back from camp....

[Irulan]

here's my write up:

Where to start....I was so happy that Des decided to come up with me.
Everyone was really nice, but having a buddy there really is best.

Now you all know I went two years ago, to a similar camp, some of the same
coaches, similar structure, but there is a new admin now, and they really
have it together. The whole program was awesome, and I would HIGHLY
recommend it to any gal... they do a coed in July or August I think,
http://www.devineride.com

The first night was a little get together at the LBS for some mini-session,
everything from how to change a tire, to understanding suspension, disc
brakes, fitting, and minor maintenance.
http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/mis.../wIMG_1410.jpg

But the real fun began Saturday morning.

We started each day with a little yoga session....
http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/mis.../wIMG_1420.jpg and then went on to
skills work. The session was set up at an elementary school, which had
great features, in addition to the various ramps, logs and jumps brought in
by the camp. I do have a lot of pics of the built stuff, if anyone wants
ideas I'd be happy to send them to you.

There were about 30 gals, divided by ability into 5 groups, 1 being
beginner, 5 being rock star. I was thrilled to be in 4 with Tuffgrrl. We
all the same skills, some of it was refreshed, some if it was brand new, and
then some was more things that I was just "ready to learn" that I wasn't
ready for last time.

New skills included "west coast dismount" for jumping off of skinnies, rear
tailwhip, lots of balance work on the skinnies - starting stopping and
hops. This school location was a blast, there were lots of staircases to
ride, hills, gravel slopes etc so it was perfect. I guess the little kids
bring their bikes and play here after school, no sue- paranoid
administration trying to shut them down. I rode two sets of long stairs, one
with a landing and a turn, the other was enclosed, with walls on either
side, that one was a little tougher and I didn't get the corner real well.

Here's skills sessions shots from both days:

http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/mis.../wP7256515.jpg Hot grrl from
Petition working on manuals/jumps

http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/mis.../wP7256492.jpg Me working on hops
and start/stop in the skinnies section
http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/mis.../P7256546w.jpg They had two
teeter totters set up.

We rotated through several stations in the mornings... braking/descending,
switchback, manuals & unweighting, jumps, and skinnies. We had a break, did
some more, and then went of for lunch at a local pub.

I thought you all would appreciate this shot:
http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/mis.../wIMG_1435.jpg
and, no: that was ice tea in the pitchers, not beer...
http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/mis.../wIMG_1434.jpg

After lunch, it was the challenge yourself ride. We went out to Snake, a
short but steep ride with a lot of built up items and tight steep switch
backs. I found out that I really have a hard time maintaining focus on the
built items... they are new and unfamiliar to me, and I have a hard time
committing to the line. I was very intimidated by the elevated structure and
log riding, a lot of it I just watched.
My rule, was try it three times.
Coach Penny ( the other one) demoing for us
http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/mis.../wIMG_1440.jpg

Here's me trying an elevated thing, I was not successful at maintaining and
continuing my line after the first little turn, but I gave it a shot. I
would've like a lower, straighter one to work on.
http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/mis.../wIMG_1465.jpg

Then the big teeter totter. Here's a gal who just went for it.
http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/mis.../wIMG_1496.jpg

The trees made it a little intimidating:
http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/mis.../wIMG_1505.jpg

Here's my first attempt
http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/mis.../wIMG_1509.jpg
And my second attempt:
http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/mis.../wIMG_1529.jpg

GOT IT ON MY THIRD TRY... just picked that line down the center. Took a
little jump off the end but hey I made it!
http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/mis.../wIMG_1542.jpg
http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/mis.../wIMG_1544.jpg

Ok. You can stop laughing now. I was infamous for that, and earned the
nickname tree hugger. We rode that portion of the trail Sunday, and I'll
have you know I cleaned it perfectly.


Lower down there were some other elements that were much more familiar for
me, and that I could be a rock star at:
http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/mis.../wIMG_1582.jpg
http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/mis.../wP7256615.jpg

It was awesome for me to see I was really strong at this kind of thing...
but them again it's familiar/comfortable for me.

There were tight steep switchbacks above all this. This is another are
where I need to really focus on committing...
http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/mis.../P7256605w.jpg right before I
gave
into my lack of commitment to the turn.
http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/mis.../P7256584w.jpg I did a little
better where it wasn't quite so steep.

Sunday was great. You got to pick your skill session based on what you
wanted to work on. I picked skinnies and jumps, since there were just going
to be two session, and then a short ride to put in into play.
Well, gang, I jumped!!!! Understand, I couldn't even jump off a curb before
this. I had to work the progression up through all the boxes, and then was
able to move up to the smaller ramp they set up. I realize I work through
some of this stuff a little slower than some of my group members, but so
what. As they moved onto the biggest jump, I just tried to get really soled
on the next one down. If we'd had another half hour I think I would've
headed for the big one. OTOH, after seeing some things here at camp, I'm
pretty sure that "going real big" is not for me. but who knows, now that I
"get it", I will be working on it....

We did a short ride back to Snake, and then after lunch was fun time. I went
on a more XC ride called technogrind. Fun fast single track with some
smoking climbs, a little more rock, and great views. I got solid on my front
wheel lift over roots and up on racks while climbing. The ride wasn't
terrible challenging but it was real fun, and a great way to finish up the
camp. Great views from the top, too.
http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/mis.../wIMG_1606.jpg


Awesome swag handouts at the end of the day. Tuffgrrl and I have lots of
generous invites to come on back to hang with the locals, which is really
cool.

Any of you go to Pinkbike? There was a gal there from Pinkbike on sat, if
you see here write up let me know...

<sigh> fun weekend

penny

[Kpicha]

Sweeeeet! I'm glad you had a great time and learned a lot! It looks like a ton o' fun. Its amazing how much more confident you can become on the bike when you learn a new skill. I just finally learned how to do wheelie drops this weekend Well, it looks like it was a good thing you had pads on! Especially with the tree hugging incident! That looked painful. I kept thinking of scraping my shins on the board

So, do you have any pics of the jumps and how they progress in size? I'll do jumps as long as they're not more than two feet high I can't seem to keep my balance in the air.

Oh, the link is dead for the picture of the steep switchback. I was hoping to see that one

Cheers,
Kristina

[JanT]

Oh, boy, that looks like fun! Looks like you had a good time and learned alot. Do you have teeter-totters, etc. near you to continue working on the skills?

[Irulan]

I do have some pics of the stunt progressions. I need to edit/resize them etc. They were great progressions, and the coaches made sure you were really solid on one be fore they'd let you go on to the next one. And then if you started getting shaky, they'd size you down until you were feeling comfortable. They wouldn't let you leave a session without sucess at some size.

My friend who went with me, they have a stunt course in their back yard, but it's fairly high off the ground with big jumps. She's going to try and get him to build some smaller things.


We don't have many stunt like things around here to practive on, that's why they were unfamiliar territory for me. Pads are mandatory on all the trail rides. All the Canadian wear them just as an everyday fact of life. I didn't have them last time I went to camp, ( none of the americans did) and they had to loan them to us. While some hard core folks say you are a poser if you wear them, I find they are great when ever I am going to be challenging my self, or riding somewhere where the penalty for a crash is higher.

Here are the switchback photos. This is right before I tipped over, It's time to work on my unwillingness to commit to the line...



and some less steep ones...

[Irulan]

Here's some of the progressions:

items for wheel lifts, a foam noodle was the smallest on the end:


some of the jump boxes:


skinnies, not all of them


big teeter totter:


jump progressions, note ramp box on the left:

[betagirl]

Looks like a lot of fun. Makes me want to put my fat tires back on my mountain bike