Deer Valley Race Photographs

[Shepherd Wong]

Put your DV photos here!
A few biffs. Everyone was fine.
http://shepherdwong.smugmug.com/photos/163299643-L.jpg

http://shepherdwong.smugmug.com/photos/163305613-L.jpg

http://shepherdwong.smugmug.com/photos/163311370-L.jpg

A near biff.
http://shepherdwong.smugmug.com/photos/163320034-M.jpg
:eek:
http://shepherdwong.smugmug.com/photos/163348565-M.jpg
http://shepherdwong.smugmug.com/photos/163320045-M.jpg
http://shepherdwong.smugmug.com/photos/163320064-M.jpg

Some non-biffs.
http://shepherdwong.smugmug.com/photos/163320021-L.jpg

http://shepherdwong.smugmug.com/photos/163324168-L.jpg

http://shepherdwong.smugmug.com/photos/163324153-L.jpg

See y'all up there tomorrow!

[nick > jesus]

great shots, looks like nice weather, and fun day

[rotorhead]

Great shots, but you should have been where all the action is on the sport/beginner course.

[springsproject]

damn those are sick! nice work

[flowtron]

Sick shots.
I'm pretty glad I don't have to sweat that course this weekend. The Bedrock drop still seems to be claiming people. The thought of hitting that and nuking into the woods at mach looney makes my hands sweat.

[brice618]

I want to be where I can take shots like those. I really liked a lot of those!

[truth]

Very nice.

[Alpine Dreams]

Nice pics, looks fun.

[Flexon Phil]

awesome pics. How did you have your camera set up?

[Shepherd Wong]

Still post processing the ones from Saturday and Sunday. Here are a few more from Friday,
http://shepherdwong.smugmug.com/photos/163324131-L.jpg

http://shepherdwong.smugmug.com/photos/163324142-L.jpg
gallery (http://shepherdwong.smugmug.com/gallery/3008917#163299659)

[flowtron]

:yourock: More please.

[Squatch]

mmm pretty pictures. me likey

[ak_powder_monkey]

nice pics!

[Rockband]

Very cool shots, what kind of wide angle lens are you using in some of those?

[Alpine Dreams]

I like it.
http://shepherdwong.smugmug.com/photos/163324142-L.jpg

[beast]

Sick pics. This shot is of my buddy, Nick. I'll refer him to your gallery.

Have any of the little blue spek of a rider in the bottom right? ;)

http://shepherdwong.smugmug.com/photos/163320021-L.jpg

[boobookitty]

Have any pics of a girl rolling around in the dirt down there?

[kidwoo]

http://shepherdwong.smugmug.com/photos/163299643-L.jpg

This pic rules.



Nice shots man. Thanks for putting them up.

[Summit]

strong camera skill

[uncle crud]

BUENO, Shepherd Wong!

[Joey Joe Joe Junior Shabadoo]

FKNA!! The shots you posted from the last DH race where awesome in their own right, but the spot you chose for this race and the perspective on them is quality shit

[Mr. Altagirl]

I like it.
http://shepherdwong.smugmug.com/photos/163324142-L.jpg

This is Nash Ulmer, local JrX who is absolutely killing it this year. Unfortunately, he broke some ribs, possible shoulder damage, broke his fork, snapped the head tube on the El Quervo and multiple other bike/body issues this weekend. He had a solid shot at winning the ultra competitive JrX class but I still give him big props for even finishing the race (better than I did). On Friday night in the Super D, he won JrX with a very fast time as well.

[Particle]

So how'd the racing maggots make out? AG's (Mr. = DNF?), booboo...?

[Shepherd Wong]

Sick pics. This shot is of my buddy, Nick. I'll refer him to your gallery.

Have any of the little blue spek of a rider in the bottom right? ;)



What were you wearing and what type and color of bike? I have a bunch but most of them are of people's kiesters so I can't see the plate.
Here are some more of the next couple of days, not as interesting as the drop I'm afraid.
http://shepherdwong.smugmug.com/photos/164248878-L.jpg

http://shepherdwong.smugmug.com/photos/164248977-L.jpg

http://shepherdwong.smugmug.com/photos/164249030-L.jpg

http://shepherdwong.smugmug.com/photos/164249072-L.jpg

http://shepherdwong.smugmug.com/photos/164252711-L.jpg

http://shepherdwong.smugmug.com/photos/164252668-L.jpg

http://shepherdwong.smugmug.com/photos/164252812-L.jpg

http://shepherdwong.smugmug.com/photos/164254482-L.jpg

http://shepherdwong.smugmug.com/photos/164254520-L.jpg

I have to go to stupid work now, I'll put some more up in the Gallery (http://shepherdwong.smugmug.com/gallery/3008917#P-1-9) in the next few days.

