Queenstown is the social and adventure hub of the south island. From grabbing lunch and chatting up the line, at the iconic Fergburger to swinging a few thousand off feet the ground on a bungy, it has it all covered. Littered throughout the hills above Queenstown in the Cornet and Moonlight peaks are trails, trails that make for exceptional riding. Yeti’s World Enduro riders Cody Kelley and Richie Rude sampled the goods and often went back for more.
The iconic Mt Cook is New Zealand's highest peak, knows as Aoraki to the native Māori people. While the destination is primarily known by adventure seekers for rock climbing, the steep paths hidden among the tussock grass provide for some untamed and challenging downhills runs. The hike back up the pitches forces one to take pause at the top, sometimes to catch your breath, but more so to enjoy the view after each successive ride down.
The high alpine areas of the Craigieburn region are covered in scrub and beech forests. The trees’ dense thicket of growth provides a canopy creating a wet and muddy playground. Richie and Cody slid, roosted and bounded their way down, playing a bit of cat and mouse. Although the pace was slower than their norm, the technical nature of carrying speed from corner to corner delighted their racer sensibilities.
Our trip to New Zealand was all about exploring the sheer scope of the landscape and the fantastic riding it offers. With a small population and virtually no trail access issues, the riding is almost limitless. We imagine like it was 50 years ago in the U.S. We all agreed, the laid back NZ lifestyle grew on us.
@ReformedRoadie: Yes, I always wondered why the laser guns in star wars shows a beam of light moving through the air at low speed, and emitting light in all directions. It totally doesn't make sense, must have been staged. *Don't take my comments seriously. It's a beautiful bike, beautiful pics of New Zealand; I was just wondering how they made it up the mountain without any gear.
Only 2 days until I move to NZ. First assignment fly down to Queenstown for a Kiwi wedding and get on some of these trails on my birthday which is Anzac day. Woo hoo!
Been waiting for this one for a long time, and it was more than worth the wait. Incredible work everyone involved. Yeti content is on a whole another level that continually awes and inspires.
Every single person I know, that went to NZ, went crazy! I definitely HAVE to go there! Someone from NZ hire me please. I speak english, I am an aeronautical engineer, I ride bikes and most importantly.... I forgot what I was about to say, but it does not matter... just hire me! I wanna live there!!!
For the record, I FU*KING LOVE this video! It was easy to click "Add to Favorites."
However, due to recent articles here on Pinkbike on trail access, a question kept popping in my head during the video; is this evidence that would support our right to trail access or would it be the opposite?
I am having a hard time answering it myself, because on one hand it is beautiful media but on the other hand two guys doing cutties in a corner are nothing, but I personally stay away from trails after a race weekend.
I was actually thinking the same thing - one the one hand we bikers love to say "but riding causes no more erosion / trail degradation than hiking" but when watching these videos it's pretty hard to believe it. Ripping video though, man I miss the trails from home.
The trails on Coronet Peak shot in this video that you are speaking of are some of the most heavily ridden MTB trails in NZ. And by heavily ridden I mean ripped down, shredded, and drifted like no other as they are for bikes only and favorites among the locals. That said, this was shot in Feb, late in the NZ summer and the trails were in great shape despite a summer long effort by all riders to ride in a manner that you are insinuating will destroy and erode trails and make us look bad. But in actuality the trails were just fine despite a daily beatdown by bikes. I would argue that drifting in loose and dusty corners like that actually leaves the trail in better shape than in started and cleans up the surface.
@davetrump: that is great NZ has such an awesome place to ride! I'm just being selfish, I guess, as I was referring to the articles on Pinkbike related to US trail access and how media like this effects the perception of our sport.
Your argument that displacing soil (or dust) with our tires continuously over the same area is a positive thing might need some investigation; deep cut ruts in corners are what I see from multiple riders trying to drift. (Pssst don't tell anyone, but they are fun AF!)
@mattfitz: yup... and no one was blowing up the corners in the beech forest. I'd like to think there is a minimum amount of actual bike riding allowed here. it's how we all ride bikes every single day and why we buy bikes with big knobby tires and 5-6" of suspension.... Don't kid yourselves... you can't ride down a trail made up of 3" deep loam and not have it drift and spray around a little bit. Oh, and as a final note, we were on MTB trails with the actual trail builders and went back the following day to repair any damage that may have been done (and took pictures knowing that someone in the comments section might get unnecessarily angry), but there was no damage.
