Vid/Story Dangerous Dan - REDUX

Return to The Flying Circus

Words by Cam McRae. Photos by Morgan Taylor.
Date: 2011-12-30

* This article was originally published in October 2011; Danger Dan's return to the Flying Circus was one of our favourite stories of the year, and it struck a chord with the nsmb community as well.

dangerous dan, flying circus, 2012, race bike, flow show, fromme, mountain biking. nsx
  Dan has always ridden a big bike. And this one could almost be called an anchor. Photo ~ Morgan Taylor

We were just out for a ride. Morgan and I were climbing the fire road on Fromme, talking about trails and riders and builders, when we passed the bottom of Dangerous Dan's 'The Flying Circus.' The Circus has begun to succumb to natural forces as the forest slowly pulls down structures, rots logs and consumes the once formidable trail.

dangerous dan, flying circus, 2012, race bike, flow show, fromme, mountain biking. nsx
  The Flying Circus' first move - The Tower of Contemplation - was a skinny, steep roll to a drop to platorm. It was built to last, like all of Dan's stunts, but the forest had other ideas. Photo ~ Morgan Taylor

Dan left the Shore for Bowen Island in 2001 but he continued building over here until 2004 when the District of North Van went in and destroyed the trail he was most proud of: Watchamacallit. Using chainsaws they cut through stringers, supports and ladder bridges and left the remains strewn across the forest floor.

dangerous dan, flying circus, 2012, race bike, flow show, fromme, mountain biking. nsx
  Dan's been AWOL from the North Shore but he's never stopped riding or building. Photo ~ Morgan Taylor

dangerous dan, flying circus, 2012, race bike, flow show, fromme, mountain biking. nsx
  The beginning of the Ridiculator. It stays skinny and keeps going up. If not for a broken stringer due to blowdown it would be rideable. If you could find someone aside from Dan to do it that is. Photo ~ Morgan Taylor

As the climb continued our conversation moved to Dan himself and the idea for this piece began; invite Dan over and do a walk through and get him to tell us about the trail. Morgan and Matt were keen to shoot it and Dan's sense of nostalgia was easily piqued.

dangerous dan, flying circus, 2012, race bike, flow show, fromme, mountain biking. nsx
  The Mother Tongue went up skinny and then turned left. The down ramp narrows as you approach the bottom for added excitement. Photo ~ Morgan Taylor

Digger deserves credit for building the first ladder bridges but Dan took his idea and pushed it skyward. According to Digger "Dan is a great trail builder because he always needs to be challenging himself. No one would have thought of articulating teeter totters and log rides way up in the air - without Dan we'd still be on the ground." Dan made the North Shore photogenic and his trails were featured in countless films - with Dan and other riders sharing starring roles.

dangerous dan, flying circus, 2012, race bike, flow show, fromme, mountain biking. nsx
  Digger told me the other day that Dangerous Dan is actually scared of heights. This became clear when he first climbed up to the highest point of the Ridiculator. Photo ~ Morgan Taylor

dangerous dan, flying circus, 2012, race bike, flow show, fromme, mountain biking. nsx
  The Discombobulator is another example of Dan co-opting one of Digger's movs and making it crazier. Amazingly this stunt was fully functional - but it took Dan a few tries to get it. Photo ~ Morgan Taylor

Dan also took his act on the road to places like Italy, Russia, India and all over the US and Canada with his Flow Show. Overseas he'd build the show from scratch but in North America he fills his van and trailer and assembles the show wherever he is requested. Dan still does some Flow Shows but not as many as in his heyday. He's never been the sort to spend time promoting his act. He'd rather be building trails.

dangerous dan, flying circus, 2012, race bike, flow show, fromme, mountain biking. nsx
  This move is from the era when the North Shore went metric. Instead of measuring drops in feet, metres began to make more sense. The more time Dan spent on the Ridiculator the more comfortable he got. And then he asked us to pass up his bike. Photo ~ Morgan Taylor

We met Dan at Coleman Ave. and began to climb Mt. Fromme, he on his 55 lb 'Race Bike' - a cobalt blue, Czech-made tanker of a duallie with 5-spoke composite wheels. Dan's helmet had recently been stolen so I brought him a spare. Danger doesn't pedal up much any more but he still kept up to us on our 30 lb all mountain machines.

dangerous dan, flying circus, 2012, race bike, flow show, fromme, mountain biking. nsx
  The Epitomizer was a very long, high skinny and it was mostly intact - until it snapped under Dan's weight and he fell about 7 feet to the ground. Luckily Dan can take a punch. Photo ~ Morgan Taylor

