A look back, with Ride Guide in Switzerland

This clip was shot back in...2007 i think? The Schwartz bros came over and we sessioned Zermatt for a good week and then hit some of our favorite rides down the Rhone Valley. Ah, good times!!

happy birthday joe

hmmmm...where to start? it was just another ride, or seemingly so. we met up, unloaded our bikes and got dressed and then started climbing up the mountain. it wasn't raining. it was Sunday. we climbed high this time, to an unknown fresh trail that few knew, a trail that you had to hike in off the road and where the loam roosted like a jet boat in the Florida Keys. everything felt really good and the bikes were running exceptionally well, or was it the riders? at times, we'd drop into a short downhill transition with a berm at the bottom and both wheels would drift and then traction would return, almost on demand. drift, carve. bikes where thrown around and echoes of glee resonated in the forest. falltime. great friends. Sunday. mellow vibes. thanks Joe and happy birthday buddy.

Joe, Wade and Arthur's dog, mid-ride.

Dave Norona, birthday boy, Chimonez and me.

wanna ride with Joe and Wade too? Wade's guiding our Costa Rica Pura Vida DH trips, February 19 - 27 and February 27 - March 7 2010 and Joe is guiding our Swiss Alpenrock DH trips next summer, Aug. 13 - 21 2010 and Aug. 21 - 29 2010.

Start Here: Bike Magazine

Grab a copy of the latest Bike Magazine and see Big Mountain owner Chris Winter scoping a new trail in Switzerland in the Start Here column. "This section of trail is after a rediculously long and fun downhill," says Winter, " you feel like you're hanging from the cliff's ledge and then you pop around the last corner and ride past a shrine with a cross and mini-sized Jesus on it and lit candles all around. Did I just see that? It's kind of surreal."

A few of Bike Editor Lou Mazzante's words from Start Here: "As we head into winter and start looking for new gear and dreaming of new trails to ride, keep in mind that the act of riding a mountain bike is so much greater than its component parts. It is inherently fun, implicitly adventurous and often best enjoyed with good company."

Do you like the look of this trail? Want to ride it with Big Mountain in 2010? If you're an all-mountain rider click here, if you're a DH rider, clicker here. Why not join us in the Alps next summer?

yesterday

We just returned from a killer two-day jaunt to the beauty Chilcotin Range just up past Whistler. You've most probably heard us talk about this region in the past here at Big Mountain. It's pretty special. One of the rare places left where cell phones don't work, roads are gravel, there are more dogs around than humans, being outside means really being outside and where the trails are fine like fine red wine. Dale Douglas from Tyax Air bombed us up from Whistler in his Beaver which was very nice indeed...

PK riding in post-fire apocalyptic otherworldlyness.

 

Dale and Claire pondering the view and taking a break.

Paddy and the Beaver.

riding with Joe in the Alps

Our annual Swiss Alpenrock DH trips are happening as we speak. Want to ride with Joe next year in Switzerland? Keep your eyes peeled here...we're working on 2010 dates and details now and will have them posted very soon. Enjoy the rest of summer!!
Read Joe's Kona Cog blog here.
Thanks to Scott Hagarty for these fine photos.


Schwartzy hitting a little wall ride at the Crans-Montana bike park.


The group of Alpenrock I on top of Gornergrat, high above Zermatt. Looks like a great day!

Paulo, Wade and El Diablo...

Satindar, Paulo and Wade after a tough climb on the Shore's Cypress Mountain earlier today. Want to ride with Paulo and Wade in Costa Rica this February? I do! Check out the roster of Costa Rica DH trips here...

Blissed out in Switzerland with Big Mountain

Wow, a super photo essay on our Swiss Alpenrock DH trip with Wade and Joe. Check it out here.

Wanna come? We have a few spots left for this summer...

Joe in Bolivia

Big Mountain guide Joe Schwartz is in Bolivia going downhill, fast. "We are back in La Paz, for a night of connection with the outside world before we continue on with our exploration of this amazing country. The last three days have been spent in the mountains west of the city, in a zone I will not soon forget." Read more...

Want to ride with Joe yourself? Join him in Switzerland this summer on either of our two amazing Alpenrock DH trips - August 14 to 22 or August 22 to 30, 2009.

Whistler slideshow

Big Mountain hosted a great slideshow night this past Friday in Whistler as part of the Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival. Talk about getting psyched to ride! Nearly a packed house viewed images from pro photographers Sterling Lorence, Harookz and Blake Jorgenson.
Big thanks to those who helped us out: Whistler Bike Park, Bike Co in Pemberton, Fanatykco and Evolution in Whistler, Tantalus Bike Shop in Squamish, Chromag, NSMB.com and Whistlermountainbike.com





Chiling: Blake Jorgenson and his beautiful girlfriend Holly Fraser who runs the Blake Jorgenson Gallery in Whistler.

Latest Decline Mag issue

Journalist Dave Smith and photographer Blake Jorgensen came to Switzerland last summer and joined us on Alpenrock DH trip. We're super stoked to have the pleasure of hosting these two heavy hitters. If you get a chance check out their story, "Riding Big in Switzerland", in the latest issue of Decline Magazine.

Downhill mountain biking in Costa Rica

Nick Quinn just returned from another DH trip with us in Costa Rica and create a sweet slideshow on Pinkbike.com.

Our 2010 dates are posted...check it out here.

Join Wade Simmons in Switzerland this summer...

It's confirmed: Wade will join Joe Schwartz as one of the two guides on the August 22-30 Swiss Alpenrock trip

Here's a little clip of Mr. Simmons from New World Disorder a few years back. Who wouldn't want to ride with Wade for 9 days in the Alps??

Wade simmons

more downhill fun from the Alps...

Downhill Mountain Biking in the Swiss Alps: part one from big mountain on Vimeo.