Video: Searching for Gaps on the North Shore's 5th Horseman Trail with Steve Vanderhoek

Oct 19, 2020
by Steve Vanderhoek  

5th Horseman! A true Shore classic and one of my favourite trails around. Starting with flow and ending in tech makes for a brilliant lap every time. I first rode this trail when I was probably 15 years old with Ken Maude (OG Shore legend and one of the owners of Lynn Valley Bikes) when my dad hired him to give me lessons, as I was all balls and no skill and kept crashing! Fast forward to 31 and I wanted to try and ride it like I never have before...pulling for some fresh gaps. Definitely some inspiration from my most recent shoots with Remy Metailler. Thanks for watching and thanks to my fiancé Kelsey Toevs for the filming, editing and putting up with me, enjoy!

Rider @svanderhoek
Filming and editing @toevs
Additional shot @joshyaron

Website: www.brandonartisphotography.com
IG: @_brandonartis
Facebook: @Brandon Artis Photography
Pinkbike: brandonartisphoto

Thanks to the companies that support me: NF, Devinci, Ride Concepts, Race Face, RideWrap, STFU, DrinkWize

Trek to the trail PC Brandon Artis

Pedal hard and pull PC Brandon Artis
First feature.. pedal hard and pull for a bonus landing.

Start of the tech PC Brandon Artis
Start of the tech section. The trail takes a drastic change here.

To gap or not to gap
Photo by Kelsey Toevs: Contemplating the gap. Possibly a first? Terrible run in, roughly 30ft out and sniper tranny with very little run out. Did it work?

Little dirt needed to make the options work. PC Brandon Artis
Some work needed to make this gap a reality.

Scared for this one PC Brandon Artis
Little nervous for this one!

PC Brandon Artis

Thanks so much for having a look! Happy gap hunting.

Steve Vanderhoek

Posted In:
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152 Comments
  • 76 0
 It's remarkable how easy you make such savage sections of trail look
  • 33 2
 The dh bike really helps haha.. #cheating
  • 9 1
 @stevev88: did you size down for shredability? It looks so, because you shred like like you are a cheese grater. Sick edit.
  • 5 48
flag camswaze (Oct 19, 2020 at 19:12) (Below Threshold)
 @stevev88: get behind him to find out.


????????????????


This mountain will eat enduro nerds
  • 25 1
 @camswaze, behind who? Pretty sure that’s @stevev88 in the video.
  • 12 0
 @slumgullion: It is. That's f*cking gold.
  • 5 0
 @stevev88: I would love to see some line break downs and/or instructional videos. Your style is so smooth and the line choices are really creative. I ride these trails all the time but you find alternates every time. Ride Hub does something similar for squam trails and it would be cool to see something like the dragons back on seymour or wild cherry entrance and cherry bomb on cypress broken down as a "Steve's approach to the line".
  • 6 0
 @monsieurgage: hey! I’ve never thought about that but could be interested for sure! So many other riders do those videos I didn’t want to saturate the market you know
  • 4 0
 @stevev88: your videos make me saturate my under garments!
  • 40 0
 It would be hard to overstate to those here who haven't ridden this trail just how insane these interpretations of the the trail are!
  • 13 0
 Thanks dude! Its a tough one to capture for sure
  • 1 0
 @stevev88: Any recommended edits of others riding this trail?
Great video and sick riding on this one!
  • 4 0
 @CookieCutter2: can just go on Trailforks and lots of videos of the trail
  • 1 0
 @CookieCutter2: and thanks !
  • 5 0
 @stevev88:

I think the best way to describe the trail is huge gaps and drops onto steeps and turns... and oh by the way, when you land, your tires and handlebars will be inches away from trees.

Unreal riding ability, great film crew, more of this please.
  • 3 0
 @Saidrick: haha means a lot to get compliments like that!
  • 2 0
 @CookieCutter2: check out Kenny Smith 5th horseman
  • 2 0
 @CookieCutter2: Check out Dale Stone riding 5th Horseman, he is a strong rider, so it should help you understand how difficult this trail is.
  • 2 0
 You beat me to it. The steep section of slow drops and awkwardly long rolls has always been one the toughest lines on cypress. Too many times Ive gone arse over tea kettle trying to get down. Buddy just cleans it with speed. Well done.
  • 1 0
 @CookieCutter2: fast forward to 4:06

