 | Well it was the first time anyone pointed a camera at me...I just wanted to do good. - Fraser Newton (on why he went so fast into 'the mossoleum') |
For our new short project we started with a simple premise, "
can we make an exciting Cross Country edit"? With the rise of enduro's popularity (Ed. Note enduro is a type of race...not a riding style) came a plethora of edits featuring spandex clad guys in XC lids and goggles pinning it in the Alps. While these edits are exciting they don't really conceptualize the type of 'XC' riding that we see here in the Pacific Northwest.
Here in B.C and especially in the Sea to Sky corridor people climb so they can shred the trails that you cannot shuttle. Here 'xc' riding is much closer to what, just a few years ago, was referred to as 'freeriding'. New technologies, refinements in angles, dropper posts and suspension design allow us to climb anything, and inversely descend almost anything. The speeds you can attain on trail bikes are quick enough to really make you rethink light helmets and nylon knee pads.
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To accomplish our goals with this edit we needed the right rider, equally as fast climbing as descending with a penchant for pushing the limits of a 4 inch XC bike. It quickly became clear to us we needed to work with our friend, and all-around trail slayer Fraser Newton. Fraser is the epitome of soul rider, living the mountain bike lifestyle that many lust after, but never fully realize. Fraser will drop almost anything to ride, tossing a few bars into his hydration pack and filling the reservoir at the first creek. This is a guy who shuttled Della Creek in Lillooet after blowing two front tires in his truck. Constantly monitoring his MacGyver repair job of tire sealant and mountain bike tube patches, which he inflated every 5 km with a hand pump, so the boys could keep lapping the trail.
 | 1000 reps of a bike pump every 5km was a simple trade off to keep the ride going...air is free. - Fraser Newton |
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Fraser 'enhancing the width' and making MacGyver proud
‘
Descend almost anything’ became our framework and subsequent mantra for the edit. We wanted to tell a true story of Cross Country riding in B.C. through the perspective of Fraser, a rider who epitomizes the style. Big climbs, long distances and epic vistas are part of every XC ride here, but so are technical trails, fast chunder filled descents and the odd freeride line or two from bike films of yesteryear. These were the elements we wanted to focus on, these elements make B.C. cross country riding unique and these are the elements, which we feel, make for an interesting XC piece.
 | I'll never film without my sport banana in my pack again...that's how you break 3 ribs. - Fraser Newton (on why he decided to break 3 ribs on our last day of shooting) |
Artbarn Film is a Squamish based, adventure film production house…constantly trying to balance work and play. Follow us on Instagram, @artbarnfilm and @artbarnpro for more behind the scenes photos.
Fraser's one of my favourite guys in the industry. He's off-the-charts decent and kind, a great guy all-around, and one of the most meticulous mechanics I've ever had the pleasure to work on my ride. The kind of guy that makes the town Squawesome.
Tip o' the hat to him, Sandra and Dave and the rest of the crew at Corsa.
What`s more interesting is the type of bikes the people (and journos) from the flatter areas bring when they com visit us here in the deep fjords, usually a from 6" and up, whereas the locals usually ride 5 to 6" bikes, and a lot of them are on hardtails.
Can't it be both? After all, racing is riding and the philosophy of enduro is definitely a different type of riding than traditional XC. To summarize, enduro riders fixate on bombing the downhills and not busting their balls on the uphills.
Perhaps there's some better word. However how else do we distinguish from XC riders who death grind every up hill from XC riders who go easy on the uphills and instead optimize their bike and their ride for faster downhills? I know both types of riders, the high seated XC crankers who compete with eachother on climbs, and also the XC riders who lazily chat on the climbs but then go all out on the downhills. Their bikes are different, their clothing is different, their conversations about bikes are different...
... is there a word to refer to that distinction other than enduro? (honest question)
That rock face at 2:10 is super serious!
First time I've seen a guy in baggies pin it like that on the uphills. Makes for good video, but our pace is typically 5mph or less on the climbs.
I want to live there.
EDIT - nice riding by Fraser. Rock on Corsa! Altho everyone knows Tantalus riders are faster ;>
perhaps this article will be helpful to you....
www.cracked.com/blog/6-harsh-truths-that-will-make-you-better-person
Just saying
Lately I have been riding everything on my 5and 5 "mini bike" When you have skill you can get away with less suspension.
Then one day I shuttle with the bro,s on my "big bike" Pin n Grin all the way!
Bottom line: The bike your on is the best bike to be riding at that moment.
I would say that looks more like AM than XC riding though...
XC + DH = AM
AM is where its at for me!
Ride it up and rip it down!
Guy can sure ride.
Welcome to Squamish/Pemberton/Whistler/North Van cross country.
Just happens they filmed the walking path kind of trails.
Have you noticed we have f*cking giant mountains?
What kind of trails do you think we have in there?
All pussy walking paths?
Pretty sure you'd walk down the shit we rode the other day.