Adenture Sports Journal // Aug/Sept 2017 // #98

Project Bike Tech I Adventure Photography I Event Profiles I Calendar

Aug/Sept 2017 Issue #98

Savage Arena Yosemite Solos

BIRTH OF SLACKLINING mark weir gives back ventana surfboards

jack o’neill paddle out hope in kiteboarding

kayaking tomales bay

C OSTANOA.C OM | 650.879.1100 2C0O 0S 1 R I R S C |A 6 D E5R0O. ,8C7A99. 1410060 0 T OASNSO AD. ,CPOE M

Table of Contents

Photo: Chuck Graham

Photo: Josh Pearlman

Photo: Joshua Kasumovic

Photo: Ale Di Lullo

departments

6 9 10 28 33 34 38

Photo: Julia Reardin

features

editor’s note

The Adventure Path

inbox / sWitchbAck Readers sound off

eAr to the ground News & notes

ePic: Project bike tech

Life skills through bike repair

event ProFiles

Featured upcoming events

12 14 16 18

gone but never Forgotten Remembering Jack O’Neill

kitesurFing

Reflections on life and adventure

ventAnA surFboArds

Form, function and sustainability

drAke Would go

Pt. Reyes sea kayaking

20 22 24 30

Adventure PhotogrAPher

Striking the balance between being an athlete and an artist

highlining Yosemite

A look at slackline’s birthplace

sAvAge ArenA

Yosemite’s history of free soloing

mArk Weir

Building community

Cover: Steph Davis climbing the

Yosemite classic Outer Limits (10b) without a rope. Photo: Dean Fidelman

cAlendAr

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Directory of upcoming events Goodies for your adventures

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at home in nature

asj contributors what was the highlight of your summer?

™ ™

PUBLISHING + EDITORIAL

leoniesherman

PUBLISHER Cathy Claesson Four weeks biking through cathy@adventuresportsjournal.com Iceland! Jaw-dropping scenery – volcanoes, glaciers and fjords, oh my! Sparsely populated, socially progressive and environmentally friendly.

Plus I soaked in a hot pot every single day!

chrisvanleuven

Not sure if this is a highlight, more of a routine, but first thing everyday I run naked on the trails near my home with my dog. He turns two this week.

kurtgensheimer

There have been numerous highlights, but since you only turn 40 once, I’ll go with my 40th birthday.

aloedriscoll

samdevine

I traveled through mainland Mexico this summer and the highlight was a south swell with clean conditions during mid-July – the waves were pumping for two weeks straight!

I had a motorcycle crash this summer and since the accident, it’s been a daunting process of healing myself and repairing the bike. The incident has helped me find new ways to get out there.

joshuakasumovic

The highlight of my summer so far has been exploring the endless climbing opportunities near Independence Pass in Colorado.

chuckgraham

My highlight has been watching a pair of tiny island fox pups grow up at Scorpion Anchorage on Santa Cruz Island, part of the Channel Islands National Park.

domenicaberman Watching some great music with my good friends in a beautiful outdoor setting at The Gorge in Washington. The best!

EDITORIAL/MARKETING Matt Niswonger matt@adventuresportsjournal.com EDITORIAL Michele Charboneau michele@adventuresportsjournal.com EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Jennifer Stein jen@adventuresportsjournal.com CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Leonie Sherman, Chris Van Leuven, Aloe Driscoll, Chuck Graham, Kurt Gensheimer, Cari Morgan, Domenica Berman, Joshua Kasumovic CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Dean Fidelman, Chuck Graham, Maurice Ramirez, Dave (Nelly) Nelson, Mike Thomas, Scott McClain, Trevor Clark, Perry Gershkow, Jeff Tse, Michael Peck, Wesley Locke, Scott Rokis, George Johnson, Luke Ravitch, Clay Schmitz, James Kaiser/O.A.R.S, Billy Thompson/MRA, Anne Chatillion, Emma Chiang, Krista Brenner/Sprout Photo, Jessica Christian, Joe White, Tyler Drogin, Josh Pearlman, Ale Di Lullo, Abner Kingman, Jeremiah Newman

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LAYOUT Cathy Claesson & Michele Charboneau WEBMASTER Brooklyn Taylor brook@adventuresportsjournal.com ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Cathy Claesson I 831.234.0351 cathy@adventuresportsjournal.com EVENTS & DISTRIBUTION Matt Niswonger matt@adventuresportsjournal.com EVENTS COORDINATOR Jennifer Stein jen@adventuresportsjournal.com Opinions expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Adventure Sports Journal or our advertisers. We usually agree with our articles, but sometimes we don’t. We welcome all contributions.

All content © Adventure Sports Journal 2017.

No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission of the editors.

ADVENTURE SPORTS JOURNAL PO BOX 35, Santa Cruz, CA 95063 Phone 831.457.9453 asjstaff@adventuresportsjournal.com PROUD MEMBER

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5

Editor’s Note

The Adventure Path

Tales of entrepreneurship, adventure, family, happiness and power

O

n July ninth, over three thousand surfers took to the ocean in honor of Jack O’Neill, the founder of O’Neill wetsuits and apparel. This was by far the largest paddle out in history, and a beautiful spectacle to behold.

O’Neill left an impressive business legacy, but the reason so many people came to honor him was not just because he was an icon in the surf industry. For the most part, surfers felt moved to honor Jack because his invention of the wetsuit made surfing possible for many who wouldn’t have had access to surfing otherwise. He made the cold ocean waters of Northern California feel warm and inviting, creating happiness for generations to come. What a gift.

Jack’s paddle out made me think about happiness, and how the outdoor sports we cover in ASJ are a key ingredient to a happy life.

I was a literature major in college and as a result I tend to be a big picture thinker. One of the eternal mysteries I have spent my entire adult life pondering is happiness: my own, for the people around me, and for humanity in general. It’s a big subject, and I can’t claim to be an expert, but I know happiness when I see it. For example, as a parent, nothing is more important than the knowledge that my kids are mostly happy, and on the right life path towards continued happiness. I’m pretty sure everyone in my family would say I’m quite opinionated on the subject – to the point of being annoying. I can live with that.

So what is the exact connection between adventure activities like surfing, climbing, and mountain biking to our happiness in life? We use the phrase “recharge my batteries” quite a bit to describe the connection between happiness and adventure, but what does that mean exactly?

A few days after the Jack O’Neill paddle out, I was working on an article about Yosemite for this issue and came across an image of Dean Potter, taken right after he had soloed the Yosemite testpiece known as Heaven.

As you can see in the picture on the right, the look on his face is priceless. The climb is wickedly overhanging and at 5.12+ Potter blew minds when he climbed it without ropes. Looking at his facial expression in the picture, what I saw was the deep satisfaction that comes with empowerment. This caused me to have an epiphany: adventure makes you powerful, and feeling powerful is a key ingredient to happiness.

As a result of this realization, I now describe happiness as a three-legged stool with power, compassion, and integrity as the three legs.

We all desire to have compassion for those around us, and integrity is almost universally admired, but how do we get there?

I believe the answer is found on the adventure path.

Adventure, with all its effort, fear, and uncertainty, creates power. Don’t ask me how, but it does. What’s clear is that powerful people are free to choose compassion and integrity, and disempowered people are generally incapable of being either compassionate or acting with integrity. In other words, power is the key that unlocks the door to happiness.

The progression that is fundamental to all adventure sports keeps one fit, focused, and honest. Whether 6 ASJ — Aug/Sept 2011 2017 ASJ—Aug/Sept

it’s leading a harder climb at the gym, or surfing a more advanced wave, or competing in a marathon, or backpacking for longer periods of time, you have skin in the game and the risks are real. Risk management is a part of the deal, and it turns out the entire process increases that mysterious key ingredient to happiness that adventure seems to generate: power.

Some people are critical of the adventure lifestyle because they say the risks are too great. They point to Dean Potter, who died BASE jumping in Yosemite after this picture was taken, and other extreme athletes as cautionary tales that demonstrate the unacceptable risks of adventure sports. In my opinion this is throwing out the baby with the bath water. Not everyone needs to push the envelope like Dean Potter, Shane McConkey or Jay Moriarity to reap the rewards of drinking from the cup of adventure. Still, when it comes to the adventure path, a certain amount of risk should be considered. For some a beautiful hike is enough to recharge the batteries of the soul, but I’d bet most people need a little voluntary risk in their lives. That’s the trade off to access the personal power that leads to happiness. Either way the choice is quite personal, but clearly without happiness life is like a sailboat with no wind, drifting in the doldrums.

This point was driven home poignantly when we attended the funeral of Mariann Claesson, my mother-inlaw and a long time supporter of ASJ since the beginning.

To us she was simply called “mormor” (Swedish for grandmother), and Cathy and I could not have kept ASJ going all these years and raised three kids without her help. Unfortunately we did not get a chance to truly thank her because a cruel form of dementia robbed her mental function in the last years of her life. Looking in her eyes it was painful to see the confusion and hurt while she tried to understand what was happening around her in the final chapter of her life.

We always jokingly told her she was a partner in Adventure Sports Journal because she would show up during deadlines and heroically watch the kids while Cathy tied up all the last minute loose ends and I was working at my other job. She moved from room to room cleaning up all the messes while humming cheerfully to herself. She intentionally brought the gift of happiness to our house in a time of stress. She truly was the embodiment of power, compassion, and integrity.

At her emotional funeral ceremony people spoke about how she always served those around her, and made everyone feel well cared for. In short, she made everyone feel happy.

Inspired by Mariann, I have to ask myself, am I brimming with happiness and making others around me feel the same? Mormor taught us that our happiness is a gift to the people in our lives. When she stopped recognizing her family, dementia took away her favorite thing in life: sharing her happiness with the people she loved.

So thank you mormor, Jack O’Neill, Dean Potter, and everyone else who inspires us to choose happiness — this issue is dedicated to you. People get there in different ways, but the adventure path is the most reliable route I know.

Do you agree with me that adventure is fundamental to your happiness?

Send me an email: matt@adventuresportsjournal.com

—Matt Niswonger

Jack O’Neill (1923-2017) showing off a bit of marketing genius.

Photo courtesy of O’Neill Wetsuits.

Dean Potter (1972-2015) feeling powerful after his ropeless ascent of Heaven. Photo: Dean Fidelman.

Mariann Claesson (1940-2017) devoted her life to creating happiness for family and friends. Photo: Claes Claesson

Campfire memories from Sea Otter, 2017. ASJ editor, Matt Niswonger on the plasitc horn.

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7

Nothing to lose And a world to see. all out blaze 2

O U T- O F-T H E - B O X C O M F O R T F O R L I G H T H I K E S

INBOX

Fanmail, Feedback, Ideas & Opinions In response to Editor’s Note #97: HUMAN POWERED: UNITING THE ADVENTURE TRIBES GREAT JOB I love your ASJ and can’t wait to read it each time it comes out. Great ads on equipment and things to do.

At first I was blown away by this group that was against mountain biking in the wilderness. Although like you, I understand their perspective, but personally disagree. I don’t mountain bike but hike a great deal. So I’m not some mountain biker that is offended.

Your response was perfect. Not choosing sides but holding our community together was an excellent response.

Great job.

Michael Doyle A FREE PRESS IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY I’m not a mountain biker, I’m far too old to start on that, I’m just a regular reader.

With regard to mountain bikes and the wilderness: To me it appears the wilderness wing took a lesson from Mr. Trump, “how to bully your way through an issue.” I fully understand your responsibility to keep divisiveness out of your publication. However, I believe a free press is of far greater import. We need to know and understand the issues. It’s imperative. It too is your responsibility.

Respectively and thanks, Vern Vater STRENGTHEN UP As a longtime reader and avid mountain biker for the past 30+ years, I am deeply disappointed in your capitulation to “a group of ASJ readers” who are nothing more than a petty and pathetic group of weak minded bullies.

Shame on your decision. Hopefully some day you will strengthen up and realize some things are worth fighting for.

Kevin Matteson, El Dorado Hills THE COWARD’S WAY I was shocked that you gave in to fanatics by not publishing stories about mountain biking in wilderness areas. Whether bikes should be banned from wilderness is something that can be debated.

It is my hope that a compromise can be reached. But, fanatics never compromise and use bullying tactics to get their way.

Bullies have to be confronted. You took the cowards way out.

John Matney, Clayton

WE ARE ALL EQUAL After reading your article “Human Powered: Uniting the Adventure Tribes” in the June/July publication, I was both shocked and disappointed. After reading that a group of ASJ readers gave you the ultimatum: “Never advocate for mountain bike access to designated Wilderness areas again, or they will start a nationwide campaign to put you out of business by targeting your advertisers,” I would argue that these people represent the absolute worst in outdoor enthusiasts (or more appropriately, political fanatics).

I have been a lifelong advocate of the outdoors and adventure sports. While I am an avid outdoors person, by no means do I have the right to say that “my chosen activity trumps your chosen activity.” I respect anyone that chooses to spend their time in the outdoors and appreciates adventure sports, much the way I do. Moreover, the mountain biking community that I know are huge supporters of preserving wilderness areas and protecting our natural environment.

By placing an ultimatum on ASJ – one of the few publications dedicated to celebrating ALL outdoor activities – this group does much more than attempt to further their own political ideology. They threaten the very community that they aspire to be a part of. They embody the narrow-mindedness that most outdoor enthusiasts stand against.

What if longboard surfers threatened companies that sell shortboards because they don’t want to share the same waves as shortboarders? What if kayakers threatened whitewater rafting companies because they don’t want to share the rivers with commercial rafting crowds?

While I suspect there are some that would attempt to make these arguments, would any reasonable person see this as legitimate? Does any one group have a greater right to enjoy nature than another?

Your article stated that, although you have not yet responded to this ultimatum, you “think it is in the best interests of everyone to comply with their demands.”

I would argue that complying with the “demands” of this group are actually in the worst interests of those that appreciate the outdoors. What happens when your advertisers are approached by the next group that makes similar threats to obtain their own political objective?

Hi Cathy and Matt, In May I had a super fun, silly day and did ten sports starting at dawn from my home in Lake Tahoe and finishing in your home of Santa Cruz. It was a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants experience, trying to film as I went, to make the best of a gorgeous day. The sports included were: hiking, SUP, backcountry skiing, terrain park, skateboarding, mountain biking, surfing, boogie boarding, hackey sack and beer mile.

We put together a quick film and wanted to share it with you and your readers. It was a lot of fun and a way to celebrate California’s diverse sporting opportunities after an epic winter.

Thanks, Dave Zook Thanks for sharing Dave! Readers can check out the video and read about your adventure at adventuresportsjournal.com/thecaliforniadecathlon

Is this the new way of controlling what I have access to when reading ASJ? I certainly hope not.

I would encourage ASJ (and your advertisers) to stand up to these political eco-fanatics, and explain to them that dialogue and compromise will do much more to preserving our wilderness environments than threats and intimidation. By dividing our outdoor community, all these people stand to gain is a fractured group of outdoor enthusiasts that begin to believe “my outdoors is more important than your outdoors.” Again, a belief that most of us firmly disagree with.

