Margus Riga

Shore - WTF - Part 1

Dec 5, 2011

ADVENTURES
Shore

WTF
WORDS/PHOTOS Margus Riga

The North Shore of Vancouver BC is one of the hardest, harshest, gnarliest, scariest, most progressive riding areas in the world. A lot has changed in the last thirty years, and a lot hasn't. The weather still sucks, but the trails are a lot more fun to ride. There's also a lot more trails...both legitimate (city maintained) and illegitimate (privately maintained). And you can still find crazy, scary shit everywhere. But don't take my word for it. Just ask anyone who's ever lived here...

  Al Crisp.

bigquotesYou need time on the North shore to acquire your 'Shore Legs'. Only once you have spent a considerable amount of time here, will you grow accustomed to the terrain and the riding techniques associated. Put another way...The Shore is like a good woman, unless you buy her a few drinks you're not getting a quality ride. - Cory Leclerc

  One thing the Shore will never be... Boring.



  James Doerfling, Ryan Berrecloth, Brett Tippie


  Brett Tippie. Halloween ride.

bigquotesI live on the edge...of the North Shore! ha ha. Although I grew up riding the dusty, dry, semi-arid deserty hills of Kamloops complete with sagebrush, cactus, gravel pits and wide open skies...I now live on the edge of the North Shore rainforest...tilted on a steep angle complete with anaconda snake like root sytems, greasy green rock gardens and shelfs, natural wooden stunts and the ominous fog banks that roll in and out like a mid-grade horror movie. It's so much fun...complete with ear-splitting grins of bravado satisfaction and shin-splitting flesh wounds of reality. Although everyone has heard about the North Shore gnarl, complete with 3000 vertical foot paved roads to the top. I'm now learning there's km's and km's of wicked all-mtn/XC flow that's scattered everywhere too. The North Shore will give you not only big smiles but also big eyes and brown shorts...all in the same ride!!! - Brett Tippie

  Brett Tippie.


  You 'gotta pay to play. Tippie...paying for his sins, one boo-boo at a time.


  James Doerfling. His first ride on the Shore.


  James Doerfling


  James Doerfling

bigquotesI have always said the North Shore is the Gnarliest place to ride in the world. Every trail is crux after crux. The fact that most of the time, it is wet and there are a lot of roots, says it all. - Richie Schley

  Jay Hoots, on the rainiest day I have ever experienced up there. We literally got rained off the mountain.


  Jay Hoots


  Jay Hoots


  Film days revisited.


  Mario Lenzen. Mt. Fromme.

bigquotesFear, unknown, learning, confidence, comfort, complacency...oops - ouch! - Noel Buckley - Knolly Bikes

  Ross Measures. Cypress Mountain.


  Ross Measures


  Ross Measures


  Ryan Berrecloth and Geoff Gullevich

bigquotesNorth shore; my home from day one. It's also home to some of the most diverse and technical riding in the world. If you can ride confidently here you can ride anywhere. - Geoff Gulevich

  Geoff Gullevich, introducing Mario Lenzen to the drops.

  Ryan Berrecloth. Always working on something new.


  Wade Simmons with Ryan Berrecloth, and Brett Tippie with Andrew Baker.

  Ryan Berrecloth and Wade Simmons

bigquotesI learned how to ride on The Shore, and it has shaped me into the rider I am today. It doesn't matter if I'm out for a hike, riding or building my next line, I always feel at home when I'm in the woods of the Shore...love this place! - Ryan Berrecloth

  Wade Simmons. Lower Ladies.

