Big Mountain Bike Adventures

Find a treasure in Iceland.

2012-01-20T07:03:00.001-08:00

The Skógafoss is one of the biggest waterfalls in the country with a width of 25 metres (82 feet) and a drop of 60 m (200 ft). Due to the amount of spray the waterfall consistently produces, a single or double rainbow is normally visible on sunny days. According to legend, the first Viking settler in the area, Þrasi Þórólfsson, buried a treasure in a cave behind the waterfall. A local boy found the chest years later, but was only able to grasp the ring on the side of the chest before it disappeared again. We may not find this treasure, but while mountain biking Iceland we'll surely find our own treasures. Want to join us in Iceland 2012? We're excited about this trip. Click here for all the details.

The Skogafoss waterfall, just one of the many amazing sights in Iceland.

Olleros, Peru: the best trail on the planet?

2012-01-17T13:25:00.000-08:00

The brief stats: 56 km, starting at 12, 500 feet and ending on the Pacific shore. This trail is absolutely unreal...natural berms, pump track features, buttery corners, perfect jumps and amazing views...that go on for hours! Want to mountain bike Peru? Click HERE for our Unforgettable Andes all-mountain trip and HERE for our DH departures. Trust us, Peru is shangri-la for mountain bikers.

weather forecast: san jose, costa rica

2012-01-07T21:17:00.000-08:00

Hmmm. Are you craving some dirt beneath your tires and warm sunshine on your face in the next few weeks or months? If you love mountain biking, and can appreciate quality singletrack and want to head south for a week or downhill mountain biking or cross-country mountain biking, then let us know. Here's the weather forecast for San Jose Costa Rica in the next few days...pura vida eh!

Happy New Year mountain bikers!

2011-12-30T13:59:00.002-08:00

Wishing you, your family and friends a fantastic year ahead...filled with perfect singletrack, howl out loud descents and amazing experiences while mountain biking. Cheers!

Another day, another potentially great ride.

Winter Fun!

2011-12-13T20:41:00.001-08:00

Tropical bike holiday...

2011-12-12T20:15:00.000-08:00

Got a hunkerin' for some technical downhill mountain biking this winter? Or maybe some cross-country riding with your partner or a friend? How about mountain biking in Costa Rica? It's rugged and mountainous and cool inland, yet sultry and hot and tropical on the coastlines. Where else in the world can you pull this off? We've got a bunch of departures this winter, here's the latest on our Costa Rica mountain bike trips:

December 10-17, Pura Vida DH: sold out
January 8-15, Pura Vida DH: sold out
January 22-28, Pura Vida DH: 2 spots open
February 18-25, Pura Vida DH: 2 spots open
February 25-March 3, Peaks and Beaches XC: 2 spots open *Join an exclusive surf camp post trip!
March 10-17, Pura Vida DH: 3 spots open *Join an exclusive surf camp post trip!
April 14-21, Pura Vida DH: 4 spots open

Oh hey, what's up? Pura Vida eh.

50% off flights to Peru!

2011-12-07T09:31:00.001-08:00

LAN airlines is offering 50% off flights for travel between March 1 and June 30. That means seriously reduced flights to Lima, Peru and be available for both our May 4-13, 2012 Unforgettable Andes Peru mountain bike tour and our June 1-10, 2012 Inca DH trip. Come riding & save money! *Travel must be booked by December 12. Click here to read more about the LAN promotion!

Order a new jersey for Christmas!

2011-12-04T20:36:00.001-08:00

Our new Big Mountain Adventures Sombrio riding jerseys are in and we're quite excited about them. Low key that'll keep you feeling great on the bike and looking good in the coffee shop post-ride. Want one as a Christmas gift, for a dear loved one or a nice gift for you for being such a good person this year? Comon' you deserve it...click here and order one up!

Life is now.

2011-12-01T07:24:00.001-08:00

We're very lucky here at Big Mountain Adventures. Every few years a special group of friends hires us to create an epic mountain bike trip for them somewhere on the planet. We typically work diligently with them for a year leading up to the holiday, planning every detail carefully. We know that this particular group really appreciates an amazing trip and that they soak up every moment as it was their last, literally. I've never laughed and ridden so much in a ten-day period. I was reminded today of this group and it made me smile. Life is right now. Enjoy.

Photographer Derek Frankowski collage.

2011-11-28T15:00:00.001-08:00

A collage of memories from professional mountain bike photographer Derek Frankowski on our Costa Rica mountain bike trip. That's Wade Simmons high-fiving the local children btw, besides being amazingly talented on his bike, he's a rock-star diplomat of all things mountain bike.

One scenic pic-nic and 100 goats.

2011-11-24T20:31:00.001-08:00

Joe Schwartz and I were guiding a road cycling trip for our sister company Cycleventures in Tuscany, Italy in mid-September a few years ago. That's right, scenic rolling hills of golden earth, cypress lined roads, quintessential hilltop towns and perfect roads for road cycling - bella Toscana. And, yes, the same Joe Schwartz from Rampage and NWD films and all-round mtb shredding. Joe's not afraid. One day we decided to treat our group to an epic Italian lunch in a random field along a remote road south of Pienza. Sounded like a good idea we thought. That morning at map session, we gave them a rough idea of the location of said spread, and sent them on their way down the hill behind town. Next stop was the local mercato to pick up the ingredients: fresh tomatoes, bocconcini cheese, bresaola dried beef, balsamic reduction, fresh basil, a few melons, some prosciutto, some fruit, bread, other cheeses, and drinks. Done. We headed out and found a seemingly perfect grassy field just off the road in the middle of nowhere and began to chop and prepare the feast before the first cyclists arrived. Then we heard a strange whistling and some random calls in the distance. What the? Next thing we knew a heard of sheep emerged to our little sanctuary and they began taking over our perfect plan...

Joe and the impressive spread.

Some crazy sheeps where running, seemingly oblivious of the bounty ahead.

Schwartzy, casually guarding the bocconcini.

Catastrophe averted.

Good living.

Riding Huchuy Cusco: new Peru video.

2011-11-21T13:37:00.001-08:00

Interested in mountain biking Peru next year? Our Inka DH trip might be what you need or for the all-mountain-with-a-heavy-influence-on-DH riders...how about our Unforgettable Andes trip?

Into thin Air.

2011-11-18T13:43:00.000-08:00

Inspired by the European Alps.

2011-11-18T12:32:00.001-08:00

Enjoy this collection of mountain bike photography taken on a Cloudraker all-mountain trip this past July.

Each summer we return to ride the Swiss Alps with the excitement of school children on the last day of classes before summer begins. Each summer we explore, scoping new lifts that lead to new trails. Some make the cut and others don't. Our all-mountain trip, Cloudraker, is a showcase of the best of the best that we've found in nearly a decade of scoping. The challenge each summer is to choose what epics to ride with those who join us. No matter how we shake it, each trip is always one to remember.

Spark of Progression.

2011-11-13T07:49:00.001-08:00

Mountain bikers love to gather and watch their peers on the big screen. Rider Stephen Matthews rolled out the red carpet for the Calgary contingent last week. This is what went down.

Beingable to witness the spark of progression in a rider’s eyes is inspiring. To beable to sit back and watch the faces of the amazed as they view mountainbiking’s most recent landmark maneuvers is as entertaining as the productionitself. For me, hosting movie premiere’s is great for just that. This year, Iput on Secondbase Films’ “From the Inside Out”, and am able to boast anattendance of over 240 people, all of which left with a grin from ear to ear.The organization of a Calgary premiere landed me a premiere date of November10th at The Plaza Theatre.

Thefilm is an effort made by the much admired Coastal Crew, from the SunshineCoast of British Columbia. I’m lucky enough to call these boys friends, as theyare some of the most inspiring people i’ve met in mountain biking. DylanDunkerton, Curtis Robinson, and Kyle Norbraten are not only unbelievablecyclists, photographers, videographers, and builders. But they are some of themost genuinely hardworking and positive people i’ve met. Working with actionfilm industry leaders, Anthill Films on this one, “From the Inside Out” wasdestined for success!

It’shard to pick out only a few shining moments of the film, because to me everysection was a stroke of genius. I love seeing the Coastal Crew ride, becausethey are very pure with how they exemplify how much fun you can have riding abike. Kenny Smith came out with a non-stop, edge of your seat kind of section(wasn’t expecting anything less!). I’ve seen most of the lines in person, and Ican assure you they are insane. Thomas’ “Ride to the Hills” throwback hit ithome for me as well, as it was the flick that got it all started for me.

Calgary Cycle, Pure Cycle, and BigMountain Bike Adventures filled the guests’ hands with swag, and thanks to theirsupport and vision for community involvement, we had some great draw prizesalong with the usual blitzkrieg of DVD’s.

Photos: Shayne Saskoley

Coming soon to a theater near you!

2011-11-12T13:10:00.001-08:00

Want to mountain bike Nepal? We're posting our 2012 dates soon, stay tuned here.

Larger than Life.

2011-11-06T10:52:00.002-08:00

Thanks Bicycling Magazine for featuring our Whistler & Chilcotins mountain bike trip in your latest issue's feature "Larger than Life: 10 trips to the World's most iconic mountain bike destinations don't just point you towards the knife's edge of adventure. They blaze the path. You'll eat really well, too." We're honored to be gracing your fine cycling pages.

Ride Dirt & Ride Waves this winter.

2011-11-04T12:10:00.003-07:00

It's about time.
We're elated to announce that we've partnered with Peaks n' Swells Surf Camp on two of our Costa Rica mountain bike trips this winter. What does this mean for you? It's simple, and it's really tasty: join us on our new cross-country Peaks and Beaches trip from Feb 25 to Mar 3 and then leave your bike stuff and fly out to the coast in a little prop plane for five days of surf instruction, bonfires on the beach, morning yoga sessions, organic eats, epic accomodations and beach life.
Come on, how does that sound? Big Mountain clients receive $100 off the Surf Camp. We're also offering this on our March 10-17 Pura Vida DH trip. Yep, rip dirt then rip waves and chill out with some assisted stretching and organic eats and cold beers while the sun sets...
Or, meet your non-mountain biking partner out on the beach???

Peaks n' Swells Surf & Yoga Camp Extension Details:
Dates: March 3-8 (post Big Mountain XC trip) and March 17-22 (post Pura Vida DH trip)
Cost for Surf & Yoga Camp: $1395 USD (usually costs $1495 USD!)

What's included?

beachfront house with pool and epic jungle in backyard
professional surf instruction with video analysis
high performance surf boards
daily yoga classes
daily fresh & natural breakfasts
professional surf photography - your best surf shot!
happy hour with drinks and fresh snacks
fresh snacks at the surf break including freshly cut coconuts when you return from surfing
transport to the breaks
pick-up & drop off from Tambor airport

Want more info? CLICK HERE for the post XC trip and HERE for the post DH trip camp PDF. Or just send us an email!

How good does that feel after a week of riding?

Easy waves for the whole family.

Learn how to do this!

