PSA: Don't Stop on the Trail

Jul 14, 2018
by Pinkbike Staff  

Good on Bryn Atkinson for keeping it together here!


Bonus IG carnage below



Not only is this one of the best tomahawk's we've ever seen, he survived to tell the tale AND finish the DH in Vallnord later in the day. Get some, Max!


Bonus points for speed?


Save of the day goes to....

Author Info:
pinkbikeaudience avatar

Member since Jul 22, 2013
3,460 articles

134 Comments
  • 183 0
 Good thing that was a rider of calibre. If it had been me that kid would have been toast!
  • 5 0
 That was my first thought... if that had been me, I would have grabbed the brakes and probably gone over the wall completely. Scary stuff!
  • 40 0
 I had an accident because of a dude on the trail. Broke my arm, neck and back in 3 places. Up and running again but a very long and scary recovery. Stick to trails you can handle and when you stop, get out of the way!!!
  • 99 0
 I suck so bad I would have hit the dad. Kid probably would have been fine.
  • 14 7
 I tend to not judge parents or talk down to them how to raise their kids. I am just sad for the rider that eventually hits a kid. If a kid has a dad like this he has way more different sorts of occasions to get fkd up. There’s more to worry about and I’m not going to get into this. Natural selection - You can’t stop it. Other than that - guys and gals, take care of your kids, preferably ride with someone who can close the pack and watch the entrance to a section and shout: kid behind the bend/ jump/ at the bottom of the shute. If riding alone with kid/ any sort of noob, be the closing pal, not the leader. Just that. Sorry.
  • 5 1
 @WAKIdesigns: Word! I See it so often. Sometimes I think the dads want to look cool in front of their Kids. But as a dad you have to stay behind the Little ones and give them orders. And be the cushion between them and the harsh Shredder world :-)
  • 2 1
 I landed a jump at race pace in Les Gets trying to beat a PB on strava only to find a joey pushing back up the middle of the track looking at the ground. Screamed at him and must have missed him by inches. If you are going to session a section of track then push up the side and start from a point with a good view up the track so you know its clear.
  • 138 0
 I love blocking trails and standing on drops
  • 86 2
 with my dog, while smoking a cig
  • 23 1
 @speed10: and cutting a jig
  • 3 1
 @speed10: ROFLMAO
  • 169 2
 I often dress up like Gandalf and scream "you shall not pass!". I only look slightly more ridiculous than dudes in full TLD kits
  • 28 0
 I like to stand under drops and give unsolicited advice to other riders
  • 22 2
 My bike is from the 90s and it freakin sends
  • 33 2
 @jackalope: I dress up like the Bridgekeeper from Monty Python and the Holy Grail and ask 3 questions. We should team up sometime.
  • 7 9
 @jackalope: you sir won the PB comment of the day! Smile
  • 4 0
 @delawhere: I love getting rad with all of my friends
  • 11 1
 I feel like this should be an ifht video.
  • 14 0
 @Trogdor636: answer me these questions three... and the other side he see




what is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow ?
  • 13 0
 @oneplanka: African swallow or European swallow?
  • 1 0
 Lunch on wooden drop plz.
  • 3 0
 @chize: how do you know so much about swallows?
  • 2 0
 @speed10: with headphones on.
  • 1 1
 @YouHadMeAtDrugs: Drugs
  • 4 0
 @chize: What ? i don't know that ..... whaaaaaeeee
  • 1 0
 just to see if people will clear the gap right? lol
  • 1 0
 @YouHadMeAtDrugs: Well, you have to know these things when you're a king you know.
  • 43 1
 Motivation to hit high line on wallride Big Grin
  • 9 1
 RIP
  • 40 0
 I usually just smack into people, if you wanna stand in my way that's your problem.
  • 30 0
 I use this everywhere. Walking through the supermarket, driving to the supermarket, on my bike (not in the supermarket). Maybe between us one day we’ll have delivered enough lessons to go about our lives unhindered by dipshits. But then what would we do with ourselves?
  • 90 0
 Wal-Mart, the fat dude all dressed in Camo. After I run into him I say "Sorry, I didn't see you."
  • 3 1
 @RLEnglish: that's good stuff right there
  • 6 3
 Rule 1: pedestrians always yield to my vehicle
  • 14 1
 I wish you could do that to slow people in the left lane hahah
  • 3 0
 @mtbmaniatv: AMEN!!!
  • 3 0
 @mtbmaniatv: this should be at the top.
  • 3 11
flag YoKev (Jul 15, 2018 at 17:30) (Below Threshold)
 I usually only go out of my way to run over snow-boarders
  • 1 0
 @ibishreddin: Yield or be yielded
  • 3 1
 Me too. Im super fn hard.
  • 38 10
 Jesus Christ, this sort of total disrespect for other riders safety and fun makes my blood boil! GET OFF THE TRAIL or more to the point don't get on it in the 1st place!!! F##king tourists! ????
  • 28 2
 I'm afraid there is a certain lack of trail etiquette around these lands.
To be fair this particular trail is aimed mostly towards amateurs (used to be called Crazy Family Trail).


