Riders in northern Ontario don't get enough credit

Jan 28, 2008 at 8:47
by Matthew Dickson  
Northern Ontario riders don't get noticed because of where they live.

Sadly riders in northern Ontario are not noticed by companies or other riders. My name is Matt Dickson and I have been living in northern Ontario for the past summer and will be returning to my home in Kelowna B.C. at the end of the week. Over this time I have met some of the best bikers I have seen for our age. Many of them dream of riding Crankworx and other events like that but cannot afford to make it to them.Sadly a lot of these guys will never be seen by companies for sponsorship opportunities. From flips to spins these guys have it all. There is a group of about 8 guys who I like to ride with around here. These riders consist of Kurtis Ritchie, Steve Nankervis, Justin and Josh Bellemare, Dylan Grant, Nick Clement and Brett Rusnak. These strong riders have progressed over the summer and are now pulling backflips, supermans and tailwhip threes. Riding with these guys is amazing because of their fun personalities and their amazing style.

Now for some pics, which I'm sure you all want to see-

photo

Kurt Ritchie, corked threesixty


photo

Justin Bellemare, nfc


photo

Dylan Grant, flatty


photo

Justin Bellemare, backflip


photo

Kurt Ritchie, huuuuge backflip


photo

Steve Nankervis, threesixty


photo

Steve Nankervis, x-up drop


I hope someone will take notice of these riders. Hopefully soon enough people will notice that there are guys riding as hard as they can to have fun.
BANS 2 demo vid

by DylanG
Views: 26,412    Faves: 172    Comments: 112


Thanks for reading and viewing,
-Matt

Author Info:
rideracelive259 avatar

Member since Sep 24, 2006
1 articles
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109 Comments
  • 35 0
 Great riders and some big tricks, however think again about how many kids across the world that are in the same boat.
  • 7 0
 yeah exactly.. what if i wrote an article saying singapore doesnt get any cred. i mean we have riding but no one pays attention to some little dot in the middle of asia.. at least you guys have crankwords and sea otter and all that.. theres no such thing as a mountain biking competition if its not xc over here, sponsorship is pretty hard to find coz no one pays attention to this place and the government doesnt even let us build jumps.. one of the only jumps left here are getting demolished soon to make room for some sort of youth games thing.. so dont complain there are others that have it worse.
  • 0 0
 you're so fuckin' right Man props 2 U we have exactly teh same problem...
  • 38 13
 ya maybe they would be noticed if they could land their tricks
  • 20 6
 agreed, sure they can land tricks three out of ten, there are plenty of riders who can do that, maybe they aren't getting noticed because plenty of people are just as good, ever thought about that?
  • 11 7
 "From flips to spins these guys have it all"
I'm pretty sure flips and spins are all they got, and they only land those 50% of the time with a pretty ugly style to go with it.
  • 4 4
 Yeah, the one kid landed 2 straight airs. Landed no tricks, thats the reason he is getting no exposure.
  • 1 2
 agreed, yer yer yur good and all but alot of other kids are as well, so dont comlain, atleast you have good bikes
  • 18 0
 Hard industry to make it in, so keep trying, but remember, just go have fun and ride your bike. That's way more important than fretting about sponsorship and wondering if you're going to make it.
  • 20 0
 why is getting attention so important, why not just ride for fun and enjoy biking for what it is?
  • 10 0
 Exactly
  • 4 0
 Thats the truth right there. Don't get so wrapped up in getting sponsered because that just doesn't make it fun anymore.
  • 2 0
 ya i just ride for the fun of it and so i dont play vg's all day every day.
  • 0 0
 totaly agree with thomastee
  • 18 1
 yah...lets get ontario riders more exposure...good article, Kurt Ritchie's flip is massive. good job guys
  • 1 0
 yea mark...for sheezy!
  • 2 1
 everybody in ontario like andrew holmes for example is a crazy rider but he is notcied but not noticed enough for his amount of skill canadians have much skill just we need to be noticed Smile !
  • 1 0
 you guys are realy good,props on the flip drop. but crnakworx in real life is massssssive.
  • 0 0
 dont complain, look up Andrew Lee a ripper from Newfoundland. HE SHREDS and gets very little credit.
  • 12 1
 I think it's pretty simple. People don't usually pick up sponsors unless they're competing. The reason you get a sponsorship is because the sponsoring company sees that their company name will get exposure if it's attached to yours. You need to be in the spotlight for a sponsorship to be worthwhile to a company. If you really want to pursue it you have to think about it like any other industry that you would want to get a job in. With most jobs you would have to invest in the right education and move to the right place to get the job. In your case your investment should be in devoting more time to build your skills (maybe you've already done that). You should then move to a central location where you can compete in a few events per year. If you're good enough, you will get noticed, even if it's just by a small company. From there you will have at least a little more support so you can enter more comps or maybe spend less time working and more time building your skills. Either way it would be a step in the right direction. Bottom line(s): Make yourself valuable to a sponsor and they will want you. You have to see yourself as a tool for potential sponsors, not the other way around.