Quick to laugh, gregarious and humble, Dan's easy to be around. He was surprisingly unsentimental about what was left of his masterpiece and even a little giddy to be back on his most famous creation.

dangerous dan, flying circus, 2012, race bike, flow show, fromme, mountain biking. nsx
  Lobotomizer 2000 could be rolled by mere mortals - but Dan never did it that way. In fact his plan had been to build it another 8 feet or so higher before he moved to Bowen Island. Photo ~ Morgan Taylor

Dan once told me that building trails is more important to him than riding, and on Bowen Island he's has been able to bring his twisted dreams to reality without interference from overzealous land owners. He still builds and rides some of the most challenging trails and structures - for the pure joy of it - now that his notoriety has begun to fade.

dangerous dan, flying circus, 2012, race bike, flow show, fromme, mountain biking. nsx
  There were two ways off the Mother Log - neither of them trivial. Photo ~ Morgan Taylor

The Flying Circus is still Dan's most significant creation. Not only because of the stunts that were pioneered, the insane scale of some of the moves nor the films that were shot there; it's the journey he was on while building the trail that left an indelible mark.

dangerous dan, flying circus, 2012, race bike, flow show, fromme, mountain biking. nsx
  The Skybridge was another move destroyed by blowdown. Hundreds of hours of work erased in a moment. Photo ~ Morgan Taylor.

Back in the late 90s Dan was home for Christmas. He'd been teaching in Sweden but while back in Canada he had a pain in one of his testicles. Soon after he was in surgery and then chemo began. Building The Flying Circus became part of his treatment - and it likely played a role in his successful recovery.

dangerous dan, flying circus, 2012, race bike, flow show, fromme, mountain biking. nsx
  You'll have to watch the video to find out why these are called the IV logs. Photo ~ Morgan Taylor. 

dangerous dan, flying circus, 2012, race bike, flow show, fromme, mountain biking. nsx
  Sponsor remnants. Dan hasn't had a new bike in years. Luckily this one was built to survive the apocalypse. Photo ~ Morgan Taylor.

Once we arrived at the top of The Circus Dan began to tell tales and even ride. From here I'll let Matt Dennison's video tell the story. Be sure to watch it widescreen.

 

View the complete set of photos on Morgan Taylor's Flickr here.

Do you have a Dangerous Dan memory to share? Think you can coerce him back to the Shore? Serve it up here...

Comments

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Posted by juan at 09:55 PM on 10-11-2011
wow probably the coolest vid on the shore in a long time.
I totally forgot the impact that Dan had.
Mad props!
Posted by pipeline at 10:04 PM on 10-11-2011
Excellent short film, and nice to honour the Circus. Thanks!

This could be the start of a good history project.
Posted by xy9ine at 10:09 PM on 10-11-2011
awesome. many memories up there. circus / starfish / groove / boundary used to be our standard circuit. much fun / carnage of bikes & bodies ensued. the tongue was my nemesis; many attempts, never cleaned. once ripped my rear brake line out falling off that and ended up hitting lobotomizer sans brake. amazed the discombobulator is still functioning; another low percentage stunt. the skybridge exit drop to flat or slightly uphill depending on your exit speed was epic as well. masochistic hitting that knowing the inevitable pain, but we did it every time regardless. being scared of heights as well, it was actually therapeutic riding the skybridge - the first time i saw the thing i was freaking just walking across the thing; somehow the change of focus in riding a bike allowed me to (somewhat) overcome that. good times; every ride an adventure!

and: fantastic vid! great content guys.
Posted by mr_fungle at 10:30 PM on 10-11-2011
Yes, that was truly awesome! More please!
Posted by PT-Colin at 10:34 PM on 10-11-2011
Hey Dan,

I got a slew of bike parts I'm never going to use or get around to sell in the garage...yours if you want em....Chumba F4 frame and a new Boxxer WC (NSMB SPonsor gear maybe 2004)....other assorted bits...

Some of my best biking memories where riding and hiking your old creations...send me an email ptcolin@gmail.com and I can meet you in H.Bay

c
Posted by Rainmaker at 10:44 PM on 10-11-2011
Absolutely awesome! That video made my day.