Dudes with CX bikes going one root at a time on a black runs are the worst, then shouting at you for 'going so fast'...
Even when there's a massive sign that says what gear you need sport to be on the trail.

One dude in front of me hit the brakes just before a gap jump, took me 20 meters to stop and just slightly bumped into his rear tire. Then I saw that he had a half-shell on, no protectors and was on a 120mm travel bike with barends.
He apologized (and so did I) his wife however...this vile creature didn't stop shouting how I should be more careful and how I could have injured him. Didn't see them on the freeride line anymore...
  • 43 0
 Anyone who ever rides skatepark knows this problem more than most I think. When I was growing up you knew if you snaked somebody or dropped in on somebody you were basically asking to have a skateboard shoved up your ass. But you waited your turn out of respect, you watch and appreciate other riders, learn from them and teach to others. Now I can’t even get a run at the local concrete for a thousand suicidal 11yr olds on scooters with man bags and a *ag on. The idiots have taken over while we weren’t looking. And I guess we are to blame for not handing down the values of etiquette to the next generation.
  • 13 0
 @iqbal-achieve: Amen! It's been a while since I've been to a skate park, but skiing park is the worst of all.

This season alone I had at least a dozen close calls where I could have decapitated someone because they decided to take a selfie behind the landing of a jump where you can't see them or just after the run out.
Mind you they don't take the kickers, just stand around them.
Fine children don't think about it that much (though I don't remember being that oblivious to that when I was one) but the parents are encouraging them!
  • 6 0
 @Milko3D: ahh man totally. I don’t even wanna get started on ski hills and snow parks. Too many twat tales. But thats what happens when you’re out numbered 100:1 by rich idiots. The kids at the skateparks really should know better. They don’t know how lucky they are to have such sick parks in their back yard. I’d better stop there I’m worrying myself by how old I sound lol
  • 5 10
flag TightAF (Jul 14, 2018 at 17:27) (Below Threshold)
 Oh yeah bud you just let em have it. Tell them how you really feel. Your bloods just boilin.
  • 5 1
 Its not so simple most of the trails by me are also hiking trails and if a rider was going over 15 mph on a busy day he would be completely in the wrong and giant wad. on a downhill mtb only trail these kids stopped on the trail is a HUGE problem but its not the same in every area.
  • 5 3
 there is a lack of getting to know and following etiquette everywhere. I have had issues a few times, once in Hafjell, landing 0,5m from a kid pushing the bike up the landing of a big jump with me having no way to see what’s behind the take off. I didn’t even shout I was like OK, I accept my fate. Joeys and Jerrys are everywhere and you cannot do anything about it. It is called “growth of the sport” and almost every DH fan wants it.

This year in Hafjell they have built a deep wide ditch at Roller Coaster trail to stop Joeys from rolling on it, you have to be able to gap it or GTFO. I still saw two morons taking the effort to go across the ditcheith their bikes. They were so stupid they didn’t notice that all you have to do is ride a paralell trail for 10m and then carry the bike for 3m through the grass... amazing.
  • 7 0
 @WAKIdesigns: In that regard one of the best spots is BPW www.bikeparkwales.com

The trails start with a filter like what you described:

"All trails above Blue grade start with a Qualifier feature, these are indicated by this ‘qualifier’ symbol -

Qualifier features are generally not rollable and help to indicate the level of difficulty and rider skill required to tackle the trail, bear in mind there may be more challenging features beyond the trail qualifier. Please look before you ride and don’t attempt trails above your level of ability."