Super comfy digs with nothing but the sound of waves when you drift off to sleep...

Relax and re-charge. We all need it.

Wake up to a surf session, then a swim and some fresh fruit smoothie every morning!

Trail X.

2011-11-01T19:11:00.000-07:00

We can't stop laughing because we're having so much fun! Check out this super fine photo essay on bikemag.com from Bike Magazine Assistant Photo Editor Anthony Smith who went on our legendary tropical downhill mountain bike trip in Costa Rica, dubbed Pura Vida. Did he have a good time?

Not a DH rider but still want to ride Costa Rica with Paulo Valle? We've got a new cross-country trip called Peaks and Beaches that's suitable for a strong intermediate mountain bikers, and higher. Come and ride Costa Rica with us!

"One of the most astounding mountain bike adventures of our lives."

2011-10-28T12:41:00.000-07:00

Senior Bike Magazine corespondent Mitchel Scott recounts one of our first mountain bike trips to Switzerland's Valais region and the legendary story that followed. Click on over to pinkbike.com, sit back and enjoy Mitch's words and Sterling Lorence's amazing imagery.

Shandro & Simmons at first light just up from Panchard's chalet in Haute Nendaz.

Pura Vida DH: new dates & details.

2011-10-25T14:21:00.000-07:00

Are you looking to get away this winter for some gravity mountain biking? How about a place where you can wear a t-shirt in February, where descents are on private trails and can take an hour (or more), where beers cost around $1, where your guide is a legendary rider and trail builder and ultimate host...and post trip...you can leave your bike behind, grab your surf shorts, sunscreen and not much else and hit one of the world's finest beaches for some deserved R&R, or surfing, or dancing, or yoga, or...whatever? This place is Costa Rica. We're excited, our legendary eight-day Pura Vida DH trip will be offered five times this winter for groups of two to four (yes, that right! SMALL groups!!) for $1895 USD. Click here for all the details. Or drop us an email to see what availability is on your preferred date.

Sombrio's Dave Watson getting away from the Canadian winter.

Costa Rica's coast is BEAUTIFUL. Deserve some beach time after a mtb holiday!

What has mountain biking taught you?

2011-10-18T15:29:00.000-07:00

Check this short film out. Great shots. Now let's get out and ride!

6 things to remember when going on a destination trip.

2011-10-13T13:49:00.000-07:00

Ride lots leading up to your trip, you can never be in good enough shape. Typically on a destination trip the fitness required for a single day is not a problem for most. Where you'll shine however is when the days accumulate, and then throw in some altitude, some climbing and a big day (or two) in the saddle and you'll be happy that you arrived fit.

Talk to your tour operator about the technical ability required on the trip and the specifics of the riding. Is the riding in the desert of Morocco and generally dry and loose and midly technical singletrack and doubletrack? Or is the trip all-mountain in BC with an emphasis on going downhill where the trails are rocky and rooty? This information will ensure that you are able to handle the riding, or if you'll need to spruce up on your riding skills with a local riding coach.

Is your bike ready? Make sure that your bike is ready and know what tweaks to make. This goes along with the above point. A good tour operator should know the best tires to bring, if a shorter stem might be a good idea, or bars with a substantial rise. And definitely don't get your bike serviced just before leaving, have at least a few rides on it before putting in the box.

Get travel and medical insurance. If you break your pinky three days before flying to Peru and have to cancel travel insurance will reimburse you for your flight and land cost. If you go down on the trip and need to get home, medical insurance will cover expenses. It's best to kick down and get the most comprehensive packages that include heli-evac and more. Afterall, we're mountain bikers and what we do is risky.

Packing your bike is easy. Well, it's not as hard as you think. There are more options than ever for bike boxes: Crateworks, EVOC and Dakine are good considerations. Or, you could swing down to your local bike shop and get a large cardboard box which works fine (they'll even pack your bike too if you want). Unfortunately expect to pay an additional fee to the airline to take your bike, usually between $50-$200 each way. Or you can have Bike Flights ship your bike for you.

Just below the Italian/Swiss border.

One of the best parts of going on an overseas trip with your mountain bike is the dreaming and planning. Take the time to do some research on your destination and read up on the history, culture and sights. And, of course spend lots of time dreaming about the great singletrack and adventures that lays ahead.

Endless Summer.

2011-10-05T04:03:00.000-07:00

It's that time of the year when leaves start falling, days become noticeably shorter and cooler. Soon, it'll be wintertime and our bikes will lay dormant for months. What better way to keep the mountain bike stoke going that to book an amazing Costa Rica mountain bike trip this winter. Our new Peaks & Beaches all-mountain trip which is designed for intermediate-level riders and above departs from San Jose on February 25, cost $1795 USD. For downhill riders, our amazing Pura Vida DH trips run Dec 10, Jan 8, Feb 18, Mar 10 & April 14 which cost $1895 USD. Get inspired and see what's it's all about with this video shot by Ride Guide. Your host is Paulo Valle, there's no one better to show you the trails and a great time in Costa Rica! Pura Vida.

Three things we love about Italy.

2011-10-01T13:17:00.000-07:00

If you've been to Italy, then you know the Piaggio Ape. Bad ass. Piaggio need to bring the bad boy back into production. I got my first ride just this past spring on our new Bella Riviera DH trip and let me tell you it was memorable. Typically driven by an old guy, these little three wheelers can carry everything from peaches and even grapefruits. Big, juicy pay load. Look closely, this little nug has mano-a-mano hand painted on the front and door, one yielding a blade. Ape.

Guys in white pants and guys white shorts talking by a fountain. Guy white in shorts: "The climb," he said, "it was insane. You wouldn't believe how steep it was." Guy in white pants: "No shit eh? I love your shorts man." No disrespect at all boys, full props to let'ner fly.

Like architecture and history? Italy has amazing buildings that we'd only dream of back home. Check this out, the Duomo in Catania Sicily that was originally built in 1078 but destroyed many times by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. 1078? A little reminder that we're all here for just a short time, best enjoy it and take care of your surroundings so that the next generation can enjoy it...

On going downhill.

2011-09-29T12:01:00.000-07:00

Pro rider and Big Mountain guide Stephen Matthews shares some experience of going downhill on NSMB.COM.

Behind Big Mountain Adventures.

2011-09-28T13:47:00.000-07:00

The way we rolled back in '77.

Growing up in my family, riding bikes was a part of life. My earliest memories of pedalling were on the back of a tandem with custom cranks for my short legs; my dad at the helm and my younger brother in a baby seat hanging off the back. My parents ran their first cycling trip in 1972 in England and Wales and photos from those days show plastic hockey helmets and afros, cut-off jeans and white cotton socks pulled up high. Next year, their company, Cycleventures Bicycle Tours will celebrate 40 years of running European bike trips, they were pioneers. Itching to explore, I moved west to Whistler as soon as i could and I hit the mountains on fire. The community of passionate riders inspired me like an artist's first trip to Paris. I could not believe the energy; scores of people were building epic signature trails, creating innovative films, capturing groundbreaking photos and pushing the limits of all things mountain biking. In the summer of 1998 my roomate Paddy Kaye and I hatched up the idea of a new mountain bike event. We called it Joyride and the world's first bikercross, and later slopestyle, was held. We invited the best to Whistler for this first time - Lopes, Chausson, Peat, Gracia who came and never looked back. A few years later our event morphed into Kokannee Crankworx which took off. They even brought the name back this year as Red Bull Joyride with Paddy as the course designer who is now a bike park builder with Joyride Bike Parks which is super cool.

Red Bull Joyride - Official Event Video - More Mountain Bike Videos

Enamored by the Alps.

Like a teenagers first love, i turned my sights to the Swiss Alps in 2003. I was instantly blown away by the potential; the country was a giant lift-accessed bike park with endless singletrack peppered with cosy mountain huts linked by trains and roads. I could not believe my eyes, almost no one was riding, or if they were, they were rocking fluro tights on fully rigid bikes climbing and descending dirt roads. The trend in Whistler at the time was jeans, heavy freeride bikes and big airs from the local school roof to flat. I labored my big bike in the Alps that summer and returned home with lofty dreams - Big Mountain Adventures was born. My vision was to re-invent guided mountain biking and meld the latest technology with worldclass riding in a seemlessly orchastrated dream-trip; ripping singletrack, a sprinkle of culture, an intimate knowledge of each region and riding style, great cuisine and wine and the very best guides possible. Riders like Joe Schwartz and Wade Simmons joined in to make the experience unreal. Nearly a decade later and Big Mountain offers epic cross-country, all-mountain and DH trips in 14 countries. The adventure continues...

Beautiful New Zealand.

2011-09-24T15:19:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Nepal.

2011-09-24T11:44:00.002-07:00

At Big Mountain, we know that successful mountain bike trip is the result of a team effort, a well-executed symphony of details that results in a trip of a lifetime. There's absolutely no doubt that our guides are paramount in this success. They're the ones changing flats for you, showing you the best trails that you've ever experienced, uncovering local secrets and chatting with you at dinner time - and a whole lot more. Next month we have a group off to Nepal on our Himalaya Heights all-mountain trip. Along with Whistler-based Big Mountain guide Seb Kemp, the group will be hosted by a team local professionals. We'd proud to introduce you Thagendra Gurung who will be at the helm of Himalaya Heights:

Thagendra Gurung was born in one of the remote villages of Matsyapokhari in eastern Nepal. He grew up there in an ordinary family, going to the village primary school and working hard as a farmer. When he finished school he came to Kathmandu to work. He was interested in working in tourism, beginning first as a porter supporting trekking groups, including work in on a bike trek, a trip during which he fell in love with mountain bikes. Today he has been mountain biking and guiding in Nepal and abroad for almost two decades. He is one of the pioneers of mountain biking in Nepal and he has consistently opened up new trails and areas for biking and biking tours over the years. He owns and operates his own biking company and does some freelance guiding for groups who are up for something beyond the ordinary.

Ready for action!

Training completed: -

Guide Training Course
Basic Computer Course
English Language Course

Experience with the following biking adventures: -

Lhasa - Kathmandu (Tibet and Nepal)
Xingjiang (China)
Karakoram highway (Pakistan)
Annapurna (Nepal)
Tilicho, Highest Lake (Nepal)
Langtang - Gosaikunda (Nepal)
Arun Valley (Nepal)
Taplejung-Ilam (Eastern Nepal)
Bike tours in the Swiss Alps, North Italy, South France, Ardeche and Prynees

Countries visited abroad: -

Europe : - France, Germany, Italy, Austria, Luxembourg, Belgium, Nether land and Switzerland
Asia: - China, Thailand, India, and Pakistan

When it counts.

2011-09-20T22:34:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago a private group of clients from California arrived in Vancouver BC for a custom guided 9-day mountain bike adventure. I'd ridden with this crew in Switzerland, the BC Kootenay region and the Yukon Territory and each of these trips were a huge success. All time. The pressure was on. As it is for all of our trips, I planned to show them the best of the best in our region. We'd ride the Whistler valley, the Whistler Bike Park, Squamish, Pemberton, the Chilcotins and North Vancouver all in one swoop. Like our scheduled Sea to Sky trip, but on steroids. These guys are strong too, so the line-up of planned rides was spectacular. Our biggest ride was one for the books...

