Video: The Darkhorse

Everyday, Colin comes home from work, unloads his truck, heads inside to switch shoes and grab his dog Brodie. He then heads out to his nearby trailhead to do a quick ride up the back of Fromme.

Colin Yarrow 

Age: 41
Born: North Vancouver BC
Current Sponsors: @CanfieldBrothers @Marzocchiusa @RydersEyewear, Loudenterprises, Joystick Bicycle Hub, StopBrakeComponents, LiteSpring, CYHomeServices.
Race Team: Team Darkhorse www.darkhorsepa.com

How long have you been in the biking business?

I started mountain biking in 2000, when I realized dual suspension bikes were becoming more affordable. As soon as I sat on the bikes with front and rear suspension, I was hooked. I graduated from school for tailoring and design and was eager to get into the clothing industry. So with my skills and new love for mountain biking, I created Toss Freeride Gear, a clothing and armor company. It was fun, and I had the company running until 2008. I then realized that working at a variety of bike shops and running my clothing line was not going to get me where I wanted to be in life. In 2009, I shut it down Toss and went back to my old trade as a carpenter framing houses.

Provide a quick summary of your life in action sports.

I grew up in North Vancouver. When I was 11 years old (1984), I started racing at the local BMX track for fun. I stopped when I was 14 and started skateboarding. I spent the mid to late 80's at my home away from home, Seylynn skate park. When I was 16, I saw something on video called a snowboard. After begging my dad for a couple of years, it was pretty obvious that they were out of our price range. However, my dad is a mechanical genius. He took a look at how the boards were being made and said "we could do that". So my friend Rob Dow who at the time was riding for a company called "Never", later to be called "Option Snowboards," gave me the lowdown on the industry and suppliers. Eight prototypes later, I had my first rideable board that my dad and I made in the basement. Coming from a skateboard background let's just say I picked it up like a $20 bill on the ground. It was very obvious snowboarding was going to be a growing industry. In and around that time I was sponsored by a clothing company called 'Only' who acquired my snowboard company 'Strive' within the first year. We set up shop in East Vancouver just off Main Street. I moved to Whistler to focus more on competing in half pipe and big air contests and just riding. There were many sponsors to follow. I stopped competing when I was 25, moved to back to Vancouver, and decided to go to school for fashion design and tailoring.

Where did the inspiration to create Darkhorse Race team come from?

In 2014, after my third year of downhill racing and having a fairly good track record, 27 races and 19 podiums, I decided to race the "World's Masters Championships" in Hafjell, Norway. After training for eight months with C4 Rider Training coach, Cory Leclerc, I flew to Norway by myself with no expectations. I felt very prepared and very proud to be Canadian. Nobody knew who I was, I was not wearing a flashy jersey and only a few people had heard of Cove Bikes. I did my qualifying run Saturday and placed 4th.  Current champion South African, Miles Kelsey, came up to me the morning of my race run and said:

"Who the hell are you and where did you come from?  I saw you yesterday through the rock gardens you were pinned!"

My answer: Canada

"So you're the Darkhorse this weekend" he said.

The rest just fell into place. I did my race run and landed 6th in the world. I came back to Canada and, after working with the Cove Bike race team for three years, I decided to start my own team and called it "Team Darkhorse". This also carries a clothing line, consisting of T-shirts and hoodies with motivational text geared toward athletes. One important lesson that I have learned is mental preparation is equally as important as physical preparation.

Masters Worlds Race run in heavy Norwegian hail.

Colin winning the 2014 BC Championships held at Kickinghorse Resort in Golden, BC.

Other than this photo, Colin has only worn this jersey once in his life. His race run in Norway, it now sits in a frame still covered in Norwegian mud never to be washed or worn again.

Colins new Nimble 9 Chromoly 29er from his sponsor Canfield Brothers


What has been your best experience with biking?

My best experience with biking has actually got nothing to do with riding a bike at all. The fact that my wife, stepson, and I can pack up the camper and go to a race weekend and experience an indescribable family bond is more than the word "best" can define. 

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Mentions: @CanfieldBrothers, @Marzocchiusa @DescentFilms @loudenterprise

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