www.pinkbike.com/news/Kenny-Smith-The-New-Black-video-2011.html?trk=rss

2011. I'm old and remember weird stuff.
  • 24 1
 Awesome edit Steve! These lines look super gnarly! You make me want to ride my downhill bike some more and go gap hunting too!
  • 16 0
 Thanks buddy and thanks for the inspiration long before we started riding from your videos. Come check these out on cypress some times
  • 14 0
 Haven ridden this trail a bunch, all I can say is WTF! In the best way possible. Half those landings are on gnar between tight trees, and the run ins mostly suck. Not a lot of margin for error. This ain't no bike park shredit, that's for sure. F'n bravo, eh!
  • 11 0
 Stoked! making the video I knew would be hard to portray the trail, but i knew there would be a few that have ridden and appreciate. Thanks for watching
  • 1 0
 well said
  • 13 0
 Some very gnarly sections in there that are hard to show on camera, but Steve floats right over em, no prob. Wow!!
  • 3 0
 Thanks Tippie!
  • 13 0
 What the actual fuck
  • 6 0
 Scary times!
  • 9 0
 Really, just so...confusing. I've ridden this a few times, always slow and puckered and relieved to be alive at the bottom. Thought that was the only way it's ridden haha
  • 10 0
 Shit Steve is off line a little...oh wait no he just gapped into some craziness. This was so enjoyable. Thanks Steve
  • 8 0
 Hahaha! Thanks for watching dude.. appreciate it !
  • 6 0
 That was awesome! You nailed it - great riding. Cool edit. The dive into the ocean at the end was just like your riding - all in! Now I want a dh bike!
  • 4 0
 It was so cold! Hard to do that over and over again haha
  • 8 0
 I’d say Kelsey killed it with the shooting!
  • 6 0
 Killed it is good in case anyone is wondering.
  • 6 0
 @paulwatt: Ill pass it on to her. She will be stoked
  • 4 0
 The song was perfect too Smile
  • 4 0
 @BCpov: Charles Bradley? That dude rocked.
  • 7 0
 This is one of those segments that’s filmed and edited very well, yet it lets the riding speak for itself. So sick.
  • 2 0
 Thanks!
  • 5 0
 Here I thought I was a good rider just being able to ride that trail, and here this guy is gapping the damo drop. That was a very humbling video
  • 4 0
 Oh don't worry! It wasn't without a lot of planning and fear haha
  • 5 0
 Me most of the time: 5th Horseman seems pretty gnarly, I hope to ride that confidently one day.

Me watching this video: Ok what the hell, how is this even happening?
  • 4 0
 Hahah! Thanks man for the laugh! Just repetition and track walks. Finding the right lines
  • 5 0
 Unreal how you take you take two great features and manage to smash them into one crazy huck!
  • 3 0
 Spend enough time in whistler with the locals and they change how you view a trail haha
  • 5 0
 Proper Shred Video!
  • 1 0
 Glad you enjoyed!
  • 2 0
 My favorite trail on the shore right now. I’m always super stoked when i just make it down everything. So much crazier than this video shows. Just insane riding Steve.
  • 5 0
 Appreciate that! 5th always delivers eh
  • 3 0
 Man how did you not OTB when you rolled down a 3 ft rock at 1:50. amazing!! sick video
  • 4 0
 Had the safety net bike out haha. Its right on the edge though
  • 2 0
 I have a few times at that exact spot. It's awkwardly long to roll and not enough speed to huck. Riding that line takes way more skill and commitment from the rider than the video shows!
  • 1 0
 I just imagine myself riding that line with you.. i would be like : that's not a roll!!! you'd have to do it first to prove it haha genuinely curious if like a medium sized 27.5 bike could roll it also?
  • 1 0
 @nicfugere: For sure could! the tighter wheelbase may help you not scrape your BB
  • 3 0
 Most excellent riding Steve ! Hopefully no bikes were harmed in the making of this video ... Wink
  • 5 0
 It came out unscathed. It was a week before I put a hole through the 40 haha. Fox hooked it up huge though
  • 3 0
 Is Steve 8 foot 13 or something? Bike maneuverable AF with him at the helm.
  • 2 0
 Hahaha best comment. Gave me a good laugh
  • 3 0
 I went for a hike one time to check this trail out, I could barely even walk down it, absolutely crazy vid.
  • 1 0
 Might be easier to ride than hike lol!
  • 3 0
 I absolutely love that you went for a DH bike for the video. Insanely Insane lines!
  • 2 0
 Might have saved me a couple times
  • 4 0
 Rad!
  • 3 0
 Awesome edit! Savage riding!
  • 2 0
 Thanks for checking it out
  • 3 1
 Well worth all the hard work. Watched this at least ten times. Scary enough trail knowing I’ll walk half of it!
  • 2 0
 Thanks for support bro
  • 5 1
 So gnarly!
  • 1 0
 Thanks Scott!
  • 2 0
 Dude you are crazy!! Those gaps were insane. Great video bro! You definitely need to make another one tho
  • 1 0
 Ill find something that grabs me soon I'm sure
  • 3 0
 Such ease down the gnarliest sh#t!!
  • 2 0
 Cheers brotherrrr
  • 2 0
 Crazy riding. But I gotta know: do you have a to free climb (in bare feet) up that cliff?
  • 4 0
 haha yup! About a 30 foot free climb
  • 3 0
 I'll just gap the double rock roll....hold my beer! Maniac!
  • 1 0
 Ride a trail enough and you start to see things different !
  • 3 0
 So good! Just soooo gooooood. Amazing riding and tight editing. Bravo!
  • 2 0
 What the hell did I just see?
  • 2 0
 hahah! wooooo!
  • 3 1
 Sooo much steeze on such sick lines
  • 2 0
 Thanks Brittany !
  • 2 0
 So cool to watch. Scary moves and you look chilled out somehow.
  • 2 0
 Lol I assure you I wasn’t chill for some of them !
  • 3 0
 Chapeau....
  • 2 0
 Had a blast shooting with you homie! Many more to come!
  • 1 0
 Cant wait bro !
  • 2 0
 So Sick!!! Time well spent on the mountain!
  • 3 0
 Heck yah so sick!
  • 2 0
 Hell yeah steve! Killin it!
  • 2 0
 Yo!
  • 3 0
 that was rad! great work
  • 2 0
 Hopefully have more out soon!
  • 4 1
 Atta be buddy! Dope
  • 3 0
 Now we just gotta ride together soon
  • 2 0
 "Right to the bone!" - Oh I know that feeling.

