Free Dirt

Full results can be viewed here-

http://www.mfcmtb.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/2011-Giants-Ridge.htm

I was still healing, so I opted to take pictures of the event. Enjoy!

Nick Ice rocking the steep roots.

Opposite view of the roots.

For the full slideshow and gallery click here http://joshuaabrahamson.smugmug.com/photos/swfpopup.mg?AlbumID=18646074&AlbumKey=gxd2GF

Here are some actions photos depicting Manitou forks and SunRingle wheels ripping it up!

Here's the story from Sundays trip to the new XC trails in Cuyana. Riding Cuyana, not even 1 hour into the day of riding, when feeling good, I pedaled hard into Screamer. The rollers up top where fun, but as I was going, I knew I was coming in too hot and heavy. I shot off one roller just to case hard on the next is what I think happened which caused me to heave forward and lose control. I stuck out my leg to brace for impact and slowed down, but my right forearm must of caught a rock just right and sliced me a good 3" x 5"'s and deep too. I stumbled from the impact and lost balance almost falling down the side of the hill. I was able to stop, unaware I cut my arm, when I pulled it up and saw the gash and what I thought was bone, something whitish. I instantly put my hand over the wound as blood was everywhere. I tried to get up the hillside to the trail but without the use of my arms it was challenging to say the least. I yelled to Bryan and he grabbed me by my jersey and yanked me up. I told him it was serious,

They grabbed a tube and tied off my lower forearm. Then Bryan gave me his jersey to put over the wound. It still bleed and they were worried about an artery being cut. Bryan called 911 and had our friend Audrey stop traffic into the trail to prevent further injuries. I am glad Bryan wasn't right behind me or there may have been 2 of us in the ER that day.

Dusty provided his jersey as well. 911 dispatches had GPS coordinates on our location and told us to stay put.

2 jerseys and blood still pooled. Nylon doesn't really soak up blood. But it was all we had.

At that point, we took off my Camelbak and chest camera and I donated my white jersey to be died red. I kept the pressure on the wound. I was the only one who saw it in full form. Dusty got a glimpse and I think it made him sick. Bryan almost got sick and had to walk away from all the blood.

My friends kept talking to me and Bryan was getting worried. I had them call Julie ass if I was going to bleed to death, I would not go without talking to my wife. I was very calm with her and told her everything would be alright, She is on vacation in Memphis and I didn't want her to worry. Easier said than done.

I laid on my back with my POC helmet propping my elevated arm. The sky was beautiful. I wanted to sing songs but knew I should conserve my energy. I wanted to take a nap. Bryan and Dusty keep talking to me. They heard the sirens and Dusty met the paramedics. They placed me on a back board and several people carried me down the trail. I must say that was a little freaky. The one side was dipping low and I thought I was going down. But everyone kept me up. Short ride to Crosby ER, where I was greeted by a surgeon. Bleeding had finally stopped, I was on Morphine as stinging and throbbing was setting in, with the adrenaline running out. I was dirty. The nurses gave me a sponge bath to remove the red dirt before going in to surgery.

I was put under and happy to finally be sleeping. I awoke to being wheeled to a room where my friends greeted me. They had been waiting for hours. I was to be discharged after another hour or 2 so I asked them to go ride. Bryan had yet to ride Bobsled. Doc said I couldn't ride yet, but I had to ask. I was told they scrubbed the inside of my wound for 1 1/2 hours to remove all the dirt and rock. The iron in my arm look like I had been shot. They cleaned me up nice and stapled me up. I was close to a tendon and mm's from a major vein. Things could have been worse.

Today my hand was swollen so I loosened the bandage and wanted to view the staples. I think my ring finger is broke as well, so that’s in a splint. I'll see my regular doctor for that.

I want to thank my friends Bryan and Dusty for remaining calm and helping me through this. Also my new friend Audrey, really mountain biking isn't this dangerous. One biker walked past us I remember that said, I'll pray for you. Thank you for your prayers. Dusty kept my family informed and up to date. Thank you to the paramedics and those who helped carry me down the trail. Thank you to the nurses and doctors in the ER; I hope you enjoyed my sense of humor during such a tragic time.

That is my story and I can't wait to go back and ride that trail again, perhaps a little slower. :)

On my latest visit out to Winter Park, I filmed a ton of rides.  Here is one of my last solo runs after 7 days of riding downhill in Colorado.

Check out this video debut of Straitline and their new pedal and robotic arm to produce it

I had the privilege of spending last week in Winter Park, CO. While I was there Crankworx was going on. Imagine that. Couldn’t have planned it better.

Here are some photographs of the Slopestyle competition. It was amazing seeing these pro’s in person jumping this massive course.

Watts flipping out.

Eric Lawrenuk sliding into home.

The hills were alive with many spectators.

More of Watts.

Peaceful Winter Park.

Yannick getting ready to rip up the course.

Brandon Semenuk throwing his bike around.

Yannick Granieri getting some air.

Sam Pilgrim recovered gracefully, sliding down the transition.

Zink signing for young eager fans. The wind was strong during one of his runs not allowing much for tricks.

Semenuk's bike featuring the Straitline Hydro Gyro.

Most obnoxious quote of the event:Shut the front door!

More photos to follow of the Dual Slalom.

Great video on how to setup your Vivid air.

You may have heard that Q-West has a backyard filled with dirt jumps.  Well, it’s true!  People have been asking to hear the story, so here goes…

During the first employee tours of the Ogden QBP building people couldn’t help but notice the giant piles of dirt on the West side of the building and see the potential for a bike track.  Don Muske talked to the construction company about the idea.  They liked the thought of not having to haul away all the extra dirt, so moving it into piles for bike trails was a win for them.  Kim Brown and the rest of SPT generously signed off on the plan, making our wild vision a reality.

The trail diggers will tell you that it hasn’t been all easy rolling.  We had a late spring and did not start sculpting features until May.  The trail site quickly turned from a swamp to an arid waste land.  A solid day of hand shoveling cemented clay and gravel provided the realization that powered equipment would be necessary to make significant progress.  Q-West ACE kindly donated 2 weekends of equipment rental.  We used a skid loader the first weekend, and John Kofford’s favorite, a mini-excavator the next.

We are happy to report that the first line is completed with 6 features that each have transitions ranging from easy to moderate skill requirements.  The trails will be open for riding at Saddledrive.  Maybe we will even get our vendors and customers to do some digging while they’re here.  ;)

Thanks again to Don Muske, Kim Brown, Matt Moore, and Steve Flagg for allowing this track to exist on QBP property.  It’s one more thing on the long list of reasons why QBP is a great place to work!

Article from Daivd Baillargeon