Unfortunately not implemented at many spots around here because there's not enough trails as it is and we can't afford to filter out the majority of riders, things have to be inclusive until then.
  • 2 0
 @Milko3D: This is the downhill trail. The Crazy Family trail is on the other side of the mountain
  • 2 0
 @aceto: Yes, indeed, my bad.
Recognized the exit but it was too late and not so relevant, the rules are the same on all trails Smile
  • 3 0
 @ismasan: we call them squid filters where im from
  • 2 0
 Squirrel Catchers
  • 9 0
 I can't believe that this is a PSA that needs mentioning. Nobody has to tell adults not to stand in the road, but somehow that common sense goes away when it's a bike trail. I got fucked up a few years back because some clown was standing on the landing of a drop at Highland. I was puking from a concussion and he went on his merry way. If I go out like Junior Seau it's that dickhead's fault.
  • 4 0
 I hit a kid getting a lesson there a month ago. He was stopped next to a roller with his coach “uptrail” of him and his father on other side of trail. I was making noise coming down with 4 other friends when this kid decides to just cut across the trail to go see Dad. I tried to jump over his bike as I couldn’t stop as it was that quick, back wheel hit hi toptube and slammed him to the ground. I went OTB for about 10-15 feet headfirst into a headbigh berm. My wrist and visor blew up and cracked a D3 in 2 different spots. The kids handlebars snapped in half that’s how hard I hit him. Another foot and it would have been his face. Just thankful I didn’t hurt a kid as I have two of my own, but I always tell them to look uptrail if we’ve stopped and get OFF the trail. Forgot my DJ bike, helmet and GoPro on my buddy’s tailgate. Scary stuff.
  • 10 1
 It is total common sense to get off the trail if stopping just like a road. However, since common sense doesn't seem to prevail in some people, the park should post signs, or give people briefing on rules, and keeping pounding it into people's head to get off the trail if stopping.
  • 10 0
 What's that saying? "Common sense isn't that common."
  • 5 0
 Lol....Snow Summit actually has a NO PARKING sign just behind a giant blind rock pile.....idiots actually park there and hang out talking! Clipped one dude years ago parked there........sorry....NOT!
  • 2 0
 @bikebike69: I don't even go over that rock pile anymore AT ALL all because I've had too many close calls. Just not worth it to me. Too many newbs at SS.
  • 3 0
 You'd think so, but I recently watched someone come to a complete stop in the left lane on the freeway with their hazards on. Didn't even pull into the emergency lane or anything.
  • 2 0
 @bikebike69: many a near smash at that spot.
  • 7 0
 Had 3 dudes covering a trail as wide as service road at Trestle last week. Just an inconvenience for me (I just went around them slightly off trail). Hopefully they realized their lack of etiquette and adjust appropriately (not holding my breath).

Never had a serious issue on a bike, but almost landed an a 5 year old kid in the ski park (he was sitting on the landing of a jump). Scared the shit out of me. I ended up yelling at the Dad, and after a minute I calmed down and explained to him nicely that he needs to learn how to use the park safely before bringing his kid back in there. The Dad thanked me and agreed that it was his fault and he acknowledged he could have been responsible for seriously injuring his child.

I think under these circumstances it's important for us to educate these folks (if possible). I think if you calmly and nicely explain to them what could happen most people would take it as a learning experience.

Nice job by the rider. I would have crushed them (but I also probably wouldn't be on that trail since it's over my skill level).
  • 1 0
 Trestle is the worst for this. Almost every lap you come across a family on a blind turn rolling down a black or double black at 2mph. They look back, see you, and keep rolling all the way to the bottom. Have had a lot of close calls there
  • 7 0
 Bike park or ski terrain park......doesn’t really matter to me. I’m 6’4’ 285 lbs, if you stop in my way I will hit you. Calculate the physics involved, but you will probably go flying......
  • 3 0
 They should call you 'freight train'
  • 2 0
 Literally about two of me haha
  • 17 0
 You should take up some sort of activity to lose some weight.
  • 6 0
 @cdmbmw: you're 3'2"?
  • 9 1
 Aaand the Jerry of the day award goes to...
  • 4 0
 Hmm, I'm not quite sure you're right @Kainerm

The kid was behind his dad and also if there was an injured rider, the first thing you do is secure the area so you don't get a pile of injured riders and not just stand there in the middle of the track.

