a bit of a work out. We were stoked to plan a big mountain ride into the alpine, hoping to catch some epic views and maybe spot some wildlife… but that a story for another day.
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