First Impressions: Dropping into The North Shore for the First Time

Feb 6, 2020
by Pinkbike Originals  

It's winter here on the North Shore but that doesn't mean you can't ride! It's trial by fire for Christina Chappetta as Jason Lucas takes her on a classic lap of Mount Seymour filled with icy roots, jumps, and of course, skinnies.


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Mount Seymour mountain biking trails


Local trail association: NSMBA.





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Mount Seymour

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Videos First Impressions Pinkbike Originals Christina Chappetta Jason Lucas


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144 Comments
  • 104 21
 WE WANT THE GRIM DONUT
  • 65 21
 Maybe we should stop rushing PB so they can actually provide a quality article/video. Yes, of course we all want to see the Grim Donut, particularly in action, but I'm willing to wait for something good. A rushed job is a poor job, and only leads to disappointment.
  • 28 6
 @mrzdabomb:

Boo
  • 51 7
 @mrzdabomb: This guy gets it!
  • 11 6
 Probably proof reading an article for the first time.
  • 9 1
 @mrzdabomb: em, hello this is 2020 - we want it all now, thank you very much
  • 15 0
 @mrzdabomb: As long as @mikelevy does the hot lap with it, I'm ready to wait a few more weeks! Smile
  • 6 38
flag Boosting (Feb 6, 2020 at 9:39) (Below Threshold)
 @jasonlucas: he gets it! It takes a year to make a good article! f*ck outta here and get to work
  • 13 5
 Generic-‘me too’- grimdonut comment. Getting a bit boring tbh. I wanna see the review too but everyone going on about it in a kind of ‘ I’m cool too’ way is getting a bit tedious.
  • 5 9
flag Boosting (Feb 6, 2020 at 10:05) (Below Threshold)
 @CrispyNuggs: are you okay?
  • 1 1
 @mrzdabomb: there is such a thing called time management? O.o
  • 1 1
 @mrzdabomb: we’re already disappointed in the lack of episode 2
  • 2 3
 @jasonlucas: That's enough time spent in the comment section for you. Go make a video, haha.
  • 3 1
 Really? Who cares about the grim doughnut.
  • 34 3
 #makeskinniesgreatagain
  • 24 41
flag gumbytex (Feb 6, 2020 at 7:27) (Below Threshold)
 All risk, no reward
  • 30 1
 @gumbytex: not so, not so...to see the gnarly skinny way off the ground and pedal by it, thinking..."nope"...then to get up the courage to try, and try it 1000x, and then one fateful day after it keeping you up at night to venture out and ride it cleanly...nothing like it sir.
  • 14 2
 @gumbytex: All reward, your balance gets better when you do skinnies, this is like core building, it helps you with ANY type of riding and the increased balance makes you faster and more stable at speed.
  • 7 1
 @gumbytex: I'm certain you'd be stoked to "clean" that bottom Empress Bypass trail. Huge reward
  • 6 2
 @preach:

Username checks out!

PREACH IT BRUDDAH!
  • 7 0
 @gumbytex: There's no Strava reward for skinnies (hint hint).
  • 7 0
 @preach: it’s a weird but highly accomplished feeling when I nail them haha
  • 2 0
 @anthobroncos: there should be hah
  • 3 0
 @christinachappetta: you rock
  • 25 0
 My first Shore lap was CBC to Corkscrew to Pangor to Boogieman nearly 20 years ago. I can remember that day like it was yesterday! So Rad to watch this while drinking morning coffee. Thanks Jason and Christina! More of this please.
  • 6 2
 First thing I thought of also. Dropping into the Shore for the first time was much different 20-25 years ago. Nothing wrong with sharing a modern story now, but for the record it was much more of an anomaly in the world of mtb back then. Not to mention bike technology has had impacts also. #glorydays
  • 11 0
 Holy moly! That is one hell of a first lap.
  • 4 0
 I remember my first laps on the shore a few decades ago.

