NSMB.com Team

Story+Photos: Mason Mashon's Deep Winter

Posted by Mason Mashon on 2012-01-29

NSMB Team member Mason Mashon rides Whistler all year long. This year he was invited to participate in the Deep Winter photo contest. Three days of shooting, a flurry of editing and compiling, and on to the screening. While a winner was crowned on the final night of Deep Winter, the People's Choice award is still up for grabs. Show your support for Mason by voting for him HERE. Read on for Mason's recap of the his experience and a pile of wicked shots.

Accepting the invite to the Deep Winter Photo Challenge had me ecstatic. I’ve been patiently waiting for my opportunity to partake in this 3-day saga of bell-to-bell shooting and editing. This would be my time to shine.

In the days prior to the contest, it became apparent that this year the contest wouldn’t live up to it’s name.  Dry conditions and no snow in the forecast meant that an extra level of creativity would be summoned to barter with. Little did I know that this would throw my brain into overdrive and turn me into a full-blown insomniac. I was running ideas through my head, over and over, then a new idea would slide in, and the cycle continued. I started the contest with a 2-hour sleep. It was on, and the clock was ticking.

Sunshine hasn’t really been an option in the past for this contest. This year however, it opened opportunities to utilize natural light, and draw a lot more color from the characteristic black and white pallette we’re used to. I exercised my experience, and got right down to business with my esteemed team of skiers and snowboarders.

We worked tirelessly around the clock, chasing the sun’s overlay on the terrain, and scraped the mountain dry of what snow was left lingering. We worked efficiently under the umbrella of my loosely organized day plans. Each day on the hill was a success.

I wanted to incorporate some lifestyle moments that a dry spell opens opportunity for, so I included a series of shots where the riders were using different methods of ground transportation (namely bicycles and skateboards). Using a few tools of the trade, we pulled off the shots I had envisioned. The other lifestyle I wanted to show was hockey. We set the stage at a local pop up ice rink, and played shinny for a few hours to wind down the final hours of shooting. The casual nature of the final shoot only temporized the daunting task that lay before me.

I had fifteen hours to compile and edit my photo choices from a 2600 deep selection, I had to hastily chose the right ones that would best fit the story I wanted to tell. Narrowed down to a handful over a hundred, I fired up final cut with just over four hours until it had to be handed in. It was 10 a.m., I hadn’t properly slept all week, and my eyes were glazed over from a sleepless night of touching photos. The anxiety was redlining.

Planning ahead would be my saving grace, as I had pre-marked all the slide changes on my Final Cut time line. It was just a matter of smashing the photos together in the proper sequence. Sparing no time for revision, I moved like a robot. I felt as if I hadn’t blinked in hours. Maybe I didn’t. I rubbed my eye sockets and pressed on into the dying minutes.

I made it to the venue to hand in my show with not a minute to spare. Zombie-like but freakishly awake, I sat and tried to relax for a brief moment. It was done.
With only a few hours between handing in the project and the night’s screening, I managed to close my eyes for a couple of hours. I thought the anxiety had disappeared, but it was only a temporary digression. Thankfully I didn’t have to go first.

Six photographers and their teams lined up one by one, and unleashed a visual stimulus that is often hard to digest at first glance. Strong narratives and stunning images were displayed for the sold out audience. Each team had put together such amazing works. It was humbling to be appreciated beside this amazing group of talent. What I like most is that an event like this brings together our community and really shows the everyday beauty of this place we all love. It’s inspiring, and I loved every minute of it.

Though my body had suffered some serious degradation over those four days, if I had the opportunity to do it again, I would. It’s a real test of your creative integrity, and even though I didn’t find the crown on top of my head, it was a learning experience of epic proportions. Maybe I’ll get that email again, and fall into that stream of consciousness that doesn’t let you sleep for an entire week. I’m up for the challenge.

- Mason

Vote Mason for the Peoples Choice award HERE. Any words for our year round Whistler loc? Shoot below.

Flying By The Seat...