8:45 AM. Watching the plane leave us and our bikes on the shore of a remote lake. And the realization that civilization is a long way away...across glacial streams, up and over two big passes and through some very remote backcountry.

10:30 AM. Cresting the first pass on a sun cupped snow field. It's always fun to feel snow beneath your cleats on a big ride. It was a big snow year in BC so there's more around than usual.

10:45 AM. When you have to carry everything on your back for a long and arduous day every once of weight counts. Have you tried Clif Bar's Shot Blocks? These little tasty treats are packed with tons of energy, just what we needed to keep going.

11:00 AM. "With great effort comes great reward." Who said that anyway? Brilliant. True eh? The very finest things in life, the ones that stick with you and really have an impact - take effort. This descent stuck.

11:30 AM. One of the many fine things about mountain biking is the places that you stop to refuel. I'd been to this little spot a few times before. It's special. A grassy meadow with a fork in the trail. Go straight and it's about five more hours, go right and it's another seven. We went right.

1:45 PM. At this point you're wondering who the fuck decided to take this route and why you didn't go on that fucking resort holiday instead. But then you get to the top, high-five your buddies and do a 360 turn and realize that you're very fucking alive.

6:45 PM. This is Peter. He's smiling because he's an animal. No really, he's super fit and loves pain. Ten hours later. We did it. Actually he's smiling because we put a cooler full of beer on ice in the van. Smart thinking.

New Italy DH trip. Check this out.

2011-09-20T08:34:00.000-07:00

Coming next spring....

Would you ride the Himalayas with Seb Kemp?

2011-09-19T20:37:00.001-07:00

As you may or may not know, globetrotting mountain biker cum-journalist-guide-coach extra-ordinaire Seb Kemp joined Stephen Matthews this past August as co-guide of our infamous Switzerland Alpenrock DH trips. He also co-drove the boat on an epic private Sea to Sky trip in our backyard, riding Whistler, Pemberton, Squamish, the Chilcotins and the Sunshine Coast. From all accounts across the board, Seb was a huge asset with his amazing coaching, guiding and riding skills and super sense of humour. And he's patient. Intelligent. He's top notch. We're so happy that Seb's joined our team here at Big Mountain Adventures that we've asked him to head over to the Himalayas next month to co-guide our Himalaya Heights Nepal mountain bike trip. I think that this group is in for a rocking good time on and off the bike as Kemp will surely keep things fresh and definitely memorable. That's what good life's all about though eh? Riding bikes and having fun. Plus, professional photographer Dan Barham's on this trip. All time eh?
Get inspired, read some of Seb's fine words and far-out thoughts from his blog "2FLAT: Insipid tales of a terrible child." Seb's account of Day 1 of the Las Vegas Interbike show, courtesy of nsmb.com.

Seb's beautiful wife Brandii.

Some funny interviews from the Interbike show courtesy of Mr. Kemp:

#FOUR - Interbike QUESTION OF THE DAY from nsmb.com on Vimeo.

Specialized in Zermatt.

2011-09-19T15:58:00.001-07:00

A little heavy on the Stumpjumper but that's OK, we'll let it slide this time. Berrecloth, Sam Hill, Burry Stander and Christophe Sauser riding Zermatt a few weeks ago. Some great shots but it looks like they should have had a guide to show them the way!
Want to come DH'ing with us next summer? Stay tuned for our 2012 Alpenrock DH dates. Or, maybe some all-mountain riding is more up your alley? Cloudraker is what you need.

Planes, trains and automobiles.

2011-09-04T21:46:00.000-07:00

A great article by Big Mountain Adventures guide Stephen Matthews from the front lines in Switzerland. Check it out here on NSMB.COM.

Shooting the Alps with Anthill.

2011-08-31T13:19:00.000-07:00

We're just wrapping up a very successful film shoot in the Alps with Anthill Films for their next movie Strength in Numbers. What a trip. Man. Pretty much a dream trip. There was talk thrown around of "best segment ever." We'll have to see i guess. Here's a few photos that i took. There's more to come...

I like this photo. Looks like Hunter is just chilling in the sun.

Photographer Mattias Fredrikson and Anthill's Darcy Wittenburg at work.

Hunter & Simmons in the big mountains. Highest of high class dudes.

Huntor leaning it over in warm evening light.

Free goodies from Chromag.

2011-08-30T04:28:00.001-07:00

We had the pleasure of handing out to participants of our Switzerland Alpenrock DH mountain bike trips the best handlebars in the business, OSX Fubars and a killer seat, the Lynx DH - both from Whistler-based Chromag. If you'd not tried wider bars yet, do. You'll never go back. And you might as well lay that touch of yours down onto something stylee and comfy eh? Here's what unfolded when the goodies where distributed...thanks to super guides Seb Kemp & Stephen Matthews!

Mustaches are cool.

Nice bars.

Moustaches are cool.

Best day ever.

2011-08-28T14:33:00.000-07:00

Today was unreal. No seriously. We're in Switzerland right now guiding the crew from Anthill Films around the Alps and we'd been waiting for this day to fire up the helicopter and shoot riders Matt Hunter, Wade Simmons and local rider Ludo May. Full blue skies with a dusting of fresh snow on the peaks and big mountain singletrack lined up. Watch for Anthill's next movie, Strength in Numbers coming up next April and sit back and see what we captured today, you'll be inspired. Swedish photographer Mattias Fredriksson is also along with us so keep your eyes peeled for stunning photos from the Swiss Alps in your favorite magazine.

Hunter and Simmons getting ready for another day at the office.

A ridgeline shot from the heli. Wait until you see the video version of this line...

Five reasons why mountain biking rocks.

2011-08-26T07:07:00.000-07:00

FIVE REASONS WHY MOUNTAIN BIKING ROCKS.

1. You get to hang out with your friends and shred.
2. Mountain bikes take you to very beautiful places.
3. The latest bikes are well-tuned off-road Ferraris.
4. Exercise makes you feel great.
5. Adrenalin pumping good times.

Squamish & Pemberton.

2011-08-25T07:09:00.000-07:00

Even from the sunny Swiss Alps we're still digesting last week's BC all-mountain trip out of Vancouver. Ahhh, so very nice. Here are a few photos from the nugget towns of Squamish and Pemberton.

Bridges are part of riding in BC. This one in Squamish is wide and friendly.

The group reliving some of the day.

Pemberton's Mosquito Lake is a perfect temperature right now, just cool enough.

Mt. Currie looms like a wall above the Pemberton Valley.

Update from our Swiss DH trip.

2011-08-21T09:23:00.001-07:00

Guide Stephen Matthews tells us how it's going from the Swiss Alps:

We’ve had an incredible week in the Alps for our first Alpenrock DH trip of the year. Non-stop sunshine, big descents, and later afternoon lake swims! Everyday has been a huge success of vertical breaking numbers and extremely happy people!

Looking out from Verbier towards Chamonix, it doesn’t get much better than this.

Verbier and area has been incredible this season! Lots of work has gone into the trails, and the tracks are all as exciting as ever. Some overnight rain this week has kept the dirt in primo condition! The trail crew (I believe there are only 2) have done an incredible job building the new technical black trail, Wooooah, a trail full of technical rock features and gnarly steeps! I was first shown this trail in early August by local rider, Ludo May, and who’s currently racing for Norco bikes. Ludo is a great teacher, you follow his lines and his speed, and things generally work out...

The guys having some fun on the La Vallee Express, one of the more daunting descents of the whole valley!

Bike parks are great for banging out laps, but the backcountry epics are what draw me back to Switzerland. Big Mountain has plotted out some of the biggest backcountry descents accessible by shuttle for the Alpenrock DH trips, and they are all combined to make one of my favourite days on the trip. I won’t give you the locations, but see what your mind stirs up with names like “Rolling Orgy and Pet Cemetary”

The trail ends at the Lake, 1500m below! Some call the trail “Racine”, I call it “Awesome”

The Val de Bagnes has become my home away from home. The Hotel La Vallee in Lourtier is one of the most hospitable and comfortable places I’ve ever been. Every morning is an array of delicious breakfasts, and every evening I’m presented with various traditional Swiss entrees. I love sharing the riding experiences we have in Switzerland with everyone, so stay tuned for more updates this month!

Here’s a quick edit from the week I put together. It’s all done on the new Contour HD helmet cam! I’m not much for editing, but who is after a week of this much riding!?

Beauty day of mountain cycling in Whistler, BC.

2011-08-13T21:44:00.000-07:00

We've just begun a private Sea to Sky mountain bike trip, a ten-day jaunt in our most beautiful backyard here in BC. Riding the nuggets of Whistler, Squamish, Pemberton, the Chilcotins and the Sunshine Coast with a little Whistler Bike Park thrown in there for good measure and an optional North Shore ride. What a line up! It's great to see our trails through the eyes of others. Check back here in the next week for more reports from the front lines.

Your amazing host: Seb Kemp.

A special day in paradise.

BC forests are unreal.

What brake pads look like after 9 days of shredding Alps.

2011-08-10T21:17:00.000-07:00

Rear pads. Toast.

Fronts. Schralped.

Photos courtesy N. Quaas.

"Not a weenie-cation."

2011-08-07T10:36:00.000-07:00

Some recent testimonials that we'd love to share with you. It feels great to know that we're on the right track...

"Hey, Chris – I just wanted to relate my thanks for the great trip. I thought that you and Peter did a great job setting the tone for the trip and keeping things moving without making it feel too much like a military operation. The trail selections were varied, the food and lodging was great, yet the overall experience was a real mountain bike adventure, rather than some kind of weenie-cation. I enjoyed myself start to finish, even while bleeding, and will definitely keep Big Mountain in mind for future trips as well as recommending you to others"

M. Damon

A fine place to stop for a break.

“Figured it appropriate that my first email drafted from home should be to you. “Thank you” is not nearly descriptive enough for how glad I am that I took the Cloudraker trip with you and Pete, as well as the whole gang. Even now, with the comforts of home, I’m wondering how I could fashion a concrete balcony off my house with a gorgeous view and sounds of a river in the background. Freely flowing Carlsberg would complete that scenario as well. Salut! And again, thank you. That trip was just what I needed.”
N. Quaas.

Mountain biking brings out a cast of great characters. This trip was no exception.

Great moments.

Reflections on Cloudraker.

2011-08-05T08:41:00.000-07:00

Just back from a very successful Cloudraker all-mountain trip in Switzerland. What a trip. Eventhough we've been running versions of this trip for nearly a decade, it is still a true once-and-a-lifetime adventure. Seriously, no Cloudraker trip is like the other one. We had the usual mixed bag of high-Alps weather, some mechanical challenges (too many flats on one particular day!), a few scrapes and bruises, some unexpected landslides that we had to walk around...and amazing hospitality at the Pellissier family hotel in Lourtier, a beautiful dinner in Aosta Italy after an unreal ride, tons and tons of drool-inducing singletrack, views to die for, great friends and camaraderie, a few too many coffees, some very challenging climbs and a whole bunch of laughs. Thank you to those who joined us!! What a trip!!

