Summer Gravity Camp

Taking a week out of your summer is a big commitment.  You want to be sure you are making the right choice.  Wouldn’t it be great to ask someone who has attended Summer Gravity Camp about the experience?  We asked Andrew Shandro to do just that with camper Jordan Ja

SGC: What year was the first time you attended SGC?

The first year I attended SGC was the summer of 2005.

SGC:I remember when you and your bro Trevor (a pro snowboarder) came together. You guys came up with your family?

Yeah, our first time to SGC my parents came along with us because they had never been to Canada and wanted to see what it was like. They had planned to travel around British Columbia while we were at camp but instantly fell in love with the riding around Whistler and ended up staying for a little over a week with Trevor and I.

 Jordan at Speed in the Whistler Bike Park.  Photo ~ Sterling Lorence

SGC: Where do you guys ride back home?

We ride Mammoth Mountain Bike Park a lot since it’s a five minute pedal from our house. Other than that we ride the skatepark a lot. The Volcom Brothers Skatepark was recently built in Mammoth, we ride there just about everyday in the summer.

SGC: When you first rode the Whistler bike park were you blown away?

When I first rode Whistler bike park I was amazed. Mountain biking was new to me the first year I attended camp so I had no idea what to expect. I just remember riding up the chairlift, and thinking to myself “people can actually ride this stuff?” Before I went to Whistler I had never experienced hitting more than two table top jumps in a row, then on our third run we hit up A Line….

SGC: Since we now have the Airdome would you say that has helped you progress as a rider?

The Airdome has helped me progress so much as a rider. Every trick that I can currently do on my bike, I learned at the Airdome. Its really the perfect set up. Learn a trick in the foam, then after you have it dialed you go try it on the box jump, its awesome! 

SGC: Were you part of the crew that hit the dirt jumps after the Airdome sessions?

Yeah, everyday after the Airdome I would go session the dirt jumps for a little while. Its always a good time because there are so many people there just shredding everything.
 
SGC: What type of riding gets you stoked the most?

Slopestyle riding has been getting me really stoked lately. I really like the diversity that is expressed in the courses.
 
 Jordan up in Garbanzo laying it flat.  Photo ~ Sterling Lorence

SGC: Tell us a little about your bikes.

I have a Santacruz VP Free for Downhill and Freeriding, and I have a Norco 250 for dirt jumping and riding the skatepark.

SGC: What are your coolest memories from SGC?

The coolest memory I had my first year at camp was being able to ride with Thomas Vanderham and Jordie Lunn. I had seen them in the movies, so when I came to camp I was so excited to see that they were coaching. Another good memory was from last summer when I rode Clown Shoes with camp director Stevo. I had known Stevo for a while but had not actually ridden the bike park with him. We were both pretty scared of “Clown Shoes” and kept pushing each other to hit the features. We got to the bottom and had ridden every feature on the trail, so much fun.

SGC: Were you surprised by how much your riding improved over the course of each camp?

Yeah, its crazy how much you improve as a rider over the course of the camp. Features that you are walking down the first day of camp, you will be riding no problem by the end of the week. Your skills as a rider improve so much.

SGC: Which coaches did you enjoy working with most?

Jordie Lunn , he’s always laughing and joking about stuff, just a fun guy to ride with. Whenever we do trains down Dirt Merchant or A Line just messing around, so fun. Joe Shwartz is another really good coach. He’s such a solid all around rider, and teaches you so much. And of course Shandro!

SGC: What is your favorite trail in the bike park?

There are so many good trails in the bike park, but if I had to choose just one I would have to go with Fatcrobat to D1 

  The Whistler Mountain Bike Park – and Summer Gravity Camp – offers an experience you can’t find anywhere else.  Photo ~ Sterling Lorence

SGC: How did you find the facilities and after riding activities at SGC?

The facility is great! You have a have a nice hotel room with X Box, and there is a big swimming pool with hot tubs. The after riding activities are fun. You can go cruise around the Village with your friends, go to the pool, and just hang out.

SGC: If one of your buddies asked you if you should go to SGC what would you tell them?

I would tell them that they should for sure go to SGC. You meet so many people, and learn so much.

SGC: Have you been to camps for other sports?  If so how did SGC compare?

I had been to a snowboard camp and a skateboard camp before I attended SGC and they don’t come close to the experience that I have had at SGC.
 
SGC: What surprised you about the camp experience?

The laid back atmosphere. Other camps that I have been to have a strict schedule that you have to follow. At SGC you ride all day and just hang out at night.

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For more info on Summer Gravity Camp and this summer’s sessions click here…