Local filmmakers have been getting creative in order to get material that others don't have. Digger has been scouring Mount Fromme for rocks that are suitable for big launches whether they are on a trail or not. Jorli Ryker of SHIFT fame has been looking in stranger places. He recently hit the jackpot in the British Properties, a posh development in West Vancouver that continues to creep up the mountainside leaving nothing but monster houses in it's wake. In a recently bulldozed but not yet developed cul-de-sac Jorli and local photographer Sterling Lorence scoped a huge launch from a stump into an excavated lot. They banged a couple of 2 by 10's into place, gave Danger a call and the deed was done.

I climb up to take a look and just standing there gives me the willies. The transition is good but from up here it looks flat and unforgiving. Numbers are tossed around and the veterans call it somewhere between 20 and 23 feet.

While everyone is setting up a group of visor wearing kids congregates on the curb, smoking players and looking bored. One girl looks at Dan and says "Hey that's my math teacher." She confronts Dan with this and he smiles and says "this is my other job" while riding by.

Digger is here with his digital camera collecting carnage for North Shore Extreme IV along with Jorli and his 16mm, his buddy Matt who's running his second camera and Sterling Lorence who's shooting stills. I show with only a wide angle (another lesson learned) and with all of these other lenses around I have to stand out of range of good shots.

Dan stands atop the drop looking a little manic, tossing out comments and getting pumped. Whenever I see someone launch something huge there is a moment of doubt. I suppose I put myself in their shoes and since I wouldn't do it I am amazed when they do. And he does. Dan rolls into it steadily, pops a little just before the end of the ramp and is silently airborn with his nose pointing down. I hold my breath while I squeeze the shutter and follow him down to the landing. One day I'll get a motor drive.

And he nails it. Dan is in the air long enough for Sterling to get 14 frames from his motor drive. Everybody cheers, Dan is obviously pumped but there isn't much time for celebration. Everybody shifts to try and get THE shot and I move around to try and look like I know what I am doing. Dan nails it again and is even more pumped - looking like he has these 20 foot airs dialed.

And then reality comes crashing in. On his third attempt Dan lands on rubber but then crashes hard to his right. He brushes himself off and, undaunted, goes up again asking all of us to be ready. Again he piles to the right harder than the first time.

Despite this being the largest air Dan has ever done he is frustrated. Sterling puts it into perspective for him; "We didn't know if anyone would do it and you just came up and rode your bike off it". Everyone encourages Dan to take his time and recover. His 2 day old frame looks punished already.

Dan hits hard again on number 5 and stays down for awhile. With what can be described only as industrial grade diamond balls he goes up for one last huck, this time falling to the left for the first time. Because of the size of the drop if you are just slightly off vertical you shall be slammed.

Dan takes off his shirt to reveal a mosaic of raspberries and gouges. This battle with fear and gravity has energized me and I vow to go bigger on my next ride. What are scrapes anyway but reminders we are alive.

Individuals like Dangerous Dan Cowan are special. They give us a gauge against which we must measure our performance, our commitment and our lives. In doing so they call us to battle mediochrity and reach for more.

Article by Cam McRae