Trails >> Santa Cruz:
updated 3/31/05

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The trails in Santa Cruz are so sweet. In fact, they are so sweet, there is a trail called "Sweetness." And then there is another trail called more sweetness. That's how friggin' sweet these trails are. I just wish I lived closer to them.

Blake and I were on our DH bikes this time around, although we saw other riders on everything from Santa Cruz Blurs to hand-made single speeds. Until today, I'd only ridden my trail bike here. While my Heckler is fun for XC trail riding, we had plans for more serious fun. Our friend Theo from All Out Productions came along today, and was nice enough to not only be our shuttle driver, but he filmed us booting some drops as well.

 

We did a few shuttle runs before stopping to check out this drop. James and Blake had hit it a few weeks back, but it was the first time I had seen it. It was kind of big. It is interesting to note that from the bottom it looked huge. When you're standing where Theo is in the photo to the left, it looked kind of scary. The strange thing was that when you pushed your bike up to the top, (if you dared) the distance to the landing doesn't look very far. From the top, it didn't look too bad. Almost easy.

Which was good, because it ended up being a good amount of hang time. That's james in the picture visualizing his line, with Theo underneath setting up his shot. Please note that the rider actually lands out of the frame, about 12-15 feet behind Theo.

(For another angle of James click on the top photo)

 

 

 

 

I didn't even get nervous when I rolled my bike up and did a few roll-ups. That hit me right when I launched off of it. I don't remember making a noise, but in the video, the voice in my head expressed itself out loud!

I apologize for the quality of the pics. My pocket-sized Canon Digital Elph just doesn't take good photos in low light settings. It is what it is. I'm starting to do research in order to purchase a prosumer digital SLR. (Although first I need to pay for my new computer.)

Today's riding session was cut short when Blake carcased on the road gap, with him sliding to the bottom. Wait until you see the video. damn! I say ow. He cut his finger up really bad. If you like seeing gross pictures of injuries, click here.

 

Blake shot this shot of me.

It doesn't look very big in this sequence, does it?

Photo(s) courtesy of Sean Dowling. The lense really flattens it out.

 

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