The group unused to ride with at least twice a week would pick a new trail (for me) that we would do on the Wed night ride with lights. Then the Sat day ride would be same trail and be really eye opening. Could not believe how much easier boogieman was in the dark......
  • 1 0
 Insane first lap if I do say so! Pretty neat that the shore is still running amazing 20+ year in!
  • 1 0
 Same! ...in '03or4 tho..what a blast!
  • 23 1
 Pinbike... maybe a shout out to the local trail assn and/or builders when you do these would be a good idea. Not many people realize that these trails wouldn't look like this if it wasn't for builders and maintenance days. Also a good chance we wounldn't even have access to these trails that are located on private land if it wasn't for the hard work of the local assn's and others.

Also maybe a reminder to visitors to donate to the local assn in order to help keep the trails in great condition. These trails see a huge amount of riding from locals and visitors and it takes a ton of work to keep them running.
  • 11 0
 @giantbicyclevancouver has been sponsoring @nsmba TAP on Pangor for a few years now, again in 2020.

I love this video for a few reasons:
1. Christina ripped the trail a new one, but also understood why the big rock roll has a skinny entrance challenge.
2. @Jasonlucas falling off the logride showed me a dangerous landing zone with a freshly fallen tree with sticky branches on riders left. Think about Jolanda Neff’s recent injury. That tree is going to be taken care of in the next couple days, thanks to the @nsmba volunteer builders.
3. It let me ride vicariously from across the globe, and even though I’m now in Europe, the network of people who support the trails allows me to fix #2 off my phone.
  • 2 0
 @heckler73: wicked! Stoked you enjoyed it and got the fun feeling of a bike ride here in BC from across the globe
  • 6 1
 @heckler73: great idea for sure! I’ll keep that in mind for videos we do in the future! Thanks for looking out for the local builders, without them we would be helpless
  • 2 0
 @heckler73: Love hearing this stuff, you guys do amazing work. We've got a small little crew in Philly and I've come out for some trail work which is an amazing feeling. Building features you know you're gonna ride for years to come?! Nothing better.
  • 23 0
 Two great personalities, very excited for more upcoming content from you guys!
  • 3 4
 Nice couple.
  • 12 0
 The way Christina casually keeps up the light banter on this trail and seems to never get out of breath makes one wonder just how far her limits are...
  • 15 0
 Further than mine, that's for sure.
  • 8 0
 @jasonlucas: ha! You were doing the fun stuff, I was merely surviving
  • 8 0
 Haha thanks pal! I do a lot of self talking! Helps with the mouth breathing associated with enduro racing
  • 2 0
 I believe Jason's & more recently, Christina & Cathro's additions to the Pinkbike team can really give the whole site (and YouTube) a whole new feel and outlook. It's fantastic to see more Pinkbike generated, quality content too compliment the already high standard of hosted & paid for output.
It was kinda sad for me that RC retired as he's been a Spirit Guide too many throughout his diverse career. You will always find an answer to any mtb issue you maybe having in one of his copious articles. But for me, Pinkbike is in a great place going forward. Chapeau guys, great video. Salute
  • 7 0
 Definitely need to include Seymour on my 50th birthday (first-time) visit to BC next year..!
  • 1 0
 Yes for sure!!! All the north shore mtns actually! Epic way to celebrate a half century!
  • 1 0
 dont leave out cypress...
  • 3 0
 Give me a shout when you are planning to visit if you want someone to show you around. I live on Fromme.
  • 2 0
 Same birthday in a week...same plan for first time BC visit in June!
  • 4 0
 Bikes have come so incredibly far since I rode many of those same Seymour trails 20 years ago that those just beginning in our sport can't appreciate the difference. I would have saved a lot of blood, bruises and bone fragments.