Good luck.
  • 3 0
 I second that Smile

But how do Free Riders get sponsored? I mean, guys like Matt Hunter and Tyler Klassen... They DONT do any tricks, it's all about big air and huck yourself on HUGE gaps (that's my style as well, i dont like tricks, just big drops)... But they still have sponsors and aren't on the races..

But the big issue here in Ontario is about the FR and DH scene. We don't have mountains to ride or big stuff to hit.. The DJ and Street guys can build jumps easily, but DH's can't..

Cheers!
  • 3 1
 The problem that I see all comes down to money and family support. They could have all the talent in the world, and the drive to go to one of those events, but, if their family doesn't have the money or doesn't provide the support, they can't take it anywhere. I see it all the time in the western Downhill scene. You travel to any of the Norba's in the west, and the place is littered with kids from California, Utah, and Colorado. They all have their $4000+ bikes, motor homes/RV's, and family members on the side of the course rooting them on. [I saw a CO kid, 10(give or take) years old, with a $10,000 custom 4" Yeti 303 built to fit him] But, you go to a small race scene, (Idaho is where i bared witness) you have kids that are 2x as fast as half those Jr. X kids, but never make it to the big time races. Thus, the sponsors don't see what they have to offer, and where they could possibly get full factory sponsorships, they are scrappin for pennies to get their bikes, car, and races paid for. You ask how this makes a difference? Well, see it this way: The kid from SLC Utah, has 10 or so ski resorts within 200mi. His parents get him 2-3 passes for each one of those, and the transport to get to those resprts. They go a few times a week. First, not only are they able to spend more time on the bike, but they are also getting practice on race courses that have some seriously difficult terrain, and get this dialed. They take this time that is handed to them, and that others have to fight for (aka actually work for) and take this experience and skill to the races, they podium. Now, if that truly talented kid that works to pay for his way, was actually able to make it to the races, the story would have been different. Hell, maybe I'm just bitching because I am stubborn about the situation, but thats just my 2 cents.
  • 1 0
 Absolutely agree
  • 15 3
 If this guys want to come to crankworx they will have to work even harder
  • 5 0
 pretty good, but apart from the back flips theres nothing to special,like the groups that i rad ewith ... we can all do the things in this vid accept the flip and even if we could its not like we would get sponcered, we live in the smallest town ever
  • 6 3
 wow u cant do shit except 180's. I pretty sure that these guys r 2 steps ahead of u... so don't even talk that kinda shit.
  • 5 1
 i agree big time. where i live we have tons of people who like to ride. but only one set of jumps. and those ones arent even that great. when we build them the city knocks them down..not only are we not getting notcied by companies were not getting noticed by the province
  • 0 0
 same with invermere all this town wants to do is develop and ruin any biking territory all the x country trails are gone and the jumps and drops are all being demolished so fucking gay
  • 8 3
 So you guys are complaining about not getting any recognition for bein good.. and u make a vid where u bail on over half the tricks.. and even throw a few dead sailors in there... impressive!
  • 3 2
 for f*ck sakes, we didnt complain about not being recognized the article is about northern ontario as a whole not just us. we bike becuase we enjoy it, we have been biking our entire lives, we obviousl;y dont ride to get noticedbecuase we live in northern ontario wecant get noticed. That video isnt a sponcorship video its just a shitty vid i made to practice with mostly crap footage because i was making a full lenght vid we had no intention of getting sponcord for it
  • 4 0
 A perfect example of Ontario riing is LOGAN PEAT!! The guy is from the middle of nowhere (Owen sound,ontario )the guy shreds and as been doing comps for sometime now...look at him now hes riding for Santa cruz! its not about where your from its how bad you want it ! Keep shredding!
  • 6 2
 agreed about other riders in ontario, however these guys are not at the caliber of crankworx or sponsorship yet. Keep up working on the riding and maybe someday you'll end up there.
  • 6 17
flag alexbikes (Mar 23, 2008 at 12:45) (Below Threshold)
 they are deffanitly ready for sponsorship you douche i bet there way better then you aswell.
  • 3 0
 Why just Northern Ontario? I live in the center of Ontario and I know lots of guys who can throw those tricks to. I agree with thomastee, why is it about getting sponsered? We all have our bikes and we all love to ride is this not enough?
  • 3 0
 Ontario is so spread out and the heart of the mtb scene is outwest . there are quite a few riders from ontario that are up and comming its there motivation and determination to ride that makes these guys spring up over night. there is so much competition now for riding, everyone is throwin down big moves, today its up to the rider to make themselvs get noticed.
  • 4 1
 howdy, i am one of the riders mentiond in the artical, and i would like to say that i am no were close to the skill level that is required to be notice by companies,kurtis ritchie, justin and josh bellemare and steve nankervis are reely the only people in the artical that are good enough. I am sure there is alot more northern ontario riders that are very skilled and should be noticed the main problem is that there are no comps close to here and its alot of $$$ to go out of town.
Also i would like to say to those who think these guys dont land any tricks the bellemare twins can prety much land any trick their first time the only time they dont is if it is sumthing super crazy.
  • 2 2
 also we dont ride to get noticed, we ride for the fun of it, thats the way it should be
  • 4 0
 I know All those guys and they are really really sick they are able to do all the tricks they what to do they are solidd riders and they will probally get sponced soon... good luck guys keep it up Wink
  • 6 0
 I am from Ont and was wondering why I don't see you guys at any comps?
  • 3 1
 im from ontario too i agree we dont get as much credit as we could but at the same time imagine all the riders that dont get credit too like quebec, east newyork and other places. i say dont take it to heart i dont ride for sponsers or money or huge events. i ride because its fun because its something to do whenever that thought of being bored go through your head. so really if your not doing it for fun then theirs really no point in doing it. anyways be patient guys your really good riders youll get noticed awsome jumps keep shredding
  • 2 1
 Firstly, the reason people may want to get sponsored, is so they don't have to work-they can live their dream! wouldn't anyone love to live in a mansion for fun? true-it isn't all about sponsorship, but then again, nowhere in this article does it say the riders ever claimed they wanted to be sponsored-this is about how much unseen talent is wasted everyday because we dont have resources to find them, and 'broadcast' them.

