After a crazy summer of travel that took me to Europe 7 times, I found my self in heaven riding the sweet trails and high alpine terrain of my home, Whistler.
It all started with Brian Lopes coming to Whistler for a week to do some trail riding around the Whistler Valley that would be documented by team mate and photographer Manfred Stromberg from Germany.
A quick trip to Vegas for the Interbike trade show, would interrupt the riding bliss I was experiencing at home, but hey, who can say no to a wicked party with a bunch of their friends from around the globe!
Upon my return to Whistler, the weather was spectacular and the trails were perfect.
We headed straight for the alpine, which always has a bit of a short window because of snow.
Manfred and I found a bunch of new steep lines and even more pristine single track.
The next segment of my visit home would be all about love and union. Willow, my future wife and I, would be the center of attention at an engagement party, hosted by my best buddy James Collingridge. It was a total blast and was great to see all of our friends together in one room again.
The shift back to bike riding also had a love/union overtone. Twenty-one of the boys, headed to a very special secret spot in the BC mountains, to celebrate Wade Simmons bachelor party.
The 8.5 hour epic ride, was deemed as the best single track EVER! Stated by some very seasoned veterans. The final decent of the ride was a solid hour of descending on the most pristine single track with the perfect pitch. It really was mind blowing.
The antics of the night were something to witness also, with Brett Tippie’s spectacular living room acrobatics and Andreas Hestlers, strange, but funny displays of something or other.
I might have even gotten a bit rowdy, as did Simmons himself.
All and all it was a wicked time and only $1200 in damages.
Meanwhile back in Whistler the snow was starting to pile up, but my buddy the Dwayne (Red Dog) and I had one more fish to fry. There was one last alpine mission that needed to be hit before it was too late.
A four hour journey that would involve a shuttle, some climbing, and 2 hours of trudging through the snow, ended with yet another unbelievable decent. It couldn’t have seen more then 30 riders before us. The secrets that I am housing with all of these new rides, is killing me wanting to share them with others, but who gives away all of their secret stashes? Not I!
A short visit with my parents and on the road again.
I am riding in the fall colors in North Carolina with the Krazy Koerber Klan right now and headed to Mexico for some fun in the sun and time away from my bikes. Sad, but needed.
Stay tuned for more adventures, parties and good time.
Peace,
Richie
