Powered by Outside

Race Face sponsors Whistler’s ‘Crank It Up’ trail and wastes no time marking their territory

Jun 19, 2008
by Jordan Holmes  
All the artwork was done freehand with no stenciling whatsoever. The concept behind the wall ride murals was to create something very flowy and organic while making a serious departure from the traditional branded stunt fare. In addition, the artwork was designed to ‘wear’ well over the riding season, incorporating the inevitable wall ride arcing tire marks.

photo

“Race Face has a long history of bringing new and innovative ideas to the bike world and this is no exception,” said Craig Pollack, Race Face CEO. “We wanted to break out of the ‘stenciled logo on wooden stunts’ look and try something fresh and vibrant.”

BC artist Scott Tobin was the man with the vision and the paint skills for this unique project. With the help of the Whistler Bike Park trail crew, Tobin set to work over 3 days to bring his art to the mountain. Each wall ride was painted flat black first and then the crew roped them off allowing Tobin to work his magic.

photo

Rippers who normally light up that section of the trail were grabbing handfuls of brake to check out the action as it happened. Look for the time elapsed video of all the wall ride artwork in the videos section on the Race Face website around the last week of June.

photo

Tobin has an extensive portfolio within the adrenaline sports realm, including Burton, Bell, Telus and Red Bull. Tobin’s passion is "to paint visual-antidepressants, to create beautiful work that has a positive impact on people and a positive contribution to the world.” Tobin's work includes large-scale interior/exterior wall murals; fine art, and live painting performances. Eighteen years experience with spray paint has led him to be one of Canada's top character graffiti artists. You can see more of his work on his website – www.tobinism.com.



Author Info:
spoiledgoods avatar

Member since Mar 20, 2000
624 articles
Report
Must Read This Week
Sign Up for the Pinkbike Newsletter - All the Biggest, Most Interesting Stories in your Inbox
PB Newsletter Signup

49 Comments
  • 4 0
 Such a fun warm up trail and i guarantee that some talented photographer will find a way to use the art for an incredible pic. I think they look sick.
  • 4 2
 its so lame cuz its such an amzing trail but because its an easier trail it gets too much trafic,alot of that trafic is unexperinced riders,and they brake TOO much and TOO hard,so its realy realy hard on the trails/trails,so evryone try to be smooth and let the trails be smooth for evryone else.crank it up is probaly one of the top trails,that looks sick cant wait to ride it. thanks evryone.
  • 5 0
 sweet paint job
  • 3 1
 some of you guys should just cool it. its just paintings, calm down and enjoy it. that trail is really fun, can't wait till i heal up and rie it.
  • 1 0
 Your right, I was just mad that they were closed on my first weekend riding Whistler this year. It does look good though and I can't wait to see it up close and personal. Hope ya heal up soon and get back to ripping.
  • 0 0
 k u guys the paint on the walls thing it wont make them any slippryer reason being they already had green paint on them but sure for the first 2 weeks it mite be a lil bit slippy
  • 4 0
 sick stuff man
  • 3 0
 Sick designs and freehand too!! Salute
  • 1 0
 the wall rides had paint on them to start with and rode fine ... these look great, the more money going into our trails the better.
  • 3 1
 I have to say, the eagle and the skull one is pretty sick. Idk about the trigger fish but its still impressive!
  • 2 2
 Naw dude, those wallrides aren't crazy steep so they're actually easy & super fun. It's definitely one of the funnest trails on whistler hands down!
  • 0 0
 They said they were designed to incorporate the tire tread wear into the artwork, but I don't see how. Anyone care to fill me in?
  • 0 0
 i just think we'll have to wait and see...
  • 1 0
 what I got from that was that the design would be in the shape of where tires would be. thats why they put the yellow/black chequered design by the scull. And on the eagle one, the wave with raceface written in it would be about right, the writing looks like it might last where it is. thats what i think it might be, prob wrong though.
  • 0 0
 THATS SICK!!!!!! props to artist. The rest of you need to shut up, its one trail, whistler has at least 50, it looks grear too.
  • 1 0
 Yeah, ink looks dope.... Butt wish they were more vertical and about 10" higher
  • 0 0
 if theyre still closed today (again!) im going to loose it! paint was dry yesterday,, let me ride my line dammit!
  • 1 0
 nice, nice, cant wait to ride them this august
  • 6 5
 It looks pretty sick - keen to get some photos up there now
  • 1 0
 sick paint!!!! I'll be there soon! heheheheh
  • 1 0
 the fish is a little random, but totally gnar
  • 6 5
 I guess well find out.
  • 0 0
 yeahh nice designs i like it
  • 7 6
 those are mint.
  • 1 1
 dono... it was leaking last year at the end...
  • 1 1
 Very nice work on the grafics. Can't wait to ride that.
  • 0 0
 i just hope by july 13th they wont be worn down to bad:P
  • 0 0
 I like them. I like fish, and eagles, and uh, skulls.
  • 0 0
 first time going for me. i cant wait.
  • 0 0
 i've rode those wallrides and now its gonna 2 times as sick
  • 0 0
 rad, i hope to get up there this weekend!
  • 3 4
 good graffics i ppl how get to ride them must be gd
  • 0 0
 impresionantee
  • 0 0
 Nice paint!
  • 0 1
 ***
Below threshold threads are hidden







Copyright © 2000 - 2024. Pinkbike.com. All rights reserved.
dv56 0.048112
Mobile Version of Website