Posted by Paul Stevens on 2011-10-02

Interior road trip - Flying by the seat of our pants
Part 1: Peter Matthews and the exploding berms:

I unzipped my sleeping bag to reach out and read a text message at 6.30 on Sunday morning, which was to set the tone for the whole trip. “Bit of a minor problem, call me when you're up”. And so before we had even put five tens to pedals, the flying by the seat of our pants had begun. Our compadre's “minor problem” had soon developed into a 12 hour delay. It was a long story, involving the police, a pretentious bank manager and the making of a film in Chile, and had resulted in a few setbacks. But the long and short of it was, it looked like Revelstoke was going to have to wait.

   Silver star was pumping. Peter Matthews off the lip in double over hedge conditions.

We were already away from Whistler and on the road as Plan A hastily disintegrated. We found ourselves in Vernon, and decided it would surely be rude not to gain some altitude and hit some dusty berms, jumps and rocks at Silver Star, while waiting for team Squamish (comprised of Kevin Landry, Taylor Loughran and Mathieu Notargiovanni Preville) to play catch up.

   Paulo, not content with just three points of contact to throw up dust, tries to make his handlebars the fourth

With Stephen Matthews off galavanting around the Swiss Alps, we had fished his gene pool and got a bite from his brother Peter, who would be standing in on berm demolition duty. It soon became apparent that whatever radioactive, kryptonite loaded, spider venom-based serum mama and papa Matthews had put into Stephen's baby bottle, Peter had got the same medicine. The berm (and Mason, behind the lens, capturing the action) cowered in fear as Peter came rumbling in like a semi truck...

   Peter decided that there was far too much dust in this berm, and not nearly enough on the trees

   The view from the front line -mortar or Peter? you decide.

Vvvrrraaaaap! Peters tires emptied the dust from the berm in a land mine-esque explosion, sending shards of rock and dirt shrapnel flying into the air, showering Mason and his camera gear. As the dust settled, he emerged looking at his LCD monitor, grinning, so I joined the demolition squad, and proceeded to help Peter empty the berm into Mason's face, until there was more dust in his teeth than there was on the trail!

   Paulo doing his best to obscure the view

   Mason towels down after a refreshing dirt shower

There is a reason that we return to Silverstar for AIRprentice every year; it is one of the best and most progressive bike parks there is. We checked out the Pro-Star extension “PS-Walk the line” which is looking really impressive  -think dirt jumps for downhill bikes - big jumps with not much space between them, no stand alone features, so to hit one you pretty much have to hit them all!

   Too much dust on this lip as well - should probably scrub that off.

  Sessioning Silver Star in the sun.

   Peter never usually runs eclipse

The afternoon was wrapped up by railing more dusty berms, scrubbing jumps, kicking up roost, and sessioning features as the sun crept towards the horizon. We ripped a couple of warp speed laps of comet trail, and left the dust hanging as we drove back down the mountain, to blast off the dirt with a much needed “lake shower” off the cliffs of Kalamalka lake.

   The aftermath, dust still hanging in the sun beams as we rode away

    Mason en route to lake shower

Day one was complete, and it sounded like the second half of our crew had almost caught up, which meant that Revelstoke would be next...or would it? 

I already miss summer. A bad sign in October. Anything to say about Paulo's words or Mason's images? Say it here...

Backcountry North Shore Styles

Posted by Eamonn Duignan on 2011-09-16

There are many reasons why I love living in North Vancouver-the riding, the people, and of course, the unlimited access to a world class outdoor play ground. The simple fact that I can pedal from my front door, and within minutes, be shredding one some of the world’s best single track, DH runs, and all around gnarly trails, truly embodies why I love the Shore.   

With that in mind, Trevor (or the Bone) and I set out to explore of some of North Vancouver’s epic backcountry, and we were stoked with what we found. Buckle up and enjoy a few pictures from our little backcountry adventure, North Van styles …

Post climb with the Bone on a beautiful North Shore day. Our particular route started with an hour and a quarter pedal up, followed by a 40 minute hike with our bikes on our backs while scaling some very steep and rugged terrain.  It’s a hell of a work out! 

Not sure what animal this was from, but rest assured it was bigger than I, and by the looks of it well feed.

What’s a 40 minute hike with the bike on your back without rope pull section?   

