One of the things that I love about photography is how there is a first time for everything. First time with a camera, first time shooting sports, first time using lighting, first time shooting a longboard race, first time…
This was my first time shooting a longboard race even though I have been in Calgary when the Paskapoo Downhill Rodeo happened. And as promised by the name and every story I have heard preceding the race, it sure is a wild race.

Skateboards have always eluded my grasp as a masterable skill; maybe its me being 6’4, maybe its my lack of coordination, or even lack of effort but the respect I have for the sport is fully there. From the moments in between crashes on my attempts at skateboarding where I feel in control and gracefully (many would beg to differ) carving down some of the pavement have been amazing.

On a photography note i’m really happy no one crashed into the hay bales for this last image, i was laying directly behind the part of the corner where riders most often drifted too far, clipped their board and were sent careening towards where my lens would be. Why do the most interesting points of view for sports always have to be so dangerous? (On that note I was shooting from the top of a mostly dead tree last night which swayed 2 feet in every direction whenever I shifted my weight…)

For several years I spent over thirty days every summer riding MTBs at COP. As of last week I had been there twice in just under two years. Injury and changing jobs (MTB teacher to general labor) kept me away from my bike and out of loop with riding.

This week I have been there 3 times already, planning to be back tomorrow (although its shooting longboarding). Being a tiny ski hill inside a city the trails and terrain are limited and shooting anything is a huge challenge (which often makes me want to shoot it more).

On Thursday I rode by myself for nine laps on the chairlift and amazingly my still injured knee felt better than shooting on Wednesday for two hours.

Rogers Pass

I recently moved from Victoria BC to Calgary where I now live, on during the trip some of the most beautiful cloud formations were making the surrounding landscapes into the most beautiful 10+ hour drive from the Coast to Calgary. I would have loved to stop and climb onto one of the surrounding peaks and just watch the clouds move and transform the light in beautiful uncontrollable ways.

Banff

Yamnuska (if you live in the area and haven’t climbed this peak you really should.

And from my more recent trip to Golden I was left with an evening and nothing more to do than clench my stomach for the tuna and crackers that didn’t agree with me. Instead of wallowing in self pity I drove out to Thompson Falls (also known as Blaeberry Falls) The light was falling in the sky and i was probably the only human for 10km around so I plan to get back there very soon to explore the area more.

Thompson Falls

I haven’t been to Kicking Horse in many years for summer riding. The last time I was there must have been at least four years ago riding a terribly maintained Norco Sasquatch, the 5′ hardtail that had no rebound so it rode like a 2 inch fork. After a day of riding I almost cried from the pain in my hands and never wanted to return for summer riding. At least not any time soon.

Now, years down the rode I still didn’t ride Kicking Horse, just navigated the treacherous by foot. From what I saw of the hill they’ve really stepped it up and are making some really cool features and trails. They still have their burly big mountain trails that many love, but there is more out there for the stunt loving freeride bikers out there.

The race comes a year and a week after the last Mt 7 Psychosis ( which I shot last year) and although still can’t replace the infamous race is sort of standing in for all the Kootenay DH junkies.

This shot is of Stephen Matthews, it was shot on Mt 7 on the Friday before the race. He came in second in his division by only .5 seconds. Even though he lost quite a bit of time to a crash over a berm while trying to overtake a rider. Props.

And a lovely scenic of the Bow River Valley with Mt Temple on the left. Anybody feeling like they need to spend a bit more time outside the city limits right now?