Sun Peaks keeps everyone smiling		 My Summer Vacation
August Adventures
Words and photos (unless noted) Cam McRae
Two years ago my Italian sister in law was getting married while the Crankworx Slopestyle was going down.  There's no messing with 'la famiglia' and I was present as a dutiful son-in-law (with an aversion to concrete shoes) should be.  This year there was a potential conflict with a close friend's birthday.  I was torn until it also morphed into his wedding day and he asked me to take pictures and sign for him as well.  There are few things that can be put ahead of friends and family and for the second time in three years I was absent from the Crankworx Slopestyle - arguably the most important freeride event of the year.

Marky Mark's ride. 

Before I left Crankworx I managed to see some cool new hardware and even get some heli time.  Doug Dalton of Cannondale decided to launch their new bike - the Perp - with a rotary wing adventure to the top of Rainbow, across the valley from the Whistler Bike Park.  A feature film starring Mark Wahlberg and Danny Glover was being shot at the same time and you could see extras putting on flak jackets and make up. Several Bell 204s and 212s with FBI markings were shuttling cast and crew - 75 souls in all - up to a glacier not far from where our ride would begin our descent.  The heli ride up was scenic but our destination was spectacular.  Peaks in every direction and bird's eye views of Whistler made it a breath taking spot to begin a 4000 foot roll.


To the top in style. 

The Perp isn't fancy but it's very functional.  Sitting between the Gemini and the Judge, Cannondale equipped the Perp with the option of 180 or 200mm of travel.  A rocker link adds stiffness and it also guides the stroke ratio of the suspension.  It's aimed at being supple off the top, stable in the middle and then Cannondale hopes it will ramp up towards the end of the stroke for the big bounce crowd. The idea is to have good small bump performance, a decent pedalling platform and the ability to take a big hit. The bike I rode was equipped with a 1.5" Rock Shox Totem and the bike has a 12mm thru axle rear end.


The Perps we rode were finished in raw aluminum that was polished and then clear coated.

I had never ridden Rainbow before and I had no idea what to expect.  Brian and Michael from West Coast Freeride Guides explained that the trail was actually built by trials moto riders who value the ride up more than the descent.  Starting well above the tree line, the terrain terraced downwards.  We'd have some tame singletrack for a section and then all of a sudden it would tip steeply towards the valley.  The first of these sections claimed Mountain Biking Mag editor Allan Davis who had an awkward fall that ended with a broken hand - and then a heli ride back down.


Lou Mazzante from bike Mag had it all together and then decided to sample the local rhubarb. 
As we entered the trees the trail began to traverse some - a welcome rest from the arm-pumping steepness - and then it began to wiggly and dance around the trees.  Once we emerged from the trail we rolled over to Rainbow park to inspect tan lines and chow down on some lunch, which felt well-deserved despite our method of ascent.  The Perp was perfectly suited to the challenges of the terrain and it was one of those bikes you can swing a leg over and feel comfortable almost immediately.  It looks to be a solid performer.

Tyler Maine wrestles a steep section into submission on a Fox 40 equipped Perp. 
I also managed to ride up to Gargamel while I was in Whistler and drop one of the lines into Creekside (Thanks to Sean in Patrol!).  Three epic descents in a couple of days eased the sting of missing Crankworx. For both Gargamel and RDS I chose to ride a Specialized SX Trail.  It seems that I have finally found the bike that can do everything. When I'm heading away from home and I know there might be some big climbs, some epic shuttles, some lift accessed riding and perhaps even the odd XC ride it's the bike I choose.

This SX Trail - built to sub 35 lbs - was my go-anywhere ticket this summer.  I rode it for the Triple Crown, in the Whistler and Sun Peaks bike parks, up and down Gargamel, on Idaho Peak and for countless other adventures close to home and farther afield.  It never let me down.  Photo ~ Donhok Han
Sometimes I'll pack a spare set of tires so I can mount meaty rubber for a gnarly shuttle and something a little lighter when I have to climb.  Either way with the Fox 36 Van RC2 up front it's a bike I'm happy on in any environment. It's like a quiver in one bike - particularly with Fox's Pro Pedal damping cranked when it's time to turn the cranks and gain some elevation. For my own personal bike of the year awards the SX Trail is alone on the podium.

Our chariot ate up the back road to Sun Peaks, Idaho Peak and all the highway miles in between. 
I was particularly upset about missing the Slopestyle this year because Benton Hennig was entered.  Ben won our AIRprentice contest this year and he seemed keen to step up against the world's best.  By every account his performance was triumphant and he walked away from the qualifier in 26th place - ahead of many seasoned pros and only three spots out of the big show.  Just before the start of finals it became clear that there were too many hurt riders and our boy was offered a spot in the final.  A pro might have expected this but Ben's still learning the ropes and he wasn't able to get his gear together in time.  Benton threw down like a vet though.  At his very first Slopestyle he became a contender and did us proud.  Great work Ben!