Sincerely, Chris Amsden, Soquel

ARMCHAIR ADVENTURE

By Josh Pearlman

W

ith hundreds of miles of trails, breathtaking scenery, mild temperatures and ample water to keep the dust settled, Lake Tahoe is one of the best mountain bike areas in California. So when I heard that Mountaineers Books had published longtime Truckee local and pro skier Jeremy Benson’s new book, Mountain Bike Tahoe: 50 Select Singletrack Routes, I eagerly picked it up and began remembering my many years living and riding in North Lake Tahoe.

I could almost taste the grit as I read descriptions of some of my favorite trails from the iconic Flume Trail, South Lake’s infamous Mr. Toads Wild Ride to the Legendary Downieville Downhill, which many call California’s best trail.

The book is broken into seven chapters covering Downieville and Graeagle, North Lake Tahoe, East Shore, South Lake Tahoe, Truckee, the Sierra Nevada Foothills and Reno/Carson City. There is also a useful appendix on bike parks, as well as the usual mentions of resources, safety, maps and so on.

What sets his book apart from guidebooks of the past, besides being pocket sized and very well put together with quality materials typical of Mountaineers Books, is Benson’s great attention to detail in every trail description. He has personally ridden every one of these trails and gives an incredibly accurate and up to date recap of the trail, turn by turn mileage, topos including connectors, clear directions to trailheads with GPS coordinates, details on difficulty & intensity, elevation gain/loss distances and variations, as well as all sorts of useful beta including bike shops, shuttle services and local guides.

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9

Ear to the Ground

News and notes from the outdoor industry

Gehrig Twins Come to Northstar

Proposed Trails for Santa Cruz

These proposed trails represent an unprecedented increase in legal Santa Cruz is currently undergoing mountain bike trail access, creating a master planning effort for its parks. new riding opportunities accessible Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz (MBOSC) from town. The Parks and Recreation has been working closely with city parks Department has recognized the need and recreation staff on the plan. for legitimate trail access for mountain The proposed plan includes a bikers. progressive, directional, bike-specific MBoSC is asking supporters to speak trail in Pogonip. The concept is to build up and let the Parks and Recreation a technical and rocky trail, geared to Commission and the Santa Cruz City intermediate and advanced riders.

Council know that this is what the The plan also provides for new multimountain bike community wants. use trails in Pogonip, Harvey West, Learn more and sign the petition at and Delaveaga parks to provide better gsi_2017_BeerWine_AdventureSportsJournal_6.2017_r.1.pdf 1 4/24/2017 10:51:26 AM mbosc.org. connectivity to residential areas and trail networks.

10 ASJ ASJ—Aug/Sept — Aug/Sept2011 2017

Ibis Cycles Enduro Race Team members Carolin and Anita Gehrig, affectionately known as The Gehrig Twins, are set to join a record number of female riders registered for the 6th round of the 2017 California Enduro Series (CES) – the Northstar Enduro – coming to Truckee August 26-27. The Swiss world champion downhill racers have been taking the enduro scene by storm, and are two of the top Enduro World Series (EWS) racers for the past two years.

Carolin Gehrig says, “We love the races in the US a lot and have wanted to come race CES for a while, so we’re super pumped to finally get the chance to do so at the Northstar round! We can’t wait to explore the trails in this area and race against America’s fastest girls!”

CES is dedicated to encouraging more women to become involved in the maledominated sport of enduro mountain bike racing.

The Northstar Enduro is the 2nd round of the CES Golden Tour, and is also an EWS qualifier and a stop on North American Enduro Tour (NAET).

ASJ is a proud founding sponsor of the California Enduro Series. Learn more at californiaenduroseries.com.

SunRidge Farms Debuts “Jack’s Mix” in Honor of Jack O’Neill SunRidge Farms healthy foods and O’Neill wetsuits have announced a trail mix to honor Jack O’Neill. Dubbed “Jack’s Mix,” the snack is an ode to exploration, adventure, and inspiration to care for our planet. The snack mix represents everything that Jack O’Neill stood for and the commitment to a healthy lifestyle that drives everything SunRidge does.

A portion of all sales will be donated to the Sea Odyssey program — a nonprofit organization founded by O’Neill that provides a living classroom aboard a 65-foot catamaran for 4th-6th grade students to experience the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Students receive hands-on lessons about the marine habitat and the importance of the relationship between the living sea and the environment.

Outdoor Retailer (OR) Moves to Denver in 2018 Outdoor Retailer (OR) – one of the largest trade shows in the US – is moving to Denver, CO as of 2018 after 21 years of being held in Salt Lake City, UT. The convention’s owner Emerald Expositions will present three shows a year at

Denver’s Colorado Convention center, including a winter Snow Show, Summer Outdoor Retailer, and the new Outdoor Retailer November, which spotlights the soft goods market. A fourth outdoor industry show – the Grassroots Connect – is in the works, although plans have not been finalized.

The announcement is no surprise to outdoor enthusiasts, as OR’s most prominent brands vowed to boycott the show over Utah elected officials’ stance on public lands such as the newly designated Bears Ears Monument, which Utah governor Gary Herbert urged the Trump adminstration to rescind.

20,000 attendees are expected at each show, with a total of at least $45 million coming in to the Denver area economy each year.

Fire Burns Near Yosemite At press time, officials reported 65% containment of a vast wildfire about 20 miles west of Yosemite National Park that so far has burned nearly 79,000 acres and destroyed 63 homes. The Detwiler fire in Mariposa County forced a four-day evacuation of residents and businesses in Mariposa, a historic gold mining town in the area. For four days, workers and families in Mariposa – a historic gold mining town in the region – were forced to evacuate. Full containment of the fire is expected in early August.

source of revenue for them. The National Park Service’s financial contribution to the US is a hefty one. Opponents of the budget cut and privatization of operations charge that such outcomes will be a major setback to the economy, the parks themselves, and the people who enjoy them.

CALIFORNIA’S TOP 25 ADVENTURE CHECKLIST:

Raft the Tuolumne River

Located just outside Yosemite National Park The Wild & Scenic Tuolumne River thunders down from the High Sierra of Yosemite National Park and offers 18 miles of nearly continuous Class IV champagne whitewater.

Bill Lee and Merlin Crew take Third in TransPac Merlin crossed the TransPac finish line at Diamond Head forty years after doing so for the first time. Her elapsed time of 8:02:34:09 didn’t set any records, but was still better than the elapsed time of 8:11:01:45 set when Lee and his team raced her original configuration in a windy 1977 Transpac. Merlin and Lee came in 3rd place with a corrected time of 09:01:50:23. Coming in first was Pyewacket skippered by Roy Disney and in second, Catapult skippered by Joel Ronning. Learn more about Bill Lee and Merlin on the ASJ website.

And while you can do it all in a day, our 2- or 3-day trips give you time to hike, fish and swim all while enjoying our deluxe river camping experience— gourmet meals included!

Why choose O.A.R.S.?

Climbing Center Opens in Reno

Buff Welcomes New Marketing Manager Kevin Walker Buff, creator of versatile performance headwear for all-season outdoor enthusiasts and athletes, recently welcomed Kevin Walker to its team as its new Marketing Manager. Walker comes to Buff from a four-year tenure at Marmot where he most recently oversaw development of brand content, management of trade shows, and other key marketing roles. Buff’s General Manager Shirley Brunetti says, “Kevin has a proven track record of sales and marketing prowess, and brings a youthful yet forward-thinking strategy to our everevolving brand.”

National Parks Face Potential Privatization National Parks may experience a shift in operations under the Trump administration as private concessionaires put on the pressure to take over the responsibilities ... and profits. Trump’s proposed budget would eliminate nearly $400 million from the National Park Services allotment, making it increasingly difficult for NPS to operate from within. Private companies could very well be granted control of restaurants, campgrounds, security, fee collection and other facilities and services. Funds raised would obviously not be invested back into the parks, taking away another

Climbers in Reno-Tahoe have a new place to call home. On August 5, Mesa Rim Climbing & Fitness Center opens its facility featuring 23,000 square-feet of climbing terrain with 52-foot climbing walls, steep overhangs, dihedrals, four custom-designed cracks, and a dedicated bouldering area. Designed to nurture Reno’s growing health and wellness community, it extends beyond climbing with a dedicated yoga studio, a sauna, locker rooms with showers, exercise facilities, a private event space and a community space. The locally-owned center aims to support the existing climbing community and foster the sport’s growth in the region through a series of programs and a culture of approachability.

Learn more at mesarim.com.

Discover more: oars.com/california 800-446-7238

O.A.R.S. 2- and 3-day Tuolumne River rafting trips include comfy camping and delicious catered meals!

Recognized by National Geographic Adventure as “The Best River & Sea Outfitter on Earth” and by Outside Magazine as one of 2013’s “Best Outfitters of the Year,” O.A.R.S. has the right mix of experience, great guides and top-tier service for an ideal California adventure.

Cannabis Cultivator Teams Up With Pro Snowboarder THC Design, an estate-grown cannabis producer, has partnered with legendary professional snowboarder Chris Bradshaw to advocate for overturning professional and amateur athletic policies that ban athletes from using medical cannabis for pain management.

“We are excited to work with Big Bear’s best,” says Ryan Jennemann, THC Design’s co-founder and president.

“Chris is an amazing advocate of medical cannabis. He shares our belief that it is high time more athletic organizations update their approach to pain management.”

Bradshaw says, “By sharing my own personal story of how cannabis has helped me manage my pain from injuries I received while boarding, I hope to inspire others to feel safe enough to come out of the ‘green closet’ and join us in fighting for what is right.” www. advent ur espor t sjour nal. com

11

Gone but Never Forgotten The Surf Tribe Remembers Jack O’Neill

By Domenica Berman

O

n July 9th over 3,000 people took to the water at Pleasure Point in Santa Cruz and 5,000 to 6,000 onlookers crowded the cliffs, stairs, trees and wherever else they could find a view of the spectacle. I even saw a kid on top of a tiki. Everyone was there to honor Jack O’Neill, founder of O’Neill wetsuits, who died on June 2nd at age 94. Whether they knew him personally, through his influence in the surf world, or just through the brand, people flocked to his home break for a celebratory paddle out to commemorate a life well lived.

The Jack O’Neill memorial paddle out broke the world record for largest paddle out of any kind. Previously the record was held by a June 2017 paddle out in Huntington Beach which was merely a sixth of the size. Not only was this paddle out massive, paddle outs were held concurrently in Belgium, Holland, Australia, the U.K., France, Canada and South Africa in honor of this beloved surf icon.

Of course the goal of the event was not to set records, but to honor a true pioneer in the surf industry. Jack helped invent the wetsuit when no other companies were even entertaining the idea (except maybe Body Glove). He used synthetic rubber technologies that were created at UC Berkeley for deep sea diving to create his neoprene suits that are still used today.

12 ASJ ASJ—June/July — Aug/Sept2012 2017

In a 1999 interview Jack said, “Guys were using sweaters from the Goodwill. I remember one guy got a jumper from the Goodwill and sprayed it with Thompson’s water seal and he sat out there in an oil slick.”

As the saying goes, necessity is the mother of invention and for Jack it was the drive to get in the ocean, regardless of the water temperature, and be able to stay out long enough to get in a solid session that drove him to invent his cozy neoprene suits. He opened his first “surf shop,” a term he coined himself, in 1952 out of a garage. Through the decades, his business continued to expand, moving to larger spaces in Santa Cruz.

Pros and amateurs alike credit Jack with allowing them to get into the sport, especially in colder climates. His stomping grounds were Central and Northern California which can get quite chilly in the winter and pretty much require wetsuits all year round. The technology has gotten so advanced now people are basically surfing everywhere, even Alaska and Antarctica, which must have made Jack happy as he was a nature enthusiast. As the O’Neill motto goes, “It’s always summer on the inside.”

As surfers can attest, the ocean creates an immensely powerful connection with nature, to your own self and the people with whom you share the experience. As members of the O’Neill family and crew shared stories, a common theme kept coming up – that everyone is

connected and the ocean creates this beautiful place for us to connect and share a common passion.

Alexa Thornton, longtime surfer and ocean enthusiast, summed up the idea of this bond quite nicely after participating in the paddle out. “The relationship between family isn’t just blood but what connects you to one another. I know I will always have a blood family on land but when it comes to sharing a special moment or emotion we have our water family. A family that is connected through the energy of the ocean. We are related through the soul and momentum of the water.”

The ocean is not only an incredible way to connect interpersonally but it also carries an innate capacity for us to connect and heal ourselves. In an interview Jack discussed the healing powers of the ocean; “I’ve felt this in my own life, but there are also researchers interested in studying the way ocean therapy affects the brain and its pathways. It’s proven therapeutic for people with physical and mental disabilities, for veterans returning from war, for everyone. I think in the next 30 years we’ll see the potential of that power become fully realized.”

Jack would’ve been stoked and honored to know that four adaptive athletes from the High Fives Foundation participated in the paddle out. These athletes have all had spinal cord injuries and are choosing to heal themselves by regaining strength and pursuing water sports. Many of them were previously accomplished skiers and snowboarders and the ocean provides a relatively gentle re-entry into action sports and a potentially very healing, meditative experience which Jack completely understood and honored.

When Jack and his family first moved to Santa Cruz, surfers didn’t have the greatest reputation. They were thought of as dirty bums who couldn’t hold a job and definitely weren’t ambitious businesspeople. Jack sought to break this stereotype by befriending people from all walks of life, whether they were beach bums who lived in their cars, or wealthy engineers and entrepreneurs. He lead by example and created a new image of surfing and surfers. He was using his influence for good until the end

PHOTOS

Opposite page, top: Over 3,000 surfers paddled out to remember Jack O’Neill (Joe White). Opposite page, bottom from left to right: Sign announcing the paddle out (O’Neill); A group of High Fives adaptive athletes prepares get in the water (Tyler Drogin). This page, clockwise: Outrigger canoe cheering a Coast Guard helicopter (O’Neill); Surfers surround the Sea Odyssey Catamaran (O’Neill); About 5,000 onlookers crowded the cliffs at Pleasure Point (Josh Pearlman); A surfer makes his way to the paddle out area (Josh Pearlman).

and his legacy will no doubt continue to inspire younger generations.

After a stroke in 2005 he took a step back from some of his responsibilities on the business side and started working on community and environmental projects to protect and champion his ocean playground and sacred space. He started the O’Neill Sea Odyssey Program in 1996, which is a non-profit that provides lessons in ocean preservation, marine science and navigation in Monterey Bay on the company’s 65-foot research catamaran. He also advocated for Santa Cruz, which as a result was named one of four World Surfing Reserves in the world.

This designation will help protect the town’s 23 celebrated surf breaks from overdevelopment and pollution.

Although Jack wanted his products to be the best quality and was a driven entrepreneur, he also remained humble through his success. Michael Burns, an O’Neill representative for 25 years, said he thinks Jack was a bit surprised by the success of his wetsuits. He was creating something that he needed and people he knew wanted, but had no idea the breadth wetsuits’ popularity would reach. In 2002 Jack was named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and wore a tuxedo and flip flops to receive his award.

