05/12/2008

Two years ago, Costa Rican trail builder and ripper Paulo Valle began to explore new mountainous regions further away from his native San Jose. His aim was simple: to find the biggest mountains with road access and build new DH trails.

He ventured south towards Panama on the Inter-Americana highway, the main highway through Central America, then he turned west into some of Costa’s highest peaks and rolled into Providencia, a remote and poor two-phone town surrounded by big peaks and draped in tropical cloud forest.

The idea of riding down the mountains on a bike was completely foreign to the locals, even bordering on crazy. Nonetheless, he pulled his DH bike and machete out of his truck and went to work. After countless months, Paulo and his crew’s efforts paid off and epic trails emerged.

Wade Simmons and Dave Watson cruising the trails in Costa Rica

In January, a crew of Vancouver riders including Thomas Vanderham, Wade Simmons and Dave Watson rode Providencia’s trails with Vancouver tour company Big Mountain Bike Adventures.

“The descents in that town were wicked and the kids were really pumped,” recalls Vanderham. “They waited for us at the bottom of the trail for this 5' air and cheered as we boosted it. Then we threw our helmets on them and let them ride our bikes. It was a cool experience.” Just recently, Paulo arrived in Providencia to do some trail work and the same group of kids came running up to him, begging him to come with them. They excitedly showed him a trail that they had built, a short loop on the edge of town. Paulo was pumped for them, but sad at the same time.

A Central American grom

He realized that the local kids had become stoked on mountain biking and trail building thanks to him and the riders coming through town … but they didn’t have the tools to ride and probably never would.

Now this kid knows something about freeride style...

The problem was that they had one bike, a super old-school shit-box to share amongst more than a dozen of them. A light bulb went off: Paulo realized that it was time to give back.

Dave Watson and Gabe Fox show the Costa Rican groms about correct body position
- check out the latest in riding footwear

Without much to do in this small town but work in agriculture and drink (as the adults do), Paulo realized that bikes would inspire the kids, as well as provide them with a better quality of life and opportunity.

Big Mountain Bike Adventures and Paulo have teamed up and launched the first annual The Providencia Project with the simple goal of getting the disadvantaged youth of this poor town on mountain bikes. You can help.

Cody Swansborough and the kids you could be helping in Providencia with your donation

What’s needed:
10 BIKES: 7 kids-sized mountain bikes (24-inch wheels) and 3 small adult bikes for the bigger kids. Must be in good shape!
EQUIPMENT: Kids sized (and small adult sized) helmets, shoes, gloves, shorts, tubes etc.
CASH: $600 needs to be raised for freight and import taxes.

Bring your donations into these quality shops by the end of November:
Evolution in Whistler, Cove Bike Shop in North Vancouver, Dizzy Cycles in Kitsilano.

With your donation, leave your name, email address and description of the donation and The Providencia Project will send you a photo and bio of the lucky kid enjoying your ride.

You can also join Big Mountain Bike Adventures and Paulo this winter on their 12-day shuttled DH and surf trip dubbed Pura Vida DH and ride Providencia Costa Rica with the kids.

Contact Info: chris@ridebig.com

Web site: RideBig.com