Isn't being sponsored something to aim for anyway?if you're good enough to get sponsored by any good company, then you will have so much skill, you can inspire people to strive for what they want, just like you once did.

I'm no good at DJing-i can hardly get in the air- that is terrible dirt jumping. Don't have a go at those riders, for trying things. Okay, they're not world class, but that doesn't mean they never will be, so don't go putting them down, for absoluetely no reason at all.

They dont land every new trick they give a go-do you?
  • 1 4
 Ha ! Live in a mansion..are you a total goofball ?
  • 1 0
 lol...like if ontario was the only province who didnt really had some "unknow riders". it's all about having fun riding and being with your buddy. the best way to be on the map is by doing some *good looking* videos and going to comp.

keep up the riding
  • 1 0
 this article is soo true, and appreciate that you put it out. Coming from northern ontario myself, it is super hard to get the exposure we need, and i know a couple riders myself that can kill it, but no one sees it.. It'll be great if you find a way to get this out there, and more exposure to the riders. Thanks for all, Cheers,
  • 11 6
 ya these guys deserve more attention then they get for sure.
  • 5 0
 Fliping the step down was very impressive.
  • 5 4
 If you wanna get to Crankworx try landing your tricks.... That might get you exposed. And as for exposure, who DOESNT want more exposure? You wanna get recognized you gotta get out there and kill it. These guys... did NOT kill it. They sucked, sure they did a couple 3's and a flip, that doesnt get you sponsored.
  • 10 15
flag mikedekoning (Mar 23, 2008 at 11:53) (Below Threshold)
 Your a dick. They did kill it. Give them some props. Look where there from. Awesome job!
  • 1 0
 See, you guys got into pinkbike, you are at the main page. So many peope commented this article, agreeing and disagreeing that you should keep it up. isn`t it the first step towards career?

