A lookback at 2023
Deniz's Year in Photographs 2023
Cooper rode a blue bike and he got along with it just fine.
Ryan and I put our wheels on some primo snow conditions and had a real good time.
Geoff Gulevich has no filter for what the ground has to say about the grip.
Pete and I caught a great little window in the weather for some Coffee Outside.
January
January can be a low start sometimes, the weight of the holidays fresh off the shoulders, nobody wants to throw themselves into the hustle and bustle. Figured that was a good time to have some crispy snow rides and pay a visit to Pete in West Sechelt to make some trail coffee and hang out. It was the right way to start the year.
One of the best trails on the Shore from above with the builder himself on it.
Fraser Vaage of SNIK is a beast on a bike and I've never heard of anyone attempting this gap on Boogeyman on Seymour before.
With a crew like this, anything could happen. Luckily, no casualties other than Kaz Yamamura over cooking the sauce on a blue trail!
February
My birthday month is always hit and miss with the weather. It was a significant one for me turning 40, at least that's what I am told. If it wasn't for Karin Grubb and my friends coming together to pull off one of the most epic rides of the year, it would have been just another day in the woods. The weather cooperated and a group of 20 rode some of the steeper, most technical trails without an incident, with a whiskey and donut stop cached in the woods. Absolute perfection and I am grateful for every minute of it!
Got to shoot with with some upcoming XC athletes and asked them to ride back and forth a few times, which they don't seem to mind. Just don't ask them to "hike" back up.
Rode a seriously fun bike, the Yeti SB135. Photo: Zach White
March
With snow low on the mountains, and riding not pleasant, we took off to Europe for a few weeks. It was a great break from the bikes as we walked miles and miles everywhere. Hungrier than ever to get back to riding upon return.
It's Superbloom April and we are in California for Sea Otter. This photo captures one of the year's highlights for me: riding and hanging out with Mike Ferrentino for a few days in his backyard.
Man can rip on a bike, any bike...
This was an eventful day shooting with Graham for the Hope HB916 review. He was feverish and I crashed super hard. Still came away with this cool shot in the bleak grey landscape.
Some tricky slabs were ridden on the Hope HB916.
April
April was no joke as the crew migrated to Northern California for the Sea Otter Classic. Always a great first event of the year to gather with like-minded industry folk, we even managed to bang off a sick Pistons & Pivots with Sean Estes of FOX Suspension.
Megavolt 2023 in Naramata, BC.
Ryan Walters got a new bike to test and huck off of cool trail features.
Junuary in full effect in Whistler Bike Park with Jack Pelland.
June
It's early summer in Naramata, BC and the bikes are charged. It was a lovely new venue for the BCBR Megavolt eMTB festival. The perfect place to ride eMTBs is apparently in the Okanagan along the lakeside. Up and down and janky nature of the Three Blind Mice trail network is well suited to assisted bikes. The accommodations are super along the lake and views are incredible. Unlucky for Karin as she got distracted by them and ejected herself from the bike, hurting her wrist and canceling her summer riding plans. We have discovered incredible hikes that will please even the most hardcore mountain biker within 100 kms of the North Shore Mountains.
Turns out there is quite the view from the Howe Sound Crest Trail that spans the area from Cypress to Britannia.
We had a fire fright that day shooting with Mike Wallace. A tuft of smoke we spotted in the mountains ended up hurting one of my favourite spots to visit in the forest.
Emma joined us in the NSMB team and rolled up her sleeves for some insight into what makes her riding tick.
Northwest Tuneup was a great time to enjoy some music and bikes in Bellingham, WA.
The real highlight of the summer was this little man coming to stay with me for the whole month as we rode bikes every day, all day long.
July
A sweet visitor changed my daily routine for July and August. My 8-year-old ball of energy and curiosity came to live with me for 5 weeks. We rode bikes, visited the North Shore Bike Park and rode our Specialized P series bikes.
The Pistons & Pivots to rule them all. Noah Wilcox made this ute out of a well-loved BMW E30 and it was awesome. The car is for sale right now if anyone wants to grab it from him!
Finally ticked this one off the list, the Dynamite Roll. Photo: Graham Driedger
In dust we trust... Copper Quinn testing some fast rubber on loose trails.
Steve Vanderhoek and I had this shot in our heads for a while. The light and the conditions finally lined up for the dust-covered sunrise shoot.
After the wrist wrecked in Naramata, Karin was finally easing her way back into riding. It was great to have her back as my riding partner.
As it goes, the year 2023 claimed a bunch of people and their limbs. Geoff Gulevich had a close call with an avalanche in the winter and this was one of his first rides back. The man can't hold anything back when he is on the bike.
