Hot Laps

One of my goals this year was to hit more big jump jams. I added a few to the calendar, and Hot Laps in Port Gamble was one of them. I didn’t know much about the event—just that it was founded by Jill Kintner, Matt Orlando, Bob Stensen, and Natasha Weiss, and that it had some serious jumps.

I rode with Jill in Peru about a month ago and mentioned I’d be coming to the event. She told me I should race the enduro too, since I’d be there anyway. I’m not against big rides, but racing’s never really been my thing—the nerves always seem to get to me. That said, I’m a sucker for doing more… so of course, I said yes.

The event takes place over three days and features not just a jump jam and enduro, but a slalom, women's jump session and demos. It's a mini-festival of sorts. The brainchild of pro-riders, they’ve took a lifetime of pro racing and industry experience and turned it into something that gives riders exactly what they want: great trails and a fun and encouraging race format with multiple chances to hit each stage. The whole mission is to bring people together through bikes, progression, and community—and it totally delivers.

What really stood out to me was watching the women progress throughout the session. The Top Gun Jump Zone is such a perfect setup for it—with everything from small senders to full-on pro lines, it created a space where everyone could push themselves at their own pace. You could literally see riders leveling up with each lap, cheering each other on and building confidence. It was such a cool vibe and a reminder of how powerful a supportive environment can be.

I didn't participate in the Slalom, which was the next event on the list and I have major regrets about that decision. I got to ride the track in the enduro and it was unreal. Think Whistler Mountain Bike Park Ho Chi Min corners for an entire trail. My mind was focused on cleaning the Maverick line for the Jump Jam.

The energy of jam was high and good for sending. Axel Hodges even made an appearance, sending some nasty tricks. After a good jam session, we rolled right into the whip-off.

I went to bed dreaming of jumps that night.

Unfortunately, I also woke up thinking about them too. Considering I was about to race an enduro, it was not the most desirable mind set.

The enduro was set up in a best of three format. You raced all six stages and then could go back and re-do stages a total of three times. The stages were short and ridiculously fun. Even though the option was there, I did them once.. and went to hit some more jumps.

All and all, it was one hell of a weekend in the most haunted town in Washington. I'll be back next year for sure. Maybe do all the events, who knows.