Guide Pete Gaston on the brakes on a steep & rooty descent.

Big Mountain Bike Adventures!

Raking clouds high in the Alps.

This lunch stop was perfect.

Waiting for a flat to be changed...take your time.

Border crossing.

2011-07-27T23:57:00.000-07:00

There are just a few place in the world where you can mountain bike up and over a pass on singletrack and into another country. A few days ago we did just this. The approach to this border into Italy from Switzerland is unique: shuttle where we unload on a dam (coinsidentely Europe's biggest curved dam), ride starts with a climb that's inside a long tunnel then a traverse above a teal-green lake some more climbing on switchbacks and then a 45 min. hike a bike to 2750 m. We brought our passports but there was no one to check them. Then it was a very long downhill to a bustling town, beer, fine wine and a great dinner.

Tate, Euan and guide Pete Gaston nearing the border of Italy.

Big mountain chillin'.

Mandatory walk!

A well-deserved pasta dinner. Supported by beautiful Amarone.

Zee mountain schuss.

2011-07-24T13:40:00.000-07:00

We just wrapped up Day 2 of our Cloudraker mountain bike trip in the Valais region of Switzerland. Yesterday we met the group in Geneva and along the spectacular lake shore, up the Rhone Valley and into the Alps. After checking into our hotel in Lourtier we built our bikes and went for a sweet warm-up ride on the mountain in the backyard. When i opened the shutters of my room this morning i was shaking my head at the driving rain and cold temperatures. I was not stoked. But, the day turned out perfectly as the rain stopped just after breakfast and we ended up punching through the clouds into fresh snow and sunshine. Killer day. Tomorrow's another big one as we head up the valley to a big climb up and over a pass and into Italy for a nice pasta dinner and some fine wine. Stay tuned!

Classic Switzerland riding on grassy singletrack.

Shredding freshies in late July, only in the Alps.

Riding an ancient bisse or waterway to bring water to villages.

Quintessential Cabane de Mont Fort. Coffee time.

Scoping big lines for Anthill.

2011-07-21T22:26:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I set out with La Vallee hotel owner Jean-Marc Pellissier in his backyard for a six-hour hike to a high-alpine cabin perched on a moraine. The weather was looking iffy and just as it is in the high mountains of Switzerland in the summertime we encountered rain, a snow squall, glorious sunshine and generally cool temps. What a day. The cabin was more like a modern dwelling that sleeps nearly 100 and cost three million Swiss Francs to build. Leave it to the Swiss. Why were we hiking you ask? We were looking for epic singletrack to be included in Anthill Films' next movie called Strength in Numbers which comes out in April 2012. Discovering what we did yesterday, I can tell you that the Swiss segment is going to be pretty amazing...

Just before the July 20 snow squall.

Big mountains.

Trek unveils 2012. Raising the bar even further.

2011-07-14T20:12:00.000-07:00

Trek Unveils 2012 Line of Full Suspension Bikes
World’s lightest DH bike, new all-mountain Slash, DRCV Forks highlight 2012 offerings

A beauty for sure.

(Mayrhofen, Austria) – The world leader in mountain bike technology, Trek Bicycle, has unveiled its 2012 collection of trail-ripping full suspension bikes to the global media at its Ride Camp in Mayrhofen, Austria. Included in this year’s line are two completely new models; the DH-world changing OCLV Mountain Carbon Session 9.9 and a bike that’s fitting of an entirely new category called “Technical Trail”, the new Trek Slash. New technologies abound as Trek’s Fuel EX, Remedy, and Rumblefish bikes will now be equipped with DRCV Fox Forks, a new fork breakthrough spawned from Trek’s Southern California-based suspension lab’s development work with Fox Racing Shox.

Session 9.9
A pioneering force in the development of carbon fiber technology for 20 years, 2012 represents a giant leap in Trek’s OCLV genealogy with the introduction of the Session 9.9; our first carbon downhill bike. With Trek’s off-road specific OCLV Mountain carbon, the 9.9 breaks new ground in lightweight DH race bikes, while carrying on Session’s reputation as the most agile and precise race frame available. The choice of World Cup superstar Aaron Gwin, the redesigned frame features new geometry and an increase in suspension travel to 210mm. Trek’s move to carbon on the Session 9.9 allows for internal cable routing, or if run externally, virtually indestructible patent-pending MicroTruss that eliminates riveted cable housing guides. The Session 9.9 also represents the first time that downhill riding has birthed a material usage innovation at Trek with the application of InTension, a material that is lighter than carbon composite and leverages Trek’s Honeycomb patent. “The objective was to make the Session dramatically lighter without compromising the previous bike’s incredible performance,” said Trek Senior Composite Manufacturing Engineer James Colegrove. ”The 2 years of R&D we invested allowed our Advanced Concepts Group to create significant new technologies, like the use of a new material called InTension that acts like the center section of an i-beam; transferring shear loads between the two faces of carbon. The R&D time also produced a patent-pending cable tie system called MicroTruss that eliminates the need for riveted cable guides. Our development team is very pleased that the Session 9.9 will introduce such significant new carbon technology to the world.”

Slash
For 2012 Trek is launching the Slash, an all-new 160mm travel bike designed for the growing endurance downhill market. Developed in partnership with Trek riders Rene Wildhaber and Ross Schnell, the Slash has the perfect suspension, geometry, and parts spec to dominate the endurance downhill scene. Taking advantage of Trek’s Full Floater and EVO link suspension designs, the Slash is paired with a DRCV shock and Active Breaking Pivot rear end to allow for maximum pedaling efficiency no matter the conditions. “Slash is defined by a lot more than just its travel — it’s the whole package of commanding steering, superior suspension, and a parts spec that rivals some DH bikes in durability and performance,” said Trek Mountain Bike Product Manager John Riley. “If you’re riding events like Megavalanche or Downieville, this is your bike.”

DRCV Fork
Trek’s singletrack and technical trail platforms get a huge suspension technology boost with the addition of Fox DRCV forks (Dual Rate Control Valve). The Dual Rate Control Valve rear shock that has been so well received on the Remedy, Fuel EX, and Rumblefish platforms is now being paired with a fork that incorporates the same technology and matches its performance. When the fork is compressed far enough into the stroke of the primary air chamber, a plunger opens a second air chamber, increasing the volume of the shock for larger impacts. The result is small bump compliance, with big-hit performance. This technology, developed by Trek’s Southern California-based suspension laboratory and Fox Racing Shox, sets a new standard for suspension performance unseen anywhere else in the bike industry. “After we made so much progress in increasing rider control with the DRCV shock, it’s great to be able to bring that versatility and improved handling to the front suspension,” said Trek Suspension Lab Director Jose Gonzales. “It further isolates the rider from the bumps of the trail and keeps the wheel on the ground longer, meaning better traction and greater stability.” With the new fork design, Trek has also slackened the headtube angles on the EX and Remedy by one degree, increasing the bikes’ stability at higher speeds, and improving handling in steeper sections of trail. To top off the new look of the EX and Remedy lines, Trek moved cable and brake hose routing internally, which not only creates a cleaner bike, but also makes for a quieter ride.

Expanded 29er Collection
From the godfather of 29” wheels, Gary Fisher, comes an expansion to the world’s broadest, and best-selling, collection of 29ers. 2012 welcomes aluminum versions of the insanely popular, 100mm-travel, Superfly line that will be offered alongside their established carbon brethren. The singletrack trail slayer Rumblefish gets a new mainframe with a higher bottom bracket and a full 120mm of rear wheel travel. Rumblefish will also be getting a huge fork upgrade with the addition of the new DRCV fork, making it one of the most capable 29ers when the trail gets rough.

Suspension Calculator
For 2012, we’ve addressed the rider and their experience as much as the product by making a perfectly tuned ride possible anywhere Wi-Fi is available with the launch of an online calculator that provides the perfect suspension settings throughout the full suspension line given a rider’s bike, model year, and weight. Optimized for mobile, tablet, and desktop devices and accessible now at trekbikes.com/suspension <http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/resources/suspension_setup> , the suspension calculator features an intuitive interface that will provide the perfect suspension settings throughout Trek’s full suspension mountain bike collection. The calculator will be updated with new models throughout the year as 2012 bikes arrive at Trek retailers.

###

About Trek Bicycle:
Trek Bicycle is a global leader in the design and manufacture of bicycles and related products. Trek believes the bicycle can be a simple solution to many of the world’s most complex problems, and is committed to breaking down the barriers that prevent people from using bicycles more often for transportation, recreation, and inspiration. For more information about Trek, visit www.trekbikes.com <http://www.trekbikes.com> .

A Nice Place To Be.

2011-07-13T19:11:00.002-07:00

This is going to sound somewhat contradictory to what we preach here at Big Mountain Adventures, the leader in mountain bike travel...but oh well, here it goes. I'm spending the week on an island off the coast of BC, not far from home, that features long stretches of white sandy beaches littered with driftwood, dead quiet roads, eagles perched in trees, beauty mixed forest on a carpet of ferns and electro-green moss...and a tightly knit network of fast and flowy carvable singletrack. Man the riding is good. My point, you see, is that I'm a mere few hours from my own garage. No planes, no trains to get here. It's nice to find such a sweet little gem just around the corner. Adventure, is all perspective. It can be in the trails in the park at the end of your big city street where you ride with your five year-old daughter, or the loop that you do every week-end with your buds or the pump track that you hit every summer evening that you can at your neighbours. Summer is here and it's prime time to ride mountain bikes. So get out and find some adventure on your bike, be it across the street or across the world. Enjoy.

Smile.

Nice view from here.

What's in a name?

2011-07-12T08:30:00.000-07:00

Trail builders are often quirky characters who'll hunker down deep in a forest for weeks and months at a time as they craft their masterpiece to share with riders. The last stroke of their brush is usually the trail name. Some names suit the location and feel of the landscape and stick like velcro while others seem to slide off one's memory. Some names make us laugh and some are just wacked. Names like Gravitron, Rolling Orgy, Your Mama, Medieval Flow, the Brazilian, Sex Boy, Joyride and Oasis are just a few trail names that we ride and love. What about where you ride? Any particularly interesting trail names?

Come this way...

Seb Kemp.

2011-07-07T21:57:00.000-07:00

Working with us this summer is none other than legendary rider, coach, trail builder and journalist Seb Kemp. You might have read his exploits in Bike Magazine or NSMB.COM or DIRT or NZ's Spoke, or maybe you've never heard of him? Either way, we're pumped to have Seb at the helm of a private British Columbia all-mountain trip that hits Vancouver, the Sunshine Coast, Squamish, Whistler, Pemberton and the Chilcotins, and on a private Swiss DH trip with guide Stephen Matthews. There's no one better to show you around and show you a great time.

