Mike Hopkins in Kelowna

Words and video by Liam Mullany
Main Photos by Pat Taillefer

As any Geotechnical Engineer, landscaper or equipment operator will tell you, there are several ways to move dirt from point A to point B. Shovels, excavators, dump trucks or wheelbarrows are common tools in the noble field of soil relocation. While watching others use said equipment can be moderately entertaining for a while; watching Mike Hopkins move dirt out of berms provides hours of enjoyment for most of the people around him. Whether it's a pocket berm, flat corner or set of S-turns, Mike has a tendency to get low and hammer every corner like it's his job... oh wait.


When he stopped by our big comfy couch for a few days at our place in Kelowna, BC from his hometown of Rossland, we decided to take him and his new bike out to the local trails we had been digging in all year. After a few warmups, Mike had the berms dialed, the dirt flying and the shovels in need of locating.


Over the next couple days myself and Mike hopped around riding and shooting some of the local Kelowna hot spots (including the "Scandia" fun land batting cages where Mike did manage to hold his own, indicating that if biking or skiing doesn't end up working out, he can always pull a Michael Jordan and hit the big leagues).

Although timing and weather prevented us from shooting in perfect money light, we knew that was irrelevant considering the most important part of any mountain bike video is the introduction, so we brought in the big guns to ensure all our bases were covered in that respect.