I think you need to practice a lot (crashes are pwning) but maybe someday.. ;p
  • 1 0
 Its so true I know tons of people who rip from ontario and there is a couple secrect dj spots that are better then spots out west. Ontario deffinatly doesnt get same recognition
  • 0 0
 Im from northen ontario and I got to crankworx, but it was really hard to get that far. And what we have here does not even compare and prepare to a venue like whistler. which i learned the hard way and broke my back in qualifiers. so please give these riders a chance and give us some exposure and credit for the effort we put in to the sport that shapes who we are!
  • 0 0
 Serious input there from Mike Kinrade. Ontario does have some guys getting recognized right now. Logan is the obvious one, Justin Guignard is hooked up with Atomlab, Andrew Bigelow with Black Market,Frankie got some exposure, in Quebec guys like Plonka are getting their names out there riding in comps like Rays and placing in finals.
  • 3 1
 Im just getting into djing i live in toronto and there are many great riders from ontario and i think it would be great if they were a bit more noticed..
  • 1 1
 I am with thomastee, ride for the fun. Landing tricks would be good too. These guys are obviously a good group of progressing groms who have a whole lotta groms, just like them, who are wanting to make it in the scene. First off though, they might want to check their taste in '80s music and secondly; when you are in the centre of the universe, also known as Ontario, you forget that it is hard to look in when the G's pull harder on the outer rim.
  • 2 2
 With all that is required for sponsorship these days, you guys should look at what is going on in the scene and what riders are doing to make a go of it all. The vid shows some cool stuff, but aside from the flip stepdown everything you've done isn't pushing the sport much. It was all pretty small scale and didn't show much riding skill other than DJ and skatepark stuff which doesn't say much for overall riding skills. there's much more to it than gravelpit riding. You guys have a cool core scene and you should keep shredding, and if you're hell bent on making a go of it then you will get recognized by someone when you really deserve it.
  • 2 2
 If you havnt noticed they have no hills to ride so they ride what they've got they don't complain. Also yeah as you mentioned you had 15 years they are only 16 years old. No offence but I think its kinda sad ripping on kids who could show you up in the dj scene. But as much as I think your a sick freerider your like double their age and knowing these guys if they had access to a mountian and full suspension bike they would shred it up
  • 2 2
 Buddy, I'm not ripping on the kids. Like I said, they should keep shredding like they are and they will get noticed when the time is right. You don't get sponsored by being on the defensive side for not noticing you, you get out there, and shred your ass off. FYI, when I was 16 I was riding my trails fully rigid. No full suspension there.
  • 1 0
 All the bloody lakes (not the ones filled with blood) provide great lake jumpers for these guys! Sick! Their is also great support and the cost of living is cheap. Way to go guys!!! Tbay 4 life!!
  • 0 0
 sure you guys in northern ontario dont get noticed,i can completely understand where your coming from. But with kids that live in small towns,or un rich families etc.are having the exact same problem,i live on a farm,i can only get a ride in 1 time a month to goto the city to ride,and even then im not gonna get noticed,and i know for a fact that there is kids lik us world wide,if you ask me kids in B.C and stuff are lucky,not trying to sound like an a*shole or anything but they have mountains,and bikeparks with sponsor ships etc.