[InspectorGadget]

So how'd the racing maggots make out? AG's (Mr. = DNF?), booboo...?Since he may not toot his own horn . . . .

congratulations to Rotorhead for winning his class in the DH race!!!

[flowtron]

This is Nash Ulmer, local JrX who is absolutely killing it this year. Unfortunately, he broke some ribs, possible shoulder damage, broke his fork, snapped the head tube on the El Quervo and multiple other bike/body issues this weekend. He had a solid shot at winning the ultra competitive JrX class but I still give him big props for even finishing the race (better than I did). On Friday night in the Super D, he won JrX with a very fast time as well.


Ouch. I remember when ole Naish was killing it in some big ass floppy old skool Reebok BBall shoes.
Do you know where/what happened? Given that damage....I'm gonna guess trying to double up the rocks off the start.

[InspectorGadget]

An optical illusion?

Both these bikes look like they have smaller front wheels - especially the second bike.

http://shepherdwong.smugmug.com/photos/164254482-L.jpg

http://shepherdwong.smugmug.com/photos/164254520-L.jpg

[boobookitty]

Yeah, that top double claimed a few peeps. I rolled around on the ground quite a bit this weekend. At least I made it all the way through this time. Here's the eh, dirt:
I managed to put together a clean Qualifying run--over the falls, through the woods, and beside the Bedrock drop A-OK. It wasn't fast, but I was happy to be clean, and I qualified lower mid-pack, which is pretty decent for me.

I was a mess in my final, though. I was concerned about downshifting before the waterfall in order to better get out of that right corner afterward. In doing so, I lost a bit of momentum coming into my line, and stopped completely right on top of the falls. I ended up running down it. Erg. That wouldn't have been such a big deal, but then after cleaning Barney Rubble, I just blew off the trail before exiting the woods--no crash, just had to get back on the trail. Then, coming through the Bedrock notch, I clipped a pedal on the launch rock--I'd never made contact with anything in there before. My rear end swung out left and I tried to pull it back but was unsuccessful. I smacked and landed a few feet below my bike. I got back on and finished, but I wasn't really sure I was OK at the time. Goggles all crooked, 3-finger breaking down Spin Cycle, pretty classy.
I am OK, though. My fingers are all puffy and sore, and I won't be sporting the mini skirt for a while, but I'll be ready to go at CB this weekend.

[flowtron]

Jimmy, though psyched to see you, will be disappointed about the miniskirt, or lack thereof.

[boobookitty]

He's such a little ladies' man. See you Friday!

[Particle]

Right on JB! Glad you're mostly in one piece, keep shreddin' this season.

[InspectorGadget]

That's two years in a row I didn't get to meet my Mary Kay rep! :(

I'm glad it wasn't as serious as last year's get-off.

Good luck at Crested Butte!

[slippy]

An optical illusion?

Both these bikes look like they have smaller front wheels - especially the second bike.

I think it's distortion to a wide angle lens.

I saw the race. I think I yelled 'holy shit!' at least twice. I'd like to think I've seen a lot of crazy stuff in my life (with other sports), but I rarely am so shocked I yell outloud. It was the cornering abilities of everyone....hoolllllllyyyyyy shit.......balls.

I gotta learn that 'lean over/hit the corner fast/snap upright/pedal right away' trick. I get stuck in the lean seemingly forever...I need to learn 'The Snap'.

[InspectorGadget]

I think it's distortion to a wide angle lens.:p Uh yeah, I got that part. It just looks, how you say, funny.

[beast]

http://photos-452.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v74/149/73/1078110221/n1078110221_30076452_8214.jpg

Conan the barbarian sighting :confused:

[slippy]

:p Uh yeah, I got that part. It just looks, how you say, funny.

Say, that's funny. Not nearly as funny as Beast's photo though. I wonder that's his teeny muscle shirt strapped to the front of his fanny pack.

[beast]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEQgpEImGhk

[Mr. Altagirl]

Ouch. I remember when ole Naish was killing it in some big ass floppy old skool Reebok BBall shoes.
Do you know where/what happened? Given that damage....I'm gonna guess trying to double up the rocks off the start.

Yep, at the first "double". I've seen way too many guys get season ending injuries at this spot, I really don't think it's worth it anymore. In an update, looks like his injuries were a bit over reported but he's still a bit of a mess. PT and rest only though. His bike on the other hand, totaled. He stretched out the top tube and completely ovalized the head tube as well as the other damage; the frame is a total lose. Forks (DH40's) completely bent.

