Jordtron Jumpathon
Joe Perrizo, Guy Marsh and Andrew Taylor showed up a my place late Friday night to start the trek north to the Black Box Labs Invitational Jordtron Jumpathon in Parksville, BC.
Joe’s car was already pretty packed, but we managed to get all of my gear loaded, and with a sleeping bag wedged between my legs and my camera pack on my lap we were off.
We hit the border in good time, and but once at the border bam “Please pull over to the customs area, and go wait inside…” So much for our careful packing, off come the bikes, and out comes the brick of sleeping bags packs, shoes and gear from the trunk. After some explaining about the “promotional” copies “Northwest Dirt Culture II” in the trunk, we were once again on our journey.
DAY 1
We rolled in to Nick and Ryan Meyer’s place at 1:30am or so and sacked out on the basement floor until morning. Saturday morning, Andrew Cho and Brendan Howey showed up. We loaded up once again and jammed down to catch one of the early ferries to Vancouver Island.
Brendan Howey, Ryan and Nick Meyer and Andrew Cho
Andrew Taylor and Guy Marsh
Once on the Island, we stopped off at one of Canada’s fine dining establishments, (Tim Horton’s), to sample their morning menu, then back to business.
Joe Perrizo
Nick tossin the horns from the Meyermobile
We arrived at the Lunn’s place and finally got a chance to see the infamous backyard jumps firsthand.
Left - Hip line Center - step-up step-off ramp Right - Main line
Good practice session, every one was getting the speed and rhythm of the sets down, and sizing up the trick potential of the step-up structure for tomorrow’s comp.
Ok, practice is over, off to find a hotel, check in, smuggle the bikes up to the room. From there, all of our guides wanted to go out to watch the game, to which we (Americans) had to ask “what game?” which judging from the silence, was considered to be a dumb question …. followed by the question “Are you kidding?” Apparently they watch a game called “hockey” up here, and Saturday night was game 6 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs with the Vancouver Canuks against the Dallas Stars. (Stars won 2-0, the Canuks went on to win game seven and move on).
After indulging in the local eats and beverages, we headed back to the hotel. Some of the crew decided that the evening should not end and once again ventured out to sample Parksville’s night life, while some decided to call it and get a good nights sleep.
Day 2
The next morning we awoke (some earlier than others) to wet streets and sunny skies (waves of dark clouds on the horizon). Back to Tim Horton’s for some fuel, then back to the Lunn’s place for the comp.
It was good to see that the jumps had stood up to the evening drizzle and were steamily drying out in the sun. But the clouds hovering in the distance again rolled in and dumped in waves, which prompted a frantic dash to cover the jumps with tarps and easy-ups.
Rain Shower
The Jordtron Jumpathon has begun
Qualifying for the finals was a jam format with a set of riders being called out as moving on to the final round every 15 minutes or so.
Nice to say that our whole car load from the states (Joe, Guy and Andrew) had qualified for the finals. The final two spots to move on to the final round was to be decided by a jump off between Nick Meyer, his brother Ryan Meyer and Kyle Jaimeson. The sets were considered too close to decide, so all three moved on to round out the original slated 12 spots, to make it 13 riders for the finals.
Brendan Howey
Ben Boyko 360
Ben Boyko tailwhip
Ryder was going for broke on everything
Joe Perrizo with a nice corked backflip over the last hip
Andrew Cho with a superman seat grab
Jordie again trying to land the backflip 360
Andrew Taylor tail whip
again, Ryder going for broke (note: shoe)
Brandon Seminuk pulling a 360 tailwhip
The rain that had been looming, started to roll in and cut the format of the final runs to best of two runs, which wrapped just as it started to dump rain again, only to be followed by clear skys for the rest of the afternoon.
Jordie's post Sea Otter wounds
Jay, Ryan and Guy
Joe makes sure I didnt miss out on the mud
Boyko hoses Guy's "Tall-T"
Arm Wrestling
The next door neighbor was tweeking out
Results
1. Ben Boyko
2. Darren Berrecloth
3. Brandon Semenuk
4. Joe Perrizo
5. Ryan Meyer
Other riders in the finals were:
Nick Meyer
Guy Marsh
Jordie Lunn
Ross Measures
Andrew Taylor
Ryder Kasprick
Graham Agassiz
Kyle Jameson
After the comp the Lunn's hosted the most amazing post-comp dinner and BBQ. The salmon and chicken (curry, I think) were the best.
After the comp the Lunn's hosted the most amazing post-comp dinner and BBQ. The salmon and chicken (curry, I think) were the best.
Brendan stoaked on the eats
"I am Optimus Prime sucka" (first place trophy)
The first place trophy also changes into a beer truck... handy
Brandon taking out someone's eye with his trophy
awesome food
cookies
a little ping pong ball fight We had to cut the evening short and hit road to make sure we made the evening ferry back to Tsawwassen and start the drive back home. It was a great weekend.
It was great to meet everybody this weekend. Big thanks to the Lunn family and crew, Tyler Morland form Black Box Labs and every one else who helped to put on the event. Also, thanks to Nick and Ryan Meyer and family who let us roll in at 2:30am and crash in their basement, Joe Perrizo for driving, and to road trip mates, Guy Marsh and Andrew Taylor (Andrew ended up staying up extending his road trip and staying in BC to ride and hang with the locals).
I shot a lot of video of the comp, so look for it in Northwest Dirt Culture III.
It was a great weekend……..