Many years ago, Jack decided to replace the main staircase in his house with a trampoline and would use it to transport himself from floor to floor. He was very active and adventurous, an avid sailor and aviator and one of the pioneers of recreational hot air balloon flying.

Towards the end of his life Jack remained active, enjoying the nature around him. He often road his bike around Santa Cruz and up into his 90s was still jumping on his trampoline on occasion. According to Burns, he would still sit on his porch watching the waves and “mind surfing” into his last days. In Jack’s words, “It’s been a hell of a ride and long may it continue.”

www. advent ur espor t sjour nal. com

13

Hope I Kite Before I Get Old Kiting, the adventure paradigm, and life expectancy

By Sam Devine

T

he sun is setting behind the Golden Gate Bridge, painting the hills red and basking the water beneath the bridge in a warm yellow glow.

Harbour porpoises breach the surface in front of the board. A strong wind is pushing against a record ebb tide that’s pushing heavily out to sea.

Helicopters circle the area as the capsized Oracle is sucked out the Gate. Coast Guard boats monitor the scene as the sailors struggle to rescue the 72-foot-long trimaran. They had been practicing, pushing it, tearing around Alcatraz when something went wrong. Their bows plunged into the water, pitch-poling the sleek, carbon fiber racing machine. When their massive wingsail hit the bay, it sounded like a bomb went off.

Large Zodiac support boats arrive, lashing the boat with cables, attempting to pull it back. Smoke billows from engine compartments as the humongous black leviathan plods steadily towards the Farallon Islands. It’s pretty risky to be kitesurfing out here, but… gorgeous kitesurfing conditions and an active shipwreck in the background?

Not many could say no.

Plan A is to kite back to Crissy Field. Plan B is to get scooped out of the water by one of the many boats. Well, really plan B is swim to shore. That goes into effect when the wind dies as I’m almost directly beneath the center of the bridge. I roll up my lines, blow the deflate valve on the leading edge of the kite and pile the clump on my board. Then I start swimming towards Kirby Cove.

I’m about a hundred yards away from a cliff face when a boat pulls out of the sunset. From out of its shadow, one of the America’s Cup sailors asks: “How yah doing?”

“Well, I figure I’ll make it to shore, but I’ll take a ride if you’re offering.”

I hand my board to Jimmy Spithill and climb on board.

“Where are you heading?” he asks. Then he adds, “We’re going to Fort Baker.”

“I was hoping for Crissy Field but I will settle for land.”

••••••••••••••

14 ASJ ASJ—June/July — Aug/Sept2012 2017

It keeps you on your toes, doesn’t leave much time for worrying, forcing a meditative state. It’s also rad to shoot off the lip of a wave, sail through the air and touch down on the backside of the swell, gliding down it like butter on a pan.

A friend once said: “Adventure starts where our plans fail.” As we’re forced to fall back on alternatives, to improvise, to ride it out, that’s when we’re really living, focused. That’s when we grow and learn. Seeking the unexpected, pushing the limits of what is possible is part of the adventure paradigm, the idea that you can live a fulfilling and sustainable life that isn’t completely money driven, but rather, is focused on accomplishing less typical goals.

Personally, I don’t feel I have time to go the oldfashioned, financial-security, plan-for-retirement kind of life. Our family has a genetic disease that gives us a predisposition to early-onset frontal-temporal dementia (FTD). We thought it was Alzheimer’s disease, but we found out it was a different, lesser-known ailment once called Pick’s disease. Basically, there’s a fifty-fifty chance that I’ll go out around age fifty, not knowing where I am, unable to care for myself, and distrusting those around me. Not exactly my ideal.

My sister is participating in a study on dementia at UCSF that may identify whether we carry the gene for FTD. Our father’s brain was frozen at Stanford and it’s been transferred to UCSF to see if they can get a good sample to identify the gene. We’re waiting right now.

This isn’t any worse a burden than those that others face but it has impacted my perspective. I make a conscious effort to spend my time doing extremely memorable and thrilling things. It’s a lucky moment when we realize that we’ve found something that makes our life feel worthwhile. Sometimes we feel it but we talk ourselves out of it.

“It’s a serious struggle balancing what your mind is telling you and then what your heart is telling you you

should do,” says Brad O’Neal in the short film about his motorcycle base jump, titled Follow Your Fears. “It’s really easy to crush your own possibilities in life just by your mind. And then there’s the gut feeling: ‘Do I feel positively about it?’ And I feel like, if I just follow that inner guidance with absolute conviction, I’ll end up in the right place.”

It’s 2001 and a friend and I are walking down Wawona Street towards the beach when we stumble upon a kite shop. It’s not a candy and toys kind of kite shop. This one is drab and poorly lit. In the center of the room is a low, three-wheeled aluminum kart. The shiny metal frame is wrapped in foam padding and nylon webbing. The rake of its front fork and the sweep of its body lines say clearly: “This thing goes fast.”

Talking with the store owner, we find out that it’s a kite buggy. It’s designed to be pulled by a large kite down beaches, across parking lots, fields, and golf courses.

Power kiting, has been around in strange forms for ages, but became refined and popular around the 1990s. In the early 2000s, only a few people are kiting Ocean Beach.

Looking at the buggy and the ram-airfoil kite hanging on the wall, something snapped inside me. Part of me is always standing in that shop, listening to one of those inner urges, saying to myself: “I’m gonna do this. I don’t know how. I don’t know when, but dammit, I’m gonna do this.”

Six years later, after graduating college, I scrape together enough money to buy a six meter power kite and a mountain board. Rebecca Geffert, from Boardsports insists that I buy a helmet, knee and elbow guards, an impact shirt and impact shorts. (Hillbilly Butt Pads are the particular brand she sourced me.) It’s a good thing, too, because I drag myself all over the sands of Ocean Beach, knocking my head and seeing stars even with the helmet on.

Back then, people were starting to kitesurf the waters near Golden Gate Park and Noriega Street. Other land kiters and I talked about how happy we were to be warm and dry, but secretly, I dreamt of kitesurfing out in the waves one day.

In 2011, after years of practicing and lessons, I kitesurf the wild waters of Ocean Beach for the first time. It’s brief and I crash my well-worn kite, breaking it for the third and final time. But I barely care about the kite. I’ve accomplished a goal from years earlier that my gut had told me was important. It feels great – like I took on the

STILL CRAZY After 30 Years!

PHOTOS Top of opposite page: Astor Kuiper kitesurfs Alameda’s Crown Beach at sunset (Maurice Ramirez). Bottom of opposite page: David Furchgott Nussbaum of Morph Kiting is always going for big air (Morph Kiting). Above: The “Shack” at Crown Beach in Alameda (Boardsports California). Left: The author kite-buggying at Burning Man 2012 (Sam Devine collection).

world and won for a change!

That winter in Tahoe the lake is covered in snow. Tyler Brown, who has since been instrumental in setting up the Sierra Snowkite Center, is giving me a lesson.

On a snow-covered meadow next to a frozen lake, he puts me through the paces of piloting a kite on the snow. We move across the wind, going back and forth. He gives me goals and takes pictures. I finally work my way up wind to a small pine tree he’s made my goal, then spiral the kite downwind as he’s instructed.

In 2012, I was being groomed to be the managing editor of a drinking magazine, publishing articles on liquor, beer and wine. At the same time, I was offered the opportunity to become a certified kiteboard instructor. I hardly had to think about it. I quit the magazine and taught kiting, spending most of my free time on the beach for the coming summers.

Kiting has since opened unexpected doors. While getting certified as an IKO instructor, I met David Furchtgott from Morph Kiteboarding in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. We went to Burning Man together, bringing along kite buggies and land boards and I’ve visited Tulum and Isla Blanca, kiting in lagoons and the Caribbean Sea. There is a persistence and skill demanded by kiting, like any outdoor discipline, any adventure. The lessons can be applied to similar areas. The past few years have seen my focus shift to motorcycling. My experience teaching kiting transferred well and I taught basic motorcycling for several years. Taking a similar path in motorbiking as in kiting, I’m pursuing as many different aspects of the sport as I can – doing track days and dirtbike camps, riding thousands of miles for weeks at a time, building custom bikes.

I still get out and kite though. My favorite spot is still Ocean Beach in San Francisco. It’s a chaotic break, constantly

crashing with incongruous waves of every shape and random sizes. It keeps you on your toes, doesn’t leave much time for worrying, forcing a meditative state. It’s also rad to shoot off the lip of a wave, sail through the air and touch down on the backside of the swell, gliding down it like butter on a pan.

Friends and family worry about the risky activities, but I agree again with motocrosser, O’Neal. He says that while near death, his grandfather told him that life goes by real fast. It doesn’t really matter how long your life is, but how much you make of it. This calls to mind Marcus Aurelius, the emperor of ancient Rome, who wrote: “The longest to live and the soonest to die lose exactly the same thing, for it is only the present moment which one can be deprived of.”

If my life is cut short, I hope others can look at it and see that we don’t just have to focus on one thing to save money to do things later. We can get out there and live it now. And while it may not be a path to riches, it does lead to other rewards.

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15

Ventana Surfboards Form, Function, and Sustainability

By Aloe Driscoll

A

variegated mural hangs on Tyler Fox’s bedroom wall. Reclaimed redwood from the historic Schwann mansion hugs yellow Alaskan cedar, forming a tawny rainbow of timber. Abalone inlay shimmers across the deck; salvaged driftwood flanks the tip and tail. A professional surfer, founder of Santa Cruz Waves magazine and a longtime contestant of the Mavericks Invitational, Fox has dozens of surfboards strewn around his backyard. The 9'6" twin fin holds this special, solitary place because it is more than a surfboard: it’s a work of art.

Ventana Surfboards and Supplies craftsman Martjin Stiphout custom shaped the board to Fox’s specifications. “He really designed and built something right up my alley,” says Fox, describing how the board trims down the line quickly, keeping its inertia in both big and small waves. Fox and Stiphout also worked together to design a special feature: a waterproof stash box built into the deck. People are “pretty flabbergasted,” when Fox unscrews the flap on his board and pulls out a Clif Bar in the lineup. “I haven’t seen too many other wooden boards that are actually functional as well,” says Fox. Ventana surfboards are hollow, meaning that they are more buoyant, easier to paddle, and faster than traditional solid wood boards.

“We don’t make surfboards just for display,” says David Dennis, co-founder of Ventana Surfboards and Supplies.

“Even if they wind up on a wall, they’re all built to surf.”

Though wooden surfboards are similar to foam boards in form, the shaping process is completely opposite. Rather than whittling down a piece of foam, Stiphout starts with the final shape – the frame – and essentially builds the board from the inside out. He designs the shape of the board on a computer, then cuts out the frame (which dictates the rocker and shape of the board) using a laser cutter. Next, Stiphout prepares the reclaimed wood that will form the body of the board, cleaning it and cutting it into thin slices. He glues the slices together side by side to form two sheets, which he attaches to 16 ASJ ASJ—June/July — Aug/Sept2012 2017

the top and bottom of the frame, then trims them to the frame shape and adds layers of cork to the rails for impact protection. Finally, he smooths down the surface bumps, and seals the board with fiberglass and resin.

The entire process takes 40-60 hours from start to finish; phased out over the course of a month.

Born in South Africa, Stiphout started surfing in Holland before moving to the US in 1993. He surfed used foam boards that he repaired himself before deciding to try his hand at building a wooden one for the first time in 2010. “It was more a necessity than anything else,” he claims, though the necessity seems to stem from his compulsion to turn trash into treasure.

The first board Stiphout shaped was a thin 9'5" with a pulled in tail. He crafted the fin, nose block and tail block out of the mahogany transom of an old Zodiac. “It was probably the worst board I’ve ever surfed, hands down,” says Stiphout. “But I really enjoyed building it, so I built a second one, and the second one turned out to be magic.” An 8'2" with parallel rails and generous volume, the “Tanker” has been Stiphout’s favorite board ever since; it’s a stock shape that he still makes to this day.

Though the 9'5" didn’t fare so well, the legacy of the old Zodiac persists – Stiphout has continued to build boards using reclaimed wood ever since.

The name Ventana was chosen when Stiphout was driving from Mexico back to Santa Cruz. As he passed Big Sur, a Beach Boys song came on that mentioned the Ventana Wilderness, which Stiphout took as a sign. After a stint with a partner that didn’t work out, he partnered with Dennis in 2014 to form Ventana Surfboards and Supplies, a sustainable surf company focused on craftsmanship, responsibility, and adventure.

Using locally sourced products, partnering with small local businesses, leaving a small footprint, and giving back to the community are a few of the values that form the foundation of the brand. “We’re not trying to earn a living doing anything that’s detrimental to anyone anywhere,” says Stiphout. “Not only is the product

important to us but also where and who it’s made by.”

Ventana is the first surf company in the world to have its entire line of boards ECOBOARD Project Gold Verified by Sustainable Surf. “We have a rule to keep us honest in terms of sustainability, that we won’t pay for wood,” says Dennis. All of the wood used for Ventana surfboards and body surfing handplanes is reclaimed except for the frames used for the boards.

Dennis estimates that, among Ventana’s network of upcycle partners, Santa Cruz Guitar Company donates the largest volume of reclaimed material. “We have 8,000-year-old oak that was found in a swamp in the Czech Republic that we got as offcuts,” says Dennis.

“Every splinter of wood has a story that we can tell.”

One of the most interesting stories is that of the Western Flyer, the boat on which John Steinbeck made a historic voyage with marine biologist Ed Ricketts in 1940, and on which their collaborative work, The Log from the Sea of Cortez, is based. Geologist John Gregg bought the boat in 2015 and is currently restoring it for use as a multimillion dollar education and research vessel. Gregg donated three floorboards from the hull and a dinnertable size section of wood from the engine room to Ventana Surfboards.

According to Gregg, The Log From the Sea of Cortez was Steinbeck’s favorite book. “[Ricketts] was the first guy to talk about environmental degradation of the oceans,” says Gregg. “He could see the writing on the wall.” It seems fitting that splinters from the boat which inspired Steinbeck’s writing – and his interest in ocean conservation – carry on as both functional watercraft and mindful art.

“Whenever we sell a board or a handplane with that wood, we donate some of the money back to the Western Flyer refurbishment project,” says Dennis. Indeed, Ventana donates 5% of all profits, and sometimes up to 10% of sales, to local non-profits leading the charge in ocean conservation.

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surfing some day,” says Dennis, who plans to grow the apparel line and expand the selection of products.

Dennis and Stiphout have a knack for product development, with two successful inventions already under their belt: the Save-A-Surf Box ($49.50) and Save-A-Surf Tool ($19.50). “The Save-ASurf Tool was basically created because my kids had stolen my fin screws,” says Dennis. He recalls surfing Middle Peak at Steamer Lane – or rather, trying to surf –

PHOTOS Opposite page, clockwise: Martijn Stiphout shows off one of his Sunburst longboard creations (David Dennis); Tyler Fox on his Ventana longboard at Pleasure Point (Simon Gilbert/ J2PMedia); Martijn Stiphout crafts a surfboard in the Ventana workshop (Sebastian Stiphout). This page, clockwise: David Dennis with his Ventana Downrail at Pleasure Point (Dave Alexander/Salty Breeze Surf Art and Photography); Ventana Western Flyer Fish Handplane for bodysurfing (David Dennis); Ventana Adventurer Frank Scott Krueger of Humble Sea Brewing Co. bodysurfing his Ventana handplane at Its Beach (Don Moulds).