Worse new, Mark Christianson and Matt Johnson both had to have surgery yesterday (Mark-ankle, Matt-Tib-fib).

Particle, I crashed at high speed in the woods before Barney Rubble (why was I as high speed in that section?). When I stopped flipping, my rear brake lever was ripped out of the cylinder and the caliper was completely locked. I got to push my bike down with a non-turning rear wheel, DNFF (Did Not FUCKING Finish); AGAIN.....

I hate racing at this one. Always broken bikes, broken body and friends in the hospital.

On a good note, Rotorhead won his class in DH, AG got 3rd in SuperD (out of over 20 riders), I got 5th in SuperD (out of 23 riders) and Nash /Krispy both won their SuperD classes.

Anyone that wants to do a fun SuperD, we will be helping Krispy this weekend in designing / building the course @ Brianhead (race 7/15 or so). He is going to use the sport DH course for the SuperD, Hell Yeah!!

[crashnburn'd]

I gotta learn that 'lean over/hit the corner fast/snap upright/pedal right away' trick. I get stuck in the lean seemingly forever...I need to learn 'The Snap'.

Pump and it will come.

[Particle]

On a good note, Rotorhead won his class in DH, AG got 3rd in SuperD (out of over 20 riders), I got 5th in SuperD (out of 23 riders) and Nash /Krispy both won their SuperD classes.

Anyone that wants to do a fun SuperD, we will be helping Krispy this weekend in designing / building the course @ Brianhead (race 7/15 or so). He is going to use the sport DH course for the SuperD, Hell Yeah!!

Sounds brutal! Big ups to rotor and Altagirl, that is rad.

As for Brian Head, I may be in Utah that weekend...might have to head down for that one :)

[boobookitty]

That's two years in a row I didn't get to meet my Mary Kay rep! :(


Now it's going to have to become tradition ;)

[altagirl]

Sounds brutal! Big ups to rotor and Altagirl, that is rad.

As for Brian Head, I may be in Utah that weekend...might have to head down for that one :)

What I really liked is that the handful of us who wore armor racing the super D were all on the podium. Anyway, next time I'm going to pay a little more attention to bike setup. Smaller tires would have helped and I was too lazy to change them.

OH - and I talked to Conan and his woman there too. The ball of fluff in his right hand - that's the smallest Yorkie I've ever seen. The floppy mohawk, decorative kick dog, and fanny pack are a hell of a look. They were looking for info on the Super D course and were actually really nice. They just make very interesting fashion choices...

[flowtron]

He stretched out the top tube and completely ovalized the head tube as well as the other damage; the frame is a total lose. Forks (DH40's) completely bent.

Worse new, Mark Christianson and Matt Johnson both had to have surgery yesterday (Mark-ankle, Matt-Tib-fib).

Particle, I crashed at high speed in the woods before Barney Rubble (why was I as high speed in that section?). When I stopped flipping, my rear brake lever was ripped out of the cylinder and the caliper was completely locked. I got to push my bike down with a non-turning rear wheel, DNFF (Did Not FUCKING Finish); AGAIN.....

I hate racing at this one. Always broken bikes, broken body and friends in the hospital.



A stretched top tube is crazy town.
I'm super bummed to hear about Mark and Matt. That sucks. I like seeing those guys at CO races.
Srry to hear about your run.
Congrats to RH, and y'all on Super D. It was good to Dhers on top of Super podiums this time around.
I had mixed feelings about missing this race, but honestly that course scares the crap out of me, and I am not on my game just yet.
Thx for the info Craig.

[grskier]

Sounds like a crazy weekend of racing...

Heal up everybody!

[Shepherd Wong]

Yeah I was walking up next to Conan and some little kid came down and asked what kind of dog it was and he said "It's a miniature St. Bernard". Dude was a riot!:biggrin:

[Big E]

So how is it that there's such a disparity between the skiing at DV, which is fairly tame/lame, and the biking, which seems to chew up riders and spit out their battered bodies and bikes ?

Just curious.

[boobookitty]

Aside from Whistler and maybe Silverton, the trend tends toward gnarlier biking at tamer ski mountains (ie, Angel Fire, Keystone). Maybe it's because there's more terrain to work with because the mountains aren't ridiculously scary steep? I'm always baffled that Crested Butte's DH is so tame when the mountain is so gnar. Maybe that's an over-generalization, but just something I've noticed.