Quote:
Originally Posted by pipeline (Post 2576283)

This could be the start of a good history project.
And this this this.
Posted by ryando at 10:47 PM on 10-11-2011
More please
Posted by Bushman at 11:00 PM on 10-11-2011
That was interesting, and very well put together. Thanks.
Posted by Cheez1ts at 11:01 PM on 10-11-2011
Oh I liked this, made me smile the whole way through :D.
Skinnies are the one thing I can't ride, so they always amaze me when I see them ridden or just generally built at all. Every one I find I always try to walk, but hardly ever ride. I don't know if I'd even walk the flying circus though, crazy :eek:!
Props to nsmb and more props to Dan! Definitely another vote for more :clap:.
Posted by Porkchop at 11:04 PM on 10-11-2011
I really enjoyed that great edit. I took a peek at the circus earlier in the summer when i was up there, it really is hard to appreciate how intense the trail is until you see it in person it blew me away that Dan still rode the rediculator, that takes some serious skill.
Posted by boomforeal at 11:40 PM on 10-11-2011
that was great!
Posted by biggles604 at 11:50 PM on 10-11-2011
I have some good memories of attempting to ride stuff on that trail. It was just so completely insane that you felt a compulsion to try things that were way beyond your limit. Looking back on it, I'm amazed that I didn't get hurt.
I chuckle every time I ride past the exit, knowing that hardly anyone even knows that a trail was once there.

I will also agree with Dan that trailbuilding is excellent therapy when going through an ordeal that has you staring down death.
Posted by norona at 11:59 PM on 10-11-2011
Great to see and hear that voice again. Dan your a legend! Keep living hard buddy! Thanks for that vid!!!
Posted by adelorenzo at 12:03 AM on 10-12-2011
Best article and video I've seen on NSMB. So cool.
Posted by Kome at 01:16 AM on 10-12-2011
Nice to see Race Bike bikes on shore.
Posted by yoonior at 02:15 AM on 10-12-2011
Never been to Canada nor ridden North Shore but surely know the Dan and his sick trail creations from NSX movies back in the day. This movie made all the great memories to come back.
Although skinny era might be over for couple of years now I do still like to ride some moderate difficulty ladders&bridges whenever trail builders put on the trails. Thanks to DDan for his and the rest of Flowriders' crew inspiration.

Many thanks for putting this movie and aharing on NSMB!

p.s. And for Gods sake please donate some bike stuff to Dan :)
Posted by 4Runner1 at 04:51 AM on 10-12-2011
Awesome. Takes me back to those days. I can remember standing there on the Circus and just thinking 'WTF!'.
Posted by Hard Tack at 06:38 AM on 10-12-2011
Anyone else get a little misty reminiscing about the good ol'days?
Posted by Dude at 06:39 AM on 10-12-2011
This was great...something I can show Mini Dude as part of history on the Shore.

I would also love to see this become a bit of a "History" series. Spend some time talking w/ the different builders on all the mountains.

I still get the shakes thinking about high skinnies. I can say I did some, survived, but have no desire to go back to those days...

Thanks guys...keep up the great work on these pieces.
Posted by trail worker at 06:50 AM on 10-12-2011
Amazing how someone as influental in the sport can fade into the background when the focus of riding shifts like it did 4-5 years ago. Dan is probably responsible for my obsession with building trails, skinnies and crazy contraptions in the middle of the forest for most of my teen years. Thanks for the great article, and I'm so glad to see he's still riding and building elsewhere than the shore
Posted by Tmack at 06:54 AM on 10-12-2011
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hard Tack (Post 2576338)
Anyone else get a little misty reminiscing about the good ol'days?
The days when it took all day to ride one trail on our steep angled 3" bikes. When a day on the mountain was an adventure and not just a quick shuttle lap before or after work? The days when the 'north shore' was a magical place where all of the riders you saw in the vids rode and built stunts? Yeah I miss those days...and my rocky mountain hammer race with a yellow rock shox quadra 21r
Posted by GladePlayboy at 06:55 AM on 10-12-2011
That brought a big smile to my face and got my day off to a good start... huge props to Dan and his legacy...
Posted by Jiri Manek at 07:20 AM on 10-12-2011
Some of the first videos I've seen were with Dangerous Dan, It did influence me for many years and completely changed my life. Thanks Dan for that! Even if I've never ridden in BC, I still remember these trails from videos.

BTW: All my bikes (4x, EN, road, downhill) are from the RaceBike factory.
Posted by xy9ine at 07:33 AM on 10-12-2011
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dude (Post 2576339)
I would also love to see this become a bit of a "History" series. Spend some time talking w/ the different builders on all the mountains.
for sure. need to nail down digger for sure; you could generate a miniseries w/ the stories he could tell.
Posted by Action Hero at 07:34 AM on 10-12-2011
I've got a few good stories about this guy. The funniest one was probably the year that Jeremy Levin and I went down to sea otter. We heard that Dan got denied at the boarder when we were leaving town. Once we got to Monterrey RH told us he was arrested by trying to sneak around and go to another crossing. Of course this wasn't exactly true, however RH was arrested a day or so later when he hit a chick with a chair during the infamous "Bike Magazine Awards" chair fight...... you can't give Canadians free booze....

