Surfer: Shane Dorian Location: Jaws, Maui, HI Photo: Jason Kelley
Riders: Mark Reaman & Seth Mensing Location: Gunnison, CO Photo: Mike Horn
Athlete: Unknown Location: Kailua-Kona, HI Photo: Scott Martin
Sculler: Brad Wieners Location: Craftsbury Sculling Center, VT Photo: Justin Cash
Fish: Rainbow Trout Location: Secret Spot, MT Photo: Adam Barker
StokeVision 1.01
Eye-Popping Images
1.02
The Ingredients
1.03
Contributors
Features 2.01
Driva River Ramble
2.02
Welcome to the Maple Jungle
2.03
Tailgate: “What a great name for a town!”
Gear Scope 3.01
Shades, sneaks, snacks, and discs …easy livin’
the ingredients I wipe the slush off my mountain bike saddle, and scratch at last fall’s fossilized mud. Where was that final ride? Don’t remember. Sometime in between fall and winter, stick season.
“true” spring, dry and warm down in the high desert—70-degree temps and tacky trails devoid of snow; blooming sage framed by distant, powder-pasted peaks.
If I were kinder to my gear, last season’s mud would be long gone and the chain cleaned and greased with fresh lube. Instead, I’m pulling it off the porch where it’s been thoroughly abused by spring in the Rockies. Up here that means snow, rain, more snow, wind, sun, repeat. But just 30 miles away it’s
It’s stokologist Seth Mensing’s birthday, and Mark Reaman and I join him for a bike ride; we’re glad it’s warm, t-shirt weather once we begin climbing out of Gunnison’s Hartman Rocks parking lot. A donut hole of clear sky bakes the hoodoos and hillsides in this Old West landscape. Singletrack spirals us
through sage, stone and sand; we periodically point our tires toward distant, 12,000plus foot peaks where biking won’t happen for months. It’s a tale of two seasons. Spring is defined by where you are. The date on the calendar is a benchmark, a reminder of weather to come. Today, spring is signaled by a taste of suffering, pedaling with muscles that haven’t seen use in five months or so, and the renewed appreciation for warmth. Despite the abuse,
my bike runs like it’s freshly tuned and I’m reminded that riding singletrack is one of my favorite things. One of… Rarely can you brew up a cocktail of so many activities all at once. Whether it’s boating, biking, climbing, skiing/riding, fishing, camping, or doing absolutely nothing, enjoy. Mike Horn, Editor
Photo: Mike Horn
STOKOLOGISTS Justin Cash + Mike Horn ART DIRECTION + DESIGN
Randy Elles 4 Jeff Wainer 4 ADVERTISING & SALES
Kimberly Morse4 COPY EDITOR
Seth Mensing 4 WEB NINJA
Lavada Bramlitt 4 STOKE CONTRIBUTORS
Adam Barker4 Jason Kelley 4 Scott Martin 4 Greg Stafford 4 Ryan Thibault 4 STOKELAB GRAPHICS
Jeff Wainer4
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SOURCE
E TO SEA
WORDS AND PHOTOS BY SCOTT MARTIN
“Yes!” was the first word that came out of my mouth when Rob Wilson and Ine Skjorten from Planet River invited me to join their Source To Sea expedition down the Driva River. This was my first visit to the kayaking Mecca of Norway.
Our goal was not as simple as finding the furthest water source, jumping onto the river and following it to the ocean. Planet River explores and documents our world’s rivers from source to mouth by photo, film and pen and subsequently publishes illustrated guidebooks on their full length. So not only did we face the daily grueling challenges and surprises that expeditions throw at you, but we also had homework to do along the way, collecting data each day for the guidebook.
We spent four hours moving equipment from the parked car at Snoheim to one of the furthest sources of the Driva River. After setting up camp under Snohetta peak (5,347 feet above sea level) my legs felt wobbly and tired. All the excitement of paddling a river from source to sea clouded the fact that you first have to get to the source, before you go down hill.
A low-pressure cell arrived, forcing us to hibernate in a mountain hut out of the harsh conditions. Snow, sleet, rain and wind, all within 36 hours, enabled us to catch up on expedition notes and journal entries as we rested our tired bodies and refueled.
The storm finally passed and we were blessed with blue skies. I was told that Norwegian summers can be grey and rainy, so I felt lucky to feel the sun. Once again we were moving gear from one point to another due to the river still being rather shallow.
