Video: Wild Man James Doerfling Finds Unique Lines on Home Turf
Take a trip north of Cariboo Country into the vast wilderness of British Columbia between the Coastal and Rocky Mountain ranges. There, you’ll find high plateaus and deep river basins of the Fraser and Chilcotin, thick forests of Douglas Fir, and Lodge Pole Pine as far as the eye can see. Williams Lake, the small city with a population of only 11,000 people, sits quietly in the middle of it all. James Doerfling is seen loading his bike, a man in his element, onto his 1991 Cummins Diesel Dodge Ram.
Standing on a high vista looking out over this great wilderness that expands in every direction, the scope of the ages seems less blurred. The people of the First Nations have traversed this landscape for thousands of years. Modern settlers who migrated in hopes of gold and mineral wealth dated back a few hundred years. Williams Lake today is the visible combination of this history, although a more recent phenomenon continues to grow and thrive: Mountain Biking. Raised in Williams Lake, James’s story travels with the evolution of mountain bikes and plays a significant role in the interpretation of the sport: What is possible on two wheels? Since childhood, James has explored this terrain in terms of mountain biking. Those who have followed James over the last 15 years have been amazed by his abilities and creativity to find and ride so many incredible lines.
Raised in Williams Lake, in a time that happened to coincide with the beginnings of people riding bikes over mountains, James’s story is one that travels with the evolution of mountain bikes and plays significant role in the interpretation of the sport: What is possible on two wheels? Since his childhood, James has translated this terrain into terms of mountain biking, and those that have followed along over the last 15 years have been amazed by his abilities and creativity to find and ride so many incredible lines.
On this particular trip, with James as our guide, we explored what Williams Lake has to offer. From his own hand-built jump lines within the Douglas Fir to loose ridges and hoodoos towering above the plump Chilcotin River, The Goat’s (as he’s also known as in certain circles) unique and natural style shines here on his home turf. Joining forces with Box Components and SRSUNTOUR, Matt Brooks of Lone Wolf Productions brings us on an epic adventure following James on this wild ride.
In Part 1 of 2, ‘Big Land, Small Machine,’ James evolves again, taking on big terrains with a new machine trail bike utilizing Knolly Warden Carbon with SRSUNTOUR Auron35 forks and TRIAir 3CR shocks, along with Box Component’s Box One Drivetrain.
Stay tuned for Part 2...
Rider: James Doerfling
Cinematography: Matt Brooks, Lone Wolf Productions Hoshi Yoshida, Whyex Productions
Words and Photography: JP Gendron, SRSUNTOUR
Thanks to @jamesdoerfling, @srsuntour_inc, @boxcomponents, @lone_wolf_productions, @whyex_productions, @envelobike, @knollybikes, @jp.gendron
For more information on Box Components, please visit boxcomponents.com.
Author Info:
Must Read This Week
23 Comments
- 26 0
Brainthecrazyfreerider
(Jul 30, 2018 at 2:29)
My day just got a whole lot better. Hurry up part 2
- 10 0
patrickbatemanworldtour89
(Jul 30, 2018 at 6:23)
Agreed! James Doerfling on a double crown long travel bike? I'll take it
- 24 0
chyu
(Jul 30, 2018 at 4:13)
Didn't know Christopher Nolan and Hans Zimmer are into biking.
- 1 0
rocky-x
(Jul 30, 2018 at 5:29)
round 2, koji kondo
- 17 0
DonkeyTeeth
(Jul 30, 2018 at 5:32)
He's not the hero that Williams Lake needs... He's the hero Williams Lake deserves
- 3 0
taskmgr
(Jul 30, 2018 at 22:15)
@DonkeyTeeth: have you been to Williams lake? The hero is the volunteer police that round up the drunks with guns at the stampede every year.
- 15 0
slumgullion
(Jul 30, 2018 at 6:34)
I put on some Rise Against before pushing play and was instantly transported back to a time when freeriding reigned supreme. Good stuff.
- 11 0
bulletbassman
(Jul 30, 2018 at 8:35)
dear mtb industry, we want to see a lot more of James.
- 11 2
appfreak76
(Jul 30, 2018 at 18:31)
That was a fucking awful song choice, do the riding justice and put a banger on
- 10 0
mrwynnewillson
(Jul 30, 2018 at 4:42)
I liked those tables
- 18 0
honda50r
(Jul 30, 2018 at 9:58)
All 65 of them in four minutes
- 9 1
JackSC
(Jul 30, 2018 at 13:02)
Pirates of the Caribbean called they want their music back
- 3 0
oldmanhucking
(Jul 30, 2018 at 11:31)
Loved it.....great job! I feel like 100% needs to come out with some "Suns out guns out" attire so James can return to his roots
- 4 0
BorisTheBulletDodger
(Jul 30, 2018 at 2:54)
Always laying down some tasty tabs!
- 4 0
vandenr2
(Jul 30, 2018 at 2:48)
well that was cool
- 3 0
chyu
(Jul 30, 2018 at 3:31)
Did GIF just save the internet. Video and Image in one package.
- 1 1
taskmgr
(Jul 30, 2018 at 22:16)
Where have you been? This isn't new
- 3 0
rustyhorse
(Jul 31, 2018 at 7:12)
dude did a backflip with a water bottle....always ready to be hydrated
- 2 0
lalientoxc
(Jul 30, 2018 at 9:09)
Always stoked to see this riding
- 1 0
kungfupanda
(Aug 1, 2018 at 22:06)
only thing I hate more than a slow-mo, is a fast-mo. 1:33... WTF. Otherwise this is good stuff on mute.
- 1 0
onlythebest
(Jul 31, 2018 at 8:31)
I've got that same tire setup, prime tires
- 1 0
ryanholio
(Jul 31, 2018 at 19:39)
Such a damned good rider!
- 1 0
mrgazoo
(Jul 30, 2018 at 9:00)
Really good.
Login or Sign Up