Vid/Story - Matt Goes Down
Whistler Footage!
Words by Stephen Matthews.
Date: 2011-12-12
Have you ever shown a non-rider crash footage? They usually struggle to comprehend not only how you survived, but how you continued your day are still interested in cycling. When you ride a lot, the physical and mental effects of crashing become so familiar, that for the most part you get up, dust yourself off, and carry on. My teammate, Matt Montandon, whose last name and resilience towards pain puts him in the category of 'Autobots,' is an expert at this, and it’s all caught on tape.
It’s December and the snow isn’t great in Alberta, but it’s here none the less, ruining the bike riding season for 2011. I’m scrolling through my summer video footage, and stumble across this one day Matt and I filmed with our Contour Helmet cams on The Whistler Bike Park. It was the classic pouring rain on Garbanzo and tacky in the Fitzsimmons zone. So what did we do? Up to the top...obviously.
My favourite trail from the Freight Train Highway 86 intersection is as follows: No Joke by pump house, to Freight Train entrance at Mid-station, back onto No Joke for the alder tree section, to Drop in Clinic, to Freight Train by the boxcar step-up. It’s an incredible line that remains virtually unchanged as a lot of it rides on bedrock. Everyone knows the feeling of riding the “whaleback ridge” section as you drop into Freight Train below Mid-station’s Creekside Gondola. It’s a great technical section that allows lots of rider interpretation, but requires immense control over quick rock drops and fast pumping to keep your wheels on the ground. There’s definitely a technique, and when friction decreases, mistakes can be made.
It’s all about how you carry on though. Who hasn’t had a bad crash on Garbanzo, gotten up and pushed it to make the most out of their run. Enjoy Matt and myself filming in the Whistler Bike Park the day that could’ve ended early, but didn’t.
Yep - that was a 360 onto the boxcar after a nasty crash. Matt was following Stephen on his Specialized SX - not an SX Trail mind you - and he was also boosting the huge Crabapple Hits. How do you react after a nasty spill?
Comments
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that would be a bad place to stuff it....glad non of his bio gear went pop. Nice spin onto the box...whats the name of the song?
For some reason all my epic bails moto/MTB never hurt....only time i really hurt myself was a separated shoulder...and that was jacking around on my way down the road from SFU to the trail head. Seesh.
My bails usually end with some sort of barbaric yelp....or girly scream.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m35kpJqhV40
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9c5dmydRZ8
I wish I could say I was as big a man as he. The jump that was on garbo for the beginning of the season to the right at 1:27 ended my day once. My other nasty crash this year resulted in me walking my bike down and go home smelling like blood with my tail between my legs. Both crashes were on step downs too which affected the way I looked at them and all other jumps for a long time. It still sort of gets to me and I have yet to go back and conquer.
I find if I have the nagging feeling something could be wrong I have to stop. Otherwise I like to get right back into it and shake it off. Matt definitely shook it off better than anyone I've ever seen though after an especially hard crash, mad props :clap:.
Matt "the Don" Montandon is hard as nails and it is amazing to watch someone flow the trails in the Park like he does. Whilst people are complaining about how rough it is up there he just floats over the chunder and pops off the first braking bump . He also rides with style and a big bag of tricks.
Awesome story Stephen.
Nice flow!
I ate it hard in the same place once... I had no front brake from snapping the lever off in a silly crash a little further up. I wasn't able to scrub my speed coming into that section because it was wet and back wheel kept locking up, and I came over that rock to see the group I was tail guiding has stopped right at the bottom of the ladder. I either had to choose to plow into the group at full speed, or go off line. I went right missed the edge of the ladder and landed full force on my shoulder. Sanpped my collarbone in 2 places, but managed to ride the rest of the way down... slowly! haha. Whistler bites, but that is half the thrill!
I literally just saw it out of the corner of my eye, and couldn't believe it. That's like nearly 10 ft to your face...on a road no less! I was expecting to pin it down Expressway to the medics...but no, instead he just shrugged it off.
Thanks for watching guys!
very inspirational vid, really flowing and awesome weather!
if stephenmatthews doesn't object, the music is Heavy Storm by First Aid Kit - thanks for using it, it's a great track
http://www.songlyrics.com/first-aid-kit/heavy-storm-lyrics/
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