in the driver's seat at crankworx slopestyle

Fresh Swiss vid from Joe

Join Joe this summer mountain biking in the Alps!

Smith Optics

Did you know that Ketchum, Idaho based Smith Optics has a complete line of shades and goggles dedicated to mountain biking? Yes, that's right. Not road biking or moto goggles or urban eyewear but stylee eye protection designed for those who ride mountain bikes. And we're pumped here at Big Mountain because our guides are rolling with Smith. Next time you're in your favorite bike shop grab a pair and slide them on, you'll see why - feather light, super visuals and with the style that you'd expect from Smith.

Above, the Pivlock V90 that comes with three sets of lenses which you can change in a matter of seconds. A great choice for riding bikes.

A few spots left...Yukon & Alaska Sept 5-11!

A quick flight from Vancouver to Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, and one of the planet's premiere adventure capitals. After a hot summer of riding at home, why not join us on this fantastic cross-country adventure in Canada's north? Highlights of our Midnight Sun trip? Sweet Whitehorse singletrack, a mind-blowing Kluane National Park ride, ferry from Haines to Skagway Alaska and great riding in the sleepy hamlet of Carcross...and beautiful views the whole time. Your guide is Yukon legend Ray Warner who will uncover the myths and show you the best trails in the area. Get in touch with us today!

Still not convinced? Watch this slideshow....and this video...

out of the shadows

if you're a skier you can't help but sit up and shift a little when you watch this ripping teaser. i know it's summer, where riding as much as possible and most of the northern hemisphere is in a heat wave but it's nice to get a taste of pointing it down a big snowy mountain. nice work from a group of relatively unknown skiers from BC, impressive skiing and cinematography. can't wait to see the whole flick.

MacAskill and his sticky meat in Chamonix

Always a pleasure to watch MacAskill ride his bike...he sees a landscape with a different set of eyes. I'm not sure that he needs the Alps as a backdrop to spruce up the shoot.

Joe update

Wondering what Joe's up to these days? This just in...

Hello,
I hope everyone's summer is off to a great start! I have been super pinned since I finished school off for the year. My Bike mag feature trip to Burns Lake was really fun, look for the story 
in a future Bike. I've been working with a couple photographers this season so far, and produced some sweet shots with Jordan Manley on the Shore, and Colin Meagher near Mt St Helens. I just wrapped up my sold-out Joe Schwartz Bike Camp in Calgary, where I rode with a bunch of stoked kids for the week. I am up in Whistler for the next three weeks, coaching Summer Gravity 
Camps. I also have a couple planned photo shoots while I am up there. After Whistler I head straight to Switzerland to run two downhill trips for Big Mountain Bike Adventures. I have a few spaces on my first trip (Aug 5-13) if anyone knows someone who has a little extra time and money on 
their hands! I have been posting a bunch of Regular Joe travel stories, photos and 
videos on my Regular Joe blog, so check that out! I have been shooting a lot with my GoPro cam this season, it has been fun to cut some videos. Expect to see a lot more as the summer shifts into an 
even higher gear! Have fun out there!  Joe

Alpenrock DH next month: a few spots left!

Next month we're off to the Swiss Alps to DH the singletrack with BC legends Wade Simmons and Joe Schwartz and we've got a few spots left. Want to join us? When will you ever get the chance to ride with these legends for 9 days in the Alps?

August 5-13: a few spots open, guided by Joe Schwartz and Stephen Matthews
August 13-21: full
August 21-29: a few spots open, guided by Wade Simmons and Stephen Matthews

Check out a photo essay on NSMB.com with unreal photos by Blake Jorgenson. 

A look back: Kranked I

It's amazing to see how far mountain biking has come in such a short time...I wonder where it'll be ten years from now?

Chromag

There's a little company out of Whistler BC that's shaking up the status quo with some really cool technology. They're called Chromag. You might have seen them around. We rock Chromags' bars, stems and saddles and we could not be happier. Add their bars to your ride and you'll be happy you did, it'll change the way you ride.

Top ten reasons to book your next trip with us!

1. Our leaders are former Olympians, professional mountain bikers and consummate, passionate professionals, oh, and they're the kind of people that you'll want to sit beside at dinner.
2. We know mountain biking like the back of our hand and we'll recommend the right trip for you.
3. What's the weather like at Machu Picchu? What tires are best for the Dolomites? We know each destination intimately.
4. We'll pick you up at the airport and drop you off at the end of your trip and in between you can ride as much, or as little as you want.
5. Rest assured, safely is our top priority.
6. Need some riding tips? Our guides are happy to help.
7. Our pre-trip assistance is comprehensive. We'll help you book flights, find the best insurance, book extra hotel nights and make sure that you are well prepared for the adventure ahead.
8. Expect small groups and great results on all our departures. Looking for a custom trip? Let us know.
9. We love to ride but also appreciate the local culture, great food and sights. Expect to come home enriched.
10. We've done the research; we work with the locals and will take you to the best riding that's most often not on any map.

