Contour & Big Mountain Adventures.

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.

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.

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.

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

the weather

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.

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.

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...

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.

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!

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

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

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

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?

Ride Alpenrock DH and get Chromag.

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.

 

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

 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

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.

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.

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

  Today we logged seven big laps high above San Remo. The driving here is crazy with super narrow roads that wind up and down the mountain side and quick, assertive drivers. Our shutttle driver is the ultimate multi-tasker, his phone would blast 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 a minute while honking around corners with the tunes pumping in the van and even a little TV going on the dash while each mirrow seemed mere centimeters from rock walls at any given time.

 

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

 

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

 

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

Canada represent. Matthew's and Schwartz' Devinci Wilsons ready for action, high in the clouds.

  For any of you who've driven this coastline you probaly remember the crazy autostrada highway that's tunnel then bridge, consecutively, for over an hour straight. I've driven it a bunch of times, t's been nice to see what lies beyond this highway and meet the locals. Our hosts have been amazing, driving us all day with nothing but big smiles and helping us whenever possible.

BM selected "The 20 Best New Trips."

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

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

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.

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...

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

"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.