OctobikerFest 2016 - Because Bikes, and Beers

While bike parks have been growing like weed in British Columbia for the last decade, in Quebec close to nothing has happened. But that started to change in the last few years, and a good example of that is the park named Énergie CMB, in Trois-Rivières, Qc. That spot used to be exclusively used for cross country skiing, but it grew as one of the finest mountain bike and BMX spots of all the province. A couple of passionate riders not afraid to put shovel to dirt met a down-to-earth manager who was keen to use the politically correct description of sick trails to get some funding. So all of that gave birth to the raddest dirt jump spot of La Belle Province as well as one of the best freeride trails and a bunch of sweet XC and enduro trails. But still, money is rare in this business, so a wise local legend, Bérubé, had the idea to mix two of the best things life has to offer, bikes and beers, to create a crazy event and raise some funds to improve the trail network. The name, Octobikerfest brings the concept together. The 2016 edition was past Saturday and here is what went down.

There were twice as many people as last year. When vibes are that good, word gets around.

First off was the Freeride Jam, I think Simon Trepanier's face says it all about that awesome, flowy track.

A DJ was blasting classics all over the woods for the enjoyment of everybody. I bet even the trees.

Local rider, Dylan Bonneau was flowing all over the track, boosting high and laying it flat.

Alexandre Turcotte heading (sideways) towards the newly built curved wall ride, direct consequence of last year's success.

The new wall ride in all its glory. Let's have a moment of silence for Charles, one of CMB's hardest working builders, for that sweet looking thing. Man, just look at those planks!

The stoke was high. Gorgeous day, smiling people, flowy trails, and yes, very very tasty Trou du Diable beer, which is in my opinion, one of the best microbreweries in Quebec, and unlike bike parks, we have many.

After the freeride jam was over, it was time for the dirt jump jam so everybody moved to David's backyard (figure of speech, still at Énergie CMB), Quebec's now infamous dirt jumps, built by a real passionate person, David Cadieux. Ask him about kids smiling while riding his pumptrack or dirt jumps, a tear of joy will fill up his eye.

Clicked turndown in perfect dirt jumps. Simon Dravigne makes the best of the hard work that was put in there.

Almost the whole of The Rise crew was there, including this crazy dude, Nick Clarke. Let's say that they really went all in on the new slopestyle kicker.

Floaty backflips all day for Kevin Fabregue. In the last few years, we really saw a bunch of up and coming bmxers tricking every box jump in sight all over the province.

Two buddies shredding, Simon Trepanier and Dylan Bonneau, both locals and as happy on mountain bikes and BMX's. Well, that's what it's all about, isn't it?


And the last contest of the day was a sketchy as hell dual slalom, just the way it's meant to be. But with a twist. You had to spin around a stick, jump in a potato bag and hop trough some distance, then rush to your bike and tackle that course.

Yeah, it claimed a couple of victims, nothing serious. Just made the upcoming beers even better for them.

The night went off around a fire, with live music, good friends, we put up our tents just outside the party area and drowned our joy in the night.

Thanks a lot to everybody involved, and thanks to Judicael Aspirot for the awesome shots he took for local bike shop Passion Vélo, aswell as Philippe B. Marceau, Stephan Gorgusta, and Jérôme Guay!

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MENTIONS: @simondrouin

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