bigquotes"Home." Wade Simmons

84 Comments

  • + 43
flag R-P-S (Dec 5, 2011 at 8:03)
 Wow, what an awesome feature. Those pictures really capture the intangible feeling that makes going out for a ride in the woods really something special.
  • + 11
flag Drood (Dec 5, 2011 at 8:35)
 They look and feel so natural. I always have the most respect for photographers who can capture 'life as it is'.
  • + 4
flag chyu (Dec 5, 2011 at 10:16)
 Single crown? No problem!
  • + 2
flag Sysics (Dec 5, 2011 at 11:18)
 Is it really this dark at the shore? Most of the pics are, for my taste, underexposed. It also can be the filter/photoprogramm he used.
  • + 6
flag leelau (Dec 5, 2011 at 11:28)
 Not really except in fall winter (which is when these shots were taken). Not to speak for Margus but he's probably trying to achieve a certain mood and in that I think Margus succeeded.
  • + 4
flag VTwintips (Dec 5, 2011 at 14:34)
 like 20 pods. In particular... http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/7463093/ Left side there, http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/7463051/ This pic, http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/7463052/ that pic please!!!, http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/7463063/ and maybe that one.
  • + 1
flag inakiarri (Dec 5, 2011 at 15:02)
 yeah i loved most of them!! awesome shots realy
  • + 1
flag Rider656 (Dec 5, 2011 at 15:05)
 I agree ^ so many POD's
  • + 2
flag scott-townes (Dec 5, 2011 at 15:17)
 Jeeze Tippie, switching up the edge of town joke a lil, huh? Wink
  • + 1
flag razorbiker18 (Dec 5, 2011 at 21:39)
 Please let me favorite this article? Big Grin
  • + 2
flag crash21 (Dec 5, 2011 at 22:26)
 WTF!! INDUBITABLY AWESOME, SIR.
[Reply]
  • + 17
flag gjmurdoch (Dec 5, 2011 at 9:08)
 where the fk are the dinosaurs ?! this place looks unreal...
  • + 1
flag Piks-Liks (Dec 5, 2011 at 16:25)
 Never mind the dinos, where is Vanderham? Amazing photos and quotes though.
[Reply]
  • + 10
flag mr-ronton (Dec 5, 2011 at 8:28)
 I would love to ride the shore, seriously... Someone give me a plane ticket.
[Reply]
  • + 4
flag rismtb (Dec 5, 2011 at 13:03)
 Vancouver BC in general is constantly maintains a relative humidity between 90-100% for most of the year. North shore forests lock in this moisture under their canopies and create a perfect environment for the rotting bio sphere on the forest floor. Not a lot of light filters thru to trails below on Mt Fromme. When you enter this world to ride it's like going thru a door or looking glass and you are in a place that could excite you to pee you pants or scare the shit out of you. I love this place I invite everyone to come to see,smell,taste, Ride
  • + 1
flag justincs (Dec 5, 2011 at 18:09)
 Don't forget the mosquitos.....
[Reply]
  • + 3
flag Gruta (Dec 5, 2011 at 8:00)
 Makes want to go ride really bad... wait my boxxer broke... damn... amazing photography!
I love the cold feeling you get from every single photo, Margus sir, you are a true master!

Thanks.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag jeffsworks (Dec 5, 2011 at 17:01)
 This selection of Quotes and Pics has captured the shore better than anything else I have seen. Amazing job Margus!! Makes me feel guilty for sitting at a computer when i'm only 15 minutes from most of those trails!! I tell you if this was expanded to a coffee table book I would have one on pre ordered today.
[Reply]
  • + 3
flag sireatshitalot (Dec 5, 2011 at 10:47)
 I feel like need to write an essay on why I love biking;

See the above sorry with amazing photos.

Best essay I have ever written.
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag bulldogg73 (Dec 5, 2011 at 11:42)
 Lovely shots!
The way the shore is portrayed, it looks like the home of Orcs and Elves.
I'm not one for cold and wet riding, but seeing these pics makes me want to go out and discover the magic.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag browner (Dec 5, 2011 at 15:31)
 Some of these definately have the look of film - then I saw the negative strips. Wonder what cameras are being used? what kind of film? all of them have such an excellent sense of light and dark. Where the flashes are used it is to perfection and not washing anything out.
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag jgottya1 (Dec 5, 2011 at 11:04)
 The epitome of gnarly ! Awesome, yet beautiful pics !!!
This is the type of stuff that I first saw on the old Digger NSX films that got me stoked to go out and act like a fool on my bike !
Viva la Shore !
[Reply]
  • + 3
flag mulchee (Dec 5, 2011 at 10:35)
 I'm born and raised in North Van, so nice to see the lenswork of craftsman Margus photographing the best AT the best place in the world!
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  • + 5
flag fantaman (Dec 5, 2011 at 7:59)
 Riding there would be like being in heaven
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  • + 2
flag fullbug (Dec 5, 2011 at 8:28)
 one day ...big smiles, big eyes, and brown shorts for me! Always use to make it up to family in Seattle but I haven't been near that area since visiting Syncros when they were still in Vancouver. truly epic.
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag a0metal0edgeaaron (Dec 5, 2011 at 13:13)
 I ride Bootleg Canyon here in Vegas alot, it has it spots but not like what i'm seeing here.
It really is no wonder why so many pro names come from the north shore.
  • + 1
flag angrynipples (Dec 5, 2011 at 14:45)
 bootleg has some of the most difficult terrain though dude, not so much drops and jumps and skinnies, but super sharp cheese-grader rock. If you shred out there enough and allow yourself to progress as a rider you could definitely be great as well.
[Reply]
  • + 4
flag SBK-ID (Dec 5, 2011 at 8:43)
 is that an evil revolt got left out in the woods?
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag DrFrantz (Dec 6, 2011 at 22:11)
 I remember being down south, drinking coronas on a perfect beach, reading my Decline magazine and thinking: "man, I miss north van!"