Also with that speed it could have been more dangerous to try and stop right in the steep part.
  • 10 48
flag Kainerm (Jul 14, 2018 at 14:05) (Below Threshold)
 Yes, but going full send in an uncertain situation can't be the answer. I know they were wrong to stand there, that doesn't make his decision to keep pushing any better. He took a chance at he is lucky he didn't put that kid into hospital!
  • 13 0
 @Kainerm: Going fast gives you tunnel vision, I don't think Bryn realised anyone was there until he was already commited to the wallride. At that point the option are go round or crash, I'm sure the two riders on the trail learned their lesson when a giant Australian flew whooping over their heads.
  • 4 1
 @Kainerm: So basically through your comments, you want a good rider that is able to go fast to degrade his riding for the sole purpose of people might be downed or idiotic on the trail. Also, I trust that if he could have stopped without smashing right into them he would have. when your that close to them and just spot them carrying that much speed I see no way to not cause injury to himself and them by doing so. Needless to say, since he was going fast enough to take the ridiculously high line on the wallride tough luck stopping 20ft before it.
  • 9 0
 @Kainerm: I pretty much only go full send at bike parks, especially on trails that I've ridden hundreds of times and am not uncertain about
  • 9 1
 @Kainerm: ummmmm......isn’t that what bike parks are for, going full send!?!?!
  • 8 12
flag Kainerm (Jul 14, 2018 at 23:35) (Below Threshold)
 @Nathanck2000: no, not degrade his riding, but ride responsibly. I like going full send as well, but ALWAYS in a way where I can stop within line of sight. There is a difference between a race track and a public bike park. Especially when there are kids around, I would rather crash into the woods on my own than to risk taking a ten year old out at 30+kph... Even if it is not "rad enough" for #instagram
  • 11 1
 @Kainerm: You can always stop in a line of sight? In a bike park? Seriously? I don't know what bike parks you ride, but that is definitely not possible most of the time. Most of the turns are blind and if you were riding in a way that you could stop for any obstacle you would be doing absolutely no speed at all. Ride trails appropriate to your skill, don't linger on the trail.
  • 9 19
flag Kainerm (Jul 15, 2018 at 0:08) (Below Threshold)
 @Archimonde: Well, actually, for this specific bike park, this is actually a RULE. You MUST be riding line of sight. So if he was not able to do this, he was riding in violation of the terms of this park.
And yes, that is how I ride in a public park. It's not that hard - and you can still go effin' fast. If you want to race, please, go ahead - race. There are races where it is generally accepted that you will encounter dangerous situations, and marshals on site at especially "blind" spots. Bike parks are NOT a race track!
Bryn made a horrible decision by pulling through. If he had clipped that kit's head with his pedal, he would have paralyzed or killed the kid. And he was really, really close, too. The right Thing would be to stop, tell the kid that he is standing in the worst possible place, and continue. THAT would have taught the kid a lesson, this way he just got buzzed by an idiot.

Best point in case for riding line of sight:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2a_oRBXTwQ
Four idiots piled on top of each other because they were too cool to ride line of sight.
  • 5 0
 @Kainerm: Nah if Bryn clipped either of those idiots it was all on them.
If you're not paying attention to shit going on around you AND ARE STANDING ON A BLIND CORNER FEATURE - you should stay indoors at all times.
  • 6 2
 While I still stand by what I said before - the guys were at fault to have stopped on the trail, they could have caused a crash and it may have been more dangerous for the rider to try to stop.

I think you guys @Archimonde @Nathanck2000 @bikebike69 are a little over zealous and @Kainerm has a point.

The fact is both the rider behind and the stationary ones were at fault. You should not stop on the trails, but also no matter if it's a bike park or a car race track you should ride within your abilities and are responsible if you crash into someone from behind. These types of situations are a bit of a gray area and always cause a stir.