Jesse(controversy-is-me17)
  • 4 1
 james182 you have no respect for other provinces
  • 1 1
 Those kids have alot more balls than skill and their are alot of kids that have much more skill than them and are consistant, but are still not noticed. however that kurtis richie was impressive
  • 1 2
 man if you think you have it bad...when i was 15 i had backflips and nfc's down like wheelies....******not trying to be cocky**********. but i did the whole sponserhouse thing and tried grass roots...im 18 now and still have nothing other then riding for a local shop who hooked me up with two transitions...if your dying to get to a comp better step it up not tryin to be mean but you can backflip and 360 but if you cant land it like butter means nothing...keep it up tho never know what could happen...o ya and the boneyard is like 4 times bigger then it is in the pics and mags
  • 1 0
 is kurtis richie sponsered???? if not then tell him to go to his local bike store and bring in a sponser vid he will sponsered...........no dought about it
  • 0 1
 At least you guys have a riding community. I'm from chicago where nobody rides or races downhill. Anything I want to ride I have to build it first, by myself. If you want sponsors do comps and get exposure. Don't whine to some website about it.
  • 0 0
 it was really not that impresive thats were most kids are these days so if ur not getting noticed u have to actualy go enter competitions and do good in them then u might get noticed
  • 3 1
 only rider i liked was the 2nd in the video
others- nothing special, 3rd rider didn't even land any trick :/
  • 0 1
 yeah there are probably many other people like you guys, im a die hard downhill racer and i like to dirt jump and crap like that but when i show up to a skate park its like a slap in the face. some bmxers are like 1 million times better than me. so the point of the story is that when ever you think your good, there is always someone out there that could basically bitch you out. All you can do is have fun and not worry about being the best because for damn sure you definitely arent even okay compared some people. so dont stress and have fun
  • 3 2
 and just to put things into perspective, it's taken me years to shred trails like I do now, and it took me 5 min to land a backflip.
  • 2 1
 awww diddums are the poor people of Ontario not getting there god given right to a sponsorship deal? well imagine what its like for the rest of the world to. my heart weaps.
  • 1 1
 its not all about getting sponcered, if your truley a biker you bike just to bike but i mean who wouldent love to get free stuff
  • 1 0
 nuthin, like at all. thers was one at the toronto bike show and its was on the 4x track not much of a dirtjump comp
  • 2 1
 oh my god about half of the people that read this artical completly missed the point
  • 0 2
 why is the video full of their crashes if they wanted to get noticed wouldnt they want just buttered tricks. personaly from ontario, and just moved to kelowna B.C. the riding is alot bigger out here, but we rip what we have out east as hard as we can.
  • 2 0
 drive some mother5s hard shit son
  • 2 0
 SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIALIDOCIOUS!!
  • 1 0
 holy crap the compound is big but i thought it would be smaller those jumps are huge
  • 4 2
 the first 2 are the only ones who have a chance at getting sponsered
  • 0 0
 sick riding, quick questrion. what comps are there for jumpin in ontario? i live near toronto and there really arent any other than some skate park ones, and dh racing
  • 1 0
 Sorry kids but if you want to ride the big mountains you have to move out west.
  • 0 0
 sick riding, keep it up. It's not all about getting noticed tho, like dylan said it's just all about the ride. Keep up the sick flow!
  • 1 0
 yea! us northern ontario bikers need to get more noticed. great article and some sweet pics
  • 1 0
 Yeah, since Ontario sells more bikes overall than any other province. Cool story
  • 0 2
 Im from northern alberta, and its snow covered three quarters of the year...and all my bike bro's rip it harder than you goofs. More exposure??? Land a trick once in a while? that may help...I mean the backflip was good...but we have to do that with studded tires on the ice. And as for the whole crankworx idea...give me a break. You would get to whistler and shit your pants at the size of those hits, it would be a different sport compared to the "jumps" you guys hit.
  • 1 0
 northern ont needs lift acsess
  • 1 1
 this article is great i do agree in ontario we dont get enough recognition and for pinkbike to do this, its huge.
  • 1 1
 Some people just dont get how secluded some of these towns are ... These guys deff need some credit
  • 1 0
 wats wiht the skidoo hoods on the drop hahhahahhaha
  • 0 3
 you should ride for fun not for sponsership..you are starting to sound like the hockey players that do not do it for fun or enjoyment anymore but they want more money...ride for fun..that is the key..that is why i ride and why i teach my son.
  • 8 8
 sorry man they might be good guys no doubt but the skill just isnt there none of these guys were anything special
  • 2 0
 nothing special ehh well i wanna see a vid of you budday..
  • 1 0
 where in northern ontario are you riding?
  • 3 1
 Nice video. Shredders!
  • 0 0
 i wish i still lived in timmins
  • 1 1
 Great aticle, northern Ontario is where its at!
  • 0 0
 kurtis ritchie is good the others are ok..
  • 0 0
 you guys just need some mad fuckin steez.
  • 1 1
 what a waste of time
  • 1 3
 all I see in those videos and pictures are rookies... and seriously people, learn to spell "sponcered"
  • 1 2
 dylan did you really just read all 90 some odd comments? f*ck you!
  • 2 0
 ya i did
  • 0 0
 Yeee reppin N.o
  • 0 0
 yay ontario
  • 0 2
 Is crashing the new style to get credits xDDDDD?The most funniest video I ever seen, I mean, crashes xDDD
  • 0 1
 big DICK!!
  • 3 6
 all sick riders and deserve attention from companies
  • 1 3
 Good stuff guys!
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