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Video: Park City Riding

Jul 24, 2015
by Mike Sampson  
Park City Riding: Evil Empire

by mrmikebikes
Views: 2,872    Faves: 9    Comments: 1


THE TRAIL: Evil Empire is one of many trails in the Park City area. Harder to access than most other gravity trails, it stays fairly unridden but is a favorite among locals. It features several jumps and drops, in addition to several unique features that come from concrete ruins throughout the area.

THE RIDER: Mike Sampson is normally an XC racer for the Competitive Cyclist development team. This season he came out to Park City from New Hampshire to train with his new teammates he met at Ft. Lewis College. Not only does Mike push the limits on an XC bike, he also thoroughly enjoys gravity riding and jumping off of mounds of dirt.

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57 Comments
  • 21 3
 I agree, the trails in Utah are lame. No one should ever visit, they'll only be disappointed.
  • 13 1
 Yep, Rampage is always so disappointing... And it's not like Canyons is one of the best bike parks in the western US... yea, no one should ever visit.
  • 1 1
 Dont forget how shitty Deer Valley is or how stupid the dirt looks in green river! God I hate this state...
  • 13 2
 Hey Mike, just to kinda let you know, in this video you didn't actually touch Evil Empire. What you rode was Black Forest and D-Line.
  • 5 10
flag mrmikebikes (Jul 25, 2015 at 7:08) (Below Threshold)
 Black Forrest is somewhere else on the mountain closer to dead tree and higher up. As for D-line, I've never heard of it.
  • 7 3
 Exactly my point, you're riding it and posting it on Pinkbike.... yet you've never even heard of it and trying to call it something that it's not. Anything from Mid Mt down is not technically Evil Empire. The section with the four pack, One Rusty Nail, the small wooden drop that you rode around, etc, is lower Black Forest. All the stuff in Daly Canyon, the old concrete stuff, the gate jump, etc, is D-Line.
  • 6 4
 Don't worry Mike, I've been riding the area for a while and don't know the names of half the trails. Wink
  • 5 3
 I've lived here for some time now. Every "local" i've ridden with has called it Evil Empire. Black forest I know for a fact is no where near this trail. I've also ridden Upper Empire which funnels down into this trail (lower empire/ evil empire). If D-line is fun I'd like to go hit that though. There are two parts to the "Evil Empire" trail. This is the lower part. And if I'm wrong, oh well. I had a fun time riding and filming this trail.
  • 14 5
 Oh! Well thank you for the geography lesson! I didn't realize that you've "lived here for some time now". Please continue to enjoy the trails that my friends and I have built for you!
  • 3 2
 It is an awesome trail though. Endless flow without being a big machine built side walk. Love the contrast in dirt that you can find around here. Everything from moondust to hardpack, to loam and roots! PC is so awesome
  • 6 0
 Hey man, not sure if you saw below but I do want to apologize for my comments above. Not sure what was going through my head this morning, no excuses.
  • 2 0
 lol all good! My first pinkbike argument!
  • 5 1
 You people should just can it and not tell people where this trail is. Let them think its Empire.. Less goons up there the better. Especially that Scott Townes guy....
  • 7 0
 ^ Too late! I've already taken at least 4 runs down, fully locking up my rear brake the whole time. SKIDS FOR LIFE! Haha suckerrrs
  • 10 2
 The hate in these comments is un-real! Seriously!? Ive grown up in Park City working and riding on these trails since before I can remember, I also happen to go to the same college as Mike. With that said, to anyone that thinks he's "giving away" the local trails to the internet, please, he made an edit not a step by step guide on how to find the trail head. Yes he races Pro XC? So that means he's not allowed to ride our DH trails? Dose that mean I'm not allowed to ride the up trails because I race Pro DH? Have some love people! Make our sport fun! For everyone beginner or expert, DH or XC were all here to have a good time riding bikes!
  • 3 1
 You race Pro DH!? And no you aren't allowed to ride the up trails cause you spin your damn legs too much.
  • 1 0
 Thanks Sam, hows that hole in your leg...
  • 1 0
 One time I biked with you
  • 4 1
 And not to mention most of what are considered as "local" trails are now on every trail map or anyone at a local bike shop will tell you how to get to them. Who cares. Its all a good time.
  • 4 0
 Wise words from elder Karen
  • 8 0
 I'm only here for the comments.

Why so much hate Utah?