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The name Ventana was chosen when Stiphout was driving from Mexico back to Santa Cruz. As he passed Big Sur, a Beach Boys song came on that mentioned the Ventana Wilderness, which Stiphout took as a sign. and flailing, until he discovered that two of the fins had fallen out. The third fin came off in his hand. It turned out that Dennis’s kids had taken the fin screws for another board. Dennis had to cut his session short because he didn’t have replacements. He told Stiphout about an idea for a tool with a scraper, leash cord, and fin screws; it would have enabled him to keep surfing that day.

The Save-A-Surf Box takes the idea one step further with a full-featured wax compartment edged in reclaimed mahogany wood from Santa Cruz Guitar Company. It includes a leash cord from leftover paracord used to make Khordz Mugs, a guitar pick made from spent key cards used at the Santa Cruz Dream Inn, and an eco-friendly bar of wax; as well as a bottle opener, extra fin screws, and an

Allen wrench that tuns into a sundial.

Wooden instruments like the ukulele and banjolele (a cross between a banjo and a ukulele) are the latest additions to the Ventana Surfboards and Supplies product line. Stiphout and Dennis are currently working on a new top secret instrument which will launch before the end of the year, though Stiphout admits he’s not much of a musician. When he got a ukulele last year, he only played it for about half an hour. “Then I put it down and started doing research on how to build one,” Stiphout admits.

Go figure.

Aloe Driscoll is a freelance writer in Santa Cruz. Read more at savilasurf.com and follow her @aloedriscoll on Instagram. www. advent ur espor t sjour nal. com

17

Drake Would Go A Point Reyes sea kayaking adventure Words and photos by Chuck Graham

T

he incessant roar from Jack’s Beach never waned throughout the night. The wind was howling across Bodega Bay, leaving an uneasy feeling amongst four hopeful kayakers aiming to paddle south around Point Reyes Lighthouse and into Drake’s Bay. Starting Out The ragged coastline of the triangular-shaped Point Reyes National Seashore is swept in unpredictable currents, unruly surf and towering cliffs. Point Reyes is considered to be the second foggiest place on the planet and winds have been clocked at 133 mph at the lighthouse. It’s these obstacles that can make for a challenging kayaking trip.

“Tomaltuous Bay” I thought mid-week there would be no kayakers on the water, but there were quite a few along the west side of the bay with many of its beaches occupied for the night.

Myself and three other kayak guides from the Channel Islands National Park – Brad Greenbaum, Matt May and Ryland Grivetti – put in next to the decaying single hull

boat behind the Inverness Market, and instantly we paddled into a northwest headwind. We paddled nine miles passing Hog Island, pushing toward sunset when we settled on Jack’s Beach. There was only a sliver of sand as the approaching high tide surged onshore. We neatly stacked our kayaks and tied them together before hauling our gear behind a dense thicket of coastal sage scrub.

A narrow path led inside a seemingly impenetrable thicket of coyote bush and poison oak before opening up beneath a giant grove of Cypress trees. It was anything but silent – our continuous friendly banter was challenged by the rush of surf washing through from Tomales Bluff to Tom’s Point.

That night around a crackling fire, we agreed that if the surf was too big at dawn to exit Tomales Bay, then

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we would regroup and camp as close as we could to the open ocean. Just after sunrise we effortlessly paddled with an outgoing tide and rode it until the surf dictated otherwise. Six-to-eight foot hammering waves battered the peninsula and outside the waves were ten-to-fifteen feet.

Instead, we landed our kayaks at Alvalis Beach and scrambled along the wave-battered coast out to Duck Beach for a good look at the surf. It was cranking and I

DRAIN

DRY

sensed some anxiety amongst the boys.

“We’re going to have to consider going back to where we launched,” said May. “There’s no way out of this bay,” Grivetti added.

As we studied the sea conditions we did receive some comic relief watching in amazement as two fishermen in a 22-foot Radon gunned into Bodega Bay, riding on top of a wave. The captain looked supremely confident at the helm. One hand was on the steering wheel while gazing back over the stern, a cigarette dangling from his mouth and an 8am Budweiser in his other hand, clearly a man on a mission who would not be deterred.

Our rest day allowed us to scout around for an exit plan. We agreed to camp at North Blue Gum Beach, pitch our tents and spend the day hiking the spine of Tomales Point Trail and the Tule Elk Preserve. We followed a path from the beach to the trail and suddenly everyone breathed a sigh of relief. We had an excellent vantage point to view the outgoing tide and saw that the surf had dropped significantly. The surf was still booming on the west side of the narrow peninsula south of Bird Rock, but the waves inside Tomales Bay were on the wane.

By late afternoon we descended back down to our poison oak-choked campsite looking to get an early start for the lighthouse at dawn. The surf continued to subside through the moonlit night, and it was still dark when we loaded our kayaks and paddled for the open ocean early the next morning.

What a difference a day made. We were able to hug Tomales Bluff and paddle out of Tomales Bay with dry hair!

Following Formations From where we camped at North Blue Gum Beach to the Point Reyes Lighthouse was a 23-mile paddle, but we didn’t anticipate a five-to-ten knot southeast headwind or a stingy up-coast current.

We’d heard a lot of chatter about great whites in the mouth of Tomales Bay, Bodega Bay and the long stretch to the lighthouse. We didn’t take it lightly, so we stayed in formation for most of the day. When we needed a break for food or gear adjustments we came together, rafting up in the “duck formation”, as in sitting ducks. While we paddled we remained just a paddle’s reach from each other in a diamond formation. This was also relevant when visibility deteriorated to within fifty feet as we lost sight of the lighthouse from time to time in dense fog.

Point Reyes appeared ominous against an uncertain horizon. We had a steady ten knot southeast headwind and billowing fog was scaling the sheer cliffs leading to the lighthouse. For a time it felt like we were on a paddling treadmill and visibility fluctuated between okay and poor.

There were distractions to keep us on our toes throughout the paddle. In addition to sea otters and seals, a pair of humpback whales fed nearby amongst flotillas of common murres and red phalaropes. At one point we had seven mola molas swim around our kayaks. A couple of the bony fish even bumped the hulls of our formation.

The pesky up-coast current and southeast winds didn’t ease up while rounding the lighthouse. Swell washing up the cliffs rolled back out to us, creating some uneven paddling conditions down to Chimney Rock and finally oval-shaped Drakes Bay.

Drake’s Haven To the Spanish, Sir Francis Drake was a ruthless pirate defeating and raiding their mighty fleet throughout New Spain in the 1570s. To the English, Drake was a maverick and a hero while circumnavigating the globe, but with the Spanish breathing down his neck Drake and his crew took refuge inside what was then Coast Miwok land and what is now known as Drakes Bay. We finally experienced a tailwind and although we had to wait until the last five miles of our trip, it felt good paddling into the expanse of Drakes Bay and not having to worry about wind, swell and currents.

It was just a matter of locating the correct marine terrace and the gritty mouth of Drakes Estero.

It looked easy enough on the map, but the mouth of Drakes Estero was hidden from view, and with no defined lineup or channel it was tricky getting inside the mouth. Grivetti paddled in first and skillfully surfed several waves past a flock

PHOTOS Opposite page, top to bottom: Taking a break beneath the Point Reyes Lighthouse; Leaving Jack’s Beach inside Tomales Bay; This page, clockwise from top left: Exploring Drakes Estero; Tule elk bull bugling; Paddling into Drakes Bay.

of American white pelicans roosting at the end of the sand spit. The rest of us got in without a hitch as the estuary’s shallow waters rippled in the southeast winds.

We continued past a crude monument devoted to the seafaring exploits of Drake, and paddled with ease to the backend of the estero. It started raining, heavy at times. Mule deer gazed at us bewildered from the shoreline and a northern harrier swooped overhead. We paddled past the now defunct Drakes Oyster Farm and finished our trip at the road that leads to the lighthouse.

The winds were gusting to forty knots and even more so at the lighthouse where it was consistently fifty knots.

The rangers shut visitation down and we could see a procession of cars heading our way. Brad was out in front as we paddled the narrow channels of pickleweed. Nearly at the road, Brad began hitchhiking from his kayak and flagged down the first vehicle that approached us. It was a Mercedes and the couple was more than willing to take Brad to our trucks on the other side of Tomales Bay. The rest of us dodged the chilly wind and rain by paddling into the circular culvert underneath the road.

A few moments later a ranger peeked under the road and into the culvert.

“I’m the ranger and I saw a kayak off the road here,” he said. “Just wanted to know where you’re coming from?”

“We started in Tomales Bay,” I said.

“We’re just finishing up, waiting for a ride.”

“What?,” he replied. “Well that was pretty f!#%*n’ ballsy. I’ve, never heard of anyone doing that before.”

Neither had we. www. advent ur espor t sjour nal. com

19

Adventure Photographer Striking the balance between being an athlete and an artist

By Joshua Kasumovic

I

t is a sunny Southern California day in early spring. A cool breeze at my back, carrying the melodic sound of birds singing in the distance. The scent of pine trees is intoxicating and the landscape is graced with prominent granite features. I’m focused on composition through the viewfinder of my camera as the action unfolds in front of me.

Framing the subject doesn’t come easily; I’m in an awkward position, twisting, turning, and contorting while trying to maintain a foothold. My muscles burn as I strain to hold still.

I take a deep calming breath to steady the shot. In front of me is a climber scaling a rather blank slab of granite called Suicide Rocks. My attention is drawn to the flow of intensity throughout the climb, while assessing a broader scope to incorporate the scale and beauty of the scene. I release the shutter at several key moments. He clips in at the second anchor of a three pitch sport climb and I pull the camera away from my face. We share a brief cheer of success and laugh of excitement. Awareness of my surroundings returns abruptly, reminding me that I am hanging somewhere in the middle of a 60-meter static rope on the rock face. The ground is about 200 feet below my feet.

••••••••••••••

I often reflect on the path that brought me here. My journey to become an adventure photographer was nonlinear because I was unsure of what was truly important to me in life. At my core, I’ve always been inspired visually and fueled by feeding my creative side. As a child, I was outgoing by nature. If anyone were to guess, they would have said I was going to end up in front of a camera, not behind one.

No strangers to adventure and travel, my family exposed me to a lot of what the world has to offer from a young age, making multiple trips to foreign countries and exotic places each year. My dad is a commercial airline pilot, which offered us the opportunity to fly free on standby. My grandfather, who is a certified dive master, introduced me to the sport when I was 12. We made trips across the Bermuda Triangle, explored shipwrecks and dove as deep as 155 feet. Needless to say I have spent a good deal of time exploring land and sea. Hiking, camping, sailing, river rafting, and bungee jumping were among the many activities that made for a great summer vacation.

One of my fondest memories as a child was learning to make stop motion movies with my Grandpa Ken. I was hooked on it from the beginning. It provided me with a

seemingly endless creative outlet. I would spend hours at a time staging various scenes and situations. Frame by frame I would compose mini films with Legos, Hot Wheels or whatever else I could get my hands on. Then at the age of 13, I received my first camcorder as a birthday gift from my father. It opened up a world of opportunities to express my creativity, some of which led me to play with homemade pyrotechnics – which didn’t go over too well with my parents!

Over the years, I was able to teach myself how to edit videos on my computer and compose short films. I pursued a vocational education in video productions during my junior year of high school by registering for a two-year program that would prime me for a career in the field. The education gave a me wealth of knowledge and introduced me to my first experiences of getting compensated for my creativity. Unfortunately, I struggled to connect with the client projects, from lack of passion for the assignments. As a result I lost interest in my work. I felt the education was ushering me into a path I wasn’t going to be happy with, and because of this I put my creative career on hold for a while.

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in the hospitality industry, and I found myself as an accomplished restaurant professional working as the beverage director and manager for a highly acclaimed restaurant in San Diego. This career started off as just another job to pay the bills. Initially I was hired to bus tables, and I quickly progressed to serving. A few years later, I was promoted to management and became certified as a sommelier (wine professional). In time, a career that was based on the pursuit of leadership responsibilities and ambitions of professional growth, slowly became stifling to my creativity. I naively thought I was achieving everything I wanted. In search of balance, I began meditating which brought clarity. Over time, I became aware of my lack of fulfillment in running restaurants and pushing alcohol. My spiritual awakening opened my eyes to what really mattered to me and my ever-growing draw to nature.

It was time for me to shake things up.

One year prior to leaving the hospitality business, I picked up a digital camera and I was instantly absorbed by the art. So much of the experience resonated with me as video did before. Initially, my favorite style was landscape photography. For me, it was not just about capturing the landscape; it was the sense of adventure in getting to a wonderful location. The more difficult the journey, the more inspired I am by the image.

Since the start of my photography career, I have focused on outdoor adventure, wildlife and landscapes. Initially I built my portfolio around landscape photography to sell as art, and traveled to many amazing places that I had never been before. It was on this journey that I had an epiphany at Yosemite National Park while taking a photo of the famous tunnel view. Looking around at the thirty-plus other photographers who were taking the same shot in the dead of winter, made me realize that I needed to set myself apart. This area, along with many others on the trip, was easily accessible to the masses.

I decided to push my limits and explore places few people will ever see, so I could share them with the world. From then on I focused my efforts on acquiring the skills and experience to prepare me for the challenges of navigating technical wilderness terrain.

This is where I began to collaborate with rock climbers, alpinists, canyoneers and other outdoor specialized athletes.

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the team while also putting yourself in the right position to get the shot. It’s important to strike a balance between being an athlete and a photographer. Sometimes you have to be able to keep up with the extra gear on your back, and other times you’re focused solely on capturing a great shot from a removed vantage point. The ability to problem solve, improvise, and set up rigs on the fly are all necessary skills. Setting out in the dark for the alpine start and burning the midnight oil add to the fun of being in the field. These practices are crucial to catch the best conditions, lighting or a shot of the Milky Way. Sometimes the adventure can take unexpected turns and the unforeseen calls for thinking on your feet. Overcoming the challenges laid before me enhances the narrative of the story I tell with my photographs.

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•••••••••••••• The second climber has now reached the anchor. That’s my cue to get back to work.

I ascend the rope to find the next position, and begin framing the shot. After looking back, I’m left inspired and grateful for the influences and experiences that brought me to where I am now. I’ve realized my vision of what I want my future to look like. Having the support of my friends and family has absolutely been a driving force. This gave me the courage to follow my dreams and fulfill my true purpose. In this moment there is no place I’d rather be than sitting in a harness with a camera in my hand.