Riding a steep-angled hardtail with v-brakes, lousy tires and at the time "killer" suspension (Bomber Z1 MCR!) is not an experience I would want to re-live.
  • 2 0
 You had suspension? Luxury! I started riding the shore in the '80s on fully rigid bikes (yes I am old). good times!
  • 2 0
 @Skooks: Haha. I started with a rigid bike too, but thankfully not on the shore. You were brave! (or in reality, didn't have options). Knees and elbows are all we had back then.
  • 9 0
 @Skooks: 80's?! i started riding in the 20's on pennyfarthings and those things were death traps on the north shore. no chain, no tires, 89in front wheel!
  • 2 0
 @cuban-b: Cool! The original mullet bike!
  • 1 0
 @Skooks: Love it. I remember riding up Old Buck in the late 80's and descending the early versions of these trails on my rigid Norco Bigfoot. Using those canti brakes in the wet were really about just slowing down enough to not get hurt.
  • 4 1
 **Need Canadian advice**: Planning an extended Canadian MTB trip (~3-4 months) this year...North Shore--> Vancouver Island-->Squamish--> Whistler--> Pemberton-->Kamloops-->Revelstoke-->Kelowna-->Nelson-->Rossland. That's the rough route.

What would be a good month to start for weather?

Thinking...Start in May as the coastal rains are tapering off, and get to high elevation Whistler zone in time for snow to melt?

Thanks
  • 2 0
 June to September. Although Juneuary can be a wet one in greater Vancouver, you can head inland for nice weather, but not with alpine snow still in May. September and October are usually fabulous, although snow can start to stick up high in October.
  • 3 0
 For the high alpine, make sure you are in the revelstoke area for august. Simply spectacular. Derby ridge, Makenzie basin well worth it!
  • 1 0
 I can't speak as much to the weather closer to the Interior. I can say that on the South Coast usually May is nice but can be rainy, June(uary) is often rainy, July and August are usually the hottest months, and September is gorgeous.

If you're wanting to ride Whistler bike park, they usually open mid-May, but Top of the World won't usually open until late June. The stuff in between...well... I'll let you fill in those gaps.

Also, if you can swing it, there's some great terrain in Kimberly/Cranbrook/Fernie.
  • 1 0
 @heckler73: Thanks!
  • 1 0
 @makkman: thanks!
  • 1 0
 @haroprease: thanks!
  • 1 0
 Canadian advice: dont believe the forecast too far in advance lol, just kinda have to play it by ear and figure it out as you travel. The above responses are true in trends but you'll never really know until you get here and ride. Starting in June wouldn't be a bad idea to get a little more into warmer summer temps and less rain. Still lots of great riding weather in September like @heckler73 said. October can be amazing too, cooler temps for when you want to do those long days in the saddle and its arguably the most scenic time of the year with the colors of leaves.

Best of luck on your journey!
  • 4 0
 Props to the hundreds of people filling in holes, diverting water, rebuilding wooden structures. The North Shore changes as it matures. Now you can have flow trails or gnar. Take your pic.
  • 4 0
 We ride this lap after work in the summer (and sometimes in the winter) all the time. Such a good lap - nice mix of tech and flow.
  • 2 0
 I vividly remember by first Shore experience maybe 10 years ago. What a rush when you've dreaming of the place for years and seen countless riding vids of it. Dropped into 7th Heaven on my 48lb DH sled and had my first experience of what "too much bike" means.
  • 2 0
 Haha as we left, there was a guy pedalling up a full dh rig! Still shore the core around here
  • 2 0
 I definitely think both that the North Shore trails are more flow-able and better constructed and modern bikes are waaaaaay more capable than they were. My first ride on the N Shore was Upper Oil Can/Air Supply/Boundary. Scared the living shit outta me as I only rode maybe at best 20-25% of it back in '02. That said, the next day we rode Ladies Only and Lower Ladies which simply ruled and I was good for 75-80% of those. As always, you locals make it look easy and it is not. Great riding and clip @jasonlucas and @christinachappetta.
  • 2 0
 My first Seymore ride was Severed Dick in 87. Crashed on the crux over the bars bike landed on me, bars were bent. Team Pangor was a favourite lap for me. Lots of night laps done there. I forgot about the climb part way down.
  • 4 0
 Louise Belcher rips! Kidding aside - great winter riding by both! Excited to see more of her in the future. Good luck!
  • 2 0
 I thought I was a decent mountain biker till my first lap on the shore: Corkscrew/Salvation/spongy/Pangor. Much was learned that weekend and some trails never looked hard again. Smile
  • 1 0
 Pingu, not Spongy. Great autocorrect work. LOL.
  • 1 0
 @DrPete: hahah
  • 1 0
 I'm a little disappointed we didnt get to watch them tinker their way down Empress. I love the reaction I get from people when they try it for the first time. Same goes for the last bit of boogieman where the tech factor hits 12/10.
  • 4 0
 That's pretty much my all time favorite lap in that area!
  • 4 0
 Christina has the best sound effects of all PB editors.
  • 2 0
 I surprise myself sometimes, thank you!
  • 1 0
 Agreed ????
  • 3 0
 Damn iPhone
Agreed Wink
  • 1 0
 Big fan of the Christina add; my internal dialog externalized.
  • 2 0
 Curious to know what tires you are running @jasonlucas