August
Dusty and loose, some call it their least favourite time to ride and shoot. I love the challenge of light and the lack of lushness. It is crazy how the easiest time to get into the woods is also the time it is the least beautiful in there. Without water and moisture, there is nothing but sharp sticks and loose corners everywhere.
Something new from SRAM.
Graham testing the Ibis HD6 on the steeps.
September
I had to pay my dues to MTB karma and hurt myself 100 meters into a photoshoot with Hailey Elise. Trees don't move when you shoulder check them at speed and I did my left one something silly with pinched rotator muscles. It really could have been worse but some time off the bike meant I would be hiking in for photoshoots. Not the end of the world as some of the best trails on the mountains are easily accessible. With some trips planned for October, I had to make sure the rehab was strict and ibuprofin plenty.
Mid October is the ideal time to visit the desert. Moab star trails.
With the Aspens just past peak, I carried my camera every ride. This was the Whole Enchilada.
Karin was glad my shoulder was back to normal operation for our trip. She enjoyed the fast, flowy Park City, Utah terrain.
One back on the Shore, the facial hair got a redo for some silly fun.
October
We pointed our van south and headed to the desert for some adventures. Riding through Idaho, Utah and Oregon we escaped most of the bad weather we just weren't ready for on the Shore. As a Moab first timer, I was a little overwhelmed with the views and things to photograph. The trip report is here if you'd like to see some more photos.
The nice weather and tacky dirt returned for November. Tim Coleman was ready for some prime time riding.
Did some more riding with Gully and his return to hard riding after a crazy injury.
Cooper (the resident skinny tire rider) Quinn through some pretty fall colours.
November
One of the best riding conditions I can ever remember for November this year. Just the right amount of rain in the evenings every few days meant absolutely perfect dirt for weeks on end. It is the end of December now with similar conditions which could spell trouble for our drinking water supply come Summer of 2024.
The North Shore Bike Park has been an incredible place to hang out in the evenings. At any given night, you'll run into friends and can session till your arms fall off.
All time riding on the Sunshine coast with friends who are tying the knot soon.
Night riding has also been incredible with dryer weather lowering the motivational bar.
The flaps of destiny and a heart the size of the universe.
December
Here we are at the end of the year. With good and bad and the best times ever, it is bittersweet to send this year off. Unfortunately, it has been gutting to say goodbye to my best friend, Allegro. A handsome devil of a dog who saved my life many times over in the past 12 years. There is never an easy way to say goodbye to the dogs in our lives and none can be replaced by another. Be well and thank you for all your comments and feedback this year.
5'8"
162lbs
Playful, lively riding style
Photographer and Story Teller
Lenticular Aesthetician
Comments
Jerry Willows
4 months ago
Great year, great photos!
Reply
Deniz Merdano
4 months ago
thank you for all the hard work on the trails this year Jerry.
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mnihiser
4 months ago
Sorry to read about your dog, Deniz. Each one has left me heartbroken when they were gone. The only cure is the next one. D+1.
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Deniz Merdano
4 months ago
The cure is either no dogs, or all the dogs!
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BenHD
4 months ago
Farewell Allegro. I had to bury mine 3 years ago and the scar on my heart is huge.
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BarryW
4 months ago
Lots of great pictures Deniz.
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Deniz Merdano
4 months ago
Thank you Barry!
Reply
shutter2ride
4 months ago
Always look forward to these end of the year articles. Nice work!
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Deniz Merdano
4 months ago
It's so fun and frustrating to look back and pick the best set to showcase at the end of the year. And it's crazy how some months are so much more productive than others!
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Kos
4 months ago
Great shots! So tough to lose a dog, but oh, the joy they bring! Interesting name, as we once had a dog named Allegro Con Brio. And yes, my wife is a serious musician.
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Deniz Merdano
4 months ago
Allegro had an unstoppable wagging tail. Almost at around 150bpm. When first came to my care, his name was Blade, which we both knew was not him. After spending a couple of days with him, his tempo revealed his name naturally. I have a classical music background and it didn't take too long to find a suitable name for him.
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Hbar
4 months ago
Beautiful biking pics, but Allegro is dominating all of them
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Deniz Merdano
4 months ago
😭
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fed
4 months ago
I am deeply sorry for the lost of Allegro, is never easy. This was a fantastic article that I truly enjoy, the picture of the Whole enchilada with the changes colors was stunning. The Dynamite roll is huge, man that thing looks sketchy as hell. Thank you and happy and healthy new year everyone.
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Deniz Merdano
4 months ago
Thank you for the kind words. While it is sizable, Dynamite Roll is very straightforward in execution. Unless it's wet, then it's probably deadly
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thaaad
3 months, 4 weeks ago
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