Roca Verde/Salsa VerdeI've always been intrigued by the myriad of styles, character, and construction in mountain bike trails. Years of riding The Shore, The Woodlot, Whistler, Squamish, Pemberton, and the interior offered up a plethora of building techniques that I took in as an astute observer and eager student. Unfortunately, the time building a full trail requires never seemed to materialize.
That is until an untimely injury sustained during a bike trip to Central America. I had broken my hand in a crash in the first week of that trip leaving me unable to ride or work when I returned home.
In the classic case of '
when life hands you lemons' I took the downtime as an opportunity to explore the forests around me. Before long I had flagged multiple lines and got to work clearing brush. Each day in the woods inspired new ideas for features. Within a few months, my hand had healed and I was able to start the real work.
The terrain I had chosen was difficult at best to work with, but with help from all around good guy Danny Martins, the task was made 99% easier. Not quite 100% due to his habitual late morning starts. But considering he works for free and doesn't complain, Carlo as he's sometimes known, is the best pal you could have trail building by your side.
Over two years, we slaved away cutting, shaping, and digging. Building this trail became our obsession. In that time, we spent more time working on our dream build than actually riding our bikes. Our backs ached, muscles were taxed, joints became chronically sore. Day in and day out we returned at every free chance we had. Completed sections were christened with ritual post dig beers.
What seemed like an impossible task soon became a reality and the arduous journey to completion was done. We never took short cuts and it took much longer than we both envisioned. The time and money invested are nothing compared to the feeling of riding our own hard work sculpted from the earth. We're proud to present our creations, Roca Verde and Salsa Verde.
None of this would have been possible without help from these amazing friends:
Lisa Mason
Justa Jeskova
Michael Sousa
Caleb Einhorn
Mike Gamble
Dave Robinson
Jessica Shoubinson
Thomas Wood
Words by @stevestorey Photos by @Justa25 Video by @mike-gamble
MENTIONS:
@Chromagbikes /
@stevestorey /
@Justa25 /
@mike-gamble /
@bikesr4fun8daysaweek /
@soose
Who would close down a public trail like that in the US first: lawyers or misguided environmentalists?
I'd like to see a POV vid of the whole course does someone know wher I could find that? cheers
supa props to the Team!
Salsa verde looks delicious and lil bit spicy!!
You Whistlerites ROCK!! @mike-gamble, Steve and the others!
Can anyone out there explain to me the trend of excessive slow motion in today's edits??? Once in a while on a sick shot is one thing, but almost every other shit? A good example of too ugh is not bad... It was bad....
The bright side is that without it you'd probably miss what brand of bike someone rides or their googles brand/logo. And the rooooost!
Share the video but not make it about the trail make it about the riding if you don't want people to know or ask where it is. People use to build so people could enjoy its most likely how we all got into riding.
Enjoy your trail and being exclusively pompous
(if u speak espanol you will get the comment)
Are u middle finger braking ?
Is that a big F#@k u to the world ?