Heading home

Heading home. Another epic trip finished. Thanks to all the crew who I cycled, partied and wandered around with. Heres a pic from last night.

wrapping it up

Today I got back on the bike after some rest. I went to a local physio yesterday. Probably the best Physio I have ever been to. I got put on an exercise bike and the view was Billion dollar.

Today was the Air DH race. Brian Lopes won for the 6th time. Peter managed to get to the bottom without crashing. When we were on the lift a guy did a back flip right underneath us. Still haven't got hold of Kirsty and Ii reckon its a lost cause now. Taught some kid how to get onto the container which was cool cos he was so completely stoked. In return he took some pics of us on the chair lift. Tonight is back to long horn for a few Ice cold kokanee's but first its pre drinks with Steve and calum. Then its a two day moving mission due to the stupid hotel buggering up the bookings. just rolling with it.

Camp done

Well just got back from the wrap up show from the camp. Got some tips and a pro pic. All really good value. Pretty much missed 2 days due to my knee and legs being smashed but all good. This afternoon watche Connor and Troy in the Dual Slalom. Those kids can sure ride. TB took out 4th in Pro men and Connor took out 2nd in his first ever race. Pretty much all the top riders are here so they have done amazingly well for being so young. Big futures.

Tomorrow is the first race. The Garbanzo Down hill. Got my plate today. No goodies except for free monster cans. Getting ready now for a wet race. Prediction is occasional rain. That means the occasion that I am on the track no doubt. Probably wont race Air DH on Thursday, just too sore. I took this photo today. Not of anyone I know but was just a great shot.

Rest day

On the lip getting tips Jordie Lunn

Adam ready to sink in

Yesterday I went to the air dome. Plan was to get my whips sorted and maybe do a back flip. The roll in was vertical. Didn't help seeing Adam loop out right on the tranny and slide all the way to the kicker. He finally got it together and ate some serious foam in the pit. I rolled in a few times and felt confident enough with how it all worked so I asked how to do back flips. I was told its basically one of the easiest "hard" tricks. I though all good, its just foam, what could go wrong. So to warm up the guy said just do a standing back flip into the pit. It said easy, I do them all the time. I stood on the edge and back fliped into the pit. I landed like I would into a pool but the foam has some serious support. Its also very uneven. I felt my knee twist sideways and pop out and back in again. Its my left knee, which has bee reconstructed, but has been completely solid since the op over 5 years ago. Any way I had to be draged out of the pit. I walked away but it has slowly gotten stiffer and more painful. I heard that Ben T broke his ankle yesterday and has headed off for surgery. Same goes for James T, he re dislocated his shoulder. My English stoner friend has broken a collar bone and is in Vancouver going for his second surgery to remove locating pins. I actually cant think of anyone who is not rolling with an injury. So its making me feel a lot better about a my run. Two of my accident haven't event been on the bike! Here is a pic from before my standing back flip.

Camp

Last few days have been at gravity camp. Pretty much made me 3 time the rider so far. Have ridden with Adam Billinghurst who is in "The Collective" and to day I rode with Sik Mick Hanna. Showed us a heap of new lines and I got a chance to chase him down the hill for a bit.

Did 11 laps yesterday and then finished off with a Ride dont slide. Peter Karas flowed us down on his FIRST day. I should have turned him back. He ended up opening up his arm and has put himself out for a few days.

Bumped into Connor again today. Hes hooked up with some local crew and is shredding all day now. Be very interesting to see how he goes in Crankworx.

Also saw a bear :)

Awsomeness

Well yesterday was pretty spectacular. I'm finally riding like I'm the driver instead of a passenger. Got about 3 runs in before the clouds set in. Its been really hot and half of California is on fire so it was good to see some cooler weather roll in.

We got on the chair lift as the rain started to spit. about a third of the way up, the lighting began. It was all pretty tame but apparently super rare. We got to the top and were told that the lifts were being shut down. We were some of the last to get on but so were Wildy, Trigger and Westy. So we were going to make the most of this run. We headed down upper A-line which is in the trees and with the clouds above now black it was a pretty different track. It was like night but as we hit each of these huge tables (faster than I had done them in any light) there were cracks of lighting that would light up the whole track like a paparazi pack for a few seconds.

We got to where the track opens up again and there were still quite a few people in the park. We headed down "pizza cat" as it started to rain. We poped out and decided to push up because there were no more lifts. Then it started to bucket down. Rain turned to hail and the lightening got worse. The trail really needed the moisture but there were soon torrents on the side of the road.

As we sheltered under a clump of dense trees we looked over to the other side of the mountain when a fork of lightening cracked down on blackcomb. We were pretty sure it touched down. Soon enough we saw a puff of smoke and smoke became fire.

So we sat there with hail all around watching this whole tree blaze up and then die down and then onto the next tree. Apparently they have paratooper fire fighters here that can drop in on these spots. Thankfully there was enough rain to kill the flame. We were told later there was about 4 of these strikes around the place.

All pretty amazing. Rode home we and muddy then out to the GLC for a few laughs.

Check out how the hip bruise is going.

Hip is now less of a boob but is changing colours like a sunset. Today is the day I get my groove on (hopefully). I'm rested but still feel sore. Rain predicted for Sunday which will be great for the tracks.

Meet a mate of Knowlers (Looks like Clarkson) last night who has been up here for 3 years. Hes going to lend me a pump bike and take us to his track. Also reckons there is a 50ft rope swing that is worth a go.

Not much else to report. Another day in paradise.