Now that the snowy winter is upon us all I've had a lot of time to kick back and think about the 20,000 miles worth of dirt shaping, rock workin', bike riding, even managed to do a bit of fishing. The Ranch build season was a busy one, By the time Ranchstyle was upon us I was on a 80 day work streak give or take a couple days. I was bouncing between shop shifts, Building PBR out in Fruits with the Singletrack Trail guys, Polishing the Ranchstyle course and even building a new mini slopestyle line for the Dixitrix event that was going down during Ranchstyle this year. It was a tough 2 1/2 months of work but well worth the effort with all 3 being super fun.
Ranchstyle 2012 Slopestyle Highlights on Pinkbike
I had 2 days off, then before the dust had settled from Ranchstyle Jeff and I were headed to Granby Ranch With Singletrack Trails to get the mountain prepped for their opening for the summer.It was quite the challenge to go to a mountain and try to keep with all the hardwork and legacy that the Momentum Trail boys had done for years before we showed up, but I think we did a great job. We put in a new Green DH trail, expanded and rebuilt some of the XC trails. We had a sweet camp a third of the way up the mountain under the lift pretty much and it was a nice place to call home for a couple months. It was rad to build all day then have a private mountain under our tires till dark. I've always wanted a mountain canvass to get creative and build some bigbike flow. I'm super stoked to head back this season and do even better!
After Granby, Singletrack Trails was on the move to Glendo State park Wyoming. If you've never been there You head up I25 till you see trees and turn right. It's a super cool area to be, lots of different terrain to work with, a huge lake to jump into to cool off from 90-100 degree days. There's lots of work to be done up there still but we managed to get a ton of new stuff built including around 5 miles of new xc trail, a large pumptrack, small flow trail, and skills features built into the trail system. I enjoy working up there, the terrain is a nice challenge with all the rock and different dirts.
After a couple months in Wyoming It was time for Redbull Rampage! One of our shop riders was lucky enough to earn a spot this year so a few of us shop guys headed down to help him get down the hill. When most of us got there Nick and Ian had already been there for a few days and had most of the line built except the last jump. We stacked up a nice 20' hip to finish the line which made for a nice exit to the finish. We also adjusted a thing or 2 in Nicks line, Helped a few of the other riders dial in there lines too. It's always mind blowing to go to Rampage and see what those guys will ride down. Quite humbling to say the least! We're all proud of Nick for fulfilling a dream and all the boys walked away from Rampage with no serious injuries. It's the real deal out there!
Next up was the Moab Bike Park, This project was headed up by Tracy and Wendy at Chili Pepper Bikes. The project had some glitches along the way and was held off for a bit. But it was go time So I rounded up my right hand man Jeff and headed on over. We had full creative reign for this one, When we showed up the existing jumps were leveled, the machine was ready to do work. Joel made it over for a few hours of help, and Micah gave us a few days. Start to finish this build took us 13 days! We shaped around 800 yards of dirt into rideable shapes that worked really well. We couldn't of done it without the hard work from the local shredders and roots boys. We finished up just a couple days before the Moab HoDown Festival. It always seems like jump projects are down to the wire but somehow the stars align and it all comes together. Also built a small practice BMX track a couple weeks after the HoDown. We will head back in the Spring to build a bitchen pumptrack, and will be building more jump lines sometime next year as well. When completed Moab's bikepark will be a must ride for sure! Be sure to head into Chili Pepper Bikes and thank the Ladies for all their hard work.
With Moab Wrapped up and getting shredded Greg With Singletrack Trails sent Jeff and I to a Private pumptrack build in Montrose. This was a pretty cool build, the clients had a nice field to build in with a really nice house being built at the same time. I was envious to say the least. It was just up the hill from a nice fishing spot so that made for some nice lunch breaks. This track is the best i've designed by far and its to bad you can never ride it. hahaha
Next up was a trail that had been in the works for a while, Singletrack Trails was working in conjunction with the BLM, Copmoba, and the Grand Valley Trails Alliance. It is an extension of Joes ridge and is designed to be a step up from PBR that we finished up in the spring. Jeff and I were assigned to the middle third of the build with the first and last third being built by volunteers. The middle section was pretty challenging to build being as it's in a pretty steep drainage. But we tore it up in there and when the trail opens up in the spring the shredders will be stoked! Everything is rollable but when ridden at speed will be a whole new level of awesomeness. I feel like this trail will be the start of a whole new type of trail in the valley and hopefully is just the tip of the iceberg. The day after Jeff and I put the finishing touches on the trail we were gifted with the moisture we'd been hoping for, so she now rests under a layer of the white stuff. I'm excited for you all to meet in the spring!
Despite all the running around I did manage to get out on the bike here and there, and catch some nice fish. I'm ready for another season of good times with new shapes in new places. Hopefully I didn't bore you with my year in review and i'll see ya'll in the dirt..
Thanks for reading and be sure to head over to Singletrack Trails Facebook and give em a like http://www.facebook.com/singletracktrails
And if you need something reflowed, or shaped let me know!
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