[altagirl]

So how is it that there's such a disparity between the skiing at DV, which is fairly tame/lame, and the biking, which seems to chew up riders and spit out their battered bodies and bikes ?

Just curious.

DV is actually plenty steep for the most part - just not rocky and cliffed in the winter. Remove the snow and you have a bunch of rocks and roots to negotiate. (Remove the snow at a place that still has gnarly cliffs and rocks with a hundred inch base and it's probably unrideable for most people...) Not to mention, especially when you're racing, you're pedaling to pick up speed even when you're traversing. And rocks tend to be hurty-er than snow when you hit them at speed. Though I guess really, there are plenty of people who get hurt and bust up skis at skiing comps too.

Supposedly there are plans in the works to build some real trails at Snowbird, but many of the resorts that have awesome skiing are on public land and therefore it's not an option.

[grskier]

Keystone, Snowmass, Vail, all have extensive trail systems and are all on public lands. It's all about how good you are at permitting with the USFS etc.

[beaterdit]

Shitty ski areas make good biking areas.
Good ski areas are too steep. You need to be able to let it run a little. Or a lot.

[Big E]

I guess I was wondering more about the clientele differences I would expect to come with gnar-gnar MTB vs. DV's usual winter visitors. How many of the DH'ers hit up the Stein Eriksen Lodge after the race?

[lph]

maybe i will get tarred and feathered for saying this, but I really dislike overly steep mountain biking. For me, it just kills the rhythm of a ride, most people are jamming on the brakes and you subsequently get bumped up, rutted terrain, which is no fun. Never been there, but Kirkwood has lift served mountain biking which is restricted to some of the flatest runs on the mountain, no biking off of chair 6 or 10. I am planning on checking out what is available out there if for no other reason than curiousity.

I think that is why Mr. Toad's, Porcupine Rim and Buther Ranch/3rd divide are some of my favorite rides, you can just let the bike run and really get into a nice rhythm.

[uncle crud]

maybe i will get tarred and feathered for saying this, but I really dislike overly steep mountain biking. For me, it just kills the rhythm of a ride, most people are jamming on the brakes and you subsequently get bumped up, rutted terrain, which is no fun. Never been there, but Kirkwood has lift served mountain biking which is restricted to some of the flatest runs on the mountain, no biking off of chair 6 or 10. I am planning on checking out what is available out there if for no other reason than curiousity.

I think that is why Mr. Toad's, Porcupine Rim and Buther Ranch/3rd divide are some of my favorite rides, you can just let the bike run and really get into a nice rhythm.

I agree AND disagree. Here's why.

I see them as 2 different kinds of riding. Fast and flowy is only one kind of riding. Now, maybe it's someone's favorite kind of riding, and there's no argument against a personal taste choice.

Around Missoula we have lots of flowy, fast singletrack. We have very little steep and technical. So when I make my own trails, I make them hard to ride. Very hard. Extremely hard to ride fast. But once you dial it in, you can pick up the pace. And that's a cool feeling, comparing the smoother faster runs to the initial on-the-brakes-constantly sort of thing.

And it's not for everyone, that's for sure. My view is that the more "freeride" or "BMX" oriented a rider, the more likely he/she prefers fast/flowy.

But the truth is that fast and flowy is a lesser test of rider skill.

Steep & technical shows who's the boss. That's why it gets inundated with harsh braking bumps. Most people can't ride it smoothly. If you can ride that stuff smoothly, you can pretty well own any other terrain type.

I prefer tracks/trails like the ones Dan Atherton builds... See Earthed 1 & 2.

[altagirl]

I guess I was wondering more about the clientele differences I would expect to come with gnar-gnar MTB vs. DV's usual winter visitors. How many of the DH'ers hit up the Stein Eriksen Lodge after the race?

Zero. But they sell a shitload of sightseeing lift tickets to the tourists on a regular basis who just ride the lift to look around at the scenery up top. And they do have a good variety of trails so there are DH trails and mellow twisty turny trails, and even fire roads you can cruise down if you want. And there is a huge network of XC trails they connect to as well, so they actually do a good job of making their resort appealing to a wide variety of people in the summer.

Plus, it's fun to be wearing armor and covered in dirt, mud and blood walking around the people in their sunday clothes having brunch. And I think we give them something to talk about all morning. ;)

[rideit]

5%-7% average grades, with a 'few' sections running into 10-12% for 'whoop' or 'G-out' effect is PERFECT, IMO.
Good example, Whistler A-line does not exceed 7$ average grade for the entire trail...

[lph]

I agree AND disagree. Here's why.