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www. advent ur espor t sjour nal. com 21 6/28/17 11:46 AM

A Brief History of Yosemite Highlining

The birthplace of slacklining, Yosemite has inspired thousands of slackers throughout the world

By Chris Van Leuven

It keeps you on your toes, doesn’t leave much time for worrying, forcing a meditative state. It’s also fucking rad to shoot off the lip of a wave, sail through the air and touch down on the buttery backside of the swell, gliding down it like butter on a pan.

Lurk: (verb) to be concealed but capable of being discovered – Merriam-Webster Dictionary

I

nspired by Steve Roper’s Camp 4: Recollections of a Yosemite Rockclimber (and a host of other reasons), I moved to Yosemite at the age of 18 out of high school in the summer of 1995. I was a brave, albeit reckless, climber willing to throw myself at just about anything. Thus, a few weeks after dropping my bags off in a white canvas Curry Village cabin and starting work as a checkout boy at the Village Store, my friend, the late Art Gimbel and I were huffing it up the 2,850-foot climb from Camp 4 to the great slabs on top of Yosemite Falls. Our goal? The Lost Arrow Spire Spire, one of the most famous objectives for rock climbers in the park.

After crossing a wooden foot bridge at the top of Upper Falls weighted down under hundreds of feet of rope and hardware, and baking in 80-degree temps, we crept down the slabs to get a closer look at the Spire perched out from the edge of the wall: a pencil of golden granite with a top no wider than three bodies standing side-by-side.

A few people gathered below us anchored to the wall and others were across 55 feet of stretched one-inch webbing extending over the void connecting to the top of the Spire. They were there “lurking” – the opposite of working hard, just hanging out in one spot doing nothing (yet taking in everything).

One of them, Darrin Carter, walked the line gracefully,

Balance walking and slack-chaining, as in walking flat chains strung between steel fences, have been intertwined with Yosemite’s climbing culture as far back as the late ‘50s.

22 ASJ ASJ—June/July — Aug/Sept2012 2017

surfing the springy line with ease as the wind pushed it around. I remember other vague bits of the day: distant figures finding balance on the line, ants in a giant landscape over an impossibly long drop, the wind blowing hard and cold through the notch that separates the Spire from the wall.

In 1995, Carter became the first person to walk that line, known as the “Holy Grail” of Yosemite highlines, untethered, as in free solo, with nothing to catch him in case he lost his balance.

My observations from that day, seen from afar but living among the tribe, is how I got familiar with the slacklining community over my decade-plus-long tenure in the park.

Early Years Balance walking and slack-chaining, as in walking flat chains strung between steel fences, have been intertwined with Yosemite’s climbing culture as far back as the late ‘50s. During that time, climbing legend Chuck Pratt had already been walking chains for two decades when visiting Colorado climbers, Pat Ament and Van Freeman, tried to introduce him to the sport. Ament and Freeman, having seen Ivy Baldwin’s iconic 635-foot steel cable strung 582 feet high over the entrance to Eldorado Springs (still hanging in place since 1905) taught themselves chain walking.

Unlike slackliners, Baldwin crossed a tensioned steel cable and also held a 26-foot pole to maintain balance.

He did not use a tether and crossed the gap more than 85 times before retiring from the sport in 1948.

“Slack-chains in the ‘70s was my first experience,” photographer and longtime Valley resident Dean Fidelman told Adventure Sports Journal. “If you were

living a climbing lifestyle, you slack-chained. If you didn’t, it meant you weren’t part of our culture.”

Success on the Spire In 1983 Adam Grosowsky and Jeff Ellington attempted to walk the Lost Arrow Spire using a steel cable as Baldwin did in Eldorado Springs, but they broke a climbing anchor bolt on the Spire tip and retreated. The following year Chris Carpenter came with Scott Balcom, this time using lightweight one-inch webbing threaded with two pieces of 9/16 to try again.

“It was just too scary,” Balcom tells Adventure Sports Journal. “It was lonely, naked fear. I tried a bunch of times and kept falling. The one time I tried really hard I found myself diving into the Lost Arrow Chimney. I swung around and jumped onto the Spire like a cat out of water.

I wasn’t psychologically prepared enough.”

A year of intense training later, in July 1985, Balcom walked it clean. Darrin Carter repeated the feat in 1993.

Yosemite big-wall legend and rescue team member John “Deucey” Middendorf remembers it this way: “Regarding slacklining in the Valley, we were inspired by Jeff and Adam, whom I met in Eldorado, and I brought the first slacklines to the rescue site when we were moved from

Main image on opposite page: The Lost Arrow Spire sits high above Yosemite Valley (Julia Reardin).

Small image on opposite page: Chongo Chuck Tucker in Camp 4 (Tom Frost). Photos above, clockwise: Corbin Usinger staying in control at Taft Point with El Cap in the background (Dean Fidelman); Chongo, Dean Potter, and Ivo Ninov relaxing in Yosemite (Dean Fidelman); Dean Potter staying in the flow (Dean Fidelman).

Camp 25 to the corner site in 1984 and the chain came down, among other classic training equipment. This was quite a few years before the first Lost Arrow walk, of course, which is often recognized as the start of serious slacklining in the Valley.”

Libby Sauter, the first woman to walk the Lost Arrow Spire, completed the feat in July 2007. Shortly after, Jenna McLennan completed the second female crossing.

The late Dean Potter walked it both ways, untethered, in 2003. Then he added a longer exit line, increasing the challenge to 120 feet. Before his death from a wingsuit BASE accident in 2015, he walked both Lost Arrow highlines in free BASE-style. If he fell, he’d pull his chute and “turn dying into flying,” he wrote.

The Rise of the Monkeys I was there for the rise of the Monkeys (1998-2008), a loose group of lurkers who resided in Yosemite for reasons beyond climbing rocks: they were there as part of a tribe of dirtbags, travelers and worldclass athletes. Days were spent sharing 50/50s and drinking 16-ounce cans of King Cobra malt liquor by the slacklines, the boulders above Camp 4, the Merced River, atop the Rostrum and by the Lost Arrow Spire. These were all safe zones, away from ranger-danger. Mini parties broke out daily, with techno music tanging out of compact, portable speakers.

The Monkeys, Dean Potter, Leo Houlding, Renan Ozturk and Cedar Wright (to name a few), were part of the modern big wall free-climbers and speed-climbers era and we slacklined and highlined with boldness and vision. And we had fun.

The Rostrum The Rostrum, a 700-foot rib of dark stone slashed with cracks, with its summit a half mile from the road, provided the perfect backcountry party venue surrounded with big-time exposure. The 75-foot highline extending from the wall to the top of the Rostrum proper attracted many firsttime highliners and became a hot bed

for visitors and locals alike. Adding to the scene, the late Dan Osman lured his friends out there to take wild multi-hundred-foot rope jumps off the top of the formation. It was also a BASE-jumping exit.

Dean Potter was the first to walk the Rostrum line untethered.

Dean Potter, King of the Monkeys One of Potter’s tricks was that he would instinctively snag the line with his leg midfall (perfected by muscle memory from thousands of hours of practice) then right himself to a sitting position in one fell swoop.

Yosemite slackliner Chongo Chuck Tucker introduced Potter to the sport in 1993.

Over the decades, applying what he learned from Chongo and adding to it, Potter went on to set the highest free-solo walk in the world, Taft Point, in May 2015.

He completed this feat after aborting his efforts to walk a line 2,800 feet up on the side of El Capitan.

To succeed on the Taft project, located across the Valley from El Cap, he spent a week near the line, walking both it and a nearby low-line and envisioning success using meditation. “While my own experiences on the line had given me increased balance both physically and mentally, slacklining allowed me to grow,” he wrote in his story “The Space Between” in Alpinist 21 (Autumn 2007).

He continued: “Our foreign climber friends visiting the Valley brought the stoke home with them, and soon slacklining multiplied worldwide.”

The End of One Era and the Start of a New With the Monkey tribe dissipating some 10 years ago came the rise of slacklining and highlining festivals. Today there are events in Tübingen, Germany, Baratti, Italy, Northwich, England, Saint-Laurentd’Aigouze, France and Copenhagen, Denmark. And much more.

People still show up in Yosemite to highline but “that was kind of a Monkey thing, that’s how we hung out,” Fidelman says. “It’s not that same group who were living in Yosemite, Joshua Tree and Moab.

It’s definitely not what it was.”

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23

Savage Arena: Soloing in Yosemite

Yosemite has a long history of free soloing. Here’s a glimpse back to the early days

By Chris Van Leuven

T

o every visitor heading into Yosemite Valley along Southside Drive, the sight of El Capitan is an unforgettable experience. Just looking at the gigantic, towering wall is enough to induce butterflies.

When I saw it for the first time, I knew I had to climb it.

Many experienced climbers can’t make it more than a few feet off the ground on El Cap, which makes Alex Honnold’s incredible free-solo ascent of the formation in June that much more impressive. His ascent may be the greatest athletic feat ever, and not just by a climber, but by anyone.

Honnold’s climb represents the pinnacle of free soloing in Yosemite. However soloing, by the likes of the late Dan Osman, the late Dean Potter, the late John Bachar, Steph Davis and Peter Croft, has been documented in films since I started climbing in the ‘90s.

For example, in Eric Perlman’s Masters of Stone series, Croft solos the 700-foot Rostrum via the 5.11c North Face route. Back then his ascent was mind blowing, almost as much as Honnold’s recent accomplishment. “Every climber steps into the ring with two opponents,” the narrator says in the first Masters of Stone film, “gravity and his own limitations.”

The game Croft was playing wasn’t new, he was just doing it harder and with more regularity than many before him. Sentinel Rock, Middle Cathedral and the Yosemite Falls Wall were all onsight free soloed in the ‘70s and early ‘80s – that is, no rehearsal, no choreographed moves, as Honnold and Potter did in modern climbing vids. (Not to say Potter and Honnold didn’t onsight free solo, they most certainly did, just not in videos).

Again, it’s important to understand the distinctions 24 ASJ ASJ—June/July — Aug/Sept2012 2017

and nuances involved in soloing styles and traditions in Yosemite and elsewhere. The true onsight free solo is an act of samurai level commitment. With no ropes and no practice on the route itself, the onsight free soloist is testing his or her ability to problem solve and be physically creative for a sustained period of time in the face of ultimate consequences. At this level, Yosemite becomes a truly savage arena.

The below ascents can be viewed as a final exam, where misreading a sequence, slipping or breaking a hold means certain death. Adding to the challenge, the climbing shoes of years ago weren’t the precise machines of today, instead they were boxy, often ill-fitting and soled with rubber that was about as sticky as a tractor tire.

Steck-Salathé, Sentinel Rock, “Hot” Henry Barber (1973) Climbing well over 300 days a year during the early ‘70s was standard for Henry Barber, which created a deep intimacy and familiarity with the rock. During that time “he was perhaps the world’s best free climber, period,” Mark Synnott wrote of him in Climbing Magazine.

To prepare for his 1973 free solo of the Steck-Salathé route on 1,600-foot Sentinel Rock, a physical 5.9 (now 5.10b) with pitch after pitch of offwidth and chimney, he onsight-soloed the glacier-polished offwidth Ahab (5.10b, 155’) at the base of El Cap, and the tips-to-chimney route Midterm (5.10b, 135’) at Arch Rock. His main area of concern was an eight to twelve foot face climbing section.

His solution? Just figure it out on the fly. He climbed without a rope (nor a sling, as some reports have stated), in an ascent that took 2.5 hours.

“Every climber steps into the ring with two opponents,” the narrator says in the first Masters of Stone film, “gravity and his own limitations.”

Lost Arrow Chimney, Upper Yosemite Falls Wall, Greg Cameron (1978) Inspired by Barber’s ropeless ascent of the SteckSalathé, offwidth aficionado Greg Cameron repeated the feat in 1977 (though he carried a sling to protect himself for the face moves). Barber’s climb “just captured my imagination,” Cameron told Adventure Sports Journal.

“The thing about wide cracks is, you get so many points of contact on the rock [making it secure] that you’d have to have a heart attack or something [to fall]. When face climbing it’s easy to slip.”

Applying his deep familiarity and confidence with climbing wide cracks, Cameron hiked up the base of the Upper Yosemite Falls Wall – this was during autumn when the falls were all but dried up, so he wouldn’t get sprayed with water – and began climbing the Lost Arrow Chimney (5.10a, 1,100’) alone.

“The part that was ugly in a way is that it doesn’t end up on top of the wall. I would need someone’s help to get off,” he says. The route terminates some 200 feet down from the rim, in the Lost Arrow Spire notch. To get out he would need someone to hang a rope for him to prusik

PHOTOS

Opposite page: The late Dean Potter soloing Separate Reality (5.12a), Yosemite (Dean Fidelman).

Left to right on this page: Steph Davis soloing Outer Limits (5.10c),Yosemite (Dean Fidelman); John Bachar soloing Up 40 (5.11b), Joshua Tree National Park (Dean Fidelman); The late John “Yabo” Yabloski soloing Spider Line (5.11d), Joshua Tree National Park (Dean Fidelman).

out on. Since he didn’t want to burden his friends with sacrificing an afternoon by fixing a line for him, he asked them to come up in the evening. However, he started his ascent in the morning, in a climb that ended up taking him 3 hours.

To pass the time, Cameron stashed Albert Camus’ The Myth of Sisyphus in his

cotton sweatpants down around the ankle where the elastic in the cuffs would keep the book from falling out. He climbed the whole route like that, stopping at ledges and reading a few chapters along the way. When he reached the notch and the end of the free climbing, to his surprise, there was already a line in place set there by another team that was there to do a Tyrolean Traverse off the tip of the spire.

“The guy I met up with, I think it was his first day out, and he didn’t seem to know much,” Cameron says of the baffled team he encountered. They chatted for a few and the other team allowed Cameron passage on their ropes.

The following year, in 1979, Cameron onsight soloed the first free ascent of the offwidth Pipeline (5.10+, 5 pitches) in Squamish, British Columbia. “This particular ascent had an effect on Croft and a lot of Squamish climbers,” he says.

“They love me in Canada.”

Direct North Buttress (DNB), Middle Cathedral Rock, Charlie Fowler (1977) Fowler, like Barber, was a voracious climber. Climbing 365 days a year wasn’t a goal, it was a lifestyle. Fowler excelled in all the disciples: rock, ice, alpine, big mountains. His Yosemite ropeless ascent of the 17-pitch Direct North Buttress (5.10b, 1700 feet) on Middle Cathedral Rock in 1977, was a “pretty wild” performance that “set the tone for the rest of his climbing career,” Mark Kroese wrote in Fifty Favorite Climbs: The Ultimate North American Tick List.

Unlike the long cracks on the SteckSalathé and Lost Arrow Chimney, the DNB isn’t a jam-up. Route finding is challenging and the line contains thin face climbing and loose holds. When freed in 1965 it was considered one of the most difficult routes in the world. Even today many teams open bivy on it because they’re too slow to complete it in a day. Climb!: The History of Rock Climbing in Colorado calls

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Top: The late John Bachar soloing Butterballs (5.11c) in Yosemite (Mark Chapman). Left: Portrait of “Hot” Henry Barber (Chris Van Leuven).