Seems like you guys wwere doing okay grip wise, even on the snowy parts!
  • 2 0
 Seymour was my first in BC.. and then some crazy locals took us over to Cypress... so much fun, yet so over our heads at the time.. we had to learn fast... great memories
  • 2 0
 Christina is such a great addition to Pinkbike and Jason is a lowkey shredder. Great content, I'm sure those skinnies are terrifying in person.
  • 1 0
 Jason and Christina have complementary energy for these kinds of videos. I look forward to seeing more of them together in the coming days, weeks , and months right here on PB.
  • 2 0
 By far my favourite shuttle lap of of Seymour, a bit of everything in one descent.
  • 2 0
 No vertical rock hucks to flat? Not the north shore I remember. If you ain't wheely dropping you ain't riding!
  • 2 0
 Good job guys! Great trail picks...awesome riding..great fun commentary..keep it comingSmile
  • 2 0
 Loving Christina’s casual chat all the way down, nice presenting and riding ????
  • 2 0
 Greatly enjoyed this; want to check out the N Shore, and also this gets me "about that February life"
  • 1 0
 Fun riding, all our good stuff is snowed in, nice to see folks getting done. Good on PB to expand their staff with woman, and women so can ride well too!
  • 1 0
 First drop to the NS was into Espresso behind a local. Honestly it did blowy mind.
  • 3 2
 My first 'shore' experience was riding... I mean walking down Ladies Only on my Norco Tango full rigid back in early '97.
  • 2 0
 Norco Tango!!!!
  • 2 0
 Hahah amazing
  • 2 0
 Christinas got the ride chats on point!
  • 1 0
 Does Jason not ride for mahalo my dude anymore?
  • 1 0
 They edited out the drops on Pingu!
  • 1 0
 I want to live in the PNW for a season so bad.
  • 2 0
 Worth it!
  • 1 0
 Seymour. Why can’t I edit?
  • 1 0
 good lord where is all the snow?
  • 1 0
 Aw too bad it's February!
  • 1 0
 Christina's commentary is great! Good add Pinkbike
  • 10 13
 This isn’t winter riding. These are amazing conditions! Come and see what the east coast looks like. Maybe you won’t call these condition « winter » riding no more!
  • 4 0
 I mean, this set of trails was snow covered until a week ago
  • 18 0
 Are... are you gatekeeping winter? Smile
  • 3 6
 Fun fact: winter is a season and the weather is not the same everywhere in the world. Stop being a f*cking crybaby and go skiing or move somewhere that will make you happy all year round. Now show yourself out of here
  • 7 4
 @Boosting: you’re so hardcore and elite. I wanna be you.
  • 2 3
 @CrispyNuggs: weird flex but ok
  • 6 3
 @Boosting: obviously I’ve got up my keyboard warrior game to be like you, but one day, just one day I might reach the level you are at. One can dream.
  • 1 2
 Pangor is a janky creek bed that lacks flow... Boogieman is way better.
  • 2 0
 Super French! Great enduro practice!
  • 1 1
 Skinnies on wide trails.
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