Spring showers brings thoughts of...

So here in Vancouver and Whistler we're having a bit of a wet spring...OK, it's been more than just a bit wet, it's been downright nasty; on and off like a tap...the steam of weather is a straight line from from the Philippines to Vancouver which means at least it's been warm...

 

A few days ago a few of us drove up the highway from Vancouver while a few more drove down from Whistler to meet in Squamish. On the phone that morning we seriously considered pulling the plug on the ride as rain was threatening, as usual. We went anyway and man, what a good call. Squamish, which has always been one of my favorite places to ride anywhere has been investing big dough in new trail development and let me tell you....the new additions are unreal. Crazy-fun berms a la A-Line interspersed with really fun pumping singletrack in a beauty mossy green forest. We rode Ted's new Half Nelson, Psudosuga, Deliverance, Your Mom...it rained a little but we didn't even notice.

The moral of the story is get out and ride. Rain. Shine. Whatever. You'll be happy you did!

Live in Vancouver? Slideshow & short films next Thurs!

Come out and get inspired to ride. Photos from around the globe and short video clips. Read about it on NSMB. Hope to see you soon!

Cloudraker in the Swiss Alps

I just got an email from a Swiss friend, Raphael Faiss, who's guided some of our Cloudraker trips in years past. His email was simple, "incredible ride," was all it said with the photo below and the photo above attached. Indeed Raph, that was an incredible ride. I remember that particular trip...it was mid-August and the weather was particularly fiesty. Usually we get a few tough moments weather-wise...a rainy morning or full day of drizzle or maybe even some fresh snow in the highest rides. On this trip it was nasty for what seemed like seven out of ten days. I remember leaving the Cabane de Mont Fort one morning (after spending the night) and it was pissing rain, cold, and almost snowing. Ouch. We started the day with a traverse and then a very very long downhill to the Rhone Valley far below. By the time we started the descent my fingers were frozen, fortunately by the time we arrived at the van it was hot and sun was out. The photos above and below are a few days later, just before dropping into the famous Brazilian descent. What trumps my memories of the tough weather was the group. Despite the challenges we pulled together and gelled like old friends, helping each other up and down the big mountains, laughing at the tough moments and buying extra rounds of beers at the end of each day. If any of you from that group are reading this...thanks for the great rides. And to all of you who've joined us on our Cloudraker trip over the years...thanks for joining us! We pioneered some of the rides in the Valais region believe it or not. Cloudraker has always been my favorite trip, it's not always easy, but it sure is worth it...And thanks Raphael for taking time to be such a great companion in your backyard. Maybe one day i will be able to keep up to you on the climbs!

Trans Portugal

Friends just got home from the TRANSPORTUGAL multi stage race that crosses Portugal from the North to South over 9 stages totalling approximately 1150 km. Hmmmmmm, that's 127 kms per day by the way, a whole lot of mountain biking! The race starts in the city of Bragança and finishes in Sagres in the Algarve with only 60 participants max at the start line. Do you want to do the 2011 version? It sounds tough, but beautiful! Check out these great photos by Carlos Dias. Makes me want to go riding in Portugal!

Live in Calgary? You could win a spot on our Alpenrock DH trip...

If you live in Calgary and are looking for a new bike...buy a Trek from Calgary Cycle and you'll be entered to win a spot on our famous Alpenrock DH trip with Joe Schwartz. The odds are pretty good that you'll be riding sweet singletrack in the land of cows, cheese and big, big mountains...see you in Geneva!

Ride with Joe in the Alps

Some sweet views from Big Mountain guide and teacher extraordinaire Joe Schwartz, summer 2009. Former pro mountain biker with mad skills, professional heli ski and mountain bike guide,  cultural aficionado, French speaker, master mountain bike instructor and the kind of great guy that you want to hang out with...could Joe be the ultimate guide? Want to ride with Joe this summer? I think we might have a few spots left on our Alpenrock DH trip.

Ten things about mountain biking in Whistler

Thanks to our friends at Chromag for this...

not a bad day. more Brendan...

Brendan Semenuk and his Rock Shox in Durango

Smooth like butter. It's such a pleasure to watch Brendan rail the Colorado dirt with impressive precision yet natural slackness.