Paul Stevens Trippin in Moab and Zion
Mountain biking has taken me to some amazing places. A prime example being a recent trip, where I had the opportunity to visit Utah for the first time, after wanting to go there for as long as I have had two wheels underneath me. Each day that passed just blew my mind. And just when I was picking up all the pieces and putting them back together, my mind would get blown again, either by a new trail, or the geography that surrounded us.
However, talking to an injured Seb Kemp this week helped me to appreciate that it really isn’t just about the riding. Mountain biking is about so much more than that. More specifically, it is the people in mountain biking that set it apart from anything else. The way you can go somewhere new, and have the best ride ever with people you have never met before. People from all walks of life, all with different bikes, ages, beliefs, experiences, and accents. With mountain biking as the common denominator, none of that stuff matters. Or the way you can be the victim of a truly unfortunate accident, and still be stoked to be surrounded by the people and things that mountain biking has brought you.
Losing count of how many times I had had my mind blown. Photo ~ Tobias Pantling
Riding the iconic slickrock trail, with rock as far as you can see. Photo ~ Paul Stevens
Moab has always had a place in my mind as a bit of a mountain bike Mecca. I made the trip with Katrina Strand, Tobias Pantling, Sarah Leishman and Andrew Gunn, none of whom are strangers to a bit of fun on bikes, and after seeing so many photos and videos of the iconic slick rock and enormous red cliffs, we were all itching to get to Moab. It turns out that Mecca was an appropriate analogy. We ran in to a group of Vancouver shredders on our second day, who I had seen just the week before on Fromme, and on the third day, met up with Beth and Adam from Whistler, and Bill Stiles and Mark “Woody” Woudwijk, two guys from the Whistler/Pemberton area who had also made the pilgrimage, and had been in Moab for a week already, Bill keeping his spring tradition of Moab vacations to escape the shoulder season in the Coast mountains.
All it took was a couple of people to tell me it couldn’t be done for me to give it a try. It went. Just! Photo ~ Katrina Strand
Freeriding at Thunder mountain trail. Photo ~ Tobias Pantling
Our group clicked with Bill and Woody instantly. It was impossible not to. They had an insatiable enthusiasm, Bill leading the charge as our guide, the only person to have ridden the trails before, and Woody following with the rest of the group, hooting and hollering down every trail, both guys stoked to be amongst a group who were exploring the foreign landscape for the first time, buzzing about every turn and jump.
Carving under the hoodoos. Photo ~ Tobias Pantling
So I haven’t seen the paperwork, but I am pretty sure that Bill is a certified madman. The guy has two speeds; stop, and flat out. Every time we set off, he was on the gas like it was a downhill race run, and we were on four to six hour rides! The guy has as much energy as anyone I have ever met, and it is contagious. Woody has a full gearbox, but on the bike, he is in top gear, and has to be one of the most vocal riders I know. Shredding hard, and laughing, shouting and hooting the whole way down, it’s hard not to have a good time riding with him anywhere near you!
Billy Stiles going the only speed he knows… pinned. Photo ~ Paul Stevens
Katrina, on the edge. Photo ~ Paul Stevens
The desert rocks. Photo ~ Katrina Strand
After spending some time in Moab with an amazing crew of Canadians, we travelled to Zion, via Thunder Mountain trail, and met Bill Bergeron at Zion cycles. Bill was tinkering in his outdoor workshop to the side of the main shop, and greeted us with open arms. When we arranged to ride with him, I was half expecting his bike choice to be almost as eccentric as his choice of facial hair. Turns out the guy kills it, and was on much the same set up we were. Bill is responsible for a lot of the trail building near Springdale, and was stoked to show us around some of his creations on Grafton mesa. We meandered our way through his network of trails, to the point where I was convinced he was just trying to confuse us, so we wouldn’t be able to share his secrets even if we had wanted to. After winding all over the top of Grafton, we stopped to admire the views as the sun was dropping.
This is where Bill Bergeron spends his work days, an awesome little semi-outdoor workshop at Zion cycles. Photo ~ Paul Stevens
Bill has awesome facial hair, is an awesome guide, and an awesome trail builder to boot. It was amazing to see how stoked and proud he was to show us around his creations. Photo ~ Paul Stevens
Taking in a sunset over Zion national park, Bill, Toby and Katrina admire the view. Photo ~ Paul Stevens
An unreal couple of weeks in Utah gave me some new friends, some awesome riding, and a sweet trip with people who I would never have met if I didn’t ride bikes. I will be going back next year for sure!
Weaving through the rock in Hidden canyon, Gooseberry Mesa. Photo ~ Tobias Pantling
Have you ever made the pilgrimage to the desert to ride the slickrock? Do Paulo’s words ring true or is he riding the peyote train? Let ‘er rip below…
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