More so about Dan; That guy is gold. I'd get calls at midnight the day before on of his shows, "Hey dude, we need a rider, so and so bailed!" I'd tell him I was in no way capable of riding that skinny stuff and that he should call Ian Moult. His response was usually something along the lines of. "No man! We have dirt jumps! and you can do tricks off the drop! It's got a lip!" I'd get all excited and rush out the next morning and ask him where the dirt was..... "It's in the trailer! we have to build it!" Wooden landings..... usually with a skinny before it. fml. Twice he got me.
Posted by craw at 07:46 AM on 10-12-2011
On that note, did Digger ever release a complete history of NSX on DVD? i.e. all the vids together? I doubt my old VHS NSX1-3s would work, even if I knew where they were or had a VCR to play them on. Or maybe sold them as a chaptered digital download?

Amazing video. Loved the retrospective. It would be great to see more like this. Can you do Tippie next?

Actually seeing what some of those old names are up to would be really cool.
Posted by nick at 07:55 AM on 10-12-2011
loved it, brings back memories of HOLY CRAP WHAT THE #@%*! YOU CANT RIDE THAT!
Posted by jpi at 08:47 AM on 10-12-2011
Someone should flow him a new bike for good measure.
Posted by the Master Plan Dan at 09:37 AM on 10-12-2011
Wow, that was a great piece. Super good vidder!

One of the most interesting points about it is that Dan made is trails technically hard, for instance pedaling that skinny uphill the entire way.

Now a days we see tones of braids making the trails easier, but faster. The shift is really interesting.

Dan
Posted by kperras at 09:45 AM on 10-12-2011
Amazing. First class article.
Posted by rewoga at 09:56 AM on 10-12-2011
Quote:
Originally Posted by kperras (Post 2576384)
Amazing. First class article.
I agree with Ken (gasp).

This type of piece will continue to set NSMB apart - good job!
Posted by Geologyboy at 10:05 AM on 10-12-2011
Best read and video I have seen here for a while, maybe ever. Really enjoyed it. Thanks.
Posted by enduramil at 10:14 AM on 10-12-2011
Quote:
Originally Posted by craw (Post 2576358)
On that note, did Digger ever release a complete history of NSX on DVD? i.e. all the vids together? I doubt my old VHS NSX1-3s would work, even if I knew where they were or had a VCR to play them on. Or maybe sold them as a chaptered digital download?
First 5 Digger did a few years ago- NSX History X. The NSX series I think is the one's not extensively loaded onto Youtube.
Posted by morgman at 11:19 AM on 10-12-2011
Wow, I'm so stoked to see the response to this piece! We were really happy with what came of the project. Thanks for the comments guys, it goes along way to motivating us to do more.

I've made the whole set of photos from that day public on flickr. The photos are bigger than in the article, and there are 57 in total. Enjoy!
Posted by ebxtreme at 11:39 AM on 10-12-2011
Really great job guys.

Riding the Shore back in the day and seeing the level of effort and detail that the builders put into their creations really inspired a wave of people to pick up a shovel and give back to the sport. Running into guys like Digger, Pete Morin, Dan, etc. working on the trails was always such a treat. Our crew would instantly throw down the bikes, offer up beers and start rock bitching for them. It was the LEAST we could do at the time, but when we'd head home, we'd start scouting and building our own lines. That is one of the intangible benefits that many on the Shore probably haven't even considered. Dan has my utmost respect.

Cheers,
EB
Posted by frail1 at 12:05 PM on 10-12-2011
That was excellent. Thanks very much.

I like the ending. No melodrama, just the way things go.
Posted by Universe at 12:20 PM on 10-12-2011
I remember I was about to ride Groov and I needed to..lighten the load before I rode. I hiked up and found Whatchamacallit and there was Dan. He gave me a strange look asking how I found the trail. I told him the best leaves were up there. He laughed and showed me some more of the trail. Hilarious.

Going to watch some NSX tonight for sure.
Posted by newgirl at 12:31 PM on 10-12-2011
He is STILL on that RB?. Also proving that those (sorry but ugly as sin) Tag Wheels are bombproof, that is the exact same setup since the last time I rode with him, on Bowen, in 2007!

Danger you freak, You're the man, and a legend.
Posted by shorelocal at 12:34 PM on 10-12-2011
Great content NSMB

What bike would Dan have been riding back in '98 when it was built? I'm guessing the suspension wouldn't have liked some of those drops :)
Posted by Buster Bluth at 12:39 PM on 10-12-2011
Scared of heights. Yeah right.
:alien:
Posted by Mic at 12:53 PM on 10-12-2011
Thank you for a (at least in my humble opinion) a long overdue article.

