Kamloops Trippin’

Kamloops riders are a different breed. They will look at slippery wet roots like a snail looks at salt, but take them to a wedge booter that wouldn’t look out of place in a ski movie, and they will be off it before you have even scoped where the landing is, with dust hanging like a vapour trail through the air behind them. Dylan Sherrard is one of these Kamloops mutants, and was to be our guide and riding partner for our trip to the birthplace of freeriding.

I opened my eyes at 4:30am, to a 7.1 on the rectum scale, from Stephen, who I had the pleasure of sharing a bed with, and Reuben Krabbe’s military-like awakening. “Get up boys, light’s firing!” A flurry of tea and coffee making, and we tripped over each other, fell out of the gas chamber and into the NSMB truck, and headed towards the bike ranch to meet Dylan. As the sun emerged over the horizon, we rubbed our eyes and got ready to send it. It was still barely 5am, but the light was perfect, and we weren’t going to please the readers of Dirt magazine by sitting around at the top, half asleep.

We had made the trip from Whistler to shoot with Seb Kemp and Reuben Krabbe for a feature for Dirt Magazine which appeared in Dirt issue 126. Reuben is a fantastically skilled photographer, a big fan of early mornings, and as we found out on our trip, is sometimes partial to shredding scree lines butt naked! Myself and Stephen kept the clothes on, but that didn’t stop the fun being turned up to eleven. After the trip, We reflected on the hectic few days we had in the ‘Loops, and I asked Stephen about how it was for him:

  Rio was a bit grown in at this point in the season… Stephen Matthews had never quite seen this much bush in Kamloops. Photo ~ Reuben Krabbe

Paul Stevens: Do you remember the planning that went into this trip?

Stephen Matthews: To be honest, I wouldn’t say I had much to do with the planning of this trip. Seb, and Reuben, had the groundwork already laid out when the plan was presented to me post-Phat Wednesday race at the GLC not two weeks before departure. Reuben and Seb had a vision for the article, and I was just lucky enough to be asked to go.

PS: So is Kamloops kind of like the Shore?

SM: I don’t think that the style of trail could be any more different. Kamloops has its fast and flowing ridgelines, while the Shore has its dank and deep forests. I think you could draw mental parallels between the riders in terms of the innovative movements in pushing the boundaries of riding. The core riders in each zone seem to share a vision to grow the sport in their own unique ways, but I wouldn’t compare trail similarities.

  Stephen Matthews mid-trail hip. Rio throws all kinds of fun at you. Photo ~ Reuben Krabbe

PS: How would you describe Barnhartvale gravel pits? I heard you don’t really like that place?

SM: If I could describe riding Barnhartvale in one word, it would be facemelting (I had to invent a word for this question). Remember that scene from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade when Walter Donovan chooses the incorrect Cup of Christ, and his face begins to melt away with greed. That’s what riding in Barnhartvale feels like, although instead of your bones exploding into dust, you just get to upload in the truck and log another lap.

  Stephen Matthews coming in for a landing! Rio has new lines and improvements every year! It’s come a long way over the last few seasons. Photo ~ Reuben Krabbe

PS: What was the highlight of the trip?

SM: The highlight of any trip for me is a balance of connecting with old friends and making new ones. Getting all the boys together and having Brad Stuart show us some of his local gems would have to be the highlight for me. From the gut busting shuttles up, to riding at full speed down unfamiliar trails behind locals, praying they have the lines dialled, the day with the Kamloops locals was my favourite.

PS: What was the lowlight of the trip?

SM: As you noted in your intro paragraph, it would have to be waking up in our motel room to the smell of creeping death.

  Paul Stevens and Stephen Matthews chasing each other through every corner. Photo ~ Reuben Krabbe

PS: Tell me a bit about Gnarcroft

SM: It’s a work of art and is the brainchild of a few visionaries that don’t see a problem with pushing the envelope. Those boys were given the public recognition through Anthill Films’ latest, but I feel fortunate to have been there with the builder, and seen the proud look on his face as we not only saw it, but as we rode it. You can tell Brad likes seeing success. The success of a trail coming together and then observing how all his hard work has managed to make history in a group of rider’s minds.

PS: Describe Brad Stuart in 3 words

SM: Hardworking, Visionary, Insane

  A classic hip on Harper Mountain was a fantastic end to a long day. Photo ~ Reuben Krabbe

PS: Would this trip have been better on 650b wheels?

SM: If you want to apply psychosomatics’ to mountain biking, that’s just fine Paul! Not once on this trip did I wish that my bead seat circumference would grow from 1756mm to 1834mm.

  After a long day of shooting, we convinced Reuben to put down the camera and join us for a beer. This was the last photo of the evening. Photo ~ Reuben Krabbe

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So that’s Part 1. In Part 2, we’ll get the other side of the story with more great images from Reuben. Any words for Paulo and Stephen? Let ’em hear it below…