What’s it like to land your first big drop
Canadians talk about their experiences taking on cycling-related challenges
as told to Tara Nolan
Ever wonder what it’s like to ride thousands of kilometres, start a bike brand or nail a new technical mountain biking skill? Here are a handful of bike enthusiasts who have accomplished large, and some not so large, goals related to the sport. Their great tales may inspire you to take on new bike-related challenges.
What it’s like to fat bike with a chainsaw?
Laura Aliperti, Whistler, B.C.
I’ve been riding ever since I can remember. I was very lucky to grow up around my dad’s bike shop in Brazil. I did a bit of XC and marathon riding from when I was 12 years old in Brazil, but didn’t start riding more serious singletrack and downhill until I was 18 years old.
My first big drop was the gap in Fade to Black in the Whistler Bike Park. After that, the biggest drop was at Kamloops Bike Ranch on Fistful of Dollars – that one took a lot of nerve, but doing a season at the Whistler Bike Park helped me immensely.
[ A note from Trish Bromley, instructor at Whistler Bike Park: “If you’ve ever seen the Fade to Black or Fistful of Dollars drops, these aren’t small. Making the jump from something semi-rollable to something with real consequences takes time, skill, and confidence. – Eds.]
It feels like floating down obstacles while riding your bike on trails. The best was looking back at a drop that I never thought I’d have the nerve to ride. Riding bigger features gives me a sense of accomplishment and confidence for whatever obstacle I will have to tackle in the future. It’s funny how something so intimidating can become so much fun as well.
When I was finally thinking about doing it, the coaching I got gave me a lot of confidence. I was doing an instructor’s course to be able to teach intermediate riders, and I had done similar, smaller drops. After getting a better understanding of all the movements, watching other competent riders do it, getting comfortable with the speed and then visualizing how it would feel, it all helped me immensely.
You know that person you hear shouting “weeoos” and “wooos” through a trail? Yeah, that’s me – on those occasions – very loudly.
This a part of a seven-part series that first appeared in Dec. 2017/Jan. 2018 issue of Canadian Cycling Magazine.