I vividly remember watching the first videos and the feelings I had back then. When I was studying in Ireland, I bluetacked a b/w print-out taken from the internet showing Dan hucking off the Lobo2000 onto the door of my room - for me it was and still is the epitomy of technical riding. Everyone thought the pic was fake.

Then, in 2001, when such riding was not really that known outside the downhilling scene in Europe, I went to a bike tradeshow in Cologne - and there he was, together with Super T and another rider who eventually supposedly ended up in Italy. They had a full Flowshow going. Unreal riding.

I had long chats with him, he could not ride the stunts they had built because during testing he sprained his ankle, so only Tyler rocked the huge drop. It was unreal.

I remember him telling me about a new trail which he back then called "The Drooler" (?), apparently with a 9 meter drop. And I said something along the lines of "WOw, that is as high as the roof of that hall over there", and he was like "Yep, pretty much." - I was petrified.

I took a couple of pictures, bought a t-shirt I still have, black with a silver Flowrider logo on the front and the back. One of my dreams had always been to come to the Shore and build with him some crazy stuff. Back then in Cologne he was open to the idea, buzt unfortunately I did not have enough money back then.

Somehow riding was different back then.

In 2007, when I was on the Shore for my first riding, I was shown the Lobo2000, slipped on the log, nearly broke a leg and was truly amazed at how easy it looked on the vids....I could not even ride down Pipeline without crashing.

Thank you Danger, for inspiring me - and being one hell of a rider. You rock!!!
Posted by in_a_bath at 01:43 PM on 10-12-2011
For someone (me) who moved here late in 2003 and only started riding in 2005 this article is amazing. The sort of stuff that I used to watch in videos back home. I have seen bits and pieces of these trails when I got lost or decided to go for a wander but to see in this light is pretty unreal.
Posted by enduramil at 02:55 PM on 10-12-2011
Time to dust off The Emergence.
Posted by Sethimus at 02:59 PM on 10-12-2011
that brings back memories, met him once in saalbach, during the first adidas slopestyle. remember talking with him about nuclear fission, dunno how we got on this topic. it was late that night :)
Posted by downhillermenon at 03:04 PM on 10-12-2011
Props2 Dan for still keepin m wheels flying! Thnx for being n inspiration!
Posted by morgman at 03:06 PM on 10-12-2011
I actually met Dan as a substitute teacher in grade 8 and 9 science, this would have been just before he went to Sweden I guess. As a BMX kid I thought it was way cool that one of my teachers was a famous mountain biker. Since his specialty was in physics, I really looked up to him. Of course, like a good little groupie, I told Dan this when we met him to do the walk on the Circus.
Posted by mtraslin at 04:17 PM on 10-12-2011
Thanks for sharing....

This may not be a suprise to people, but Dan started his young life as an Ice Hockey goalie...A good one too..

Back in the day he back stoped our Pewee AAA Hockey...maybe it was Atoms... representing the North Van Rec center... So one game he shows up with this huge cheater on his catching glove...Then every time he saved the puck on his glove hand he would yell out "CHEATER" It drove the opposite team insane!!!! I think he would have gone far in hockey...he quit a few years later... I am guessing at the time he just got bored (Genuis) and just moved on to something else..

The next time I saw Dan was on one of his first rides many years later, (On a Woolco Special with no suspension...he just rode balls out.... he bailed about ten times or more 20 or thirty minutes into the ride...

Next time I see him he was Dangerous Dan!!!!
Posted by King of Fasia at 04:47 PM on 10-12-2011
Quote:
Originally Posted by morgman (Post 2576405)
Wow, I'm so stoked to see the response to this piece! We were really happy with what came of the project. Thanks for the comments guys, it goes along way to motivating us to do more.

I've made the whole set of photos from that day public on flickr. The photos are bigger than in the article, and there are 57 in total. Enjoy!
Keep it up. Don't miss that trailuz I could only ride 5% of it but it definitely is a piece of NS history. You guys should find a trail that reprensents the "new school" of trail and talk to its builder and see how "and if" Dan's creations ever inspired them.
Posted by Rainmaker at 06:08 PM on 10-12-2011
Quote:
Originally Posted by King of Fasia (Post 2576523)
Keep it up. Don't miss that trailuz I could only ride 5% of it but it definitely is a piece of NS history. You guys should find a trail that reprensents the "new school" of trail and talk to its builder and see how "and if" Dan's creations ever inspired them.
Yeah, itd be cool to talk to someone like Ted (BRT) who built Half Nelson in squamish. Totally a new-school trail that epitomizes flow.


