WTB Supports Team Semper Fi Fund
- Jeremiah Newman photo
WTB. The Semper Fi Fund, the private ranch in Novato, California, 16 service members, and WTB/Cannondale Overmountain team athletes Mark Weir and Jason Moeschler - two days of rain. one day of sun - and it all came together to create a rowdy weekend of perfect dirt, seemingly endless shuttle laps, high-speed descents and a level of camaraderie that made it impossible to end each day without a smile. The service members who protect and serve our country have done so much for all Americans, and many of us are often unaware of all they've had to endure in the process. While no amount of thankyou's will ever be enough, WTB partnered with the Semper Fi Fund to help create an unforgettable experience for a group of service members who have used their love for mountain biking to aid in their ongoing recoveries, both mentally and physically.
- Ken Viale photo
Famous Tour Guides.
Mark Weir and Jason Moeschler have been riding bikes with each other for years. They’ve known each other since Mark was wearing Lycra and Jason didn’t have any of his four Downieville Classic All-Mountain titles. The number of miles they’ve logged and hours of demoralizing climbs they’ve conquered together are beyond anything reasonable. Times may have changed, in the sense that they’ve left race tape behind and are both fathers of rambunctious young boys, but their ability to tear down a trail has not diminished in the slightest. The combination of their different skills and riding styles provided well-rounded skills clinics, where the service members learned technique at the top of each lap and then immediately put it into application on the descents.
Mark Weir and Jason Moeschler have been riding bikes with each other for years. They’ve known each other since Mark was wearing Lycra and Jason didn’t have any of his four Downieville Classic All-Mountain titles. The number of miles they’ve logged and hours of demoralizing climbs they’ve conquered together are beyond anything reasonable. Times may have changed, in the sense that they’ve left race tape behind and are both fathers of rambunctious young boys, but their ability to tear down a trail has not diminished in the slightest. The combination of their different skills and riding styles provided well-rounded skills clinics, where the service members learned technique at the top of each lap and then immediately put it into application on the descents.
Mark Weir and Jason Moeschler. - Ken Viale photo
Jason explains how to ride an off-camber section by pointing out the angle of the trail and emphasizing where to keep your weight. - Ken Viale photo
 | I've taught mountain bike skills to a lot of people over the years, but it was incredible to see how much better and how much more confident the servicemen were from start to finish in such a short period of time. I was honored to be able to share it with them. It's our little slice of heaven that we wouldn't have without their bravery. - Jason Moeschler |
Mark takes an experiential and visual approach. He wants riders to get a feel for what he’s talking about. “Keep your tire on the high side of the trail, hold your line like this and trust your side knobs. Here we go…” Equal amounts of finesse and manhandling meet each other every time Mark touches a bike and it’s apparent in his instruction.
| I've spent my entire life racing, which is a fairly vain way of going about things in comparison to what these guys have done. It's my turn to give back to each of these service members, and the least I can do is provide them with a weekend of rowdy trails and good times. - Mark Weir |
Mark's "visual approach" to teaching essential skills. - Ken Viale photo
The ranch's "Backwoods Whip," loaded up and headed for another lap. - Ken Viale photo
Pedaling is great, but the ranch is steep. Painfully steep. There were four flavors of shuttle experience: "The Everyday Ride" - Jason Moeschler’s Tacoma pickup brought everybody to the top in the tried-and-true mule for mountain bikes; "The Backwoods Whip" - Graciously provided by the Sanchez family, organizers of The Dirty Sanchez Enduro, riders could reach the top slightly more roughed up, but with a bit of extra grit for the descent; "The Dream Truck" - Fox brought one of their Ford Raptors out for anybody looking/willing to reach the top at highway speeds; "The Comfy Couch" - Mark Weir’s Old Blue may not go any faster when he lays on the gas, but it sure as hell gets louder.
Daniel "Danimal" Riley examplifies why there are no valid excuses for not getting out there and doing what you love. - Jeremiah Newman photo
Would you put your life in the hands of Mark Weir on a dual slalom course? Normally we'd be terrified to hear somebody yell that their leg fell off somewhere along the way.
Trails don't get faster than this: brake-free, fully-committed line, down the ranch's steepest grassy pitch. - Ken Viale photo
- Ken Viale photo
Eugene Power (far left) was generous enough to host the entire camp at his ranch house. - Ken Viale photo
Even the service dogs, like Sequoya here, had a blast. - Ken Viale photo
WTB's Commemorative Saddle Program
Each of the service members were handed their own limited edition WTB Volt Team saddle on the first day of the event, featuring a star spangled design of red, white and blue. For the remainder of the weekend, flashes of the patriotic colors were seen ripping down the trails of the Novato ranch. The service members were able to return home from the event with not only the memories of the weekend, but also a tangible reminder of our appreciation for each of them.
| Service members were able to return home from the event with not only the memories of the weekend, but also a tangible reminder of our appreciation for each of them. |
- Ken Viale photo
WTB will also be doing a limited production run of the Semper Fi saddle - a version of the WTB Volt Team saddle, which features titanium rails, DNA Padding, Flex-Tuned Shell and Microfiber Cover. With a width of 142mm, it lands in the middle of the range of available widths for the Volt saddle and therefore fits a broad range of potential riders. 226 grams makes it one of those saddles you pick up and say "Daaaammmmnnn, that's light!" WTB will contribute $15 to the Semper Fi Fund for each saddle sold, which will then be used to support future opportunities to allow recovering service members to experience the activities they love.
Check out the Semper Fi saddle at WTB's store.
Learn more about the Semper Fi Fund
Read the full version of this story.
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Good on Ya WTB. Some of my $ is on the way!
@USMC