When descending a river from its source, you can look back over your shoulder and see where you have come from, and how fast you’ve traveled.
Looking down on anything from above is deceiving; you see it in two dimensions instead of three.The small gorge walls run steep along the river, forcing us to climb up when we needed to scout. What looked like a nice easy rapid turned out to be much steeper than expected.
Climbing into our boats, we ran some great boogie water, followed by our first horizon line and a fun Class 3 gorge called Storfallet. The crystal clear water ran right up against the steep gorge walls.
We were content to walk around since it really looked like the river just dropped off the face of the earth. Looking at our maps we had expected a walk; but instead we had a very long and hot afternoon that took us from a green lush forest into a farm field, along the cow tracks and through the mud until we finally found the river again. The river kept a steady and somewhat steep gradient, keeping us busy day after day.
The water levels need to be right before you enter GrĂĽura canyon, no storms up river and no possible chance of the river rising, because once you are in the canyon you are committed ‘til the end.Trying to climb out is possibly more dangerous than paddling through it, we were told. This was foremost in our minds when we arrived at the entrance of the canyon.
We continued downriver, eventually arriving at the Sunndalsfjorden, humbled and inspired by the Driva. Over 15 days, we descended approximately 5,347 feet over 87 miles.
Explore Scott Martin’s work at www.scottmartinimages.com For more in-depth beta on rivers around the world, www.planetriver.com
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Pedaling the Maple Jungle Words and Photos by Ryan Thibault I often refer to Vermont as the East Coast of New England. Or, more accurately, The Pacific Northeast. We have a lot in common with our distant neighbors to the west. We share a similar political climate, sense of community, and best of all, love of recreation. It also rains here... a lot. One needs to ride a bike simply to avoid growing mold.
Mix the aforementioned ingredients into the Vermont pot and what cooks up is a burgeoning mountain bike community; extensive trail networks flow through our Maple Jungle, connecting quaint villages. From technical descents on greasy granite to sinuous sand-packed trails cutting through pine loam, we have it all. Picture British Columbia through a macro lens... or see Vermont through my lens.Â
Rider: Jay Knecht & mascot Jackson Location: Cadys Falls, Morrisville, VT
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Rider: Orion Wolk Location: St. Johnsbury, VT
Rider: Jay Knecht Location: Cadys Falls, Morrisville, VT
Ryan Thibault is cofounder of Mountain Bike Vermont. Check out his work and website at www.mtbvt.com
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Touching down at
t Tailgate, Alaska Words & Photos by Greg Stafford
Location: Goodwill Ridge, Thompson Pass, Alaska
Driving into Tailgate, Alaska one is struck with two obvious facts. First, the vertical rise and steepness of the peaks surrounding you makes your spine tingle. Second, there is a smaLlcity growing up right in the heart of the Chugach Mountains. This small city—-Tailgate—-is composed of an increasing horde of like-minded skiers and snowboarders all with one common mission in mind: To go out and shred the worldclass terrain surrounding them in the search for the ultimate adrenaline thrill. Tailgate, the event, was started in 2009 by Mark Sullivan as a gathering of big mountain riders who came to shred and compete in the World Freeride Championships. The Chugach Mountains have been and always will be one of the epicenters of big mountain riding. From 1991-2001, Thompson pass was home to the World Extreme Skiing Championships (WESC) and King of the Hill (KOH), one of the most progressive periods in big mountain skiing and snowboarding. When I arrived at Tailgate, Alaska was experiencing one of the worst snow seasons on record. While the Pacific Coast got storm after storm, Alaska had a highpressure system hovering over the state for more than a month. We dug in and finally the next day it started to snow. Once it started snowing, it didn’t stop. In Alaska patience is the name of the game and you have to be willing to wait it out till it goes from greybird to bluebird. Luckily, there was a beer garden, ping-pong, Internet and other amenities to keep our minds occupied when the weather wasn’t cooperating. cooperating. When the weather
finally broke, we found that snow conditions had improved dramatically. Finally on April 6, it went Code Blue and the KOH and remaining WESC skiers headed up to Bro Bowl to compete in the World Freeride Championships. As a competitor, I found the camaraderie of the event inspiring as both skiers and snowboarders stepped it up to ride some serious lines. After some of the best runs of my life there was only one destination—the beer garden. They even had a special brew made just for Tailgate from the Alaskan Brewing Company. Hot dogs and salmon were
Rider: Joe Shimek Location: Berlin Wall, Alaska
Location: Tailgate AK, Thompson Pass, Alaska
Rider: Ross Baker Location: Left of Bro Bowl, Alaska
grilled on the BBQ. The atmosphere was relaxed as everybody kicked back and reflected on the amazing day. That night it started snowing Alaska Style. Over the next two days it snowed over three feet, and Tailgate went Code Blue again. My French friend Jo Maubet and I headed up Nicks to get some laps on the Berlin Wall and other lines in the area. It was one of those super-charged days in the mountains that truly stoke the fire.