As a side note. I really really really hope this turns into more short doc's like this. I think there's so much potential for it, and personally, Id rather watch 7 minutes of someone like Dan (or Digger, etc) talk about trails and the history of mountainbiking then a short video of riders jumping to ear-bleed inducing music.
Posted by synaptonaut at 06:14 PM on 10-12-2011
I've been an NSMB reader for about five years and never thought to register on the forum (being a non-native) until now. I just wanted to voice my appreciation for this fine piece of mountain biking history. Really enjoyed the article and the video.

I've recently had a bout with cancer and can relate to the need to be out doing something meaningful when you're dealing with the psychological effects it can have on you. This article and video make me want to go out and build/ride some sick trails!
Posted by Mordax at 07:03 PM on 10-12-2011
Quote:
Originally Posted by juan (Post 2576276)
wow probably the coolest vid on the shore in a long time.
my thoughts exactly. awesome
Posted by DHJUNKIE at 07:03 PM on 10-12-2011
this video made my day single handedly, its those stunts and videos of his trails that bring me back to the excitment and just pure awesome of riding "north shore". Its what inspired us in CT on the east coast usa to build some stuff, ride that stuff, and eventually make the trek out to Vancouver and Whistler.. thanks dan your influence is WAY more than you will ever know!
Posted by FullMonty at 07:45 PM on 10-12-2011
Quote:
Originally Posted by jpi (Post 2576369)
Someone should flow him a new bike for good measure.
all the new wunder bikes would probably fall apart landing on dansitions.
Posted by GeoffG at 07:47 PM on 10-12-2011
Brings back memories for sure.
Posted by Stuminator at 07:49 PM on 10-12-2011
Wonder how Dan feels about "flowy" trails being the in thing rather than the tech. stuff he built? Dude's definitely a legend & pioneer.
Posted by juan at 07:55 PM on 10-12-2011
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuminator (Post 2576579)
Wonder how Dan feels about "flowy" trails being the in thing rather than the tech. stuff he built? Dude's definitely a legend & pioneer.
That is a good question. Stuff like where he sees the riding going and so forth.
A guess a more in depth interview should be in order
Posted by Werewolf at 09:42 PM on 10-12-2011
That's Awesome! I would kindly ask for more insane footage with Shore trailbuilders and their creations of the past and modern.

By the way, there is a mistake and Danger never have been to Russia ( i know it for sure), but he would like to go )
Got a flowrider tshirt and that's also great!
his trails always inspired us, here in russia
Posted by clarklewis at 10:29 PM on 10-12-2011
this thread is much nicer than the death-to-sharon shitshow from last week

great video!
Posted by Oldfart at 10:30 PM on 10-12-2011
That was well done boys. Nicely filmed. Not the stuff I ever wished to do because I am the opposite of the people who seem to have a death wish. I would love to see the real pioneers get this treatment though. The Cove riders like Shroom, Chaz Dewey. Ross Kirkwood, Dane M, etc. Guys that were building when most you guys were still shittin' your drawers.
Posted by partswhore at 10:35 PM on 10-12-2011
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuminator (Post 2576579)
Wonder how Dan feels about "flowy" trails being the in thing rather than the tech. stuff he built? Dude's definitely a legend & pioneer.
I've had the honor of riding some of Dan's new stuff on Bowen. Most flow much better but will still make you poop your pants.

Some of the Bowen trails are Circuseque taken to the next level, but some have higher speed gaps. All have consequences. Which is where the main similarities are from the old days. Not the smooth noob friendly trails that are being built now. Dan likes his suuuuper steep and scary lines too, not just the skinnies and drops.

His building has progressed while still retaining the essence of what the Circus, Groove (Swollen Uvula), Reaper, Walk in the Clouds, Watchamacalit and so on.

A top guy for sure.
Posted by semaj at 10:43 PM on 10-12-2011
I've only been riding for just over 2 years now, and had only heard of Dan before this article and video....but wow, well done! :)

I'd love to see some more North Shore history lessons like this!
Posted by DaveM at 11:03 PM on 10-12-2011
when I first started riding Dan was the man, the stuff he rode gave him super hero status. Then he seemed to drift off into obscurity while riding and trails evolved in a different direction. It was good to read he's still doing stuff most everyone would crap their pants just watching.

