Well, if I had waited one more month, it would be exactly one year since I posted last...but I don't like to procrastinate. Lets cut to the chase - 2007 was phenomenal. I can't even keep track of all the events. I believe well over 30.

Here's a look back at '07 and some of my favorite photos. There's no chronological order, just what tugs at the memory. I'll try and post a new pic every day till the end of '07.

Colorado has so many amazing BMXers. Jon Chin is one of my favorites and is an inspiration to watch ride.

The cutest pug ever: Marvin

PH: Kevin Shiramizu/White Raven Productions. Hacksaw was kind and encouraging enough to let me follow him through the on-off box. I was so scared to try it and then I couldn't stop hitting it:-)

Sunset session out at 63rd...ride till ya can't see.

Road 34 Jump Jam - FTC, CO. Backyard jump jams at the base of the Colorado foothills - I'll say no more.

It's been a hard winter here in Boulder. The current temperature is 18 degrees. . . fahrenheit. The landscape is primarily white with snow. When I think of more snow on the way, here's how I feel.

Seperated shoulder at Sugar Mountain, NC

Not to worry though, warmer days are ahead.

I think it's pretty neat when three pieces of art are totally congruent.

1. Photography: Josh McGuckin
2. Riding: Luke - ftc, CO
3. Song Writing: "Ready to Fall" - Rise Against

I'm standing on a rooftop ready to fall
I think I'm at the edge now but I could be wrong
I'm standing on a rooftop ready to fall

Perpetual motion the image won't focus
A blur is all that's seen
But here in this moment like the eye of the storm
It all came clear to me

Yep, if you haven't noticed I'ld rather be out riding than updating this blog. So here are some of my favorite pix from '06. The riding rocked all year around.

No Looking Back

Team Mechanic: Andre Van Aarde

Well, let the race season begin. 5:00 this morning Gerrit Beytagh and Andre Van Aarde pulled into Boulder and left shorltly after with one more in tow, me. I'm bummed my teammate, Jo-jo, isn't here. It'll be another 2 weeks before the Mycky and Jo-jo show will start up again. However, I did have the honor of looking at all her trophies from the first NORBA National.

Jo dominated the race in Fontana taking 1st in Pro Women's downhill by 9 seconds (what?) and 2nd in 4cross. Congradultions!

I usually don't like being cooped up in a car over thousands of miles. Today, however, was different. My body is in dire need of R&R and today's travels reflected just that. For the twelve hours that we were in the truck, I was asleep for about 9 of them. My body is feeling much better and the gaping elbow wound has ceased to bleed and only occasionally oozes a clear liquid (usually at the most inopportune times).

Anyway we're crashed out right now at a Holiday Inn outside of St. Louis. I think our travels might be slightly hampered due to some fuel-injection misfunctions. Yah, we pulled into the hotel sending off some serious smoke signals. Hmmm, hot tubing, lounging, working from the lap top, might be in order for tomorrow. I'll steal the line that Andre just reluctanlty spoke into the phone, "it's all part of the fun."

This has to be one of the funniest things I've seen in a while.

K-mizu Hilarity

Ah, the last of the classic late-spring snow is melting away and temperatures, like gas prices, are on the rise for tomorrow.

Anyway last week I saw some amazing riding go down. Where? Well, just about everywhere.

Midweek Pump Session:
LLB Style

• It was really impressive to watch Steve and Lee upping the anty's every round. It went from jump-to-manuel this thing to double everything that is possible all the way around the track.



• I rode away from Lee's backyard last Tuesday exhausted and inspired, dissapointed and pleased.
  

Precision and speed are often two very difficult things to attain. But to accurately combine both takes innumerable hours of practice.

Saturday: Airtime Madness
Local: Wilson's Woods

• Props to Elliott & Shane for always stepping it up to the next big one.

Rider: Elliott Hoover

Also Gale Dahlager made a guest appearance up at Evergreen on Saturday. I can't begin to explain how good it was to ride with her. Thanks for coming out Gale!

I wish I had a picture of Gale just sailing through the line of doubles. All I have is a picture of Gale taking a picture and a sweet group picture of people witnessing the events in the picture above (hah, how many times can you put picture in a sentence). Gale and I were to busy chasing eachother through the line of doubles to worry about snapping the digi.



Saturday Night: Snap Sesh
Bangert Residence, twin lakes

• Drive up through Leadville viewing a brilliant Rocky-Mountain sunset; hop out of Molly (elevation: 9200') and jump directly into a full on NBL-gate-start session which included a super smooth double into the most brilliantly crafted berm.

• Those in attendance: Cole Bangert, Mik Hannah, Steve Wentz, Gale Dahlager, Neven Steinmetz, and of cource the Lasian.

• Official Gate Keeper: Deryl Bangert

Rider: Cole Bangert
like the wheels?

SUNDAY: Final 4x Race in the Spring Series & Hammock Fest



It was really good to see everyone out at Darner's ranch. The coolest thing I saw that day was Neven killing it over the table and I think it wins the best-picture-of-the-post award. Check it yo's

Neven has really been stepping it up latley. Nice riding!


Something else was on my mind other than racing this past Sunday. So, I split shortly after quilifyers and went back up to Twin Lakes running solo. I spent the rest of the afternoon in a rotation of 4 different places:

• Kitchen table with a variety of BBQ leftovers and Oreo Cookies
• Riding the massive berms on the backyard mountain side
• Dozing off in the hammock tied between two aspen trees
  
• Practicing whips over the double into the berm

After the race, everyone came back to the Bangerts for more riding. Neven and I finished off the day on Cole's trick jump. I was the last person to finish riding that day. Neven only sat out the last five minutes though. I really didn't want to see the day end.

Precision and speed are often two very difficult things to attain. But to accurately combine both takes innumerable hours of practice.