Video: Out on a Limb - Documenting the Shore Classics

Jun 19, 2013 at 8:54
by Paul Snyder  
Views: 1,123    Faves: 4    Comments: 0


Sometimes you have to go out on a limb – to commit to a project with someone you’ve never worked with before, with no guarantees for what might come of it. With mutual interests and mutual friends, a few weeks of cross-Atlantic communications led myself and Paul Snyder to align an afternoon of shooting while he visited from Denmark to ride and document the Shore’s old school trails. Part historian, part tourist, and armed with a Handycam, Paul’s enthusiasm for the Shore of yore should get anybody stoked to ride stunts.

The slow technical side of riding the Shore is something that you can never escape. Even on trails considered to have new school flow, you might find yourself carefully picking your way down a craggy rock face or humping over a weird feature. To link up big loops on the Shore, you often have to ride sections of old school trail to access other trails – and the skills gained by riding historic trails are indeed transferable. However, with a lack of builders willing to truly restore these pieces of history, the trail building and riding style in question is at risk of becoming obsolete. We set out to document some of the characteristic features of the old school Shore – and possibly even make them look fun!

photo
Going for it on the real small bike. Photo Paul Snyder.

Paul writes:
I lived in Vancouver in the mid-nineties, but got into mountain biking shortly after I moved to Denmark in 2000. I came back on vacation every year to visit friends and just be in Vancouver, and in 2005 started going up to explore the trails on Seymour. I was so taken with them and the whole North Shore riding movement back then, but what really blew me away was the trails and how they made you focus so hard that your brain hurt trying to move from one thing to another.

It was also the combination of the rough, rooty natural terrain combined with ladders and skinnies, and the way they incorporated natural rock faces and fallen trees. It was so imaginative and I’ve always loved to challenge myself. I used to hike avidly when I lived there, so loved being in the mountains, and exploring the trails was a great way to combine it all. The trails in Denmark seemed so boring by comparison, so the Shore really fuelled my imagination. I could go to bed dreaming about Pangor and Ned’s for months after I got home or before I was leaving to come back. That’s my love of the Shore in a nutshell.


Photo Morgan taylor
A lush June day in 2010. This old bridge has been replaced, though Pangor retains much of its original character after two full years of maintenance. Photo Morgan Taylor.

There seems to come a point when you’ve conquered all of the features on a trail and can take it for granted, looking for a different thrill to keep the buzz alive. I will admit that while I’ve ridden Pangor dozens of times in the past few years, it’s not my first choice these days. Sven Luebke and his Muddbunnies crew have done a great job of bringing the trail up to sustainable standards over the past few seasons while retaining much of its original character, and it remains a popular year-round destination.

When Paul suggested we film on this blue-black trail with a bunch of decaying but visually and structurally interesting wood features, I thought it would be appropriate to bring out my hardtail. Paul’s enthusiasm for the project ramped up when he heard I would be riding the little Chromag Monk which had been sorely neglected all spring, and was soon to go back to dirt jump mode. The small bike is great for maneuverability, and can definitely put the fun back into a trail you’d been ignoring.

Photo Morgan Taylor
Pangor in the wet. When things get real. Winter exploring in 2011. Photo Morgan Taylor.

Paul’s thoughts on the matter:
As for documenting, I’ve long wanted to write a book on the history of the Shore, because until a few years ago info was scarce. Seb Kemp had the same idea and encountered the same problem with lack of info, but funnily enough all the people who know stuff are still around. I make videos as a hobby and thought what better way to record a little history than by filming people riding the trails and some of the old features before they rot or become decommissioned? And so I try to grab a few sweet shots in a video where the trail is the star and the rider is co-star.

photo
I suspect this skinny has taken out a lot of derailleurs in its lifetime. Photo Paul Snyder.