@mattfitz: Yup, checked it, and looks like riding bikes to me... and it didn't bother the trail builders present or any of the locals all of who were out shredding even harder the next day by the shuttle load. And like I said there was no damage, but what do I know, I was actually there and went out with the builders the next day to check for any damage after the rain storm.
Seriously, bark up another tree because you have no argument here.
@davetrump: No need to get so defensive, we're all just talking here. You're free to ignore the argument all you want - that's your prerogative - but don't be an ostrich with your head in the sand pretending that clips like this do not play a part in the ongoing trail access debate.
Also, where I think we got off on the wrong foot: "...despite a summer long effort by all riders to ride in a manner that you are insinuating will destroy and erode trails and make us look bad..." - I am not insinuating that riding in that way will destroy the trails. I am stating as a fact, that parties like DOC and the Sierra club, suggest riding like this causes erosion and they use it as a tool to block trail access. If it's true or not doesn't matter, it's a case of perception.
"I would argue that drifting in loose and dusty corners like that actually leaves the trail in better shape than in started and cleans up the surface." - That's just foolish.
@mattfitz: Find me one instance where a trail network or access has been shut down because riding in video's was sighted on the internet? Seriously? You are trying to create a controversy and stir the pot for no reason. We even worked with DOC on this trip to gain access to trails not usually permitted for bikes and they were incredibly supportive of what we were doing. The majority of these trails were MTB specific, built for and by riders and not multi use hiking trails, so what are the hiking communities going to do? Sight mountain bikers for riding their own trails an a manner that doesn't line up with their already anti-bike views? The groups trying to ban bikes have more than enough ammunition lined up, and enough $$$ and political influence that they certainly don't even have to bother sighting internet videos. One tire track in the mud at your local trail head will do years worth more damage than anything seen here thats for sure.
You are making up a problem/consequence that simply isn't going to happen, in an effort to make a point despite actual facts to the contrary being presented to you. And you are using the 3:20-3:40 section of the above video to make an example of? It's hard to ride around a corner in fresh cut wet loam without riding like that.... unless you slow to an absolute crawl, which is both unnecessary and unrealistic.
We actually used that video to show DOC and get permission to ride private land areas.
You've been told no damage was done to said trails. You've been told that we worked with local builders and DOC when we rode said trails, you've been told none of these groups were in anyway upset, yet you are still insinuating that this type of video and riding will promote trail closures.
Please, let your next response only contain facts to back up your argument. The same way facts have been presented to you as a counter point.
@bryan46: Deep cut ruts in corners is totally different than skimming across the top, above the hard pack and though the loose dirt that is simply surface dust. The same dirt that washes away in the rain and makes trails fresh again. Watch the video... it hadn't rained in weeks and the about of dust kicking up just from coasting should make it pretty clear how dry it was.
I'll agree all day long that smashing corners for the sake of blowing them up is lame and destructive, but sliding around on top if no different than taking a broom to it, and it turn leaves the surface fresh and better than it started, and since your tires aren't digging into anything no ruts are make.
Even in the above video it's plain to see the hard dirt underneath isn't being rutted out of ruined, in fact hardly a tire track is left in it.
@davetrump: "Find me one instance where a trail network or access has been shut down because riding in video's was sighted on the internet?" - I'm lucky enough to be calling pdx home at the moment, and while I don't feel like doing the legwork to find a source, I have seen more than a few instances where videos of riders are being used as reasons to keep riders out of forest park (spend some time on bikeportland.org)
Granted, Portland is not the norm, and hopefully it's not a problem where you are. To your question, has it directly resulted in closure? Of course not, but it is part of the wider debate.
"You are making up a problem/consequence that simply isn't going to happen, in an effort to make a point despite actual facts to the contrary being presented to you. And you are using the 3:20-3:40 section of the above video to make an example of? It's hard to ride around a corner in fresh cut wet loam without riding like that.... unless you slow to an absolute crawl, which is both unnecessary and unrealistic."
No. I used the section from 3:20 to 3:40 to refute your claim that "... and no one was blowing up the corners in the beech forest".
Watch the video again, read your statement again, and realize your statement was false. Or don't, who cares.
I'm stoked that you and the team worked with DOC to gain access and do it right, honestly, I mean that.
"...yet you are still insinuating that this type of video and riding will promote trail closures..." - again, no, I'm saying it may be used as fuel in the debate, and that debate may result in trial closure.