nice history lesson and great article!! Keep them coming.
Posted by walleater at 11:46 PM on 10-12-2011
Another four minutes of WTF here:

http://vimeo.com/19552788
Posted by ATraslin at 12:50 AM on 10-13-2011
Cool edit.In an era of his own.Similar to a solo rock climber, maybe the Dan Osman era.Doing things that hadn't been done
before and may not be repeated.Out there on the edge.What a character.
Posted by TTB at 01:56 AM on 10-13-2011
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rainmaker (Post 2576540)
As a side note. I really really really hope this turns into more short doc's like this. I think there's so much potential for it, and personally, Id rather watch 7 minutes of someone like Dan (or Digger, etc) talk about trails and the history of mountainbiking then a short video of riders jumping to ear-bleed inducing music.
+1, this was one of the most enjoyable videos/articles I've seen for a while :) I love seeing this north shore technical stuff but am terrible at riding it. I only ride noob friendly flowy trails :lol:
Posted by dhphoenix at 05:34 AM on 10-13-2011
Quote:
Originally Posted by newgirl (Post 2576429)
Also proving that those (sorry but ugly as sin) Tag Wheels are bombproof, that is the exact same setup since the last time I rode with him, on Bowen, in 2007!
Oh, they are.
I had them for a bit. 11 lbs a set :eek2:
And because of the composite material, the rear tire would slip and shear off the valve stem. Used hairspray to glue them in...

Anyways, Dan is definitely the man. I have the NSX series and always enjoyed watching his segments. Same thing with Kranked. The Circus always amazed me.
Posted by couch at 07:35 AM on 10-13-2011
Nice job Cam and crew. That was very cool.

Rich
Posted by biggles604 at 08:09 AM on 10-13-2011
Quote:
Originally Posted by walleater (Post 2576666)
Another four minutes of WTF here:

http://vimeo.com/19552788
We had a friend come over from England that we showed those stunts to, and he ended up riding all of it, blind, clipped in, XC lid on an old SC Bullit. All it proved to us is that the crazy seems to be spreading.
Posted by newgirl at 09:49 AM on 10-13-2011
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oldfart (Post 2576628)
That was well done boys. Nicely filmed. Not the stuff I ever wished to do because I am the opposite of the people who seem to have a death wish. I would love to see the real pioneers get this treatment though. The Cove riders like Shroom, Chaz Dewey. Ross Kirkwood, Dane M, etc. Guys that were building when most you guys were still shittin' your drawers.

fer sure. In my highschool yearbooks at Seycove in the mid '80's DCBS always had a picture of one of the BFJCC boys shredding. I'll never forget in my 1985 (grade 8 ) there was a pic of Dew airing out on one of the first MTBs. I thought it was so cool, and thus started my love affair with MTB boys forever. Old school Cove boys, Clicker, Chizzer, Chaz, Turtle, Lumpy, Rich Cox (I still can't bring myself to call him Dick haha) Patty Von Blumen, Marco, Killer Thorpe, Ramen and the list goes on. How about Ranchdog, Holly and Linden Feniak's dad, who I used to ride the shore with in the '80's! Too bad everyone was usually too stoned to bother to take pictures to capture the moment haha. Smoke (one of the original pioneers also) is probably one of the best people to find archived pics from waaaay back then.
Posted by DrewM at 10:04 AM on 10-13-2011
Quote:
Originally Posted by walleater (Post 2576666)
Another four minutes of WTF here:

http://vimeo.com/19552788
This clip is amazing. Really sureal:

http://vimeo.com/20590041

...

Really nice work on the article/video Cam et. al.

-D
Posted by enduramil at 10:23 AM on 10-13-2011
No idea what year this was exactly.

http://www.5min.com/Video/Profile-of...owan-465085226
Posted by ol' dirty at 02:51 PM on 10-13-2011
Really, really great article and vid! Great to see Danger keeping it real. I'd love to see more of these little North Shore history docs.

Definitely makes me nostalgic...bitd we'd hit the Circus for some flailing and carnage and then head up past the 7th for a real sketch fest. The shore was a different vibe back then, I do miss that old school mystique from time to time. I don't miss cheating death and breaking bikes though.
Posted by Carrot Top at 06:50 PM on 10-13-2011
How about doing another one of these North Shore history videos with Jerry Willows on Jerry Rig?
Posted by blunt boy at 08:41 PM on 10-13-2011
That was great! More please! Many thanks to all involved.
Posted by enduramil at 10:10 PM on 10-13-2011
Quote:
Originally Posted by morgman (Post 2576493)
I actually met Dan as a substitute teacher in grade 8 and 9 science, this would have been just before he went to Sweden I guess. As a BMX kid I thought it was way cool that one of my teachers was a famous mountain biker. Since his specialty was in physics, I really looked up to him. Of course, like a good little groupie, I told Dan this when we met him to do the walk on the Circus.
It's funny how it's all those little things that are lost over time.

