I can’t believe it’s Saturday. It honestly feels like yesterday or the day before that Connor and I were helping out Shaums at the Garage Sale. Our ride down Powersmart? That could have been yesterday too. This seriously feels like I’ve already had a three day weekend…and it’s only saturday night!

When our road-trip plans fell through, Connor and I agreed that we’d have to throw an airdome session into the weekend. Friday night didn’t work out, so tonight seemed like a good idea. I really wanted to know if my backflips the last time were a fluke, or if I’d remember what I was doing. Connor needs to dial in his tricks for the upcoming competition season and Trevor decided to join us since the airdome is such a good time.

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Connor and I have been talking about going to the Airdome for quite some time. The Airdome is Whistler-Blackcomb’s indoor bike park. Housed in a small-warehouse sized building there are two lines of wooden jumps (skate park style), and everyone’s reason for going there…the Foam Pit. What better place for a guy scared of jumping, then a big pool-sized box of foam blocks!?!

As we packed for the airdome, I asked Connor if he thought I should bring my camera. The camera was partially for him, to grab some shots if he started doing something interesting…but also for me, it gives me a chance to duck out of jumping if I’m not feeling it! The response was “no, you’re going to be riding the whole time.” Sigh, okay…man up!

On the drive to whistler I got the run down from Connor on foam-pit etiquette, strategies for actually landing ‘properly’ and a few warnings on how I might manage to hurt myself signifacantly…even though it’s “foam”.

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Connor has been dying to take me down to Coquitlam to a spot called Pipeline. Here the jumps are built in a progressive manner, and the website claims to have jumps suitable for everything from beginners to pros. That seems like a complete no brainer, we could combine it with some Karting, and I do want to figure this jumping thing out. So what the heck, lets go down.

Kyle, Connor and I loaded up the Bug around 1:00 and headed for the city. As an added bonus it was reportedly sunny down there while it was raining in Squamish. You really can’t complain about those odds…especially for $20 in gas!

We arrived at Pipeline Park, and it was primarily exactly as advertised. It’s a 4-cross track with dirt jumps running in the middle of it. At first glance it works, then you ride it..and realize there is a certain element of rider conflict in the design. But then again, it’s built in the amount of space that you could have either a 4-cross track OR dirt jumps…but not both if you want to avoid the conflict. So you resign yourself to agreeing it works.

Kyle was the first to drop in on an easy set for warm up, with Connor right after. I figured what the heck, and dropped in right after them. I made the first jump out of the four without issue, and cased badly on the second. No worries, that was to be expected. Run two was much the same, though Connor was rather surprised I dropped in right on his tail so closely. Run number three…no so much.

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Okay, I’m hooked on the dirt jumping. Dropping down the ramp…the anticipation, fear, adrenalin rush…I am absolutely hooked.

I wasn’t going to hit the jumps today. I was so tired from work, painting the car and skiing, I simply drove over to the jumps to say Hi to Connor. We quickly chatted, checked out the new line he’s working on and then I headed home to grab dinner and sleep on the couch.

Connor knew I was coming back before I even did. I want to figure it out this year, break through the mental block and get it…really get it. This is the year I’m going to do it, and it really is true for once. I was pedaling back to the jumps on my own accord. There was no one bugging me, no one pushing me. Just a buddy to ride with and a group of jumps calling out. It just feels right.

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Connor had joined me for a full day of sanding the Beetle. The poor guy is such a trooper and good friend. In fact Scott, Wayne, Connor, Craig and Clinton all showed their true colors as good friends with this project. Each of them took time out to come over and help. Hours and hours of sanding…and they all did it without even complaining.

Connor and I were hitting the wall with the Bug. It was at that point where we’d put in hours of sanding and yet hadn’t made a dent. The project was far too along to consider going back, but there wasn’t even a glimmer of hope that the finish was near. I could see it in his eyes…he could see it in mine. We needed a break.

Connor, being the 17yr old nut job that he is, figured that dirt jumping was just the break that we needed. Dirt Jumping? Wouldn’t a shuttle and a DH run be more interesting? C’mon, you know you want to… My fear of bike tires leaving the ground was already flowing. Excuses were coming up left, right and center. But no. He was having none of it.

Connor, you see… Wait, have you noticed I’ve started every paragraph with “Connor”? hahaha. wonder if I can continue this through the whole post…

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