After nailing the first curved skinny first shot, I decided I would ride all the optional lines on the trail during our shoot. It was a great afternoon of testing my slow speed tech skills. We had fun shooting on Pangor and I feel like that comes out in the video – and the purpose of documenting the trail was a success.

Words by Morgan Taylor

Author Info:
paul-snyder avatar

Member since Sep 17, 2009
12 articles

32 Comments
  • 3 1
 I grew up on the shore and there for, on all the skinnys we have. I for one am sick and tired of stupid rotten wood! people on the north shore just want to ride dirt! Keep it up TAP more gold!
  • 2 1
 go to cypress
  • 2 0
 the wood on cypress is probably even more rotten, NSMBA doesn't maintain cypress so it gets run down from time to time
  • 1 0
 coiler and mystery dh have no wood. sex girl, never never land and slippery canoe are in no way rotten. besides, just about all the wood on thoughs trails are jumps so it doesnt really matter.
  • 1 0
 I agree but it's not exactly easy for someone from deep cove area to just go for a lap of Cypress. It would be great if we could bring some Cypress style, fast and dirt not rock, to Seymour
  • 2 1
 The shore and all its aspects are awesome. I love having the shore as a backyard, and if you want something different, simply put a pin on the north shore and draw yourself a 100km radius; your options are limitless.
  • 2 0
 Such a sick edit. You don't see skinnies in videos anymore. And that guy was shredding them. So good!!!!
  • 1 0
 haha shredding skinnies, not exactly a term you hear often
  • 3 1
 Just got back from another awesome trip to fromme. Love the shore.
  • 2 1
 theirs like 5 good trails. all of them a sketchy hike in and in fear that one day the parks will take em out
  • 3 3
 finnrambo - could you just shut the f*ck up about trails that shouldn't be discussed. What kind of raging 12 year old idiot are you?
  • 3 1
 Best place on earth.
  • 1 0
 Cool vid.....Digging the tunes, Who the it by?
  • 1 0
 Music is "Lightning Bolt" by Jake Bugg.
  • 2 1
 I just want a fast track.,
  • 2 0
 Help me understand. You don't like the article, you don't like the pictures, you don't like the video, you don't like the Shore and you don't like wood. Considering the subject matter of the article, why do you keep returning to the comment thread to add your negative nuggets of wisdom?
  • 1 1
 It's called an opinion, I believe everyone is entitled to have one. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
  • 1 0
 The point is not that one has an opinion. Please read what I'm asking. Why does he come back three times to add comments? Once was sufficient.
  • 2 0
 i wish i lived there
  • 1 0
 lol
  • 2 8
flag samtomkins (Jun 19, 2013 at 17:40) (Below Threshold)
 If you did live here you'd wish you didn't. Trust me.
  • 1 0
 Liar samtomkins. Just trying to make us who don't live there feel better. It is awesome there. I would love to ride the shore everyday. I only get once a month.
  • 1 6
flag finnrambo (Jun 19, 2013 at 18:45) (Below Threshold)
 naw man try the darkside, I appreciate what the NSMBA is doing but the darkside is an evolution of the shore
  • 1 0
 No I'm serious all the legal trails (while I appreciate the work put into them and they aren't terrible) just the constant rock gardens and skinnies aren't my cup of tea. But there are some nice and awesome secrets around here
  • 1 0
 I am not local so don't know the darkside, but want to experience it. Any of that riding is better than what I have at home. Would love to be shown the darkside someday.
  • 1 2
 sorry bud, to see the darkside you have to put the work into finding it yourself, or come along for a build day (fun part is trying to find a builder who needs you)
  • 2 1
 Sorry I shouldn't really be talking about Darkside shit on here. Hard earned secrets, you gotta earn rides out there
  • 1 0
 If I could I would. Willing to help dig. But I get how it works. I need more time and sweat there.
Below threshold threads are hidden







Copyright © 2000 - 2024. Pinkbike.com. All rights reserved.
dv42 0.032729
Mobile Version of Website