Here are the 'Rules of Conduct' of Bike Park Schladming, where you can definitely go full send: www.bikepark-schladming.at/en/bikeparkrules

"5. Consideration of other Bikers
Every biker must act in such manner that he/she doesn’t endanger or harm other people.
6. Controlled Speed and Riding
Every rider must keep the path in sight! He/she has to adjust the speed and riding style accordingly to the terrain and weather conditions, as well as to the traffic density on the trails."

AND ALSO

"9. Stopping, Walking, Hiking
It is prohibited to all bikers to reside at a narrow passage or spots with poor visibility without need. A biker who fell has to clear the place of the accident as quickly as possible."
  • 5 0
 @Kainerm: I have not ridden this park, but most wall rides I’ve ever ridden (as physics generally dictates) have a minimum speed to be able to maintain enough (centrifugal) force to stay up on the wall. Too slow and you’ll slide down it. ride. (Same goes for gap jumps etc) So to demand a rider rides slowly enough to stop, in case of idiots, is ridiculous on this feature. Blind features are just that. The responsibility is on the dad here. Bryn did the one thing he could given the situation, stay high to avoid collision. Emergency braking/slowing down isn’t always the solution and I think his quick thinking (given his necessary speed for the feature) saved a big crash here. Conduct point 5 shown applies to the dad just as much as the rider, and point 6 cannot account for features of this nature otherwise EVERYTHING would have to be rollable. Point 9 highlights how in the wrong the dad was.
  • 3 18
flag Kainerm (Jul 15, 2018 at 10:20) (Below Threshold)
 @OrangeGoblin: maybe the kid fell down in the wall and was just getting back on the bike? We don't know the whole story, but it really does not matter at all. What Bryn did was highly irresponsible and should be condemned. He broke the moat important rule of trail etiquette, which is "ride responsibly".
  • 2 6
flag ka81 (Jul 15, 2018 at 14:16) (Below Threshold)
 @Kainerm: whom are you trying to explain obvious things?.. ) they wouldn't get it till grown up and I don't mean only an age.
  • 7 0
 @Kainerm: he shouldn’t be getting back on his bike at the bottom of a wall ride should he? If you fall off, take yourself off the trail or someone goes back up the trail to wave down riders if it’s serious.

I agree about riding responsibly absolutely - but wall rides have minimum speeds, just like gap jumps - how do you suggest he rides slow enough to stop on a blind feature but fast enough to make it round?

He did everything in his power to avoid an incident.
  • 8 1
 Shit, that stack at Vallnord was huge. Fair play to him for racing afterwards.
  • 4 0
 My youngest is 7 now, so we are able to really start getting out on some good rides with the rest of the family (7,10,12, and 1Cool one of the first rules taught and learned is "if you stop, get off the trail, doesn't matter if you're climbing or decending" it's common sense for most, but kids need taught, they just don't think about these things. Oh yeah, I also don't let them play in the street. Maybe I'm wrong?
  • 3 0
 Stopping on a trail to check a feature out or wait for a buddy is just part of the sport. Just dont be a, howie and stand in the middle of the trail. Move your bike clearly out of the way and look at the feature and just be smart about it. Had some guy scream at me at Killington this weekend cause i was standing on the side of the trail 15 feet out of this way. 15 seconds later that slow ass hole was in my way cause he had no buisiness even being on that trail. Just be smart and don't be a dick.
  • 3 0
 Happened twice today in whistler. 10 dudes completely blocking drop in clinic and then someone walking down o'sin right after a blind corner that you're coming in hot... Weekends are for the Joey's i guess...
  • 2 0
 Yes, Snow Summit has some clueless ones. The first I saw of two young clowns was just as my front tire got to the lip of a tabletop. They were at the bottom of the landing transition yapping and laughing. By trying to miss them I got three broken ribs and a punctured lung. They were uninjured of course. The two hour drive home was not fun, and like an idiot I sucked it up till monday before I went to a doctor. (It was a Friday and I didn't want to ruin the good doctor's weekend.) I'm actually mostly stupid, not very tough.
  • 2 0
 Much ado about nothing.
It could have been just about any guy who had a crash just standing up and getting ready to move. Bryn Atkinson probably saw him in time to brake and avoid the worst but took another decision which ended up well.

