First Snow!!!

Last nights cold front and a bit of moisture brought a little surprise today.  SNOW! There has always been something about the first snowfall that literally gives me goosebumps.  I feel like I am 4 years old. I remember a year in high school sitting in U.S. history and it started snowing outside and I turned into Cornholio and was sent to the principal's office.  Even though it is only September and the snow from this storm will melt away until the next weather system moves in, it's the sign of change.  The sign that winter is knocking on the door and I will loading the tram at Snowbird, most likely with my dad  and my brother. Although my own sons will soon be riding right along side of us.  I love snowboarding. It's a part of me and who I am.  It is what molded my family and is what helped us create lasting friendships with each other.

Fishing

After Christian's football game I took the boys fishing at Tibblefork. Jeff and Jessie came as well. After grabbing supplies at the Walmart we head up the canyon.  We didn't catch any fish, and Cort was not feeling too good, but we had a good time for sure.

Biking

Rode the Corner Canyon last week with Sean and Mark. Good times to be out with those dudes again. Here is a pic of Tucks ride I think before the wreck.

RIP Tom Sims

Tom Sims passed away last night.  Even though I never met or talked with Tom, he influenced snowboarding which is the sport that has shaped my life and who I am.  RIP Tom.  Hope you get some turns on the other side. Head to youtube for this one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B28kpDuqXVo&feature=player_embedded

Moose, Wasps, and Rain

Last night me and dad rode the Ridge Trail. We started at the summit and rode out to the 4 way and took the South Fork Deer Creek side and back up to the summit. They re-routed the bottom which was super nice.  I was a bit nervous to ride my fully rigid single speed up there as there are some steeper climbs and some rocky and rooted out downhill sections.  I hadn't been up there in a couple years since I  had not had a bike, but the trail was just the way I remembered. My Nashbar single speed 29er handled everything like a BOSS! On climbs I use to drop to granny gear on I was able to push right up them. Riding one gear has made me a much more powerful rider. I rode most of the trail better than I used to on a fully suspended geared bike and I am still not in that great of shape. My legs felt stronger than  ever though! For those that think single speeding is some type of super human activity, it's not.  But you can keep thinking that. On some of the rockier sections a nice suspension fork would have been nice as well as some hydraulic brakes, but it didn't ruin the fun by any means. Just a few feet into the trail a runner warned us of a large bull moose about a quarter mile in standing right in the trail.  We came up on him fast and I was about 10 feet away.  He stared me down a bit and we backed off the trail as some motorcycles were coming up behind us. When we stepped off the trail, dad backed right into a wasp nest.  They straight attacked him. He must have had about 15-20 stings. The moose left and we biked on. On the downhill after the 4 way I must have hit a wasp and he stuck to my calf and proceeded to zap me. That thing was vicious! Then about halfway up the climb to the summit it got dark on us and started to rain hard. The dirt quickly gummed up and was sticking to our bikes so we hopped onto the road and rode the rest the way up on that. It was a super fun ride! I get so stoked every time I go out. Biking up there does something different than riding down in the valley like Corner Canyon. The smells, and the trees and air breathe life back into you up there.

Stinger guy.

Didn't have my camera, but he looked like this guy.

Tuck's Ride

Tuck went up yesterday. I couldn't make it, but here is a pic.

Whip It!

Rode with Tuck and Rod this morning up in Corner Canyon.  Today was Tuck's first day on his new Cannondale single speed 29er. Rod was riding SS as well, but he is riding an 18t rear cog. He made me feel really tired because he was cranking the whole way and was still able to carry on a conversation. He was kind enough to take a couple breathers on the way up Clark's.  Rush was super fun today.  Rod  was riding fast which was good. It pushed me to ride faster than normal. I was throwing some nice whips and every time the Devo song would run through my head. I think I may have started to sing it out loud.  Time to stop drinking the Dew. Tuck was punishing me on the uphills.

This is Tuck's new bike.