When asked about his mountain bike background, Mr. Kemp speaks:

"I am a nomad following the warmer months of the globe, and a gypsy with no caravan. Bikes, in all their forms, have consumed my life since I was very young. I am just as happy doing all day xc epics in the backcountry as I am pounding laps in a bike park or floating through a freshly slapped line of jumps. I choose not to blinker myself to thinking that mountain biking is anything in particular. Mountain biking is many things to many people. In the end it's all just playing with toys and it is all fun.
I am fortunate enough to be allowed a voice through numerous magazines and websites (NSMB.com and Vitalmtb.com, as well as my own page, 2flat.wordpress.com). Some wise ass once said those that can't do, teach. Well, what I have found is that those that can, can't necessarily teach, and everyone, whether they can or can't, could do with some coaching. I have worked as a coach in the Whistler Bike Park for three summers as well as guiding in the Sea to Sky Corridor of BC and in New Zealand for several years. Coaching and guiding feels like the most honest way of helping people enjoy their mountain bike experience to the fullest. I am also a hired gun and build trails all over the world. Putting tools into the earth and creating shapes for riding upon is the ultimate form of expression and payback for any mountain biker. It also gives you mean callouses and keeps the hairs on your chest taut and curly. Important things to have if you want to lure a lady figure back to your cave."

Deeper thoughts, enjoying a cool bevie with friends post ride.

We're back.

2011-07-06T21:19:00.000-07:00

It's been seriously played out in recent years but after a multi-year hiatus Big Mountain Adventures has moved it's headquarters back to Whistler BC. Yea, you know the one, home to the world famous Whistler Bike Park and Kokanee Crankworx and the epicenter of all things mountain bike on the planet. Or, more accurately, one of the epicenters or at least a serious leader in all things mountain bike. Despite the hype and the fact that we've all probably heard a little too much about Whistler, the place does buzz mtb something serious. Driving up the super scenic Sea to Sky highway from Vancouver you'll see scores of trucks with gleaming rigs hanging off the tailgates. Then when you roll into town the whole valley seems to be into mountain biking, from packs of Brits pinning it for A-Line on DH bikes to super fit XC girls hitting lakes post-ride to full families on bikes and baby boomer grandads training for next week's Loonie Race. The place is firing on bikes. We're stoked to be back and can't wait to hit the awesome trails, right from the office door.

Supersize berm on the Whistler Bike Park.

100,000.

2011-06-28T11:58:00.001-07:00

"100,000." A good read by journalist Dave Smith and photographer Blake Jorgenson from our Swiss Alpenrock trip. Check it out on PINKBIKE.COM.
Oh yea, and if you sign up this year we'll give you a very nice Chromag Lynx DH saddle and Fubar handlebar...just for being you! You might even see the elusive giant beargoat...

Walking the talk of Alpenrock.

2011-06-24T09:08:00.001-07:00

Written by guide Stephen Matthews and client Scott Hagarty, check out this great write-up from on our Alpenrock DH trip in Switzerland on DIRT Magazine's website.

Never stop dreaming.

2011-06-23T08:36:00.000-07:00

I received this email today from a client who joined us in Switzerland in 2005 on a trip that I'll never forget. I remember that the weather was brutal but the group that came together on this one was all-time and we banded together like old friends and explored the high-Alps with passion. It's so inspiring to read what he's decided to do with his time. One pedal stroke at a time.

Salut Chris,

How are you? Long time no talk. I have seen tons of new super exciting adventures (Nepal!!!) being added to your list of trips. This is great and I am very happy to see Big Mountain getting so successful with you at the helm.

Since I saw you last in May 2008 at your house, things have changed a lot. As you may remember, I tried to book a few trips with you yet my travel plans always changed as my company will change my vacation dates at the last minute. So last October, tired of not getting enough time to travel, I retired from the cruise business and decided to go bike the world. It is a big bold decision for someone with no touring experience whatsoever. I grabbed by carbon fiber hardtail, attahced a bob trailer and headed south (by plane). I first started in Argentina where I biked from Ushuaia to Equador. In the 5 months spent in South America, I went to Antarctica on a cruise, biked southern Patagonia through Chile, hiked to Machu Picchu, visited the Galapagos and did some great mountain biking in Bolivia yet I had to short of a time in Peru to experience the amazing diversity of trails offered. I am currently biking north from Los angeles to Alaska then east to Quebec City. In the late fall, I should be flying to Cape Town to bike accross Africa all the way to Cairo.

As I would be in Vancouver staring from this upcoming Saturday for about a week, I was wondering if you were in town and available for a lunch or a beer. It would be nice to meet up again.

I look forward to hear from you

Best regards

Frantz
"Life is an adventure"

Times have changed.

2011-06-22T21:52:00.000-07:00

In the past 24 hours I've had face to face meetings with Mads Mathiasen in his remote "bush block" in New South Wales, Australia to discuss our Nepal Himalaya Heights trip, a meeting with Seb Kemp who was holed up in his dad's attic in Somerset, UK while we chatted about this summer's Alpenrock DH trips, and then with Jean-Marc Pellissier in the little hamlet of Lourtier, tucked in the big Alps of Switzerland. OK, OK, the truth is, I didn't fly around the world in a super fast jet and actually meet face to face with these fine mountain bikers, but we met on Skype. How about Skype? A mere five years ago the notion of talking to someone in real time while seeing them was something from Star Trek or maybe James Bond. When my parents ran their first bike trip in England and Wales 1972 it was before faxes! They communicated with hotels via telex. What the hell is a telex? Now we email, text, cell phone, Skype and Google it all up eagerly.

The Puma telex machine, circa 1980.

Maybe you think that i'm old school and can't wrap my brain around the times. Maybe the times are changing so quick and my head's spinning. What's in store in the next decade? Teleporting? Could be. By the way, my Skype meetings went really well - things are looking good. This photo is of yours truly back in the mid-70's on one of my folk's trips, it looks like i was pissed about a telex or something. Check out those short shorts and white socks in the background and the first generation Bell helmet. If you're interested, check out some old cycling photos from the old days here. Good times. Bring on technology i say.

Where's that telex?

Between Minarets & Monoliths

2011-06-20T10:58:00.001-07:00

A look back to 2008 and Bike Magazine's "Ultimate Adventures" issue. Cover shot of Hans Rey and another rider off the Gornergrat cog railway in Zermatt and two-page spread of Big Mountain Adventure's owner Chris Winter in the shadow of the iconic Matterhorn. Hmmm, dreamy mountain biking.

Steep, and deep.

Bufffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff!

Summer DH'ing the Alps. Are you coming?

2011-06-16T19:41:00.000-07:00

Contour & Big Mountain Adventures.

2011-06-13T15:52:00.000-07:00

CONTOUR AND BIG MOUNTAIN ADVENTURES TEAM UP

TO CAPTURE THE PLANET ON MOUNTAIN BIKES.

VANCOUVER, BC, JUNE 13, 2011, - Contour, the leader in hands-free video cameras and adventure storytelling tools and Big Mountain Adventures, the award-winning mountain bike travel company have announced a partnership that’ll create groundbreaking mountain bike stories from dreamy locations around the globe.

Starting immediately, participants on any Big Mountain holiday will have the opportunity to use the acclaimed Contour+ which features the largest lens of any PoV camera and captures beautiful 1080p full HD video with a 170° wide-angle rotating lens that delivers the truest high quality image with minimal distortion and fish-eye. That’s right mountain bikers, ride with Big Mountain Adventures and capture with Contour+.

“We are thrilled to be working with Big Mountain Adventures because they provide the perfect complement to our products. We want to encourage people to share their most amazing life adventures, and Big Mountain provides the perfect setting for our cameras and end-users to experience the trip of a lifetime. It’s truly a match made in heaven,” says Lacy Kemp, Contour’s Director of Social media.

Big Mountain Adventures owner Chris Winter: “There are so many times on our trips that you find yourself in the most unreal places – from a pic-nic lunch on mountain ridge high in the Swiss Alps, to flying past Annapurna in Nepal in a small plane full of mountain bikes and new friends, to bombing a day-long bermed downhill in Peru – and you wish that you could easily capture the moment with a quick flick of a switch. Well, now you can. We are totally stoked about running Contour+ on our trips.”

Contour, formerly known as VholdR, is the market leader in hands-free video cameras and adventure storytelling tools that enable modern day explorers to tell their stories of action, adventure and travel through video. http://contour.com/

Possibly the Best Ride in the World.

2011-06-09T21:50:00.001-07:00

Have you seen the latest Bike Magazine? Cover shot is of the super amazing Olleros trail with the statement: "Peru - Possibly the best ride in the world." Do you remember these exact words on this blog not long ago? It's true folks, Peru is mountain biking nirvana. If you want to ride these nuggets yourself we've got a 10-day Peru mountain bike trip coming up September 30 called Unforgettable Andes. Check out the Bike story, it's an inspiring read by our friend photographer Dan Barham.

Ride this trail on our Unforgettable Andes trip!

Follow Stephen Matthews.

2011-06-02T07:30:00.000-07:00

A recent video of BM guide Stephen Matthews at the Whistler Mountain Bike Park. You too can follow Mr. Matthews this summer on our groundbreaking 9-day Alpenrock DH trips. Don't be intimidated by this video, he'll keep the brakes on a little more in Switzerland and give you some riding tips along the way. Enjoy.

Whistler Report S2E2 - A-Line POV from nsmb.com on Vimeo.

Fresh video from Peru...last week.

2011-05-27T20:39:00.001-07:00

Hmmm, mountain biking in Peru. The riding is that good. Thanks to Stephane Heroux from New Brunswick for this video! Cheers!

the weather

2011-05-25T19:58:00.004-07:00

Sun sun sun sun sun sun sun sun!

One of the many things that i like about riding mountain bikes is having to know the weather. I like weather forecasts. I like storms. I like heat. I like cool days. I like it all. I guess mountain bikers generally like the elements. To really enjoy a ride you need to at least look out a window, glance up at the sky and see what's going on, or have some sort of idea of what mother nature has in store for you and what you'll need to prepare for. Are you heading into the desert mid-day where there's no shade or heading into the high mountains where snow could fall or in the jungle during rainy season? Important things to consider. But don't let the forecast deter you from getting out on your bike. Laguna Beach this week? Lookin' pretty nice i'd say. Jealous. Here in Vancouver BC, if you didn't like a little precip you simply would not be riding. It's been a wet six months here on the Wet Coast! Here's our forecast for the week ahead. Time to suit up and head out for some wet weather riding...

rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain!

5 Tips from the Godfather.

2011-05-20T14:53:00.000-07:00

Wade LOVES to ride bikes.

Wade is know as one of the most natural trail riders anywhere. Follow him down a trail and he skips over technical sections as smoothly as butter, manuals and gaps stuff that most of creep down carefully and pretty much styles a trail out big time. He's got talent. We caught up with Simmons in Europe a few weeks ago as he prepared for this summer's Big Mountain Camps in Verbier, Switzerland and asked him a few key things to consider for mountain bikers...

