Freeride Mountain Bike Spring Training is underway at Highland Mountain Bike Park. Having arrived last night the riders were chomping at the bit to hit the mountain today. By lunch time Highland's newest toy the Ayr Bag was unfolded and inflated for its inaugural run. With a little team work a plywood run-in was laid and the lip muscled into place.
First to t-off was Dustin Gilding with a massive front flip. With hoots form fellow riders Dustin had set the stage. For much of the afternoon the Bag was assaulted with a barrage of massive airs.
Once the crew had their fill of climbing out of depths of the Ayr Bag in the midday sun, some of the younger crew, Dustin Gilding, Brayden Barrett-Hay, and Brett Rheeder headed to Sherwood for some dirt jumpin' while Kyle Strait and T-Mac headed back to McCaul's pond in search of some lunkers. No big ones were caught, but over in Sherwood the jumps were sculpted to perfection and the crew threw down a bmx style session till the smell of burgers lured them home for dinner.
Words and photos by Ryan Thibault