Your straw-manning of the argument (beech forest vs scree et al) is tiring so I'll be moving on and going for a ride.
Some creative license with the editing. Riding up Ben Lomond, all the way to the foothills of Mt Cook and then down Rude Rock/PTS would be an epic ride indeed. Unfortunately Sutherland Falls are in Fiordland and there is very little mountain biking in the national park.
Wow. Stunning scenery, great riding. That's one of those videos you show your non-MTB friends so they get why you would spend time and money on this thing.
Weird rational mind thing going on in the back of my head though. I have almost gotten used to seeing all the people riding without gloves. Guess they just go down less than me, or they don't give a shit about their hands (unlike me - earning a living using a keyboard and all that), or perhaps they get so much extra feel from riding barehanded it's totally worth it to them. But Richie Rude riding without glasses? Shit never flies up into his face, even in loamy/muddy forests? That's a bit of a headscratcher for me. Maybe he just has such ninja-like focus, getting hit with mud splatter or little branches in the eye while going mach chicken through the forest doesn't faze him...
I've spoken to Rude Boy one time I think at Massanutten and yet having been at so many races over the years with him and his pops, it still seems unreal to see this stocky 14 year mountain of a kid charging down a path I couldn't imagine bikes would have taken him.
So many props to the Rude family. Oh, and you're supposed to be racing World Cup DH. Heh.
Hauntingly, hauntingly beautiful. It'll take me about a week to process what I saw, but I already have a feeling that this will end up surpassing "Pacific Northwest" in my soul. As ever, Mr. Schusler and Mr. Trumpore, your work and that of your team embodies "hors catégorie". I'm honored to have experienced it.
Awesome vid and pics. Both of these guys are rippers. Kinda get the impression that Richie could drop the hammer and leave Cody in the dust at any point he wanted. I and many others would love to see Richie on the World Cup Downhill circuit. Yeti you need to get on it and build him an DH bike before one of the big three pushes a huge check in front of him and he cannot say no.
Plus, I'd love to go riding and not have to worry about everything in the forest, which can kill me rather easily. I've had enough close calls with venomous snakes now, too.
I was just about to say the same thing. I think there's only one bike route there and its on the valley floor and more for touring cyclists. And apart from winter on the Heaphy, mtb is strictly forbidden in National Parks in NZ. Maybe next time they should put a disclosure in. Lots of folk will get the wrong idea
So they go for a high country epic ride in New Zealand with no water bottles/camelbak or tools? It's extremely frustrating that yeti doesn't take into consideration water and tools. Specialized does an amazing job with integration of those key elements. Yeti has to realize that riding with a camelbak on gnarly terrain absolutely sucks. I just think it'd rediculous that in every yeti video the riders never have tools, tubes, pump, food, or water on them. Not all of us have cameramen that follow us with any supplies we need. Hahaha. Btw, I'm a proud owner of a sb6c! Just wish they had the water bottle on the top of the downtube!!
*Don't take my comments seriously. It's a beautiful bike, beautiful pics of New Zealand; I was just wondering how they made it up the mountain without any gear.
However, due to recent articles here on Pinkbike on trail access, a question kept popping in my head during the video; is this evidence that would support our right to trail access or would it be the opposite?
I am having a hard time answering it myself, because on one hand it is beautiful media but on the other hand two guys doing cutties in a corner are nothing, but I personally stay away from trails after a race weekend.
What say you riders? Bike industry?
Your argument that displacing soil (or dust) with our tires continuously over the same area is a positive thing might need some investigation; deep cut ruts in corners are what I see from multiple riders trying to drift. (Pssst don't tell anyone, but they are fun AF!)
It's currently en vogue to blast loam around unnecessarily in MTB media. It's a trend that I fear is doing the community a disservice.
Seriously, bark up another tree because you have no argument here.
Also, where I think we got off on the wrong foot:
"...despite a summer long effort by all riders to ride in a manner that you are insinuating will destroy and erode trails and make us look bad..."
- I am not insinuating that riding in that way will destroy the trails. I am stating as a fact, that parties like DOC and the Sierra club, suggest riding like this causes erosion and they use it as a tool to block trail access. If it's true or not doesn't matter, it's a case of perception.
"I would argue that drifting in loose and dusty corners like that actually leaves the trail in better shape than in started and cleans up the surface."