I see them as 2 different kinds of riding. Fast and flowy is only one kind of riding. Now, maybe it's someone's favorite kind of riding, and there's no argument against a personal taste choice.

Around Missoula we have lots of flowy, fast singletrack. We have very little steep and technical. So when I make my own trails, I make them hard to ride. Very hard. Extremely hard to ride fast. But once you dial it in, you can pick up the pace. And that's a cool feeling, comparing the smoother faster runs to the initial on-the-brakes-constantly sort of thing.

And it's not for everyone, that's for sure. My view is that the more "freeride" or "BMX" oriented a rider, the more likely he/she prefers fast/flowy.

But the truth is that fast and flowy is a lesser test of rider skill.

Steep & technical shows who's the boss. That's why it gets inundated with harsh braking bumps. Most people can't ride it smoothly. If you can ride that stuff smoothly, you can pretty well own any other terrain type.

I prefer tracks/trails like the ones Dan Atherton builds... See Earthed 1 & 2.

I agree wholeheartedly. There was a point when all i wanted to ride was tough, technical, rocky, steep terrain. I think two things changed for me. One, too many falls. Two, discovering the feeling of leaving the ground (even if it is only 5 feet and less).

I still don't like rides that are strictly buff singletrack, but when it is combined with sections that are moderately technical or have some smaller man made features, I am in heaven. I think that is why Toad's is my present favorite Tahoe ride. Until the travesty that occurred at Xmas Valley, that was my favorite tahoe ride. That is pretty technical, but i had ridden it enough to know how to ride most of the technical sections fast.

[Rontele]

wong,

those are some of the best photos i have seen!

[flowtron]

I guess I was wondering more about the clientele differences I would expect to come with gnar-gnar MTB vs. DV's usual winter visitors. How many of the DH'ers hit up the Stein Eriksen Lodge after the race?

My favorite part is taking dumps in the extremely nice shitters in the base lodges. Nice lighting, wood doors, sometimes some classical music...makes for a wonderful experience after drinking coffee on the way up from SLC.

Snow Basin has awesome shitters for dusty, stinky, armor wearing riders too. Some good leather napping couches in the lodge on top of the gondy too..

[Rontele]

Snow Basin has awesome shitters for dusty, stinky, armor wearing riders too. Some good leather napping couches in the lodge on top of the gondy too..

There are not enough nasty words in the english lexicon to describe the disrespecting I did on Snowbasin's bathroom's two seasons ago...

[slippy]

My favorite part is taking dumps in the extremely nice shitters in the base lodges. Nice lighting, wood doors, sometimes some classical music...makes for a wonderful experience after drinking coffee on the way up from SLC.

Snow Basin has awesome shitters for dusty, stinky, armor wearing riders too. Some good leather napping couches in the lodge on top of the gondy too..

On Sunday I heard a melancholy trumpet-solo rendition of 'Somewhere over the Rainbow' blasting from the bottom lodge. I could hear it more than half way up the mountain as I rode the lift. It turned me into a raging testosterone-infested DH rider until I crashed into the trail map sign on top.

[uncle crud]

I agree wholeheartedly. There was a point when all i wanted to ride was tough, technical, rocky, steep terrain. I think two things changed for me. One, too many falls. Two, discovering the feeling of leaving the ground (even if it is only 5 feet and less).

I still don't like rides that are strictly buff singletrack, but when it is combined with sections that are moderately technical or have some smaller man made features, I am in heaven. I think that is why Toad's is my present favorite Tahoe ride. Until the travesty that occurred at Xmas Valley, that was my favorite tahoe ride. That is pretty technical, but i had ridden it enough to know how to ride most of the technical sections fast.

I hear ya. Shoulder injuries from wrecks on superfast DH in gnarly terrain, and ankle injuries from jumping off somewhat high skinnies took their toll on my body. I would love to get into Old Fogey DH racing (if we had any in western Montana, that is) but I'm sure I'd be broken most of the season and not riding, so that would really suck as a practical thing. And I don't even go near FR terrain any more. No more skinnies, log rides, big manmade drops. I'm done with that stuff.

I like fast & flowy, it's super close to good skiing.

But steep & techie on a well made trail with speed kept reasonably in check is how I test myself as a rider.


On Sunday I heard a melancholy trumpet-solo rendition of 'Somewhere over the Rainbow' blasting from the bottom lodge. I could hear it more than half way up the mountain as I rode the lift. It turned me into a raging testosterone-infested DH rider until I crashed into the trail map sign on top.

Dang, I got all misty-eyed at the sentiment.