1. Bike set-up is probably the most important thing a rider can do to affect their comfort and confidence. So many times I see people riding too long of a stem or have the handlebars rolled too forward or back. People need to have the bike properly adjusted to the type of riding they are doing. Proper suspension set-up is very important too, especially when we teach drops and airs. Its like getting into a rental car and not adjusting the seat or rear view mirror. Once all is adjusted its time to shred!

2. Body position is crucial. When you buy a bike, nobody tells you how to ride it. Its assumed one will know how, because everybody can ride a bike, right? Wrong. The number one thing I see beginners and intermediates do wrong is lean too far back. Riders need to get over the front wheel and lead the bike. If you think of any sport that involves action, the body leads into the action: Skiing, you lean into the front, Football, you lean into the ball before kicking, Tennis, you lead with the shoulder before smashing the ball......everything is like this. Even when you ride down a rock face, you should be leaning forward, and not until the transition at the bottom should you weight back. It sounds counter-intuitive but its the way to ride.

3. Brake control and modulation. People cannot become great riders if they cannot operate brakes properly. Braking is a big part of mountain biking, and its very complicated. I am amazed at the number of people I see that do not know how to skid the rear tire. Sometimes on mountain bike website forums I read about people hating on skidding. Skidding is a skill one must master to become a expert rider. Anybody who complains about skidding being bad, does not know how use the skid properly. It is a way to steer the rear wheel, and once riders realize this, doors open on the trail. To master the combination of front and rear brake modulation takes time and practise, but once set on the right track, people will be better riders.

4. The Manual is another fundamental skill riders will need to master to allow progression. Its a skill that opens doors on the trail. The manual is used in many trail applications such as rolling off drops, smoothing out rough terrain and pumping through rolls. It can also be used to bring the front-end quickly around corners. A manual is a big crowd pleaser when you are riding down the road and pull a sic long manual. It can also be joined with other moves like a bunny-hop to manual for instance. The manual is relatively easy, but there are a couple of key points riders need to learn or you fall on your ass a lot!

5. Drops. Who doesn't love a drop? There are many types of drops with different characteristics that all require a little different approach. Some are straight drops, some have a gap factor to the landing, some have uphill take-offs, some downhill take-offs....many types, but all fun! Drops can also be very dangerous but when supplied with the right skills and knowledge there is only one

One of Wade's biggest drops ever. Mucho grande.

Photo by John Gibson.

BM guide Paulo Valle cuts against the Costa Rican grain.

2011-05-14T20:08:00.000-07:00

We're elated. Paulo "Chico Dore" Valle, our good friend and the architect behind our legendary Pura Vida DH trips in Costa Rica has just been featured in the latest Bike Magazine's My Trail column. Here's what was written:

The Rider: Paulo Valle has been riding bikes as long as he can remember. Hailing from San Jose, Costa Rica, he started as a youngster, cruising his neighbourhoud and building jumps with his friends. His early appreciation for speed and air made BMX racing a perfect fit for the young ripper. The competitive spirit that Valle honed while racing BMX translated seamlessly to mountain bikes when he first rode one in 1990. He quickly rose through the ranks of Costa Rica's professional race circuit, ultimately winning national championships in both DH and XC. These days, Valle has long since stepped out of the race scene, instead pouring his energy into trail building - and sharing his trails with other riders as the main Costa Rica guide for Vancouver-based tour company Big Mountain Bike Adventures.
The Scene: In today's Costa Rican mountain bike scene, Valle is a rare breed of rider. While road and cross-country dominate the riding community, Valle is one of a handful of riders with a healthy appetite for challenging technical terrain that pushes the limits of both rider and bike. Whether it's a blessing or a curse, he is a lone soldier, building and riding on his own terms.
The Trail: Valle's network runs throughout the Talamanca Mountains near San Jose, where he has been building trails for about nice years. Topping out at just over 12,000 feet, the range offers long, technical descents from high alpine areas to jungle terrain, with many trails ending in the coffee plantations that are scattered across many of the region's valleys. When approaching trail building, Valle looks for his routes to form organically by letting the terrain dictate how the trail will flow. By taking advantage of natural obstacles, his trails have a raw, natural feel that can challenge even the most seasoned veteran. His ultimate goal is to have a network of unapologetically technical singletrack that connects the Pacific and Atlantic sides of his country. Anthony Smith.

Yea Paulo!!!!!!

This week in the Peruvian Andes...

2011-05-12T10:24:00.000-07:00

We just received word from our partner and guide extraordinaire Wayo from high in the mountains near Ollantaytambo who's at the helm of our Unforgettable Andes mountain bike trip in Peru. "Everything is going very well. Today the group went to Machu Picchu and I scouted two amazing trails close to Cusco starting at 14,1000 feet! Two more descents that you should know about!!" The guys are very happy with the trip and saying "best trip of my life." So I think everything is going very well here!" It's always great to hear that another trip is going well - after the months of correspondence with participants there's nothing more satisfying than receiving these words. Thanks for the update Wayo!

The first ride of the trip...just a warm up to what's to come!

In the arid Andes near Lima. A desert landscape on STEROIDS!

An old Inca trail. Amazing culture awaits in Peru.

Check out this mountain bike video from Peru shot a year ago. The riding in Peru is STELLAR!

The Yukon. Unplug. Re-set.

2011-05-09T14:37:00.001-07:00

We live in a busy, uncertain, and sometimes morally challenging time. Tsunamis. Osama. Economy. Environment. The Stanley Cup. You know what i mean. While we fight to maintain our balance and sanity in this perpetual storm, it's important that we keep our feet on the ground and not loose sight of what's important in life: family, friends, reading books, exercise, fresh air, riding mountain bikes. Which leads me to invite you, my fellow mountain biker, to the Yukon & Alaska this summer. Why you ask? Because it'll help keep you grounded, it'll remind you of what's important and quite simply you'll have a blast. I'm not pointing any fingers here, just saying that we could all do with a little unplug and re-set.

Journalist Dave Smith searches for that elusive word.

The North is a place with fewer complications, where the rhythm is in tune with nature and the friendly locals will do anything to make sure you're having a great experience. Oh, and the riding just happens to be killer - big epics in wide-open landscapes, short loops on technical loamy singletrack and quick and punchy berm-infested railing-a-thon trails on firm, yet forgiving, dirt.

The colours of a palette.

The mountain bike guides on this adventure are the best hosts that you could ask for. Devon McDiarmid talks about his year: "I just returned from the North Pole where i guided two ski groups. This means I skied to both poles in one calendar year and there is a good chance i'll be getting to the South Pole again for the second time in 2011! But my biggest achievement of the year for me is kite skiing Greenland for a Guiness Book of World Record for longest kite ski expedition in the North, covering over 4000 kms" When you meet McDiarmid you'll be greeted by a low-key, humble adventurer with a great passion for guiding and a slew of truly amazing stories. McDiarmid will be joined by Ray Warner who recalls: "I moved to the Yukon after falling in love with Alaska and the North, during a summer of riding and climbing there. I went back to Banff, grabbed the rest of my gear, one backpack worth, walked to the highway and hitched to Whitehorse where I spent 17 years trying to get lost in the bush - riding, paddling, climbing and running sled dogs. The north is like nowhere else on earth, it is still pure and rugged with challenges at every turn." Warner is mad-passionate about all things Northern.
To be guided in the Yukon and Alaska on mountain bikes by McDiarmid and Warner is a great opportunity. Want to unplug and re-set this summer?

One trip only: Midnight Sun, August 21-27, 6 nights/7 days. $1995.00 USD.

The road from Whitehorse to Haines, Alaska. Is that John Denver on the radio?

Ride Whistler with us this summer!

2011-05-09T11:01:00.000-07:00

Whistler, heard of it? Ha! The world knows Whistler but do they know what the locals know? Probably not. That's why you should join us on our 8-day Sea to Sky mountain bike trip July 23-30. Expect to ride trails beyond the Whistler Bike Park, from the Sunshine Coast to Squamish, Pemberton and Whistler Valley trails and more. Let's go!
Here's a video of a trail that we'll ride, Khyber's Pass off of Whistler Mountain.

Drivers seat with Evan Schwartz & Stephen Matthews in Italy last week

2011-05-06T20:01:00.001-07:00

Big Mountain guide Stephen Matthews speaks about this trail: "Calizzano, Italy has one of the coolest machine built trails outside of the Whistler Bike Park. This trail is not A-Line, but it also blows anything at Silverstar, Sun Peaks, Kicking Horse, Panorama etc. out of the water. It follows a super simple concept; build it to be ridden fast, and the rest is up to your imagination!"

Want to hit Calizzano soon? Get in touch with us and we'll make it happen. Otherwise hang tight and we'll have dates posted soon.

Ride this trail on our New Zealand trip

2011-05-06T11:44:00.001-07:00

Maybe not quite this fast though! This is a fine trail in dreamy Wellington New Zealand. For our 2012 dates and details HERE.

Big Mountain working with Anthill Films

2011-05-05T09:33:00.000-07:00

We're excited to announce that Big Mountain Adventures is working with Anthill Films (formerly The Collective) on their next film dubbed Strength in Numbers to be released in Spring 2012. Our role is to help the crew with logistics, guiding, planning, locations, contacts and more on their international shoots. Read more on pinkbike.com.

Why do we ride?

2011-05-01T07:08:00.000-07:00

Ride Alpenrock DH and get Chromag.

2011-05-01T04:56:00.002-07:00

Dubbed by some as the ultimate downhill mountain bike trip on the planet, Big Mountain Adventures’ Swiss Alpenrock DH trip is a 9-day romp in the Alp’s highest peaks. From Verbier’s fast lifts and big descents, to barely-known backcountry blowout drops to the Rhone Valley, to fast and flowy Crans Montana and Zermatt’s mind-boggling lift network and ridiculous views and trails, this small-group DH holiday delivers on all fronts.

This year Big Mountain has teamed up with Whistler-based Chromag to offer all participants a Lynx DTsaddle and Fubar OSX bars. That’s right, you’ll bomb the Alps on Chromag, the quiet leader in innovative bike components for mountain bikers worldwide.

At the helm of Alpenrock in 2011 is Whistler-based guide Stephen Matthews who will be joined by global mountain bike explorer Seb Kemp. “Mountain biking is all about journey, adventure and exploration.” says Kemp, “Big Mountain has always been at the forefront of sharing the world with mountain bikers. To be given the opportunity to share these experiences with others is a privilege that I don't take lightly. What excites me is the golden moments on and off the trail: ripping down unfamiliar singletrack, stopping to take in the view and experiencing the details of other peoples lives and culture.”

Join Matthews and Kemp on Alpenrock 2011: August 12-20 and August 20-28.

Land cost is $2695.00 USD.

Joining in Geneva, Switzerland.

For more info on Alpenrock DH, CLICK HERE.

Arrivederci Italia: that's a wrap.