Benton Hennig - first off the Jumbotron Drop at Crankworx.  Photo ~ Peter Mozola

Missing the Slopestyle wasn't all bad news.  The wedding was in the Slocan Valley and we all camped and had a great time.  24/7 bare feet and mid day skinny-dipping (when in Rome!) were on the agenda but so was a ride in New Denver up Idaho Peak.  Paul guided us down Alamo and then along some of the rawhide trails - so named because they were formed when ore was dragged out on animal hides leaving a groove that's perfect for riders. 


Paul was our Idaho Peak guide - and he knows the goods.

The ride took us through a ghost town destroyed by flooding and remnants of mine shafts and rail lines flavoured the entire descent.  If you are up in the area rides begin daily from the local 'bike shop' and there's even a gent who's content to shuttle riders in exchange for an old-fashioned herbal remedy.    He doesn't ride - he just likes to be part of the community.  For more on Idaho Peak check out Lee Lau's blow by blow account.


It turns out Benton's a cowboy.  Photos ~ Malcolm McLaws

While in Whistler I stayed with the fantastic folks at Bear Back Biking.  They cook fantastic breakfasts and dinners for you six days a week and it still costs less than a hotel.  Great bike storage, guiding available from West Coast Freeride Guides as well as accommodation that can't be beat.  Check them out next time you are coming to Whistler. It would be tough for a rider to find a better place to stay.  Thanks to Mark, Jonny and the crew for the fantastic hospitality.
After the Koots it was off to Shuswap lake for some family time as well as a little local riding.  There is some nice riding around Shuswap, including a relatively challenging freeride trail that has over the years become my own private nugget, but it's also nice and close to Sun Peaks. On my way to the High Roller Ride I took the MacGillvary Lake road which follows the path of the 2003 fire of the same name for much of its length.  It was also a perfect off road opp. for the team Toyota Tacoma.  The only downside to being able to eat up potholes and braking bumps like Steve Peat  is that I kept getting stuck behind slower, less capable trucks of all stripes. 

Sun Peaks High Roller Ride was a blast.  Here Cheryl Beattie from Bicycle Café calls the rolls. 
Usually I manage to get to Sun Peaks early in the season before it gets dusty.  This year that didn't happen and this past August it was at times like riding on the moon.  The dust was so fine and dry it was as though sections of trail would explode as soon as your tires made contact.  This was a problem riding with a group but the solo runs I did were perfection.  Smitty's Steeps was like a shot of adrenaline to the heart, Honey Drop was a little chewed but no less fun than usual and Sugar was in the best shape I have ever seen it in - all the way from the top.  A surprise was the new machine built section at the top of Barn Burner.  Good sized hits with generous transitions punctuated the new beginning of the trail.  It's well worth a look (and Sun Peaks is still open for one more weekend on Sept. 23rd and 24th) and as many laps as you can muster.

Ryan Hayes on the new top section of Barn Burner at Sun Peaks.

Barn Burner Part deux.
Another bonus about vacationing at Shuswap is Kamloops Bike Camp.  Chuck Brennan's gig above the Shores of Little Shuswap gained some serious steam this year experiencing a 400% increase in business compared to the summer before.  He's got a partnership with the Little Shuswap Indian Band and free rein to build the right kind of trails.  The band built the beautiful Quaaout Lodge along the Lake and the trails rise right from there to some serious elevation.  There are cross country loops, a large dirt jump area with a massive roll-in tower but the real sweetness is the steepness.  Cebo's Revenge is a series of chutes, berms and gullies that finally opens up into a high speed rip down near the bottom - and that's just a small sample of what's there.

Philippe Carignan misses a corner at Kamloops Bike Camp.

But he nails the road gap on his .243 hardtail...
Chuck has a couple of fall adventures that aren't quite full yet including a weekend package beginning Sept. 30th and another on the 7th and 8th.  There's even a wine tour ride for those in search of something a little different.  All the info is on the 'trail news' section of the KBC site.

and the massive booters at the bottom of the mountain at KBC.

Kaleb Trozzo, Winner of nsmb.com's Money Shot Competition with his prize bike from Rocky.  We tried to get him out for a ride at KBC but apparently his girlfriend wouldn't give him the green light.  Congrats Kaleb!  Watch out for Money Shot 2 in the new year.

There you have a synopsis of my slack August.  Every other month of the year things are cranking here at nsmb.com but in August I can hit the road and work remotely - a great opportunity to sample the goods in our fair province. Next up I'll be heading to Las Vegas with photographer David Ferguson (another Vegas Virgin!) to find out what's up in the biz for the coming year. We'll also be checking out the premieres of both Kranked 6 and NWD 7.  Stay tuned for daily updates from both the show and the Dirt Demo. 

Thanks to everyone who helped make the month of August epic.

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Man does not live by bike alone; the end of a surreal wakeboard sesh at Shuswap.
Cam McRae