f*cking amazing edit.
  • 3 0
 Chromag daggas has no mercy
  • 4 1
 Siiiiick
  • 1 0
 Thanks Dane!
  • 2 0
 Death, Famine, War, Conquest, and Steve Vanderhoek to lead them all
  • 2 0
 lol!
  • 3 0
 YYYAAAAAA BUUDDYYY
  • 2 0
 Well that was fucking awesome! Crazy lines. love it
  • 2 0
 Stoked you enjoyed!
  • 2 0
 Sick ridin' and great filming! Trail looks awesome too!!
  • 1 0
 Kelsey does great work behind the lens
  • 2 0
 I was about to criteaqe but just wow came out ..sweet mix
  • 1 0
 Hahha thanks
  • 2 0
 What hubs are you running? They sound incredible
  • 3 0
 Those are the raceface vaults
  • 1 0
 @stevev88: thanks!
  • 2 0
 The real deal. Great video.
  • 2 0
 Glad you enjoyed !
  • 3 1
 Freeride ain’t dead! Killed it and The Heavy was spot on. Dope edit!
  • 3 0
 Love that song! Felt so right
  • 3 1
 First the Remy edit and now this!! Candy store!
  • 2 0
 If you stop the groms will overtake you completely and leave you behind haha
  • 2 0
 Glad to see that freeride is alive and well in the Shore.
  • 2 0
 I´m a fan of @stevev88 I guess Smile
  • 2 0
 Why thank you bro!
  • 1 0
 @stevev88: no, thank you sir!
  • 2 0
 Well goddam....I'm just going to have to watch that again.
  • 1 0
 Best compliment you can give..thanks !
  • 2 0
 That last stepdown was death!
  • 1 0
 Such a scary one !!
  • 2 0
 Ha, so steep trails 'can' look steep after all! Cool stuff!
  • 3 1
 Super RAD! Pinkbike needs a 'Must Watch' before this video...!
  • 2 0
 that gap into the fresh packed was filth...pillow landing.
  • 2 0
 This is good for business.
  • 3 0
 Off the hoek!
  • 3 0
 I like that ! A brilliant fella here haha
  • 2 0
 Awesome
  • 2 0
 Savage
  • 3 1
 Senders gonna send!
  • 2 0
 that is wild!
  • 2 0
 Classic, amazing riding
  • 2 0
 Banger.
  • 2 0
 Awesome
  • 2 0
 well that was gnarly
  • 2 0
 Good lord!!!
  • 2 0
 Solid riding. props
  • 2 0
 Killing it buddy!
  • 1 0
 Pushing it! This is an edit!
  • 1 0
 What a madman! I love it.
  • 1 0
 might should legally change his name to "HUCKleberry finn"
  • 2 2
 Finally something fucking rad without gratuitous slomo. nice one.
  • 2 0
 Tried to keep the pace fast! Couple slow mo for effect
  • 2 1
 This guy is a beast!
  • 1 0
 thanks dude !
  • 2 1
 Awesome edit!







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