World cup DH training have safety guys at every corner to avoid such situations. Of course, it is horribly dangerous to wait in the middle of a trail but nothing proves in this case that the kid and guy there are just "chilling". All we see is that they are at the wrong place for less than 3 seconds.

The question will arise when bike parks get too crowded and such situations start creating multiple crashes. Much like in ski resorts, if we come to this, fast bikers will probably have to find less crowded trails to enjoy speed.
  • 2 0
 The next decent trails to my current home are located within a bike park with a lift. It's nice that the thing runs 24/7 every day, but boy, the weekends.....! Yesterday I had to be "that guy" who's telling off tourists and joeys for standing in the middle of the trail head, chatting. The trail crosses a fire road several times and I am totally for sitting down and taking a breather at these spots after some gnar, but in the middle of the fall line? For real?! Later, I had a flat down the trail and some noob stopped and asked me if I'm alright all the while blocking the entire trail. Sadly, I had to tell him off as well. I guess it's true what they say: "the opposite of good is good intentions..."? Bonus material: www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbPRGik1tew
  • 1 0
 I had to ride over a young teenager on Mt Chery in Les Gets,came round a blind corner and he was in the track on his side,worst bit his dad saw me coming into the corner at speed and didn't warn me he was here,luckily we got away with me wit a dislocated finger
  • 1 0
 27 facial bones smashed in an instant because of three riders checking out the A-Line from the B-line confluence. Tens of thousands of dollars in lost income and medical expenses... Eight titanium plates required to bring structure back.
  • 5 0
 face has only 14 bones, 29 in the whole head if you count hyoids and hearing ones
  • 1 0
 @ismasan: You are correct. I had 27 fractures on approximately 10 facial bones. My lower jaw and scull survived. By crushing my sinuses, I saved my brain.
  • 4 0
 Your boi gets win of the decade for hi-side wall riding over that. That is next level dude-perfect style
  • 6 0
 actually reminded me of this - Michal Marosi wallride pass youtu.be/dOKcEl1hCo0
  • 2 0
 the one rider that got the OH SHITTT!!! and rode out of a possible over the bars probably had to throw away his shorts after crapping them.
  • 1 0
 If anyone knows the Northern Irish rider Colin Ross, look up 'Rosco Lines' on facebook for his nasty crash due to people standing on the trail on Fort William DH track. Lucky guy to get away without serious injuries.
  • 2 0
 This is even worse than stopping in the middle of the trail though. Stopping in the middle of a feature that's intended to be ridden with speed...
  • 2 0
 The REAL f*cking IDIOT is this other guy - father maybe? Kids tend to be stupid but all the blame is on adult with absolute lack of imagination.
  • 1 0
 Sometimes riding super slow is worse than standing on the track, especially if you overtake them and they get really pissed off. A slow rider can compleatly ruin the fun of a track.
  • 3 0
 wtf is wrong with some people...
  • 1 0
 Excellent!!!! I love the loop effect, it does work - more or less - and gives a benefic Benny Hill effect to our discipline. Give us more!
  • 4 1
 Morons should've gotten clotheslined as he went by
  • 3 0
 OMG......Snow Summit trail sheep are the fucking WORST!!!!
  • 5 2
 Everyone loves to complain, no one will admit they've been that kid before
  • 3 0
 Why would anyone want to watch videos of people crashing?
  • 3 0
 Fuckin' speed wheelies
  • 2 0
 82% medical treatment @ Whistler, tourist collision.
  • 1 0
 I was hoping the kid was going to fight the rider... Oh well... Monday.
  • 1 0
 Its seriously not cool rider stopping and blocking the track when there's space to take 2 steps off
  • 1 0
 Attempted manual dude was absolutely haulin' the mail! Bummer he looped out like that.
  • 2 0
 AYYYehhhhh... wa-ho ha-HO!
  • 1 0
 My neck is still creaking... Its almost a year..one stupid dude..
  • 1 0
 classic puckered butthole moments
  • 1 1
 ...and I love blocking trails and stand on the drops XD
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