2011-05-01T02:54:00.000-07:00

I love the people that you meet through mountain biking. May I introduce Louise Paulin. Have you met her or heard of her? It's possible, it's a small world. Born in the south of Sweden, lived in Chamonix for years and now lives full-time in the mountains above Finale with her daughter and husband. She's super cool and chill and rrrrr-rips on a bike.

I like this photo. It's not perfect, but then what is? A portrait of 'ol uncle Roost. Have you seen him lately?

You can't tell in the photo but it just stopped raining. Still, it's the beach and those are big bikes and that's a palm tree on the left and that there on the right is the Mediterranean. It cleared up and the sun did come out minutes after this was taken. I'm pretty sure that these bikes where stoked to feel sand under their tires and just be chillin' on the beach after a week of blissfull punishment.

After ride beers, you know the ones. They really do taste better. Scientific studies have shown that the taste of beer is enhanced post-ride because of a very special chemical is released after you get off your bike and sit down and take that first sip. OK, that's bullshit. This was simply a particularly good post-ride beers sessions. I think Stephen Matthews was recalling a ripping section of trails in this photo.

The last ride of our trip ended at an old church overlooking this sweet cove that was truly idyllic. After a swim it was time to pack up the bikes for the flights home tomorrow. Thanks to all who made this an amazing downhill mountain bike holiday. Want to join Big Mountain in Italy this fall or next year? Get in touch.

Italian charge...Day 4 & 5 on the Ligurian coast

2011-04-28T11:26:00.007-07:00

You've never heard of Calizzano. It's a small town pretty much in the middle of nowhere and the riding is unreal. Seriously. The dirt is tacky, the terrain is a natural playground of half-pipes and wall rides and berms and the slope angle is just right where you can ride long sections off the brakes. Calizzano, you are beautiful, we'll be back one day to rail your sweet dirt.

Sometimes a good day becomes a great day just because of lunch. We rolled into this remote «agritourismo» restaurant to a little slice of heaven on earth. A cute local girl greeted us upon arrival and served up a multi-course meal in a restored barn. Then came the espressos. Then came rose proseco in the sun and some random archery session. Here, Evan Schwartz feeds donkeys dandilions. Ah, the good life.

We're here with photographer Dan Barham, born in Manchester now living in North Vancouver. Barham is dedicated to his craft and his images translate - he's good at what he does. Here's a little behind the scenes action, Stephen Matthews roosting and Barham shooting. This is one of about seven takes of this berm being ridden. Don't tell anyone.

Hmmm, cafe. There's something about the coffee in Italy that blows ours out of the water.

This is Schwartz and Matthews riding another great trail Europe's biggest beach forest. Coming from the West Coast of British Columbia, the land of coniferous trees, it's a treat to travel through a deciduous forest at high-speeds on bikes.

Tails from the trail: Day 2 & 3 in Italia

2011-04-26T15:13:00.001-07:00

This is a place that i will return to. This town is called Triora and it's tucked way up a remote valley just a few clicks from the French border. Check out that view! It's pretty rare to be in Europe and see no evidence of mankind in any vista. We only just scratched the surface of the riding too.

Facebook. Twitter. Whatever. These ladies don't give two cents. Evan Schwartz taking a moment in the sun while daily life in rural Italy rolls along at it's own pace.

Triora is supposed to be one of the last places where witches were burnt in all of Europe. Crazy. I swear we could smell flesh burning when we rolled in.

Eating is like religion in Italy. This was lunch: five courses later and a bottle of the local red. Journalist Dave Smith and I ended up napping in the sun for a good hour afterwards. Then we went riding. When's the last time you napped in the sun after a bottle of wine and a big meal? Me too. It was nice.

If you could smell this photo it'd be a combination of sage and jasmine and sea salt and pine. There's something about the air around the Mediterranean that's intoxicating and dreamy.

Stephen Matthews, Evan Schwartz and photographer Dan Barham, deep thoughts. Or maybe not. Chilling on a jump waiting for the evening sun to do it's thing.

Schwartzy straight air into the blue.

Day 1, Exploring San Remo on Italy's Ligurian Coast.

2011-04-24T14:10:00.000-07:00

The prospect of exploring a new region on the Italian coast was just too hard to refuse. Springtime in Italy; big mountain shuttles; the Mediterranean; great cuisine; super coffee and epic wine; it's on. I'm here with a tight and solid crew from B.C.: photographer Dan Barham, journalist Dave Smith and riders Stephen Matthews and Evan Schwartz. The goal of our trip is simple, to explore the region with the potential of launching a new downhill trip for Big Mountain Adventures in 2012. Tough job, I know. But someone's got to do it.

Wearrived into Nice, France yesterday to 15 celcius, grey bird weather and alittle damp, not what we expected in this part of the world. We were met byManuel, an Italian guide who assured us that this was a good thing as thetrails needed some moisture. We hopped in his van and climbed along thecoastline with views of mountains and Meditarranean and a perfect vista of Monacowhere real estate costs $40,000 per square meter and where Bono and Elton Johncome to hang and epic roads are driven by Lamborginis and bought with newRussian rubbles. Just beyond Monaco lies San Remo, the first stop on ourjourney.

Todaywe logged seven big laps high above San Remo. The driving here is crazy withsuper narrow roads that wind up and down the mountain side and quick, assertivedrivers. Our shutttle driver is the ultimate multi-tasker, his phone wouldblast Euro-techno as it's ring while he'd proceed to answer with a colourful«pronto», hands flailing in all directions and then talk a million miles aminute while honking around corners with the tunes pumping in the van and evena little TV going on the dash while each mirrow seemed mere centimeters fromrock walls at any given time.

Thetrails are fast and sandy with rocky sections and some super eroded sectionstoo to keep you on your toes. The kind of ruts where you point your front wheeland let off the brakes and aim for the berm at the bottom, if there is one atall. We all stayed on our bikes today which is a good sign for the rest of thetrip. The riding here is definitely fun.

We hadlunch today at a mountain restaurant who's owner was a former rally car driverand runs a team. These are all rally plaques behind Evan. We all had pestopasta again, because it's so amazing here. And a few espressos to wash it alldown of course. And then hit the trails again for the afternoon.

I like this photo. It sums up our day nicely.

Canadarepresent. Matthew's and Schwartz' Devinci Wilsons ready for action, high inthe clouds.

Forany of you who've driven this coastline you probaly remember the crazyautostrada highway that's tunnel then bridge, consecutively, for over an hourstraight. I've driven it a bunch of times, t's been nice to see what liesbeyond this highway and meet the locals. Our hosts have been amazing, drivingus all day with nothing but big smiles and helping us whenever possible.

BM selected "The 20 Best New Trips."

2011-04-20T20:20:00.001-07:00

We're honored that our new Sea to Sky mountain bike trip has been chosen as one of "the 20 Best New Trips of 2011" by Canada's Explore Magazine. "Bike BC's Secret Trails" On the eight day Sea to Sky trip from Big Mountain Bike Adventures, riders will discover awesome singletrack trail along the B.C. coast that only the locals know about. Riding locations include Squamish, Whistler, Pemberton, the Sunshine Coast and Vancouver's North Shore. There is also an optional extension in the Chilcotins. July 23-30, 2011."
Thank you Explore Magazine. We were among some truly amazing company in the top 20 - from stand-up paddleboarding down the Nahanni River to remote hiking adventures in the Torngat Mountains and more impressive adventures. For more information on our amazing mountain bike trip in our backyard (we're based in Whistler btw...), CLICK HERE and come join us this summer!

New New Zealand video

2011-04-07T15:29:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago was our amazing New Zealand mountain bike holiday, Silver Fern. What a mountain bike trip! Wondering when we'll have our 2012 dates ready? Soon. Within a few weeks. Here's a little peek of what transpired..sit back, put it on full screen, and enjoy the ride.

Canadian Loonie buys $1.04 USD

2011-04-06T13:52:00.000-07:00

Attention Canucks: according to the Bank of Canada one Loonie buys $1.04 USD today. This is the strongest Loonie seen since November 2007.
Hmmmm...let me think for a second...Big Mountain's trips are in USD...that means that with my Loonie im actually getting a discount! Canucks: if there was ever a time to book a mountain bike trip with us, it's today!

Ahhh, the trusty Loonie soars again....

Ancient Stone Forest in latest Bike Magazine.

2011-04-06T08:54:00.000-07:00

Peru. Peru. Peru. Is it just me or has there been a lot of play about mountain biking in Peru lately? I've been saying this all along...the place is heaven for mountain biking. The latest Bike Magazine just published a two-pager taken from photographer Chris Christie from our Unforgettable Andes trip. Want to be in the picture? We've got Peru trips coming up next month, in June and September. CLICK HERE for info on our all-mountain trip and CLICK HERE for info on our new DH trips. Viva Peru!

Our group chillin' in the Ancient Stone Forest before a MASSIVE descent.

Mountain biking and barbeque...

2011-04-01T15:07:00.001-07:00

Just down the road from Big Mountain Adventure's headquarters in Whistler BC lies a little known mecca for mountain biking with a peculiar name, Squamish. When i say mecca, i mean it is one of the best places to ride in Canada, if not #1. Next time you're on your way to Whistler, don't just drive through but pull over and get your bike off the roof. Turns out they're about to develop a National Mountain Bike Training facility there. Read about it in Canada's Pedal Magazine. Congratulations Squamish!

The lush and inviting Squamish Valley. Riddled with singletrack...

Want to ride Squamish with local guides? Either join us on our Sea to Sky trip July 23-30 this year, or get in touch and we can set you up with a guide to show you around.

"Images burnt into my mind," Derek Frankowski

2011-04-01T14:51:00.000-07:00

"One of the best parts of being a photographer is being invited to document fun and interesting things. The idea of traveling to document huge descents and culture, in a place that has thousands of years of history, was an exciting one. In 2005 I was fortunate to go to Peru as a photographer for a Bike Magazine feature....CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL STORY.

Two flavours one can expect in Peru.

Big Mountain Adventures is running some amazing trips in Peru this year....
Inca DH, June 3-12. click here.
Unforgettable Andes all-mountain trips, May 6-15 & Sept 30 - Oct 9. click here.

Etched in my mind.

2011-03-26T20:28:00.000-07:00

I've had the pleasure of participating on many epic global adventures on mountain bikes and skis with great people over the years. What a blast. One trip that truly sticks out is mountain biking in Peru. Culture. Crazy fun mountain biking. Real adventure. I'm afraid to go back because my first trip was so freaking amazing.

Price reduced for South Africa & Botswana

2011-03-24T17:35:00.000-07:00

Price reduced? Yes! This trip is a trip of a lifetime. Have you dreamed of an African safari? What about on a mountain bike? Groups of four to six per departure, leaving every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month out of Johannesburg. Click here for the details.

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

"If this is a once-and-a-lifetime trip, I need more lifetimes."