Fowler’s ascent “the most audacious free solo yet done in Yosemite.”

Fowler thoroughly prepared for his boldest climbs and the DNB was no different. He gathered as much info as he could, and when he felt ready, quested his way up the route. And his solo wasn’t a one-off – he also soloed 1,500-foot routes in Colorado’s Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.

In Eldorado Canyon State Park, he soloed Perilous Journey (5.11b), “Boulder’s most famous mind control classic,” according to guidebook author Richard Rossiter. And he was the second American to solo the 1,800-meter North Face of the Eiger (in the late ‘80s).

Fowler died in 2006, likely from an avalanche, while attempting a major first ascent in the Sichuan Province of China.

John Bachar, The Moratorium, Shultz’s Ridge (1980) It may not be on El Cap but it sure is close. The 350-foot Moratorium route on Shultz’s Ridge, tucked under El Cap’s East Face route, is a dead-vertical golden face climbed via thin laybacking, jamming, and delicate stemming.

Most of the routes John Bachar was soloing in the late ‘70s were climbs he had done before. But he wanted to push it a bit, climb into the unknown yet still within his comfort zone. He picked the Moratorium because it was (only) rated 5.10d (though now it’s rated 5.11b). To prepare, he asked around to see what the cruxes were like and was advised to take note of a laybacking problem. But no one told him where it was on the route. He

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overcame the first crux at 100 feet and cruised on. One hundred feet higher came another hard section, and again he passed it without incident. Nearing the top of the route, some 50 feet from the summit, he encountered the final and most difficult section, which paused him out. “I stood there for about 10 minutes on this tiny flake thing. I kept trying this layback move five or six times,” he told ClimbTalk Radio in 2009.

“I didn’t think I was gonna fall but I didn’t feel solid either. This was a move that wasn’t secure but I had to do it.” The sequence required switching thin cracks via laybacking. Exiting the crux meant committing to a pimple-sized foothold and standing up. It was at this section that he switched from vertical dancing to pulling really, really hard. Moments later he was past the crux, relieved to have made it.

“At the top I felt like a hollow shell, like I got away with something I shouldn’t have.

Not like I conquered the mountain, but it let me get away with something.”

These are just a handful of the most impressive onsight free solos that laid the foundation for Alex Honnold’s ropeless ascent of El Capitan in June. There are others worth mentioning but that would require a much longer article or even a book. Honnold may have practiced the moves before his big test, but the sheer difficulty of his ascent – at 5.12+ he was dealing with ridiculously insecure sequences thousands of feet off the ground – puts him in a league of his own.

Still, he was standing on the shoulders of giants: the bold soloists Henry Barber, Greg Cameron, Charlie Fowler, John Bachar and others who dared to risk it all on the great walls of Yosemite. www. advent ur espor t sjour nal. com

27

One Bike at a Time Project Bike Tech teaches high school students life skills through bicycle maintenance

By Leonie Sherman Photos courtesy Bicycle Trip

B

erri Michel, owner of Bicycle Trip, a full service shop in Santa Cruz, was surprised by how few experienced bike mechanics were available. So she started a bicycle engineering and technology class in local high schools to meet her future workforce needs. Ten years later, Project Bike Tech has reached almost 3,000 young people with a comprehensive curriculum that covers bike maintenance, career preparation and health.

“When we realized we couldn’t find enough mechanics, we thought, why don’t they have bike tech in schools like they have auto tech?” explains Michel. “The 180-hour curriculum we’ve developed uses the bicycle as a platform to teach environment, health and academics as well.”

The program’s accredited high school classes provide

students with the skills to become entry level bike mechanics as well as in-depth career counseling including advice on how to ace a job interview or make a successful resume. In addition to life skills, students learn math, geometry, physics, history and city planning. Even teachers who formerly dreaded math or hard sciences, say they have a renewed passion for these subjects when taught through the practical lens of bicycle maintenance. As abstract concepts become concrete, students’ interests and passions grow. “Our program sparks an interest, showing them that the reason you take geometry is because a bike is a triangle and you need to know math to be able to work on a bike,” says National Director Mercedes Ross.

Project Bike Tech has expanded from a senior year elective

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to a two-year curriculum. The first year covers assembly of a bike, while the second year deals with basic maintenance and repairs. Eight high schools in California, from Aptos to Folsom, now offer Project Bike Tech classes and they hope to spread even further afield. “We’d like to expand across the country, to have an effect in every state,” says Ross.

“To do that we have to start small. We’ve been planting seeds across the country, talking to boards of education in Minnesota, Vermont and Colorado.”

Those states are not chosen at random. Each has a vibrant community of like-minded cyclists. “Bike shops in the area make an enormous difference in the success of the program,” explains Ross. “They supply used bikes, and kids can go there to apprentice. The bike shops also come

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PHOTOS Opposite page: Student learning to work on a bicycle wheel. This page,clockwise: One of the larger class rooms outfitted with professional tool benches; Most of the teachers have 20+ years experience; Students working on brand new bikes made available from Giant Bicycles.

Through these classes, students come to understand that it happens to be bikes today, but whatever job they pursue they’re going to need to work as a team and be responsible for their time. into the classroom and talk to students, plus they provide a venue for fund raising events. Getting the local bike community involved is critical.”

In many ways, the bike industry acts like an umbrella community in propelling the expansion of Project Bike Tech. Ross, who has 30 years experience working with the major players, provides the perfect bridge between companies and the classroom.

“Industry is standing behind this program because they understand that it’s going to benefit them to have more people coming into the workforce with this kind of knowledge,” says Ross. “All those CEOs started by being bike mechanics in a shop,” she adds with a laugh.

But career opportunities aren’t limited to the bike industry. “A graduate of our program might become a bike mechanic, but they’re also acquiring skills to become an auto mechanic. Some kids have gone into the solar field, some kids will move into engineering and design,” explains Ross.

The positive outcomes for students extend beyond the skills they learn in class and increased job opportunities. “For a lot of students this is the first time they feel sort of free in a classroom,” says teacher and curriculum developer Therese Kilpatrick, who’s been working with Project Bike Tech for five years. “They don’t have to sit down and listen to a lecture, they get hands on experience. Through these classes, they come to understand that it happens to be bikes today, but whatever job they pursue they’re going to need to work as a team and be responsible for their time.”

Despite their success and popularity, Project Bike Tech faces challenges familiar to any non-profit. “Our first challenge is to educate administrators, parents and

students about the vast opportunities available to graduates of the program,” says Ross. “We provide an entrée to the outdoor industry, which is growing every year.”

Another big challenge is the decline of occupational programming in schools.

“Across the country we’re seeing schools getting rid of hands on classes, moving more towards technology based curriculum,” says Ross with a sigh. “The upside of that is that students are thirsting for hands-on programs like this. There are probably 300 schools that would open a program right now if we had the capacity.”

The biggest challenge in meeting that growing demand is coming up with the cash for tools, bikes and instructors. “Of course funding is our biggest challenge, especially for schools that have a hard time raising money, “ admits Ross. “There’s a lot of pressure on us to come up with grants for schools that can’t afford to open the program.”

Where they have been able to reach low income students in economically depressed areas the benefits are striking.

Ross recounts a high school senior telling her that before the class he rode a BMX but never thought about how to fix it or work on it. “Now everyone in his family is riding a bike and he wants to be a bike mechanic,” says Ross. “That kid might have ended up in a gang. We didn’t just change his life, we affected his whole family. Because of Project Bike Tech, they’re all healthier and they’re closer as a family, because they’re all riding bikes together.”

And ultimately Michel, the tireless founder, has realized her goal. Two graduates of Project Bike Tech, Felipe and Jake, work as mechanics at Bicycle Trip.

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29

Getting Inside the Mind of Mark Weir Building Community Through Mentoring the Next Generation

By Kurt Gensheimer

O

f all the professional mountain bike racers in the gravity scene around the west coast, there may be nobody more significant in shaping the talent of young riders more than Mark Weir. Although Weir has stepped back a bit from racing in the last few years, he still plays a vital role in helping develop some of America’s best talent, including recent winner of the Trans-Provence and the TDS Enduro, Marco Osborne.

But just like his unorthodox approach to training – like when he climbed more than 1,000,000 feet in a year on a Santa Cruz VP Free downhill bike, making him unbeatable at races like the Downieville Classic – Weir also has an unorthodox style of mentoring young riders. Although his business card says “Tough Guy,” Weir has a unique charm, like when he shines his signature smile even when he’s winding up to punch you. It’s a no-bullshit approach that’s very refreshing in a world overrun with political correctness, and it seems to attract the right talent to Weir’s doorstep.

“The biggest thing I try and impress upon the young guys coming up is building community around them,” said Weir. “It’s not about ‘you’ or ‘me’, it’s about ‘us’. I was successful in racing, building relationships and life in general because I focus on the ‘us’ aspect. I want to make sure there are still some kids left in this world who understand that concept.”

This mindset of being present in the local community has been a driving force behind Weir’s style of mentoring youth. With the help of his community, in the early 2000s Weir built an enormous pump track at his home in Novato and invited kids he liked to stay and train with him and his wife Suzie. As the word about Weir’s world spread, more people turned up at his

“I see a lot of younger folks living van life, but what about house life?” asked Weir. “What about investing in your community? Build a pump track. Build some trails. Invite the neighborhood kids over. Give people a reason to come to where you live. Social media is not where you live. Social media is vapor.

Your community is real.”

30 ASJ ASJ—June/July — Aug/Sept2012 2017

door. Before he knew it, he had a community of young, incredibly talented riders looking for direction; names like Richard Lancaster, Duncan Riffle, Ben Cruz, Sam Hill, Nathan Rennie, Henry O’Donnell, the Ravina brothers, and of course, Marco Osborne.

“It was the process of digging dirt together in the backyard, road tripping to events, going on huge rides and pushing each other beyond what we think we could do that bonded us as a community,” said Weir. “I saw a lot of myself in these kids, and I wanted to be the person that helped them get to the next level in their riding, and more importantly, as human beings.”

During this period through the 2000s, Weir was at his prime as a racer and had a large annual budget to travel with thanks to supporters like CamelBak, FOX, WTB, EAS and Jericho/Intense. He invited the kids along to race with him, all on his budget. Long before organized high school mountain biking took off, Weir was a crucial source of developing America’s finest downhill racing talent. And when Marco Osborne first started racing in 2012, Weir let him borrow his own bike along with all his spare parts.

“Mark has been supportive since the very beginning and is pretty much the reason where I am right now,” said Osborne. “He’s been more than a good friend, he’s been a mentor and coach. He tells me to just be myself, have fun, don’t go in over my head and don’t fall into

PHOTOS

This page, top to bottom: Weir cheers on fellow WTB rider Dan Chiang at TDS 2016 (Abner Kingman); Weir shares sage advice that he got from his father: “A lot of problems can be solved with a smile” (Abner Kingman); Opposite page, clockwise from top left: Press camp at Weir’s home in Novato (Abner Kingman); Weir riding with teammates Ben Cruz, Marco Osborne and Jerome Clementz at The Ranch (Ale Di Lullo); Weir’s pump track was built 15 years ago and has touched a lot of people over the years (Ale Di Lullo); Weir and friends at the first annual TDS – “a race built by community for the community” (WTB).

being someone I’m not. Mark’s always looking out for the younger generation, and he can still occasionally beat us up the climb, which of course makes him smile.”

Standing Above the Noise

Now in his early 40s with a seven-year-old son of his own, Weir doesn’t race and travel like he used to.

Besides, Weir said, the game has completely changed.

The explosion in social media has made it much more difficult for young riders aspiring to be professional to

find support and stand out.

“Because of social media, everything is so much more watered down these days. As an athlete, it’s much harder to stand above the noise with so much meaningless junk and distractions flying around. The culture has changed, and it seems people are more out for themselves instead of focusing on building a community around them.”

Before the explosion of social media, there was only a handful of print and online outlets people could get product information, race results and feature stories from. Weir knew that structure well and managed to get not only himself, but also the kids he mentored, into each and every one of those outlets. As proof, Weir dropped a massive binder on my lap loaded with print ads and magazine articles of him that he would give to sponsors every year.

“This is just 2004,” Weir said. “But nobody puts binders together anymore. Now it’s just Instagram photos, likes and video edits that vaporize after a day.”

This vapor has an irritating effect on Weir, especially when it happens on a ride.

“I’ll be out on a good rip with some younger guys and

every time we stop for a break, they’re pulling out their phones. It makes me want to pull out my phone, but I don’t want to pull out my phone. I hate my phone.

It drives me crazy. I yell at them to put their damn phones away and look at each other. Talk to each other.

Communicate with each other. We can’t lose this most elemental form of being a human.”

Marco Osborne is living in this new reality of social media, and might be one of the most talented riders that Weir has helped bring up through the ranks.

Because Osborne is making a name for himself in a new era, Weir imparts his life experiences to help Osborne stand above the noise.

“I told Marco that he has to be focused to the point of almost being selfish,” said Weir. “To be at the top of the game is demanding both physically and emotionally.

Most can take one or the other, but few can take both.

Marco is one of those guys who can.”

Despite the changing social culture, Weir’s life experiences and race wisdom still have relevance to a

www. advent ur espor t sjour nal. com

31

Photo: Fred Newcomer

PHOTOS Top to bottom: Wounded vet Daniel Riley trusted his good friend Weir to take him on a tandem down the fastest trail at the ranch. Weir reflects, “At one point we hit a big bump and his leg blew off ... I asked him if we should stop and he said ‘Hell no!’” (Jeremiah Newman); Weir getting ready for a ride outside his place with teammates and close friends Jason Moeschler and Ben Cruz (Jeremiah Newman).

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young racer like Osborne.

“Until you win a big event like TransProvence or TDS, you’re just another anonymous racer in the field,” said Weir.

“But once you get up on that top step, it gives you an opportunity to speak and stand above the noise. If you’re genuine, have a unique personality and keep winning, you’ll gain a following.

Otherwise, you’ll just sink back into the fodder. It’s pretty hard to ‘lifestyle’ when the money stops coming in, so the pretenders go do something else or get a nine-to-five job.”

Weir has also noticed that society’s addiction to social media seems to be eroding the aspect of community he’s been impressing on all the youth he’s mentored over the years.

“I see a lot of younger folks living van life, but what about house life?” asked Weir. “What about investing in your community? Build a pump track. Build some trails. Invite the neighborhood kids over. Give people a reason to come to where you live. Social media is not where you live. Social media is vapor. Your community is real.”

And nothing was more real than when Weir’s house partially burnt down two days after Christmas in 2009. It took two weeks of work to clean up the mess, but the community Weir helped build showed up in force and carried the family through a very difficult time.

Always Faithful

Recently, Weir has been involved with the Semper Fi Fund and Team Semper Fi, an organization focused on helping wounded members of all branches of the US Armed Forces recover physically and mentally through sport. Sam Tickle is the Associate Director of Team Semper Fi, and met Weir in 2010.

“I thought I knew what mountain biking was until I rode with Mark,” said Tickle.