"Enjoy the trails me and my friends built for you"

Really?
  • 4 0
 You're totally right man, I do apologize. Not really sure why I was so amped up this AM but I re-read the things I wrote and I'm kinda embarrassed
  • 1 0
 @el-Pouch: a b l o w j o b and mike will forgive
  • 2 0
 Great trail, ridden it many times and now I know what it's called. Along with Moose House there are some cool out of the way gravity trails in the PCMR, DV area. Any idea what the trail is called that starts at the gondola mid station and drops across Jennies and underneath Crescent Chair lift?
  • 6 0
 Such a fun trail.
  • 6 2
 Why do locals trails??? Really!!! Let's get more tourists and yuppies to come to Utah!! Yay!!!!!
  • 7 1
 Don't blame PB for the exposure to your area, Vail Resorts will be the reason behind all the tourism, yuppies and douche baggery.
  • 10 3
 Isn't everyone in PC kind of a yuppie?
  • 5 2
 Everone that lives in PC for the most part are assclowns. They always introduce themselves (most noticed on the phone) as "hello, this is soandso from park city." When i respond "hello, this is mike from lehi (prounounced le-high)" they always are quiet for a second and then start the conversation, usually in an off-putting or annoyed tone of voice.
  • 3 1
 Weird. I've never come across that in my time here. Never. Sounds like you're making up some weird stuff.
  • 1 1
 Nope.

Gotta remember I'm dealing with the people with money.. people up there because they want the status.

Not necessarily the mtbr's. Mtb/ski folks are cool but most of them live in camus or other small towns up there, not in park city
  • 3 0
 Kamas!!
  • 1 0
 Yep. Kamas.. my baf.
  • 1 0
 Bad**
  • 1 0
 I hate Kamas....cause of a girl tho haha
  • 3 0
 @bhd13 The videographer wrote the bio

@elong801 Hes actually an xc racer who competes at the world cup level
  • 3 4
 That's cool that he's at that level for XC. Maybe film a XC trail in PC then?? Not a FREERIDE Gravity trail that he just does straight-airs.
  • 3 2
 Thats why there's only 3 clips of jumps. If I wanted it to be a Freeride edit, maybe I would've done something different. As for the trail.... Jumps aren't big and if flows well.... no need for anything more than a trailbike
  • 7 1
 Mike, this is still a trail that most people (read: tourists) should not try even though you handled it smoothly on a trailbike. It is one of the more difficult trails on the mtn. Nice riding though!
  • 7 0
 ELONG801...Why be a dick? Why be negative? If this guy put the time he invests in XC into freeride, he'd prolly run circles around you. But that's not the point...it's about fun and personal expression. Maybe you've lost touch with the pure reason we should be in bikes?
  • 5 0
 LuvAZ- One of the most difficult on the mountain? That's highly debatable. Any competent/experienced rider can make it down this trail no issue.
  • 6 0
 @elong801 stop being negative nancy. Mountain biking is mountain biking. anyone can do anything, you dont have to be specific on what you ride. Kenta Gallagher was on the British olympic cross country team when he decided to switch over and race world cup downhill (He got 41st in Lenzerhiede for the world cup, beating Bernat Guardia who has raced world cups for 10 years now)
Go film yourself riding evil empire ya "Local"
  • 1 0
 You want difficult and technical... drive 3-4 hours south
  • 1 0
 s-t, i get it, but do you really think a trail with gaps and ladder drops (though you can ride round them) is something any 'competent' rider can or should just go out and rail? But you are right that there are much more difficult trails- ncs is a biatch.
  • 6 0
 Any drop or double jump feature isn't smart to "just go out and rail" but that's not what we're posting about. Its not a gnarly or tech. trail, especially not to the point of telling what you call tourists to not even attempt it. Bobsled for example has some fun drops and now bigger jumps as side attractions but that doesn't make the trail itself more gnarly.
  • 1 1
 @elong801 can ride circles around most utah locals and most riders in general.
  • 2 1
 @MTBCAM Haha thanks cam. I don't think I'm that good, everyone gets butthurt on here for any reason they can find. Haters will hate...
@brownpowproductions If I filmed myself on that trail you wouldn't see just straight airs tho. And I'd show the parts of the trail higher up that make empire what it is. I'm entitled to my opinion and so are you...
  • 1 0
 Just to be sure... Empire is the one that starts up near that lift (a bit above it to be accurate) and it has all that awesome loose rocky shit? If so, that part is incredible. I wasn't kidding when I posted that I don't know half the trails' names despite being here for a while.
  • 3 0
 I wish you would of shown the upper beauty that Pouchy is talking about. Love me some empire.
  • 8 7
 Mehhh, local shreders would more entertaining to watch on that trail. Enduro-bro is pretending to be a freerider in this edit.
  • 6 1
 It's called youtube- check it out. I thought he was just mountain biking but I guess you have to stick to one type of trail right buddy? PBers complain about everything.
  • 1 0
 You're complaining about my opinion bud, so that makes you a PB complainer too...
  • 5 1
 Lol pinkbike argurments
  • 4 2
 Does Mike Sampson always refer to himself in the 3rd person?
  • 3 0
 Slayer!
  • 2 0
 That concrete drop has owned me more times than I'd like to admit.
  • 3 2
 I had someone else write the article.







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