2011-03-23T20:56:00.000-07:00

Looking for an entertaining and refreshing story on a truly adventurous ride? Pick up a copy of the latest Bike Magazine and sit back after a ride with a cold beer of your choice and read away. "Trip of a Lifetime....cheating death in the Chilcotins" by Kristin Butcher, a hilarious and ripping rider who was a blast to hang out with on this trip that we hosted last summer. Enjoy.

New Morocco dates

2011-03-18T12:33:00.000-07:00

"We begin this adventure in Marrakech, the stunning 1000 year-old ochre-colored city with a vibrant street life, a funky old Medina and chaos of cultures with a European flavour. Then it’s off to the highest mountain range in North Africa, the Atlas and their rugged, prehistoric, flat-topped peaks laced with dirt roads and trails still used by the nomadic Berbers. For eight days we’ll ride on singletrack, over passes that link small villages, at night we’ll sip mint tea and stare up at the blanket of stars in the desert sky." New 2001 dates: September 23 to October 2. Click here for all the details on this fantastic XC holiday.

A remote Berber town only accessable by trail.

Tunnel vision

2011-03-13T13:16:00.001-07:00

That unique feeling when you walk through the door of your house after being away on a great mountain bike holiday. Not just any holiday, but one where you were challenged at times, screamed out loud with elation at times, met interesting people that you'd never otherwise meet and stared out at awe-inspiring vistas. You open that door...and you realize that your perspective has changed; taking an afternoon to cook a great meal for friends is a priority, driving in traffic is really not that big a deal, your love and appreciation for your family is at another level and sitting at a coffee shop and reading the paper on a Sunday afternoon is something that you make time for. I love that about travel.

Rotorua: a little me-time in the forest

2011-03-11T01:00:00.001-08:00

Just a few hours ago I was rolling my bike through the lushes greenest most beauty forest in Rotorua New Zealand on trails called Bunny Jugs, The Tickler and Te Ara Puna...chasing friends down these pump-track-esque singletrack descents sprinkled with root hits and berms and jumps. Truly seriously fun. And then i stopped, which one rarely does when riding these types of a-grade trails chasing friends...and I saw this fern lit up like only a fern can be. Hey there little fern. Click. Then i stomped on my pedals and howled to the forest and rode away...

NZ, people along the way...

2011-03-09T20:14:00.001-08:00

I find with all trips that when you get home, unpack your bike, clean your clothes, rest up and the dust settles and you have time to reflect...that your best memories always come back to the people whom you met and the people that you got to know. This trip is no exception. Actually, it is exceptional - the people of New Zealand are downright top notch on all fronts. Thank you for the unreal hospitality...we look forward to coming back.

Glen from Napier. Guide extraordinaire. Dude.


Some of our crew, post ride lounging in hot springs on a summer afternoon.

Gary, our host at his farm in rural NZ. He was pumped and made a tasty pavlova.

North Island blisssssssssss....

2011-03-08T19:58:00.001-08:00

Seriously fun. In a nutshell, this is New Zealand's North Island. We've all tossed around the words buffed, railing, bermed, rediculous, ripping...when describing trails. I'd have to say that this place is the true home to all of these over-used collections of letters. I'd like to write more but time is of the essence here as we ride day after day on our way north to Auckland and a one-way flight back to wintertime and reality. So, i'm going to keep this short, and as sweet as possible. Today is day nine in a row of pedalling, we're in Rotovegas now, one of the hot spots for NZ mountain biking. Tomorrow....we ride more...I'll be back soon with more news from the trails of this riding mecca.

One of the dreamiest shuttles. Ever. The ride rocked too.

Breakfast on the pier, great way to start the day.

Post ride dip in a refreshing lake.

Minties all around: greeting from windy Welly

2011-03-06T22:09:00.001-08:00

Sorry that it’s been a few days since my last post. My plan was to upload a photo or two and some stories daily from the front lines on our Silver Fern trip but we’ve been on the move lately and internet has not been available. What a trip we’re having. Man. You those days where you feel like you’ve packed in two day’s worth of fun and memories? Well, we’ve been packing in what feels like a week’s worth each day here in New Zealand. Seriously. The riding in New Zealand is UNREAL. We’re now in Wellington, the capital, which is located on the southern tip of the North Island. Gone are the big grassy wide-open mountains mountains of the Southern Alps and now we’re riding in dense tropical forest with sweet sounds of songbirds and palm trees and ferns as big as cars. We just wrapped up day two here in Welly and I’d have to say that this place has to be one of the best out-of-the-door riding cities that I’ve ever ridden in. Hat’s off to Wellington, thank you so very much for letting us ride your sweet trails…we’ll be back.

OK, how much fun does this look like?

Hmmmmm Minties....

Scott, about to drop in on Welly...

Photographer Dan Milner in Morocco

2011-03-03T11:02:00.001-08:00

"If you look a little further than the quick-fix buzz of our purpose-built trails you’ll find a world littered with new riding experiences. With a little know-how and a taste for riding something other than berms and pump-bumps, you can combine bike and adventure for an experience you’ll remember for the rest of your days. Now more accessible than ever, riding in wild places is easier than you might think. Armed with a bulging Camelbak, Dan Milner sets off to Morocco to see how easily such plans come together."
READ THE FULL STORY ON PINKBIKE.COM.

Alexandra, Clyde and Ohau.

2011-03-03T10:53:00.002-08:00

Our great adventure continues in the land of the long cloud...as we move north the landscape morphs. As i write this im gazing out over teal green Lake Ohau and the surrounding peaks. We're near where Lord of the Rings was filmed, you can imagine how unreal this place looks. More to come....

Super fun riding in Alexandra. We didn't want to leave...

Robbie with Lake Ohau in the distance.

Riding Sticky Trees & helicopters in Wanaka

2011-03-02T01:37:00.000-08:00

Have you heard of Wanaka before? It's in the south island of New Zealand; an absolutely beautiful town on the shores of a big blue lake surrounded by jagged peaks and grassy rolling hills. The locals are kind and layed way way back and the atmosphere is so cool that you just want to bottle it up and take it home to share with all your friends. Today we rode a killer playground just out of town called Sticky Trees, a web of berms and little jumps a la pump track meets mini-dh zone. Then it was time to get high and we boarded a helicopter to a blustery peak for a very fun 5000-foot descent, NZ's highest heli drop. The ride ended very conveniently at a quaint pub with very tasty beers. What a day.

I found this mushroom in the Sticky Trees.

Mountain biker's nirvana.

Heli + Bikes= Fun.

Queenstown, NZ - a center of the universe

2011-03-01T09:39:00.002-08:00

As the plane descended through the clouds and the mountains yesterday to idylic Queenstown in the South Island of New Zealand, I was glued to the window taking in the spectacular views. I'd forgotten just how beautiful it is here -everywhere you look it's like a postcard. Queenstown is nearly perfect, set on the shore of a huge lake surrounded by impressive peaks. We built out bikes and went for a short spin just out of town and found a killer little stretch of singletrack and then the group converged on the beach in the evening sunshine for some wine and cheese and beer and a welcome to NZ cheers! Today we're off to Wanaka for a pedal on the Sticky Forest trails and then an afternoon heli drop and 5000-ft descent. It's going to be a great day...!

Bike-build stands at Auckland Airport...how civilized!

Dreamy.

Big!

BIG MOUNTAIN CAMPS LAUNCHED!

2011-02-27T08:33:00.000-08:00

We've had our heads down here at Big Mountain for awhile now working diligently on a new project: Big Mountain Camps to be held this summer in our favorite European Alps' playground - Verbier, Switzerland - with none other than the master himself as the architect of the camp, Wade Simmons. Well, we're proud to open up the doors and invite you in to take a look around...CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE NEW SITE. And, we're giving away a spot at Big Mountain Camps, all you have to do is become a "fan" of our Facebook page. CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE SWEEPSTAKES! We hope to see you on a trail sometime soon....

Embracing Diversity: Wade Simmons

2011-02-25T09:19:00.000-08:00

"Mountain biking seems to be a living, growing and evolving sport. It is extremely diverse. It’s hard to think of another sport that accommodates as many disciplines, and one that is constantly being shaped by technology and new product..." READ MORE FROM WADE ON PINKBIKE.COM HERE.

A young Wade proudly displaying his hardware.

Want to ride with Wade this summer and have him help you with your riding skills? CLICK HERE!

1% for the Planet partners with Big Mountain

2011-02-25T09:06:00.001-08:00

BIG MOUNTAIN ADVENTURES ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP

WITH 1% FOR THE PLANET

VANCOUVER, BC, January 25, 2011, - Big Mountain Adventures has joined 1% for the Planet, pledging a portion of its sales to support non-profit organizations focused on sustainability.

“Big Mountain is a great addition to the network. By signing on to 1%, it shows they’re really walking the walk in their sustainability efforts,” says Terry Kellogg, 1% CEO. “They’re using generosity as a tool with which to build their business and enabling valuable environmental work along the way. We’re excited to welcome them to the 1% family.”

“It feels fantastic to be supporting organizations who are committed to keeping our planet healthy. We visit so many beautiful places and meet special local people who support our trips wherever we go, ” says Big Mountain owner Chris Winter, “giving back is just right. And know that when you book one of our trips you’ll be giving back too.”

Members of 1% contribute one percent of revenue directly to any of the approved non-profit environment organizations in 1%’s network. Non-profits are chosen based on referrals, track record and environmental focus. Over 1,600 non-profits worldwide are included in the 1% program.

About 1% for the Planet

Started in 2002 by Yvon Chouinard, founder and CEO of Patagonia, and Craig Mathews, owner of Blue Ribbon Flies, 1% for the Planet is a growing global movement of over 1,200 member companies in 38 countries that donate 1% of their sales to environmental organizations worldwide. Each day, more than one new business joins the 1% for the Planet movement. As a network, the 1% community has become a global frontrunner in funding the work of environmental groups around the world. To learn more about 1% go to: www.onepercentfortheplanet.org

About Big Mountain Adventures

Founded in 2002, Big Mountain Bike Adventures Big offers worldclass all-mountain, XC and DH mountain bike trips to 11 countries on five continents. For additional information, visit www.ridebig.com <http://www.ridebig.com/> or call 1.866.894.0220 toll-free in North America / 604.730.2659. Blog: http://ridebig.blogspot.com/ and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/bigmountainbikeadventures

BM guide Ryan Sullivan speaking with a Taramuhara native in Copper Canyon, Mexico.

Vanderham, Shandro, Hunter and a bunch of Moroccan kids filming for The Collective.

The Economist: Vancouver, where the livin' is easiest

2011-02-23T10:52:00.002-08:00

Vancouver was just voted #1 city to live in on the planet by The Economist. There's no doubt that living in Vancouver is very good. This time of the year: spring has sprung and the cherry blossoms are about to pop across the city, North Shore trails are good to go (as they are year-round), restaurants are worldclass, the locals are chilled but still spicy and the nearby mountains are choking on dry powder. It's good here. Read the article here.

Who dosen't like a good cherry blossom?

BTW, we're running a stellar all-mountain trip this summer out of Vancouver, Sea to Sky from July 23-30. Come check out this region for yourself!