Tailgate is one of the biggest backcountry events in the world, and a place where amateurs and pros not only compete, but also teach, and come together to learn how to ride big lines safely. Mad props to the Alaska Avalanche Information Center, which played a critical role in keeping everybody safe at Tailgate.
King of the Hill Men 1. Will Brommelsiek, 482 2. Ross Baker, 469 3. Scott Sheer, 468 4. Brandon Reid, 467 5. Jeremy Thompson, 465
Women 1. Holly Enderle, 410 2. Iris Lazzareschi, 398 3. Rachel Sheidow, 395 4. Casey Lucas, 389 5. Sunny Prather, 382
WORLD EXTREME SKIING CHAMPIONSHIPS 1. Dan Vandermeulen, 501 2. Greg Stafford, 481 3. Rhett Foster, 440 4. Dorian Densmor, 433 5. Jordan Pond, 244 6. Jo Maubet, 215
Skier: Dan Vandermeulen Location: Bro Bowl, Alaska
Skier: Jo Maubet Location: Berlin Bowl, Alaska
Greg Stafford’s photography is focused but not limited to landscapes with keen interest in waterfalls and mountains. He is also involved in photographing many different types of action sports with specialties in Skiing, Mountain Biking, and Rafting. See more of Greg Stafford’s photography at www.gregstaffordphotography.com
NATIVE EYEWEAR CHONGA $109 (W/REFLEX LENS) No, the Chongas aren’t tricked out with an embedded MP3 player, GPS, or X-Ray vision capability. They’re just good ole-fashioned, style-forward lifestyle shades, optimal for kicking back and soaking it all in. But if you do get a little rowdy, they won’t slip off your face, thanks to Cushinol no-slip nose pads. The Chongas best fit a medium-to-large profile, and come equipped with polarized lenses. Get the Reflex lens for enhanced glare reduction.
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KATE’S REAL FOOD BARS FIVE FLAVORS $2.29-$2.99 I experienced the power of Kate’s Real Food Bars while riding the Monarch Crest Trail outside Salida, Colorado last summer. If you tack on the Rainbow Trail, you’re looking at a 35-mile ride, much of it singletrack at pretty high altitude. Needless to say, you can’t consume enough calories, and the Grizzly Bar I had stashed kept me from bonking on the last leg of the ride. Take it from someone who has a hard time choking down over-processed bars, especially when redlining—these taste like “real food”—and will keep you fueled through thick and thin. Kate just added two new flavors, Stash Bar (Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate w/ flax and hemp) and Handle Bar (Dark Chocolate Cherry Almond), joining the Tram Bar, Caz Bar and Grizzly Bar.
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COLUMBIA MASTER OF FASTER $125 First off, what an awesome name for a shoe?! Second, this fresh offering from Columbia is a master of all terrain and travel, a hybrid multisport shoe for everything from trail running to peak baggin’. The mesh upper features Omni-Tech waterproof-breathable technology for protection against the elements, welded seams for minimal-yet-strong support, and Columbia’s Techlite collar and tongue for a comfortable fit. The Master of Faster, with its complementary breathability and weatherproofing, is your go-to for both sunny-day scrambles and wet-weather rambles. Rock on-
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FLASHFLIGHT FLYING DISC $20 Throwing disc is one of the great time-burners, whether pre-gaming at a concert or kicking it in the backyard. Once the sun goes down, it’s game over—unless you’re playing under the lights, or rocking a Flashflight. The Flashflight disc is illuminated by a single LED and nine fiber-optic strands that push the light to the rim of the disc. This isn’t some cheesy throwaway gimmick—Flashflights are powered by replaceable batteries and are NOT disposable. And they hold a pretty mean flight path, too.
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SEE YOU AT THE PUT IN... ISSUE NO5, COMING LATE SUMMER 2011