- That's just foolish.
You are making up a problem/consequence that simply isn't going to happen, in an effort to make a point despite actual facts to the contrary being presented to you. And you are using the 3:20-3:40 section of the above video to make an example of? It's hard to ride around a corner in fresh cut wet loam without riding like that.... unless you slow to an absolute crawl, which is both unnecessary and unrealistic.
Maybe you should watch this video made two years ago and remind me how many trail networks it got shut down?
www.pinkbike.com/news/video-lars-sternberg-loam-ranger-2014.html
Zero? Thats what I thought
Or this one from many of the trails filmed above
www.pinkbike.com/news/must-watch-george-brannigan-loose-laps-2015.html
Zero again... in fact Queenstown MTB built a bunch of fresh new trails this year to expand that network
Or this one, again from NZ that starts with a minute of skidding down off trail skree fields
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdfdMW5S65s
We actually used that video to show DOC and get permission to ride private land areas.
You've been told no damage was done to said trails. You've been told that we worked with local builders and DOC when we rode said trails, you've been told none of these groups were in anyway upset, yet you are still insinuating that this type of video and riding will promote trail closures.
Please, let your next response only contain facts to back up your argument. The same way facts have been presented to you as a counter point.
I'll agree all day long that smashing corners for the sake of blowing them up is lame and destructive, but sliding around on top if no different than taking a broom to it, and it turn leaves the surface fresh and better than it started, and since your tires aren't digging into anything no ruts are make.
Even in the above video it's plain to see the hard dirt underneath isn't being rutted out of ruined, in fact hardly a tire track is left in it.
- I'm lucky enough to be calling pdx home at the moment, and while I don't feel like doing the legwork to find a source, I have seen more than a few instances where videos of riders are being used as reasons to keep riders out of forest park (spend some time on bikeportland.org)
Granted, Portland is not the norm, and hopefully it's not a problem where you are. To your question, has it directly resulted in closure? Of course not, but it is part of the wider debate.
"You are making up a problem/consequence that simply isn't going to happen, in an effort to make a point despite actual facts to the contrary being presented to you. And you are using the 3:20-3:40 section of the above video to make an example of? It's hard to ride around a corner in fresh cut wet loam without riding like that.... unless you slow to an absolute crawl, which is both unnecessary and unrealistic."
No. I used the section from 3:20 to 3:40 to refute your claim that "... and no one was blowing up the corners in the beech forest".
Watch the video again, read your statement again, and realize your statement was false. Or don't, who cares.
I'm stoked that you and the team worked with DOC to gain access and do it right, honestly, I mean that.
"...yet you are still insinuating that this type of video and riding will promote trail closures..."
- again, no, I'm saying it may be used as fuel in the debate, and that debate may result in trial closure.
Your straw-manning of the argument (beech forest vs scree et al) is tiring so I'll be moving on and going for a ride.
The sierra club is surely watching
Weird rational mind thing going on in the back of my head though. I have almost gotten used to seeing all the people riding without gloves. Guess they just go down less than me, or they don't give a shit about their hands (unlike me - earning a living using a keyboard and all that), or perhaps they get so much extra feel from riding barehanded it's totally worth it to them. But Richie Rude riding without glasses? Shit never flies up into his face, even in loamy/muddy forests? That's a bit of a headscratcher for me. Maybe he just has such ninja-like focus, getting hit with mud splatter or little branches in the eye while going mach chicken through the forest doesn't faze him...
So many props to the Rude family. Oh, and you're supposed to be racing World Cup DH. Heh.
I just found out @joeyschusler put this video together. Dude you nailed it!!
I seriously thought it was a chick and a guy throughout the whole video and even for some of the pictures.
No offense Cody, s'just those long goldielocks
Plus, I'd love to go riding and not have to worry about everything in the forest, which can kill me rather easily. I've had enough close calls with venomous snakes now, too.
That craigieburn stuff is the stuff of legends.
Yeti always kills it with their photo/video game
Nice work @davetrump !! Thanks for the inspiration!
Btw, I'm a proud owner of a sb6c! Just wish they had the water bottle on the top of the downtube!!
I even ride with my evoc in the bikepark.
www.aliexpress.com/item/New-Arrival-1Pc-Essential-750ML-Portable-Outdoor-Bike-Bicycle-Cycling-Sports-Drink-Jug-Water-Bottle-Cup/32439302878.html