Brendan Howey
The Next Level
Words by Cooper Saver.
Date: 2009-02-16
You're sitting at the top of the roll in and the session is reaching its peak. You happen to look over for just a second to see that one kid, the one that brings a fun vibe to the session. His style is smooth and effortless; throwing down his tricks like it's nothing. Everyone knows the kind of person I'm talking about. They make the session at the jumps that much more enjoyable. Sometimes it’s a local little ripper or a favourite pro visiting your town. Around here Tssawwassen's Brendan Howey is always that guy.
Howey boosts a 360 at the red-bull set up in Vancouver on a summer evening. Photo ~ Jay Sinclair
“I was 8 years old and just saw other kids digging little dirt mounds at the park and going as fast as they could at them, just to trying to get their front wheel off the ground. I thought it was badass!” the 17-year old Canadian explains. From that point on, it was all about bikes. “I started riding my bike a lot more. My dad would take me for really long rides through big parks and I thought it was super fun and adventurous.” But the laps through the local parks weren’t enough as Howey began to discover the public jump park that had just been built in Tssawwassen. It was maintained by locals and Brendan soon became influenced by these older bikers. “I just liked riding my bike and I never thought anything of it. I was always inspired by the talent from everyone at the park. Different people would come out and as I got older I met other riders. After years of on and off riding around town I noticed I had progressed and was hooked.”
Step one is foam, step two is box. Huge no-foot-cans can certainly be crossed off the list. Photo ~ Olivier Weindemann/Commencal Bicycles
Those days ended and things changed, possibly for the better. “Our bike park got flattened, and all my friends grew out of riding once we hit high school. I missed it. I convinced my dad to let me build jumps in the yard and before I knew it, it was where I spent most of my time, whether I had help or not.”
Howey would piece together his bikes using parts from his friends and whatever he could scrounge up. He was mainly into dirt jumping at this stage, but was gaining a lot of interest in freeride as well. When Brendan was finally able to hit the Whistler Bike Park it blew his mind, coming from his little town jumps to a mountain full of possibilities. “I loved riding in Whistler, and the Airdome was awesome too - to learn tricks and session with people. At the time I thought nothing beat A-Line. I started to follow mountain biking a lot after that. Crankworx was the first event I went to watch in 2006 and it was pretty cool to watch the top riders go at it.” 
A weapon unleashed with the help of the Airdome; dialed supermans. Photo ~ Jay Sinclair
After witnessing the Slopestyle at Crankworx, Howey decided to ride in an amateur comp, Whistler’s Harvest Huckfest. “I never considered competing, but when I found out a lot my friends were going to ride in this little even I thought I’d enter for the hell of it. It was the first time I’d put my riding skills to work and those tricks I learned in the airdome. I just did my thing and was stoked to even ride the course and watch everyone kill it. I was in the 13-15 category. I didn’t have time to stick around for the awards - my mom wanted to get home for dinner. I had so much fun that weekend and was surprised when I was told I got 2nd.” From that point on Brendan took a real interest in events. Whether he could ride in them or not, he wanted to be there.
Throwing serious style on one of the most technical and intimidating lines in Pemberton. Photo ~ Olivier Weindemann/Commencal Bicycles
Now the 17-year old is living a busy life balancing school, work, and his riding. Life isn’t as carefree as it was; the pressures of finishing high school and planning life are heavy. Riding every day with the best buds soon became a weekend only thing.
Howey hasn’t been known as a serious rider but when a sponsorship opportunity came up, he couldn’t say no. In the winter of 07/08, the teen learned that he would be riding for Commençal. His teammates were his good friends Alex Prochazka and Micayla Gatto who had helped him get on board.
Howey’s first year on the team opened his mind to the possibility of a new direction. “I’m still in the process of letting myself consider the fact that I want biking to be a career. It’s just, really out there. It’s not something you fill out an application and apply for. I basically decided I wanted to try and do something with riding last year. After I went to a lot of events and got a feel what it’s like to adapt to new things all the time, I realized that this something I want to try to do for a long time.”
Brendan has a burning desire to be at the centre of the action. “I don’t want to miss out on an event or session. If it looks fun I want to be there. It’s way too sick! I just like to accomplish as much as I can in a season, and wherever riding may take me is where I’ll love to be.”
Riding certainly took him some places this past season. Brendan placed 11th place at the Sea Otter Dual Slalom in his category, rode well at Teva Mountain Games in Vail CO, earned 7th in Whistler Air Affair slopestyle, 13th in Red Bull Round up, placed 18th in the finals at Crankworx Colorado, and 11th in the Crankworx air DH. Howey killed it at the events and more importantly had a lot fun of riding with all of his friends and meeting new people, which is what makes him passionate for a life on two wheels.
“The Island is a common place for me to ride, some of my favorite riding buddies are there.” Photo ~ Mike Zinger
Howey was stoked on last season, but 2009 is looking to be even sicker. “It may not seem that busy, but school and working 3/4 days a week on top of riding sure makes life feel pretty packed. I had to re-schedule my final exams last year so I could go to the Teva Mountain Games, and on the way back we were in Portland, the sun was going down and my English provincial exam was the next morning. I was freaking out but I made it home in time.” This January Brendan managed to find some time in his busy school schedule - to ditch and head for the sun. Howey spills, “I had to get down to California! Some of my favourite people ever, Dylan Dunkerton and Curtis Robinson, had been planning a trip down in January to ride and hang out. Kyle Jameson is definitely one of the coolest and funniest dudes I know. He showed us every flavour Nor Cal had to offer for riding in January. I can’t thank him enough. Oh, and it was way warmer than I thought it would be!”
That two-week vacation, like his first year riding for Commençal, is just a memory. Howey’s now looking forward. “I’m going to shred my bikes all year and do more events than last year. I’ve planned some fun trips, I’ll check out Sea Otter, wrap up high school, head to Crankworx Colorado, hopefully travel farther than I ever have, and shoot lots. I look forward to Whistler and of course Crankworx. Just pretty much anything I can get to this year, and most importantly have a fun time!”
Hiking the course with the usual smile, bringing good vibes to the comp. Photo ~ Mike Reid
I remember leaving that one session at the jumps. It was sunset and everyone was packing up. But that one kid was still going. Everyone will be back tomorrow and that kid is a prime example of why we keep coming back day after day to the trails or the spot. Good to know our own Brendan Howey will be working his way into the industry, shining a light on what mountain biking should be.
Check this vid of Brendan in Cali - and let us know what you think here...
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