I recall I think it was in the spring of 98 up at the yellow gate on Mtn Hwy waiting for my brother. Dan was grinding away on whatever his beast was at that time. Came upon some rider walking his bike up the hill. Said hi to the guy and said something along the lines of it being a great day to be out.

Another moment. winter of 99 with a shop ride from Vertical Mtn. Cold, wet, and cold. Came upon Dan filming with Digger at the old log shack seen in NSX 2. Dan's smiling under that great white Shoei lid going on about how great it is to be in the woods riding bikes.

Dan always seemed happy riding bikes and watching others ride.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuminator (Post 2576579)
Wonder how Dan feels about "flowy" trails being the in thing rather than the tech. stuff he built? Dude's definitely a legend & pioneer.
I recall talking about that once with him. He viewed it as every trail has flow, that each rider will experience how the trail flows differentely, and that you can't force it. I wasn't quite in the right mindset then to understand that back then.
Posted by Hard Tack at 10:10 PM on 10-13-2011
While we're at it ,it would be neat to know where all the Seymour builders from 10-15 years ago have ended up.....
Posted by SubPlop at 03:41 PM on 10-15-2011
No ones busted this one out yet, but that vid was Epic. Dan is Epic. That trail is Epic! Remember watchin Drop in when Dan showed the guys the trail. Romaniac was just in awe, totally out of his element. Dans a legend so its good to see he's still doing it, those vids on Vemo are awseome.
Posted by roasterthetoaster at 09:43 PM on 10-16-2011
That was a great little history lesson. I was inspired by him to build trails in my parents backyard after watching the kranked 4 north shore section. Still my favourite video to this day.
Posted by Mic at 11:39 AM on 10-17-2011
Quote:
Originally Posted by roasterthetoaster (Post 2577956)
That was a great little history lesson. I was inspired by him to build trails in my parents backyard after watching the kranked 4 north shore section. Still my favourite video to this day.
This is the best "Shore segment" ever, it has this raw, focused energy.
Posted by Shaloamer at 12:24 PM on 10-17-2011
I honestly think we have Dan and Digger 2 thank for setting the standard for how inventive trail/Stunt riding can evolve. I also think that bikes evolved into what we ride today because the trails demanded a new type of bike......Thus FreeRide bikes were created. To all trail builders: You herd Dan Use Cedar[Stumps and upright dead snags}. Using dead wood from the ground will create a rotting slimy stunt!
Dan Im coming over to Bowen to film your trails.....One day.
Posted by cam@nsmb.com at 05:51 PM on 10-17-2011
Actually Digger and Dan use lots of dead wood that is on the ground. Virtually all the slats you see on ladder bridges come from dead, fallen cedar trees.
Posted by Bryce at 01:04 PM on 10-18-2011
Quote:
Originally Posted by shorelocal (Post 2576432)
What bike would Dan have been riding back in '98 when it was built? I'm guessing the suspension wouldn't have liked some of those drops :)
Ellsworth? Or maybe that was a couple years later. Yeah, they broke a lot.
Posted by Mic at 02:43 PM on 10-18-2011
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bryce (Post 2578705)
Ellsworth? Or maybe that was a couple years later. Yeah, they broke a lot.
Brodie? I remember seeing vids of him and the Flowriders riding Ellsworth frames (JOker first, later different models) after 2000 me thinks.
Posted by dhphoenix at 12:25 PM on 10-20-2011
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mic (Post 2578759)
Brodie? I remember seeing vids of him and the Flowriders riding Ellsworth frames (JOker first, later different models) after 2000 me thinks.
I think it was Brodie, then Ellsworth, Yeti, Banshee, Brodie again and then Racebike.

I actually dig his racebike.
Posted by rkrem at 11:37 AM on 12-21-2011
Part of me wishes I was born 10 years earlier when all the classic shore trails were in good shape.
Dan's an inspiration, and his trails are mind blowing.
Posted by Gex at 07:28 PM on 12-29-2011
Don't know how I missed this but I'm glad it came back on the best of. I still remember the first time I rode Fromme and seeing that trail thinking to myself that sh%$ is ridiculous! Thanks for bringing back some great memories. I think i might go dust off my old mad max for some nostalgia.
Posted by Buba at 01:38 AM on 12-30-2011
Hey, thanks for the article...it really made my day better...nice to remember these times...
Posted by drummer_dil at 12:27 PM on 12-30-2011
damn thats nostalgic... reminds me of growing up on the sunshine coast.
anyone know if dirty little secrets is online?
Posted by brotay at 03:34 PM on 12-30-2011
I was with Tam when he filmed Dan and Mike for Brighter. Probably one of the most fun, entertaining and interesting biking trips I've ever had. Dan is a very cool guy and he deserves much respect for everything he has accomplished.