Riding Insane & Beautiful North Shore MTB features

Last year I visited the far

north

west of the United States for the first time and experienced the obstacles of the "

north

coast" in their natural habitat. The definition of what a "North Shore" obstacle is can vary, but generally the term is used to describe a ladder bridge, drop-off, berm (a MTBer knows what that means), seesaw, or some other obstacle made of wood. Many times these materials are taken from the area where the track is located. That's why real "north

shore

" obstacles are loved for the wood they were built from. Today we will see some examples. This track is actually in "Whistler", about an hour and a half north of the present-day North Shore of Vancouver.

It has a relatively flat elevation map, so many of the obstacles were built to overcome swampy sections. However, it is still clear that some of these obstacles are built simply because they can. These tabs are arranged so that they connect to each other as they fall. This contains a narrow crack that probably separates the 800mm handlebar. Other obstacles test your balance with tight lines containing tight turns and unwieldy trees that barely make it past the handlebars. but these trees were not intended to be part of the trail. They just fell there and kudos to anyone who can get around them and stay on the trail.

But I couldn't stay and try. Too many mosquitoes. Because this wood is local to the area and naturally resistant to decay, it can last for many years without being treated with chemicals or paint. It looks right at home in the woods and the rough finish adheres better to the rim. Perhaps best of all, it will one day disappear into the forest and attract the same beetles and fungi as the rest of the dead wood around it. While in “Whistler,” I drove to Vancouver one day to compete with YouTuber Jordan Boostmaster, artist Kristina Wayte, and aspiring racer and builder Aidan Borthwick.

Jordan and Aiden had run most of the tracks before, so following them was a challenge. Although stone obstacles are quite common on most mountain bike trails, on "BC" they are incomparably scattered. Whether the "BC" has more stones than other seats or not is a debate in itself. What is clear, however, is that builders use them to the extent possible. What some people don't know is that masonry is a distinctive feature of the "North Shore" trail, with walkways and even "berms" made of individual stones that help protect the trail from wear and tear and hold everything together during the "rainy season." ". .

But sometimes stone is the best for building things. but perhaps the most iconic obstacle on the "north

shore

" is the narrow ladder bridge. That day we met many of them. I could have used a few more attempts to clear the bridge here. Even the straight line is not easy. Some of these bridges are very long as they are often built with very tall trees. I think builders will either build the road on a tree that has already fallen or intentionally cut down a dead tree in a direction that fits the road. One thing is clear; Nobody takes these trees to the forest.

I'd love to hear some insider opinions from the builders, as things here are absolutely huge. In fact, this "North Shore" bridge is perhaps the most epic I've ever seen, with sections of stairs, planks and logs spanning a swampy gap in the hillside. When we talk about tribal races, these obstacles are more like "canoe races." But overall, my favorite obstacle was a little bit of everything. Kristina's artwork is heavily inspired by these tracks, with the moss, the technical tracks, and of course the obstacles that send people flying through the air. I understand that most artists get things like frame geometry, body position, and the track itself totally wrong, but when Kristina makes mountain bike art, she gets all the important details right.

For example, Jordan was the only one who didn't have a double crown front fork that day. Another thing she gets right is the spanish that BC is known for. Spagnum is great on cool, steep tracks, but not so much when the front wheel sinks into a big pile. (Thanos Mating Call) Aiden broke his shoulder pretty good, but he seemed fine. We decided to end the day at that time. British Columbia is quickly becoming my favorite place to drive, at least in the summer. They have great terrain, but even more importantly, a community that builds trails that are actually technically challenging.

BC, I'll see you again this August. Thank you for traveling with me today and until next time.