“He totally changed my perspective on what the sport was all about, and I was

instantly hooked. I told Mark I wanted to ride more, and the next thing I knew, Mark had a brand new Cannondale for me.”

Tickle traveled to Weir’s residence in Novato to build the bike and go for a ride before heading back home. Tickle ended up staying a week.

“Mark and I were instant best friends,” said Tickle. “Mark would lap me multiple times climbing a giant mountain, but he didn’t care. All he cared about was getting me out and riding bikes.”

After that week in Novato with Weir, mountain biking became a central part of Tickle’s life. Tickle then started the Outdoor Program for Team Semper Fi, and the first person he wrote to for support was Weir.

“I sent Mark this long mountain bike skills clinic proposal for injured service members, and all I got was a three-word response that said, ‘duder, let’s rip.’”

The first skills clinic was held in 2016 at “The Ranch” in Novato, a large private tract of land owned by a friend of Weir.

The response from the service members was overwhelming.

“The guys were instantly drawn to Mark because of his ability to empathize and understand people’s situations in a genuine manner,” said Tickle. “Mark greatly respects the sacrifices service members have made, and he gives back in action, not words. He’s always present and hands on.”

Tickle’s mountain bike program has grown exponentially since its debut last year and Weir has played a central role in this growth. A lot of the program’s participants are new to mountain biking and Tickle points out, “They don’t know the legacy Mark has built over his career; they just see him as a good person and a leader who has impeccable character and doesn’t judge anyone. He just wants to see more people having fun on bikes.”

And getting more people on bikes is what it’s all about.

Event Profiles

Featured Upcoming Events TA-HOE NALU

August 12-13, Kings Beach Ta-Hoe Nalu brings the feel of a traditional Hawaiian paddle festival to the spectacular Kings Beach on the north shore of Lake Tahoe. Hundreds of competitors and thousands of spectators help create a party atmosphere in the High Sierra. Racing begins on Saturday morning and continues through to Sunday, with competitions in prone and stand-up paddling, as well as outrigger racing.

Distances vary from the ten-mile long course event to two-mile beginner races. Throughout the weekend, attendees can check out the expo area and enjoy food and beverages.

New for 2017: First Stroke: a non-competitive fun guided paddle tour – no experience needed. Beginners and non-competitive paddlers welcome. Boards and paddles will be supplied for those needing them. Free entry in the 2-mile race on Sunday / Ta-Hoe Nalu Sprint Elimination Challenge / Free Starboard’s SUP Polo (inflatable SUP Polo on water arena all day) / Live music & raffles at the Kona Beer Garden. tahoenalu.com

SANDMAN TRIATHLON August 20, Aptos

The Sandman Triathlon – a USAT sanctioned event – is one of Santa Cruz County’s oldest triathlons, having its inaugural race way back in 1985 in the infancy days of the sport. It is a fundraiser for the local State Parks Junior Lifeguard program and proceeds help fund scholarships for underprivileged kids so they can receive high quality water safety education. Runners start out with a .75mile ocean swim in the Monterey Bay around the world famous cement ship, followed by a scenic 13-mile bike course through Aptos, Seascape, and Rio Del Mar. A 4-mile beach run caps what is commonly described as one of the best triathlon experiences that California has to offer. sandman-triathlon.com

Photo: Called To Creation

KAMIKAZE BIKE GAMES

Photo: Harry Lefrak

GREAT TRAIL RACE

September 14-17, Mammoth Lakes

October 8, Truckee to Tahoe City

Kamikaze. Within the cycling community, it’s a word that evokes a feeling of intensity and speed – plus a good hit of crazy. The iconic Kamikaze downhill at Mammoth Mountain took the early mountain bike racing scene to a whole new level in the mid-80’s, and the Kamikaze Games quickly became the biggest bicycle racing event in the United States. There’s something for everyone at the event, including a wide range of gravity events, a cross country race, a kids’ race, and electric bike race. kamikazebikegames.com

The Great Trail Race offers runners and mountain bikers the choice of two courses: Elite (22.25 miles of mostly single-track) and Classic (18.9 miles of mostly fire road). Classic’s moderate 2,808-foot climb over Starratt Pass and rolling 2089-foot descent is a make-able achievement for many ages. Elite course features a rich variety of single-track, 4,045 feet of climbing, plus short sections of fire road for easier passing.

The event, like its winter cousin Great Ski Race, is a fundraiser for Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue. The weather in early October in North Tahoe is often ideal for both racing and relaxing – sunny days, fall colors and temperatures in the 70’s – without the crowds of summer. greattrailrace.com

BANFF MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL September 22, Santa Cruz

There is no better way to get stoked about skiing, biking, riding, or paddling than by seeing the 2017 edition of the Radical Reels Tour. We’re talking jawdropping bike jumps, nail-biting kayak drops, and mindblowing powder. The Radical Reels Tour, presented by the Banff Centre, continues to push boundaries with the best action sports films from the annual Banff Mountain Film Festival.

Experience more than half a dozen wild action sports as seen through the eyes of some of today’s top athletes and most talented adventure sport filmmakers. See you there, adrenaline film lovers! riotheatre.com

DAWN TO DUSK ADVENTURE RACE October 21, San Luis Obispo

CALIFORNIA COAST CLASSIC

LEVI’S GRANFONDO

The California Coast Classic (CCC) is an eight-day, fullservice, fully supported road ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles that raises funds to support the research, advocacy, and programs of the Arthritis Foundation. It is open to beginner and experienced cyclists who commit to a fundraising goal, and is capped at 250 riders.

The event’s traditional route was modified in Big Sur, due to a winter storm landslide caused the closure of the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge on Highway 1.

“In developing our alternate route, we selected roads that provide the exceptional rider experience that CCC is known for,” says Eli Campbell, CEO of Sentio Cycling, which provides logistics assistance to CCC. “The bypass adds about 45 miles and an additional 2,700' of elevation gain, pending final permitting. Our 2017 route will rival previous years’ and offer a top-notch and rewarding experience for all.” arthritis.org/CaliforniaCoastClassic

Introduced as the first “European style” GranFondo to Sonoma County nearly a decade ago, Levi’s GranFondo has become the premier ride of its type in North America attracting tens of thousands of riders and their families for a truly authentic celebration on two wheels. Now with over 11 routes, Levi’s GranFondo has an adventure for everyone, including an eight mile family route, challenging dirt/gravel options, and Il Regno – a massive 116.8-mile route with 10,503 feet of climbing. The routes are designed to showcase the legendary terrain and coastal redwood forests previously included in the Coors Classic, and multiple editions of the AMGEN Tour of California.

Levi’s GranFondo is produced by Bike Monkey, and inspired by former professional cyclist Levi Leipheimer.

Leipheimer says, “I always wanted to give back and share the joy I found in cycling with others. The GranFond was the best way I knew how to do this.” levisgranfondo.com

September 9-16, San Francisco to Los Angeles

33 ASJ — Aug/Sept 2017

September 30, Santa Rosa

Adventure athletes as young as 7 and as old as 85 will be testing their skills against the wild California coastline on in All Out Events’ Dawn to Dusk adventure race. The 12-hour long Dawn to Dusk adventure race incorporates six to eight miles of ocean kayaking, 15-25 miles of mountain biking, 10-15 miles of foot travel including technical trail running/scrambling/swimming/lots of sand, and some technical ropes elements. Teams and solos will receive a map for checkpoints that they will need to navigate in order to complete the race. Co-ed teams are in the running for a cash purse of $3000 total.

Event proceeds support local search and rescue as well as Water Run, an international charity bringing fresh water to places in need. alloutadventureseries.com

MORRO BAY TRIATHLON November 5, Morro Bay

All Out Events returns with the 7th annual Morro Bay Triathlon which offers both Olympic and Sprint distances.

Racers will navigate a protected harbor with traditional swimming or an optional paddle, bike iconic Highway 1, and run beach and board walk to an epic photo finish under the Gibraltar of the Pacific: Morro Rock.

As with the All Out Events Dawn to Dusk Adventure Race (see above), event proceeds from the Morro Bay Triathlon support local search and rescue as well as Water Run, an international charity bringing fresh water to places in need. morrobaytri.com

Adventure Events Calendar Upcoming events, trips and classes

Adventure Racing OCTOBER 21 — Dawn to Dusk / San Luis Obispo / 12 Hour / alloutadventureseries.com

NOVEMBER 11-12 — Gold Rush 30 hour Challenge / NorCal / GoldRushAR.com

19-20 — Downieville Mountain Epic / Downieville / SierraTrails.org 26 — FREE E-BIKE DEMO / Lighthouse Point on Westcliff Dr in Santa Cruz 9am-6pm / Try out pedal assist bikes from Trek, Electra, Blix and Vintage Electric. epicentercycling.com 831.423.9000

16-17 — Unknown Coast Weekend / Ferndale / 65mi Sat and 35mi on Sun / ChicoVelo.org 23-24 — Stetina’s Sierra Prospect / Northstar, Carson, Mt Rose / A road rally micro-stage road race supporting High Fives foundation / 2 routes – 40mi or 98 mi / BikeMonkey.net

11-12 — 2-day Core Fundamentals / Sonoma / 1 or 2 day option, progressive advanced techniques on day 2 / ASingleTrackMind.

15 — TBF MTB 50-Miler / Granite Bay, Folsom Lake SRA / TBFracing.com 21 — Solvang Autumn Double Century / Solvang / 194 miles with about 11,500′ of climbing / PlanetUltra.com

Biking

26-27 — Northstar Enduro / Northstar California Resort, Truckee / Round # 6 of the California Enduro Series / CaliforniaEnduroSeries.com

23-24 — 2-day Core Fundamentals / Marin / 1 or 2 day option, tacking technical terrain on day 2 / ASingleTrackMind.

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

30 — Levi’s GranFondo / Santa Rosa / A challenging and competitive mass start cycling event / BikeMonkey.net

21-22 — Bike MS: Bay to Bay / Irvine to San Diego / 1 or 2 days and 4 routes to choose from / BikeMS.org

30 — Bidwell Bump / Chico / Toughest little race around / XC in morning & SD in afternoon / Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest same weekend / Sign up at bikereg.com

28 — SLO Gran Fondo / Avila Beach / 3 routes through coastal and wine country / SLOGranFondo.com

3-6 — Downieville Classic MTB Race and Festival / Downieville / All Mountain World Championships, XC Adventure Race, Downieville Downhill / DownievilleClassic.com

9 — Mammoth Gran Fondo / Mammoth Lakes / 42mi, 70mi, & 102mi races through beautiful Mono County/ MammothGranFondo.com

5 — Marin Century & Mt Tam Double / Marin County Fairgrounds / 50K, 100K, 220K, 100mi, 200mi / MarinCyclists.com

9-10 — 2-day Core Fundamentals / Truckee • North Tahoe / 1 or 2 day option, tacking technical terrain on day 2 / ASingleTrackMind.

11-13 — SOCO Homage / Santa Rosa / A multi-day MTB stage race / BikeMonkey.net 19-20 — 2-day Core Fundamentals / Santa Cruz / 1 or 2 day option, advanced techniques on day 2 / ASingleTrackMind. com

14-17 — Kamikaze Bike Games / Mammoth Lakes / Enduro - Round # 7 of the California Enduro Series / Pro GRT DH, XC, Legends of the Kamikaze, TLD Electric Boogaloo, expo, free kids’ activities, entertainment, and more / KamikazeBikeGames.com

OCTOBER 7 — Ashland Mountain Challenge / Lithia Park in Ashland / Finale of the California Enduro Series / CaliforniaEnduroSeries.com 7-8 — Grinduro / Quincy / MTB Enduro with a gravel grinder-style road race / SierraTrails.org

FINALS FOR THE USA CYCLING PRO GRT AND THE CALIFORNIA ENDURO SERIES GOLDEN TOUR

THE ULTIMATE MTB EVENT ENDURO, XC, PRO GRT DOWNHILL, LEGENDS OF THE KAMIKAZE, KIDS RACES, TLD ELECTRIC BOOGALOO ePOWERED BY BOSCH, EXPO AND MORE

FOR MORE INFO AND LODGING DEALS, VISIT MAMMOTHMOUNTAIN.COM

34 ASJ — Aug/Sept 2017

21 — The Hammer Road Rally / Friant / 3 routes / BikeMonkey.net

NOVEMBER 10-12 — DG Ghilotti Cup/Santa Rosa Cup / Santa Rosa / 3-Day Cyclocross Tournament / BikeMonkey.net

Miscellaneous Hike & Wine / Napa & Sonoma / Guided hiking and wine or beer tours / amazing views / mention ASJ for 10% off / actionwineadventures.com

NORTH AMERICAN ENDURO TOUR STOP #6

Adventure Events Calendar Upcoming events, trips and classes

Miscellaneous

Running

22 — Radical Reels / Santa Cruz/ Jaw dropping mountain sport films! / riotheatre.com

Paddling 12-13 —Ta-Hoe Nalu Paddle Festival / Kings Beach / World’s original SUP race - races, demos, clinics, expo / TahoeNalu.com

26 — The 420 Games San Francisco / Golden Gate Park / Run, ride, skate, or bike; music concert, beer tasting, cannabis education / 420games.org

OCTOBER 1 — Urban Cow Half Marathon, Relay & 5K Run/Walk / Sacramento / UrbanCowHalfMarathon.com

SEPTEMBER

10 — Fall Classic Paddle Race / South Lake Tahoe / # 3 of the Tahoe Cup Paddle Racing Series / TahoeCup.org

9 — SLO Ultra at Wild Cherry Canyon / Avila Beach / 50mi, 26mi XC, 13mi XC, 5mi / SLOUltra.com

OCTOBER

9-10 — Headlands Marathon, 50, 75 & 100-Mile / Sausalito / PCTrailRuns.com 17 — Emerald Bay Trail Run / Lake Tahoe West Shore / 7mi mostly single track route with moderate climbs and descents / TahoeTrailRunning.com

22 — Hang 10/5 / Capitola / 10 mile and 5 mile / Where the ideal distance meets stunning views / RunSurfersPath.com

24 — Pacific Grove Double Road Race / Pacific Grove / Two stage running event with a halftime in between; 15K, 8K, 1.5mi, 5mi hike / PGdouble.com

SEPTEMBER

7 — Sierra Showdown Paddling Challenge / South Lake Tahoe / 5 mi, 8mi, Big Blue Waterman, kids’ race / LakeTahoePaddling.com

23 — Big Sur Trail Marathon, Half Marathon & 5 Mile / Andrew Molera State Park / EnviroSports.com

24 — Truckee Marathon / Truckee / Plus Half Marathon & Relay / TahoeTrailRunning.com

13 — Marlette 50K and 10 Miler “RRCA NV State Championships” / Lake Tahoe NV State Park / TahoeTrailRunning.com 19 — XTERRA Trail Run / Incline Village, NV / 5K & 10K / TahoeTrailRunning.com

AUGUST

22 — Folsom Blues Breakout Half Marathon / Folsom / Plus 5K and kids’ 1K / FolsomBluesHalf.org

23 — Lederhosen 5K & 10K / Squaw Valley / After the awards and raffle enjoy the annual Squaw Oktoberfest / TahoeTrailRunning.com

Hike & Wine / Napa & Sonoma / Guided AUGUST hiking and wine or beer tours / amazing 5 — Salinas Valley Half Marathon / views / mention ASJ for 10% off / Soledad / Run by vineyards, wineries actionwineadventures.com and farms / bsim.org

SEPTEMBER

17 — Whiskeytown Relays / Whiskeytown Lake / 19.9mi paved, dirt / SweatRC.com

7 — Skyline to the Sea Marathon & 50K / Santa Cruz / PCTrailRuns.com 7-8 — Bizz Johnson 10K, Half Marathon, Marathon, 50K / Susanville / Run through scenic Lassen National Forest / CoastalTrailRuns.com 8 — Great Trail Race / Truckee, Tahoe City / Bike or run / GreatTrailRace.com

NOVEMBER TBD — The 420 Games Las Vegas / TBD / Run, ride, skate, or bike and forge a new respect for cannabis users; music concert, beer tasting, cannabis education / 420games.org 12 — T9 Mermaid Run San Francisco / 5K, 10K, & Sirena10mi / MermaidSeries.com 12 — Big Sur Half Marathon / Monterey Bay / bsim.org

DECEMBER 2 — Death Valley Trail Marathon and Half Marathon / Beatty, NV / EnviroSports.com 3 — California International Marathon / Folsom / #1 Boston Qualifier, Spectacular State Capitol Finish / RunCIM.org 9 — 30th Annual Hark the Herald Half Marathon & 10K / Angel Island, San Francisco / Hilly loop / EnviroSports.com 10 — Jingle Bell Rock 5K / Santa Cruz / Plus kids’ 1K; Bring a toy for Toys for Tots,/ walk or run along the San Lorenzo River Levee / FinishLineProduction.com

Wha ta [ ] H ctivitie [ ] M ike/Ba s do y 2016 [ ] C ounta ckpack ou par in B road again ticip We’re [hitting limb the i k e ] Su [ ] R ate i NAM r n? f at best events!

