Good news for Mammoth!
IMBA Trail Solutions Services
If no one else is going to speak out, then the MudBlog is here to set some things straight;
The fashion trends among bikers have undoubtedly become commonplace due to road riding heroes such as Lance Armstrong, and Greg LeMond. These guys did it for the money, not because they liked publicly exhibiting their packs. Repetitious motion to the extent experienced during the Tour De France and the likes, gives some credence to the uniform. Unfortunately for early mountain bikers, like a Canadian without a mullet, if you weren't sporting tight spandex and shaved legs, you just weren't a serious biker. Luckily, the times have changed....but unfortunately, confusion still exists.
A shift to the more rugged, traditional American 'manly' style of attire has influenced mountain bikers of late. Durable 'baggie' shorts with crash padding and less revealing styling have brought the much needed coolness factor back to biking. The baggies incorporate spandex, or other non-chafing technologies, all without compromising the manliness factor. Since this change in styling has occurred mountain biking has exploded in America. One can only speculate that this is not a coincidence. Men everywhere are now proudly riding their bikes without having to leave their masculinity in the garage.
Last month a great new asset for mountain bikers was opened to the public!! Hopefully this park sets a precedent for the rest of the country.
The Novice Area (Phase 1) is complete and offers a 1/2-mile tight'n'twisty Cross Country loop trail with several intermediate to advanced options.
More info: Colonnade Project Page and Colonnade Phase 2 Page.
Extremeline Productions is now selling "damaged" books for less than half of the cover price. These books might have blemishes, dents, dings, folds, marks, and/or be tweaked in some way. Nothing major! Just some surface damage - which happens the second you toss the book into your dirty camelbak anyway.
Top Soil 2 is a new mountain bike dvd with footage from Santa Cruz, Mammoth, and other great locations in the West.Top Soil 2 is the sequel to the Aptos Productions’ Top Soil online video diary, which has been viewed by nearly one million visitors. Top Soil 2 is a recipe of local talent, progression and humour. Watch the young riders of Aptos, California Cameron Mccaul, Evan Turpen, Jamie Goldman, Greg Watts, and many more as they ride their best for the cameras pushing themselves and the sport to a higher level. Top Soil 2 is shot in various parts of North America and places across the globe following the world’s top riders as they compete in contests and races.
Sick riding from the likes of the McCaul Brothers, Jamie Goldman, the Watts brothers, Ryan Howard and SO MANY MORE!
Sick riding from the likes of the McCaul Brothers, Jamie Goldman, the Watts brothers, Ryan Howard and SO MANY MORE!Here's a preview:
So, Techno Rock, Richter, and the Twilight Zone are finally approved and set to open this July! The Mammoth Mountain Website says this about the new trails:
Opening July 2007 - Twilight Zone: this urban-inspired trail will become our "signature." Hang a quick right halfway down Chain Smoke and get ready to accelerate through a series of linked wooden berms, through the Snake, and end in the heart-pounding "deep-end": a 32-foot wide, 10-foot tall, 180 degree banked turn.
Hey BMXers & freeriders, Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation now has a new Bike Park! Thanks also to the Bicycle Trip for funding the park. Some features include a bowed 8' high wall ride and 2' and 4' jumps.
Eventually a Marine Sanctuary Visitor Center will be built on this site, and the bike park may be moved to a permanent location. The descision depends on the city parks department. 
Im seeing a lot of press on the Black Rock Trails in Oregon, and thought I'd blog some excerpts from the article on IMBA.com. Check it out:
Kowalski started what would become the BRMBA, and created two important documents with land managers: a partnership agreement and trail management plan. The partnership agreement spells out how the partnership works and who performs what services at the facility. The trail management plan is more technical in nature, and includes trail construction, maintenance and management guidelines adapted from the Whistler Trail Standards and IMBA's trailbuilding resources. (Download the Black Rock Management Plan.) 
Trail construction and maintenance at Black Rock is an all-volunteer effort. In just a few years, these diehards have built a vast catalogue of skinnies, drop offs, dirt jumps and inspired singletrack. Black Rock trailwork parties attract as many as 40 volunteers from as far away as Portland and Eugene. "When it comes right down to it, it's the riders who organized and built these trails. Individuals have got to step it up and engage their passion for the sport. That's the only way stuff like this happens," says Rich Bontrager, current BRMBA President."
The following is from the Whistler Bike Park website: "Now, before you get too exited and start bouncing up and down on your bike, there is still a lot of snow at the top of Fitz chair. We have set the opening date for May 19 and I know that we will have a lot of work to do before then. The rusty cogs in our heads are starting to turn as we are beginning to plan out the year. One part of me is stoked and the other part is cold with fear.
So what is there to be fearful about? Let's not beat around the bush - there will be more VANOC construction and the Whistler Gondola is getting a major refit and will be out of commission until July 1. This is something that has to be done, or the old work horse will fall apart. We have now resigned ourselves to the fact that our beloved "No Joke" is out for another year, but it's the lack of the gondola on busy days that will take some careful planning - on your part.
We are all eyes and ears!
It seems like almost every freeride trail in California is either illegal (hidden) or in a paid bike park, such as Mammoth. Thank goodness, there actually is a jewell hidden in the redwoods. A trail network packed with epic singletrack, jibs, a plethora of log rides, jumps, and relatively steep terrain. Its called Soquel Demonstration Forest, which borders the Forest of Nisene Marks in the Santa Cruz area. If you are anywhere near this area of central California, you'll want to spend some time on these trails.
