After a few months of being cooped up in a dark office with
nothing but computer glare for company, it felt good to get out into the summer
sun and ride with Eric and Chris this weekend. It felt especially good as we
were heading north to beautiful Lake Tahoe for this year’s first (and Eric’s
first ever) downhill session. Having sat mothballed and pristine since last
year’s Whistler trip I was keen to sling a leg over the Glory and get it (and
I) dusty again.
Half the mountain’s trails were closed until the 27th.
This was still early season. But we had plenty to sink our knobblies into. Old
favourites like Livewire, the challenging tech of Boondocks plus the all new
Gypsy kept us busy from the first uplift to the last. Long lines of eager,
grinning riders meant for a welcome break in between each run where we could catch
our breath and give quick, excited recaps of what we’d just ridden. Eric did a
great job on his Blur LT and was soon catching air on Livewire. Chris picked up
where he’d left off from last year’s Whistler trip, whipping tabletops and
hitting some of Northstar’s gnarlier features.
I kept the riding somewhat mellow. Keen to ease in slowly
and not aggravate injuries still being nursed from last year – or create new
ones that might cut this season short. Plus I wanted to focus on Oscar’s
teaching’s and really try to dial in my jumping. I felt great though. Much
better than how I ended last season. My berm railing felt flowey and through
the technical stuff I definitely felt a little faster and more agile
(especially after a nerve softening lunchtime beer.) But the biggest leap
forward was with my jumping. The real test will be when I hit A-Line next
month. But I definitely felt good and caught some decent air as I hit the front
sides of jumps with relaxed confidence. I still have a ways to go, and much
technique to dial in. But for the first session of the year I felt good about
where my downhill riding is at. Now I just need to build on that and make some
real progress on the Glory.
Here’s a little video of me trying to chase Chris down
Livewire. I need to fiddle with my set up and get those sodding cables out of
view…..
No comments:
Post a Comment