Howthis year’s E __ [ ] R un oad ofte ___ p [ W e ] n r booth and say hi, hang out heaour Kayand Bike w events program _ d Adventure Sports Journal — California’s originalCome outdoorby sports t o _ A ak eyour _of_personally you to win cool[ gear GEunderstands ka?ctchance ] [ enter for and magazine, the importance connecting with outdoor readers and consumers. i S _ v [ U ] e i ___roadshow to get our magazines ___and sponsor products in the hands of[ CA/NV P 0-]1Hik ties xce We developed our r e d _ _ our cise /Bafrom o yosponsors. ] [4getaways 6has grown 201 __and ]5biggest __roadshow M athletes. Over the years_our program travels to some of our region’s c k _ outs o u unta pack ___ working with us through_our [ p EMmost _ a ] and interesting events. Consider events program or one of our rtic ide _ Clim in B _ _ A _ _ ipat I [ ]S b ike Classic, integrated and social media. __ [ [ ___ that includes events,_print,STweb NAMLprograms ] Aug 3 6 — Downieville Downieville urf 2-]3Ru e in? _ _ A _ _ T n [ How__ E __ ___ [ E __ ] ] 6 • 25+ events -7RoBeach 12 year - 13 — Ta-hoe Nalu Kings _te_per oAug ___ ___ ad B f _ p [ _ e _ ] n r _ _ • 140,000+ event ike K _ vents program _ _ do-17 _ Adventure Sports Journal — California’s original outdoor w sports a _ _ e _ y Sept 14 — Kamikaze Bike Games, A a e [ _ Z _ _ y GEunderstands akyear ou _ IP Candattendees __connecting ] SU k ? [ consumers. gazine, the importance of_personally with outdoor readers _ _ ] e _ _ _ _ P 0 x Mammoth __roadshow ___products in the hands of[•OCA/NV __and_ sponsor -E1 cer_cLakes adD distribution developed our to get our magazines _ _ ] 4- biggest is_e__ ___to some of our region’s __and _ __roadshow • rackcard display etes. Over the years_our program has grown travels _ 5 _ _ Sept_22 — Radical Reels,oSanta Cruz u _ _ _ _ t _ _ _ s _ most interesting events.

Consider working with us through our events program or one of our MAI i • product demonstration ___ _ _ d _ eRosa ___ ___ _ _ Sept 30 — Levi’s GranFondo, Santa gratedLprograms that includes events, print, web and social media. _ [ NAM _ • product samples ___ _ _ ] S _ _ 2 _ T _ _ _ ATE ___ __•_lead_generation [ ] 6__3_ _ _ _ • 25+ events -7 ___ __per_year___ __ • contests

2017

2017

___

___

___ ___ ___ ___ C•OadDdistribution ___ ___ __ available. ___ E display ___ • rackcard _ ___ ___ _ INTEGRATED MARKETING Events // Print // Digital // Event // Social Media //_Contests demonstration ___Recaps• product ___ ___

36 ASJ — Augl/Sept 2017

ZIP

• 140,000+ event À la carte or packaged attendees a year opportunities are advertising

AGE

EMA

IL

___

MARKETPLACE

Visit us online for a full listing of events 72 miles of pure Go to AdventureSportsJournal.com and click on the EVENTS button.

Swim AUGUST 20 — Lake Tahoe Sharkfest Swim / Incline Village, NV / Sand Harbor 1mi swim / SharkFestSwim.com 26 — Lake Tahoe Open Water Swim / Tahoma / 1/2mi, 1.2mi, 2.4mi / TahoeSwimming.com

SEPTEMBER 23 — Alcatraz Invitational / San Francisco / 1.27mi open water swim from Alcatraz to Hyde Street Pier / South-End.org 30 — Alcatraz Swim with the Centurions / San Francisco / 1.25mi swim from Alcatraz to Aquatic Park / WaterWorldSwim.com 30 — Golden Gate Sharkfest Swim / Sausalito / 1.6mi open water swim / SharkFestSwim.com

AUGUST 12 — #3 Tri for Fun Triathlon/DU for Fun Duathlon (Sprint & Super Sprint) / Rancho Seco Park, Herald / TBFracing.com 13 — Dip and Dash Aquathlon #2 / Santa Cruz / International - 1500yd swim & 10K run, or Sprint - 750yd swim & 5K run, or Swim only / FinishLineProduction.com 13 — Tri Santa Cruz / Santa Cruz / International & Sprint Tri (& relay); Olympic and Sprint Clydesdale & Athena; International & Sprint Aquabike; Sprint Paratri; Dip and Dash / FinishLineProduction.com 14 — Santa Cruz International Triathlon & Sprint Triathlon / Depot Park / FinishLineProduction.com

Lake Tahoe Water Trail

Learn the skills of a pro from a pro!

19 — XTERRA Triathlon / Lake Tahoe / Olympic, Sprint, Duathlon / BigBlueAdventure.com 26 — Lake Tahoe Triathlon Sprint / Tahoma / LakeTahoeTri.com 27 — Lake Tahoe Triathlon / Tahoma / Half Tri, Aquabike, Olympic Tri, Duathlon / LakeTahoeTri.com 27 — Oakland Triathlon / Jack London Square / OaklandTri.com

© Corey Rich / Aurora Photos

SEPTEMBER

Find your paddle adventure at

3 — Bear Valley Triathlon / Bear Valley / ItsYourRace.com

LakeTahoeWaterTrail.org

10 — Pacific Coast Triathlon/ Duathlon / Crystal Cove State Beach / OCTriSeries.com

Launch & Landing Sites • Maps Paddle Routes • Paddle Shops Campgrounds & Lodging Events • Water Safety Info

10 — Ironman 70.3 Santa Cruz (formerly Big Kahuna Tri) / Santa Cruz / Ironman.com

17 — Dip and Dash Aquathlon #3 / Santa Cruz / International - 1500yd OCTOBER swim & 10K run, or Swim only / TBD — South Shore Lake Tahoe Open FinishLineProduction.com Water Swim / Lake Tahoe / 1/2mi, 1.2mi, 23 — Semper Tri, Devil Dog Duathlon, 2.4mi / TahoeSwimming.com & 7K Run / Camp Pendleton / mccscp.

8 — San Diego Sharkfest Swim / San com Diego Harbor / 1mi open water swim / 24 — 35th Annual Santa Cruz SharkFestSwim.com Triathlon / Depot Park, Santa Cruz / 21 — Golden Gate Bridge Swim / San SantaCruzTriathlon.org Francisco / 3K open water swim from Golden Gate Bridge south tower to Finger OCTOBER Point Rock / WaterWorldSwim.com 7 — T9 Mermaid Triathlon & Duathlon

Triathlon/Duathlon

liquid fun

/ Capitola / International Tri, Sprint Tri, Sprint Du / MermaidSeries.com

15 — XTERRA SuperKid Triathlon and Splash & Dash / Santa Cruz / Ages 7-15 / FinishLineProduction.com

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NOVEMBER 5 — Triathlon / San Luis Obispo / Olympic and Sprint / Navigate the harbor, bike HWY1, and run beach and boardwalk to the a finish under the Rock! / All-OutEvents.com

Explore the Best Trails Local Certified MTB Guides Coaching & Skills Sessions

Reserve your adventure at:

www.LeGrandAdventureTours.com 1-844-LE-GRAND

View & list events for free on our website at

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ActiveWineAdventures.com 707-927-1058

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Handbuilt Bicycle Wheels

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37

Gear We Love

Goodies for your active lifestyle 1

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2

4

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6 7

1. Original Crazy Creek Chair This is the original camping chair that changed the game over thirty years ago. The collapsible, foldable chair is completely adjustable to a wide range of sitting positions making it suitable for picnics, sitting around the campfire, or even working on your laptop next to a lake.

We use these chairs to watch sporting events like baseball and soccer games as an alternative to sitting on metal bleachers or lugging around bulky stadium chairs.

Crazy Creek is offering the original color combo (purple and teal) from thirty years ago to celebrate their anniversary.

3. Optimus Sliding Long Spoon Weighing in at 25 grams, this little spoon is great for stirring your hot chocolate or digging into a bowl of your favorite cereal. The spoon is slightly less than 7 inches long when collapsed.

Simply slide the handle to its extended position and it is 9.5 inches long, making it easy to prepare and eat from your favorite dehydrated meal pouches in the backcountry. No more messy hands from using a standard spoon! It is also good for stirring in deep pots. Who would have thought a spoon would be such an important part of your backpacking kit.

5. Adventure Medical Kits Mountain Hiker First Aid Kit The Hiker is the perfect first aid kit to throw in your pack for the occasional log hike or short backpack. A must-have companion when you and a friend hit the trail for a day or two, the Hiker is equipped with carefully selected supplies tailored to meet any basic first aid needs you might experience along the way.

The Hiker is as comprehensive as it is compact: blisters, stomach aches, sprains, and wounds won’t slow you down for long when you have this essential first aid kit with you.

MSRP: $9.99 optimus.com

MSRP: $25.00 adventuremedicalkits.com

MSRP: $49.95 crazycreek.com Designed for technical, all-day hikes, the Franconia LR is our top-of-the-line lumbar hiking pack, designed for carrying a day’s worth of food, fuel and gear. Here’s the lowdown on lumbar reservoirs: by shifting water weight to your hips, they provide the stability you need, the water you want, and the mobility you didn’t know you lacked.

The Franconia is also designed to keep you cool and hydrated on grueling mountain routes. The Air Suspension™ back panel keeps the pack off your back for plenty of ventilation, and the zippered pockets on the waistbelt give you instant access to maps or bars. It’s also easy to drink without taking your eyes off the trail: the new reservoir delivers more water per sip, and the magnetic tube trap lets you snap the tube into place without fumbling.

4. LEKI Carbon Lady DSS Trekking Poles Specifically designed and engineered for women, these LEKI poles have smaller grips, shorter straps and overall smaller dimensions. And now introducing LEKI’s new Dynamic Suspension System (DSS) to reducing pole shock and vibration on the trail.

The Carbon Lady is a sophisticated, ultralite, super compact trekking pole that helps take the bite out of long hikes and backpacking journeys. The pushbutton release mechanism allows for quick, easy assembly and knocks down to just 15.5 inches. The TÜV-certified SpeedLock 2 provides a 20cm adjustment range. With Aergon Thermo foam grips and super lightweight carbon shafts, these trekking poles will be your constant companion and one of your most useful tools on the trails and peaks. Includes travel/stow bag.

6. GCI Quik-E-Seat As an alternative to big, expensive camp chairs, the Quik-E-Seat is small and portable. It folds up to 4” X 27” making it small enough to store in your car on a permanent basis. Weighing just four pounds, this is a great choice for car campers who care about packing light.

The adjustable carrying strap folds the chair automatically which is a convenient feature when cleaning up the campsite.

The fully padded backrest and seat offer a surprising amount of comfort and support for an ultralight chair. With such a small footprint, the Quick-E-Seat doubles as a night table for your keys and phone while sleeping in a tent. Try that with a full-size camping chair! This is the perfect choice for people who believe less is more when it comes to car camping.

MSRP: $160.00 camelbak.com

MSRP: $219.95 leki.com

2. CamelBak Franconia Hiking Pack

38 ASJ — Aug/Sept 2017

MSRP: $21.95 gcioutdoor.com

7. Urban Armor Gear (UAG) UAG produces lightweight yet rugged drop-tested military-grade protection for all your devices. The distinctive cases are inspired by a sense of adventure and engineered to protect your gear from the rigors of a mobile lifestyle. UAG products reflect the independent spirit of its designers and represent a dedication to superior quality and craftsmanship.

As work and adventures often go handin-hand, you will rest assured knowing your devices are well protected by their UAG Composite cases from the frequent mishaps they endure outdoors. UAG offers different levels of protection for an impressive array of devices.

True story: a member of our staff had her iPhone RUN OVER BY A CAR ... the UAG case kept it in perfect condition!

MSRP: $34.95 – $89.95 urbanarmorgear.com 8. Tepui Expedition Series Duffle Bag Designed to stand up to whatever abuse you throw at them, the Tepui Expedition Series bags are perfect for road trips.

The sturdy materials used in constructing the Expedition Series make them ideal for use in the outdoors and their vivid orange coloring make them easy targets to spot in times of quick necessity. The duffle bag features a large compartment that can be used to store gear, clothing, equipment and more. With a reinforced bottom panel, the bag is water and abrasion resistant, easy to clean, and made from polyester canvas coated with a synthetic resin. Other sizes and styles are also available.

MSRP: $135.00 tepuitents.com

TESTED TOUGH WHERE WE PREFER TRAILS OVER TREADMILLS.

When you rethink an icon, you don’t mess with what makes it the smoothest ride on the trail. You focus on increasing support, comfort and flexibility with our patented FluidFormTM and Fluide GuideTM technologies.

The Caldorado II is tested tough so you can focus on what’s important, getting out on the trail whenever you can. We know why you put in the miles, because Nothing Beats a Trail.

Caldorado II