Building the Perfect Lap
Some people change the world and are beautifully oblivious to the fact.
Ron Penney, Brad Stuart, Luke Beers, Eric Simmons, and Krystina Green, together, make up Landmark Trailworks and are some of these people.
Lining up at the Runway.
It’s the ‘90s. Mountain biking has firmly established itself as a sport with distinct disciplines but freeride is still coming. It is widely acknowledged that British Columbia in Canada gave birth to this phenomenon. The term and lifestyle already existed in snowboarding, so it’s no surprise that many of these early freeride mountain bike pioneers were also avid snowboarders. …
Dillon Osleger is what you’d call a “gentle activist.” His passion for mountain biking, and his conviction for a healthier planet, bridge the gap between recreation and activism. Can a trail possibly preserve and protect what we hold dearest in our natural environment? Dillon shares his conviction with us, and we reckon he’s onto something.
“Sentiment without action is the ruin of the soul.” — Edward Abbey
Words by Dillon Osleger:
If I had a choice, all that I fight for would never be extremely relevant. Yet, as I type the release text for this film, fires rage across…
When the earth speaks, Hylton Turvey listens, taking the time and care to carve trails in South Africa in a way that honors her presence. Soil Searching founder, Fanie Kok, shares this intimate profile of a man who has a true connection with the land he builds upon.
“You’ve got this.”*
With these words have I followed Hylly into many a gap jump with blind, childlike conviction.
Hylton Bonazan Turvey is a man of few words. He uses them to converse in the same fashion that a master chef adds a pinch of salt to an already perfectly constructed dish — just to taste.
When the man does decide to say something — audibly, verbally — you listen and yield.
To even attempt describing a trail crafted by Hylton is like trying to dissect “The Night Watch” by Rembrandt. Layer-upon-layer of color, significance, and skill, coupled with an acute awareness…
Ryo Hazuma is a man who can — and will — move mountains. Living in the Minami Alps of Japan, he dedicates himself completely to developing and maintaining trails at this UNESCO World Heritage Site, all while consciously bridging the generational divide.
It is a place where the change in seasons is as elegant as the inaudible ticking of time itself. Flawless. Japan: The Land of the Rising Sun. We arrive there just as summer makes its gentle turn to pass the torch of change, bringing hues and saturation beyond the most vivid of imaginations.
It’s raining when we meet him. He’s wearing a bright, florescent hi-vis vest, decorated with various badges, some of which include a hunter’s badge, a trail steward badge, and a firefighter badge. At 1.65 m (5’4”) tall and no more than 60 kg (132 lbs.), he…
What if you dream of riding renowned trails, but you aren’t lucky enough to live in a mountain biking mecca? Caio Suzarte and Eduardo Arruda know — you build your own.
Passion. Caio Suzarte and Eduardo Arruda are absolutely drenched in it. The two trail builders from Brazil are passionate in their conviction that bikes are more than just playthings, and that riding can change your life and the world for the better.
Growing up in different parts of this vast country, both builders were nonetheless connected by a shared conviction that life should amount to more than climbing out of bed each morning and trundling off to work to earn a pay check. Caio and Eduardo wanted to live and breathe consciously, to connect every day to the soul…
Will Cadham and Mark Taylor (the “Free Radicals”), are nomads on a trail riding — and trail building — mission.
“Vanlife? That thing on Instagram? Nah, man,” say Will Cadham, “we’re not into that, eh.”
Will Cadham, along with Mark “Sharky” Taylor and Thabisa (that’s their RV’s name…trust us, it’s a long story) are collectively known as the Free Radicals.
While transforming ailing Westfalias or shiny Sprinter vans into rolling homes on wheels may be many riders’ fantasy du jour, Will and Mark have been nomadic for the greater part of their young adult lives. …
Australia is home to some of the best mountain bike trail builders in the world — meet Rhys Atkinson and Ryan De La Rue.
Famous for its koalas, kangaroos, eucalyptus forests, Vegemite, Hugh Jackman, and a million things that want to kill you, there’s still one thing not so well known about the Land Down Under. Australia is also home to some of the best mountain bike trail builders in the world, including Rhys Atkinson and Ryan De La Rue.
Ever broken in a wild horse? You can get a taste of what it’s like when you ride down one of Rhys’ trails. You know what’s coming, and you’re ready for it, but the stoke meter still goes into the red zone every…
Jenn Kriske on the change that needs to happen with women’s cycling clothing and image.
Cycling is beautiful, but if you don’t follow the standard accepted behaviors, or look a certain way, it can feel a little “locals only.” The issue is, how do we make cycling more inclusive and welcoming for everyone? Hosted by Jen Kyle Whalen, this series shines a light on people putting their own stamp on cycling, ignoring the norms, and breaking the rules to help spur real change. In this episode, Jenn Kriske, Founder and CEO of Machines for Freedom, talks cycling’s image and making room for women of all shapes, sizes, and more in cycling.
MACHINES FOR FREEDOM
Cycling has an…
Heather Russell on Using Bikes as a Tool to Healing Sexual Trauma
Cycling is beautiful, but if you don’t follow the standard accepted behaviors, or look a certain way, it can feel a little “locals only.” The issue is, how do we make cycling more inclusive and welcoming for everyone? Hosted by Jen Kyle Whalen, this series shines a light on people putting their own stamp on cycling, ignoring the norms, and breaking the rules to help spur real change. In this episode, Heather Russell shows us that bikes serve many purposes — in this case, as an empowering tool for healing sexual trauma.
TRAIL THERAPY WITH SACRED CYCLE
When we say bikes are therapeutic, we…
Justin Williams on Breaking Through Cycling’s Walled Garden
Cycling is beautiful, but if you don’t follow the standard accepted behaviors, or look a certain way, it can feel a little “locals only.” The issue is, how do we make cycling more inclusive and welcoming for everyone? Hosted by Jen Kyle Whalen, this series shines a light on people putting their own stamp on cycling, ignoring the norms, and breaking the rules to help spur real change. In this episode, cycling’s Justin Williams talks representation, inclusivity, and why things need a good shake up if we’re going to grow the sport of cycling.
STRAIGHT-UP REBEL MODE
I did it my way.
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