Once a year, web magazine NSMB.com holds a contest in hopes to find a young jedi to add to their team roster. I tagged along to provide support with my camera, and also to partake in some sick riding.
Silver Star has one of the best bike parks going in BC right now as far as I’m concerned. It’s a combination of their soil quality, and obviously their trail construction that make the big difference. Their machine built trails have amazing flow to them, which is primarily a function of the slope gradient, and as well with the way they use the slopes to manage your speed. Several sections will wrap back up hill in order to scrub your speed so you don’t have to brake. It’s effective in reducing the erosive effects of heavy braking, and the formation of braking bumps.
Not only do they have flowy machine built trails with huge jumps and awesome berms, but they also have some legit downhill trails as well. I grew up downhill racing at Silver Star, so it’s always a treat to get back there and ride the trails that shaped some of my skills as a mountain biker. Awesome stuff.
Silver Star has hosted the NSMB Airprentice for three years running, with a pretty cool contest concept. They do open sessions on the jump lines to see who’s got the smoothest tricks, then they cut everyone loose with a photographer and everyone has to come up with some sick photos for the end of the first day. The next day they stage a downhill race, and then choose finalists. The most suitable candidate is the one who can shred at high caliber, but also produce content. That winner this year was my friend Stephen Matthews, and he walked away with a brand new 2011 Specialized Demo 8, a hardtail, and a huge pile of swag. Total prize was in the neighborhood of about $9000 worth of stuff. Pretty cool.
It’s a great weekend to participate in, and the riding is sure fire. Get up there if you have the chance, it is great mountain biking.
