Video: Jason Trautman Lives Where He's Happy. Do you?
**For immediate shredding, skip to 3:45**
"The Great Pacific Northwest plays home to some incredibly passionate mountain bikers. Riders that go out rain or shine, snowing or frozen. Where hosing down muddy gear and warming your hands where the sun don't shine are the norm most of the year, there must be something in the dirt that keeps these guys and gals ripping year round. #NWLove - Rider Profile, goes into the mind of one of many local shredders to learn more about how the Northwest fuels and fulfills his passion to ride bikes." -SC
![Morning light approach.]()
![Jay Weylin and the octocopter headed back into the woods.]()
Reality vs. dreams. Everyone gets stuck in the real world while longing for that elusive dream lifestyle. Jay is one of the few people that manages to blur the lines between the two. Working full time as a bike mechanic in Seattle has its ups and downs, but it affords him aspects of his dream life that he couldn’t find back on the east coast where he grew up.
Raised on the beaches of New Jersey, Jay grew up surfing in cold water and being a bike shop grom – fusing two of his passions from a very young age. As he grew into his mind, something inside him told him to head west; the best coast was calling. Arriving in Seattle 18 months ago with not much more than a couple bikes and a smelly van, Jay set out to realize his dream of riding bikes in the mecca that is the Northwest.
Jay first came onto the scene at AT’s Showdown in 2012. In amongst the best slopestlye riders of the FMB was this lanky kid absolutely crushing the course. No one had ever seen him before. Fresh off his cross-country journey, Jay was looking to make some moves in the mountain bike world. Watching Jay pull massive front flips and completely holding his own next to guys like Anthony Messere and Brett Rheeder was impressive. The guy has talent.
You might assume that riding with Jay would only be for guys on his level. Maybe he’d be off doing his crazy tricks the entire time and just waiting around for you at the bottom. Jay’s not that kind of rider. He’s not in a hurry. He doesn’t have to be the best guy on the hill. He rides bikes because it’s fun. He rides because it’s an escape into a little slice of heaven. He rides because he’s really freaking good and it helps him grow confident in other parts of his life. He rides simply because it makes him happy.
Jay’s goals aren’t podiums, finite destinations or tangible milestones. His best attribute is that he lives each day like it’s a new lesson. He takes in moments and strings them into experiences that are meaningful. Best of all, there is no end in sight. There are dreams of world travel, surfing incredible waves, and riding trails that seem out of touch for most people. Reality vs. dreams. Blurred lines. He’s getting it figured out.
In a world where so many guys aim to be “pro,” Jay just aims to have fun and enjoy every experience. It shows in his riding. There are no bad laps, and no bad days. -Lacy Kemp/From The Chairlift Marketing
![Sometimes it takes a blowtorch. In the 5 weeks of shooting this video we experienced every condition the Pacific Northwest had to offer.]()
![Jay waiting to drop.]()
"The Great Pacific Northwest plays home to some incredibly passionate mountain bikers. Riders that go out rain or shine, snowing or frozen. Where hosing down muddy gear and warming your hands where the sun don't shine are the norm most of the year, there must be something in the dirt that keeps these guys and gals ripping year round. #NWLove - Rider Profile, goes into the mind of one of many local shredders to learn more about how the Northwest fuels and fulfills his passion to ride bikes." -SC
Reality vs. dreams. Everyone gets stuck in the real world while longing for that elusive dream lifestyle. Jay is one of the few people that manages to blur the lines between the two. Working full time as a bike mechanic in Seattle has its ups and downs, but it affords him aspects of his dream life that he couldn’t find back on the east coast where he grew up.
Raised on the beaches of New Jersey, Jay grew up surfing in cold water and being a bike shop grom – fusing two of his passions from a very young age. As he grew into his mind, something inside him told him to head west; the best coast was calling. Arriving in Seattle 18 months ago with not much more than a couple bikes and a smelly van, Jay set out to realize his dream of riding bikes in the mecca that is the Northwest.
Jay first came onto the scene at AT’s Showdown in 2012. In amongst the best slopestlye riders of the FMB was this lanky kid absolutely crushing the course. No one had ever seen him before. Fresh off his cross-country journey, Jay was looking to make some moves in the mountain bike world. Watching Jay pull massive front flips and completely holding his own next to guys like Anthony Messere and Brett Rheeder was impressive. The guy has talent.
You might assume that riding with Jay would only be for guys on his level. Maybe he’d be off doing his crazy tricks the entire time and just waiting around for you at the bottom. Jay’s not that kind of rider. He’s not in a hurry. He doesn’t have to be the best guy on the hill. He rides bikes because it’s fun. He rides because it’s an escape into a little slice of heaven. He rides because he’s really freaking good and it helps him grow confident in other parts of his life. He rides simply because it makes him happy.
Jay’s goals aren’t podiums, finite destinations or tangible milestones. His best attribute is that he lives each day like it’s a new lesson. He takes in moments and strings them into experiences that are meaningful. Best of all, there is no end in sight. There are dreams of world travel, surfing incredible waves, and riding trails that seem out of touch for most people. Reality vs. dreams. Blurred lines. He’s getting it figured out.
In a world where so many guys aim to be “pro,” Jay just aims to have fun and enjoy every experience. It shows in his riding. There are no bad laps, and no bad days. -Lacy Kemp/From The Chairlift Marketing
Author Info:
Member since May 6, 2013
Must Read This Week
How to Watch the 2024 Mountain Bike World Cup [Update: Staylive Offering Access in New Zealand, South Africa & More]
59547 views
59547 views
Sign Up for the Pinkbike Newsletter - All the Biggest, Most Interesting Stories in your Inbox
PB Newsletter Signup
I'm working on it. I'll be part of the tiny home movement. My home will be parked in Sedona in Winter and the base of a lift in summer. I will call it the van.
I'm in highschool, but will be using a design like this to travel during summer and weekends without having to pay for resort hotels.
So yes i can say i'm happy to live where i live!^^
But BC is way better
Morgins is a nice place too and chatel rocks!!!
I miss u whistler and squamish trails!! (& mood)
williamcgibson.wordpress.com
A well deserved VOD. Cheers!
Really enjoyed the angled drop at 4:33. Looks like a nice little technical and fun move.
Serious shredding on a bike and serious shredding on my snowboard my 2 happy places.