Bone leading the charge through some remote North Shore terrain. 

This picture is a testament to the late and unusually harsh spring we had this year. This was taken in mid-August and there was no shortage of the devils dandruff impeding our way. 

Bike Mag eat your heart out. I’m going to submit this shot of Bone to the North Shore Seniors Digest Weekly. Bone will be the envy of our North Shore seniors population!  

When I look at this picture a classic scene from Rocky comes to mind. Mr. Rocky Balboa is running up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art in his matching grey circa 1982 tracksuit and upon reaching the summit he raises his hands in victory. Just sub Bone for Rocky, and the North Van backcountry for Philly, and we basically recreated true cinematic gold.

The end game-a few thousand feet above sea level in North Vancouver's backcountry. Again, this is why I love the North Shore of Vancouver! 

Boneyard Boosting

Posted by Paul Stevens on 2011-09-07

When we returned from Silverstar mountain resort after the nsmb AIRprentice contest in July, there was one line that I just couldn't get out of my mind. It's name is Pro Star, and it is ride-able proof of Cam Sorensen and the Silver Star trail crew's vision, to create a diverse bike park that caters for all levels. The lower section of the trail was under construction when we were there, and is now open to ride. It was great to see that without neglecting the beginner, intermediate and little bike trails, they have built a really fun advanced line.

   Enjoying (part of) the Boneyard opening to the public for the first time in years

I returned to Whistler, wondering whether anyone at Whistler Blackcomb was thinking along the same lines as me, that maybe our bike park needed this kind of advanced level injection too. The next thing I knew, rumours were flying about the re-build of Crabapple hits, and a few days later, we were sending it off some of the biggest jumps the Whistler bike park has ever seen! It seemed that I wasn't the only one after some more advanced features.

   Recent developments in the bike park have allowed the public access to more air time than ever before!

 A couple of weeks later, the excavators were busy working beside lower Whistler Downhill. We stopped to talk to the trail crew, and take a look at the latest, and still yet to be opened, creation, a line named Dwayne Johnson. A huge step up gap, followed by a section of trail into the woods and off, you guessed it, a huge rock. Another sweet advanced line emerging between the trees in Whistler bike park.

    It wasn't long after we heard that the ropes had dropped that me and work buddy Iain Hayes were out sessioning the boneyard.

A final addition to the list of advanced features opening up in my back yard was the ropes dropping on several features in the boneyard. It has been years since any of the slopestyle features have been opened to the public, and as soon as I heard that the ropes were down, I was stoked to get up and take a look at what we could ride! Obviously a lot of the course is still closed, but there are a few of the wooden kickers open to send you skywards. It was awesome to be sessioning the boneyard, and it is great to have so many big jumps to ride in the park now!

   Hipping out into the sun

I am glad that more advanced features have been built in the park, but it is also great to see the construction of beginner/intermediate level trails such as the new singletrack off easy does it, and also good to see that Blue Velvet, the only blue trail on the upper mountain, has finally got re-worked. It was getting pretty punched, particularly with the early season conditions that it was subjected to! These things are key for Whistler to be the well-rounded full package, fun for everyone, and remain as the world's leading bike park.

   Cruising with the wheels on the ground this time, B-line berm railing.

The Whistler Bike Park has been money this year for those who like to go big. And for the rest of us as well. Have you gotten your Boneyard on? Crabapple Deluxe? Sing praises (or file complaints) here...

I heart Sun Peaks

Posted by on 2011-09-02

After a 3 year absence I revisited SunPeaks  this summer. Along with Nsmbers Cam, Matt and Jason we got the tour of all tours from Bicycle Cafe owner Cheryl and local ripper Kim.

Cam ripping through the alpine flowers. No vegetation was harmed in this photo.

Nsmb.com video guru Matt Dennison and Jason Lucas before.

Matt going big in the sweet jump park. Kamloopians love to build big senders with massive gaps.

Kim was one fast rider. We loved the endless fast steep singletrack. After a summer of Silverstar berms and Whistler air we didn't even bother with the bermy jump trails at SP. Instead we just hit the steeps all day.

Cam, me, Cheryl and Kim post stellar day group hug.