The North Shore: best place in the world, period.
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag IamGianluca (Dec 5, 2011 at 10:13)
 Wonderful photos!! This work is just amazing Smile
Where I can find them in higher resolution?
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag ButtonPusher (Dec 5, 2011 at 10:50)
 So many POD's in there... Great riders + epic terrain x Riga = Amazing spread..!
[Reply]
  • + 3
flag geoffwarburton (Dec 5, 2011 at 9:32)
 Tho one of Tippie and his kid is the best by far.
  • + 1
flag cougar797 (Dec 5, 2011 at 11:26)
 pretty much
[Reply]
  • + 3
flag Academy (Dec 5, 2011 at 7:58)
 Sooo many POD's! Awesome.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag drjlorber (Dec 5, 2011 at 10:50)
 great photos, how I wish I could taste some of these amazing trails, rain forests, fogs....ahhh how I wish!!!!!!
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag ManuelMTB (Dec 5, 2011 at 11:09)
 Awesome short article! Lovely kick as"s pictures! Thanks Margus & PB!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag neimbc (Dec 5, 2011 at 13:33)
 Tippie Old Boy - two words - shin pads!! And tell me someone was also taking video?
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag Conor-Smith (Dec 5, 2011 at 19:40)
 Was the second photo of Jay Hoots the same line that was in the Hill/Vanderham section of follow me?
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag Gabe352 (Dec 5, 2011 at 16:51)
 best photos iv seen in a while
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag Nobble (Dec 5, 2011 at 16:29)
 is it just my computer or is the contrast wayyy off on most of those pictures?
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag robinwood33 (Dec 5, 2011 at 13:58)
 One feeling in my mind »»» EPIC Wink
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag skicorbiski (Dec 5, 2011 at 10:28)
 So many sweet shots and some good quick reading too! Thanks!
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag funkendrenchman (Dec 5, 2011 at 9:55)
 I got muddy just looking at those pics.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag Leeroyy (Dec 6, 2011 at 1:14)
 In my opinion some of these shots are better than the ones up for photo of the year...0_o
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag punkrocka1992 (Dec 5, 2011 at 8:33)
 Man these photos are some of the best ive ever seen. It makes me wonder why at least 1/3 of them arent choices for POM. Or POY.
  • + 1
flag brule Mod Plus (Dec 5, 2011 at 9:31)
 They were uploaded this weekend. POY was pictures from the last year. POM is PODs from the previous month.
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag bradwalton Plus (Dec 5, 2011 at 10:23)
 Inspirational. Thanks Margus!
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag TAridingMTB (Dec 5, 2011 at 8:10)
 Amazing photos Margus, I cant wait to ride the shore!
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag KaiGazette (Dec 5, 2011 at 8:07)
 soooooo stoked that im in this (:
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag Sharonb (Dec 5, 2011 at 10:37)
 captured the mood for sure!
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag rhiwfawrdirt (Dec 5, 2011 at 10:30)
 theres alot of pods in this page
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag TLDlover04 (Dec 5, 2011 at 15:25)
 i love this page so much
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag MathiasWensveen (Dec 5, 2011 at 15:24)
 Margus Riga is the cat's ass.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag jerryhazard (Dec 5, 2011 at 13:31)
 Should make this in to a coffee table book...
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag nikoniko (Dec 5, 2011 at 21:47)
 Awesome pictures and great story!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag dbodoggle (Dec 5, 2011 at 22:29)
 More epic photos in a single article than i've ever seen before.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag Luke-VTT (Dec 6, 2011 at 6:12)
 Amazing pictures and a lot scary as well.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag courtneywylie (Dec 7, 2011 at 9:47)
 Goddamn Margus, you are inspiring.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag lazymuf (Dec 8, 2011 at 4:40)
 Awesomely Stoked
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag lazymuf (Dec 8, 2011 at 4:34)
 Awesomely Stoked
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag hncreature (Dec 6, 2011 at 0:36)
 Incredible photos!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag lazymuf (Dec 8, 2011 at 4:32)
 AWESOME....
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag hillatoppa (Dec 5, 2011 at 10:38)
 One word:
EPIC!!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag nojzilla (Dec 5, 2011 at 8:35)
 amazing
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag geeKayy (Dec 5, 2011 at 7:59)
 EPIC!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag mastekolej (Dec 5, 2011 at 7:58)
 good very niceBig Grin
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag Felix316 (Dec 5, 2011 at 7:57)
 Soo friggin awesome!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag amajors (Dec 5, 2011 at 8:37)
 heaven!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag dughead123 (Dec 5, 2011 at 9:53)
 How old is Tippie?
  • + 3
flag dirtbagluvin (Dec 5, 2011 at 10:03)
 Old enough to ride his bike!!
  • + 1
flag cougar797 (Dec 5, 2011 at 11:20)
 He has tons of practice!
  • + 1
flag ManuelMTB (Dec 5, 2011 at 19:12)
 I thinks he may be as old as those old-growth forests he rides in!...but what a nice guy he is!
[Reply]
  • - 1
flag jonser (Dec 5, 2011 at 10:38)
 Wait a set, Tippie's only 74!
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