This year winter has fought hard, there is still snow on the ski runs at Panorama Ski Area, a very rare sight at this time of year. I rode my bike up to about 1700 meters last weekend and didn't find any snow on the ground and the trails were super fun! Make a plan for a day out on the trails with your friends now, we are ready to go!
We all know what happened here in Japan on the 11th of March, its hard to grasp how tragic it really is. I happened to be in Saipan with my 5 year old son when the quake hit. First time I heard about it was when my sister called from Canada and told us to get away from the beach. The Tsunami came but most of its power was absorbed by the Marianas Trench, the deepest part of the pacific ocean. Saturday morning came and the race was on, there were about 20 japanesse athletes there and we all knew we had to race, sitting and worrying would not help.After a minutes silence the race began. The ocean was not kind to us, vision was impossbible, I swam straight into a boulder, the currents were always changing but everyone got through it. The bike section of the race has slowly been improved over the years and is now an excellent MTB course. It had rained a litte bit during the night and made some of the downhills very slippery, this always helps me as my mtb skills are my only strength in a triathlon. Into the transition and out onto the run or in my case jog. This year I jogged as best I could , I didn`t walk but I was pretty slow. I ended up having one of my best triathons ever, I can`t explain it but I do believe it was mainly because I wanted to get back to my room to see what was going on in my adopted homeland.
I was not here during the quake, but it is now that real effect of this disaster are showing. I have had lots of emails asking about our well being and I am thankful that my family is fine and we are away from the scenes we all have seen. I beg any of you out there ,and if you have the means please help with CASH, there are so many needy people right now. I personally am going to do something to raise money for the orpahns, its heartbreaking to see children looking for thier parents and they are this countries future. Japan needs help now, this country has been supporting so many others for so long it is time for the world to show some love.
Be sure of one thing JAPAN will rebound, its people will not allow it to go down.
Please Help,
Paul
Today it is snowing here on Yatsugatake, I went for a short ride this morning before it started and had a blast in the dry powder. The trails are impossible right now but the roads around here are perfect. While I was riding I thought back about last week as I had been down to Kyushu for a bit of work and pleasure. I left Nagano and drove about 8 hours down the road towards Okayama Prefecture. I was suprised to see that I had left behind the cold weather and was now riding in 14 degree weather and sunshine. Mikan Oranges were still in some trees and flowers were starting to come out ! 3 days of road riding and I was ready for my mountainbike. I travelled down to Fukuoka and the Cleat Bike Shop, Matsunaga-san had organized a Saturday morning ride. A bowl of Hakata Ramen and a draft beer and I was ready for anything! Thanks to the group of riders who showed up early in the morning and took me for a ride, I was suprised to meet so many riders!
Next year I want to come back and ride more!!But for now it looks like my snowboard is a better tool for my backyard!
2011 is a big year for Cove Bikes , 30 years ago , in Deep Cove , North Vancouver 3 friends of mine opened the first “ MTB only” bike shop in Canada. I remember seeing the first bikes they brought up from California, back then even Rocky Mountain Bikes were only selling road bikes. 30 years means a lot to me as it also means I have been riding for 30 years , and I turn 50 this year! After riding and racing so long I am amazed that I still think I am getting better as a rider. I am sure I can go faster now than when I was 20, maybe not climb like I used to、but overall I am a much better rider now. Bikes as well have come a long way, I laughed when HB(Greg Herbold) started riding his Rocshox prototype back in 89, now I spend 80-90% of my riding on 6 inches of plush front and rear suspension. . Cove bikes has also come a long way , when we started riding on the trails in our backyard we never realized where the sport would take us. While I was travelling around the USA living out of my VW van and racing, Chaz was living on the floor of his bike shop trying to survive. He told me about his mechanics destroying their bikes on the North Shore, he showed me his new bike for the Shore and he changed the way we all think about bikes . Over this coming year I want to write a bit more about the Coves history and the tribe , so many good riders and people have come through the shop it should be fun.
I hope 2011 is a good year for all of us , for me I want to do something special for my 50th year, maybe the BC race solo , maybe a backflip over the Yamanote Line we`ll see. I can`t wait to see what the next 30 years will bring us.
Happy New Year !
Paul
What an end to a great season, Fresh Powder for our last ride! This season is the first time we didn`t cancel any rides in November or December. On Dec.29th,a record for riding so late in the season! I had a group of 4 beginners come riding, I had been worrying about the weather for this ride ever since Noguchi-san made thier reservation back in early October, we ended up riding in 5 cm of fresh powder snow and it was a super fun day in the sunshine. What a great sport mountainbiking is!
Next year makes it 30 years of riding a Mountainbike for me, it keeps getting better for me. I still feel like a kid when I ride, I still improve my skills and am enjoying watching my 2 young boys riding thier MTB`s. I hope it as good for you as it is for me. Thanks to everybody that came riding with us year and we are looking forward to seeing you all again next year.
HAPPY NEW YEAR !!
