Smashby's Training Blog

My buddy from college who went on an EPIC trip to Whistler-Blackcomb with me this winter to shred the gnar-gnar, J-Sizzle, aka Jack Cerchiara, aka Mr. Apres Powder, posted this series of videos from Whistler’s amazing Mountain Bike Park, entitled “Elements”.

Below is an excerpt from the Whistler Mountain Bike Park website explaining the series of movies.

ELEMENTS OF PERFECTION
The perfect ride. It’s that slightly elusive and constantly changing state of nirvana that we all keep chasing. This year, we’ve decided to pay homage to some of those elements that come together here to make up that perfect ride. Dirt. Rock. Roots. Air. And a bit of Soul thrown in the mix to help it stick. Throughout the season, we’ll be launching a five-part video series that’ll showcase each element along with what some of the rippingest riders at Whistler are doing with them. Check back here regularly to see them all, and then share your own elements of perfection by loading your photos to our Flickr album.

Since I generally post more winter sports videos than summer sports (mostly since I am an avid snowboarder), I figured it would be cool to appeal to all of my readers who would possibly prefer being on two wheels at high speeds than on a single plank! I hope you guys like the three videos below; Dirt, Rock and Air. I’ll feature the videos themselves, along with the paragraph explaining their inspiration straight from the website. Awesome stuff and they’re all really short! Check back to the site for the final two videos that should be featured soon.

Dirt: An infinite collection of tiny rocks and decomposed plant matter. You clog my lungs and grit my teeth. You scratch my goggles and stain my clothes. But you also stain my soul. So thank you. Thank you for letting me ride all over you. For being forgiving while I learn whips. For two-wheel drifts and big, fat skids. For providing soft ground between stone and wood. For flowy lines and sculpted berms. For the scars on my shins. For the impressions in my memory. For bringing together others just like me to worship you in this kick-ass place. At once, you are everything to me, but just another small part of the best bike park in the world.

Elements of Perfection: Dirt from Whistler Blackcomb on Vimeo.

Rock: You are more than a mere part of the earth. You are the earth. You erupt from deep volcanic faults or collect in ancient processes. Upon impact, you give nothing, but you give everything through your existence. You are the beginning, middle and end of all trails. So thank you. Thank you for letting me ride all over you. Thank you for allowing my tires to leave their rubber fingerprint on you. For dictating the path of the trail: over, above and around. For allowing traction on dry days, and scary-but-fun sliding on soggy ones. For jagged, demanding descents and burly no-fall lines. For always being there. For never changing. Thank you for providing mental markers with your cracks and lines. For nearvertical rollovers and wallrides and lips that never need reshaping. For giving birth to gravel and dirt. For bringing together others just like me to worship you in this kick-ass place. At once, you are everything to me, but just one small part of my favourite bike park in the world.

Elements of Perfection: Rock from Whistler Blackcomb on Vimeo.

Air: You barely exist, yet you completely surround me. With a perfect mix of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen and 1% “miscellaneous” you deliver life to every corner of our planet. And when I put you between tire and Earth, you give life to my ride. So thank you. Thank you for letting me move through you and above you. Thank you for the weightless moments between lip and transition. Thank you for teaching me to relax during the rollover. To not fight, but to float in your presence. Thank you for the way you whistle in my ears on jacket-flapping descents. For the way you cool the sweat on my skin. And for the way you fuel my ragged lungs. Thank you for that unknown 1% that is so much more than miscellaneous. It’s miraculous. For bringing together others just like me to worship you in this kick-ass place. At once, you are everything to me, but just one small part of my favourite bike park in the world.

Elements of Perfection: Air from Whistler Blackcomb on Vimeo.