KBC opens with a BANG!!!

The season has started for real. Chuck and crew spent a couple of days getting rid of some trees across the trails and just getting some spring cleaning taken care of. Each year gets easier to get things going.

The weather was hot and the word was out that we were open for business. Saturday was the first. Nice large group headed by local Kamloops Bike Riders Asso. V.P. Matt Davis. Lots of great runs with a solid session of the Orchard jumps to finish off the day and the group.

Saturday night was time for some fun. The Kamloops premiere of Seasons was held. The Collective showed again why they are the best at mountain bike filming. It was great to see Matt Hunter in front of the hometown crowd. This film is a must for anyone who likes cycling so be sure to caught it in the tour. Check the schedule at www.collectivefilm.com

Monday saw River Valley Cycle out of Edmonton bring out their race team for a well deserved break from the D/H season. Some young rippers plus the team manager/veteran racer Syd Jacklin got the full treatment. Devin and Chuck were the go to guys for the day…Devin rode…Chuck did everything else…as usual. No seriously, it was a good time for all. Chuck was up in Edmonton a month ago checking out the new location for River Valley Cycle since the fire and they have certainly stepped it up. It was nice to have the small jump park in the parking lot at the old store but we have no doubt that they will have that figured out in no time. Be sure to stop by at the new location and check it out… Great store… Great people!!!

www.rvcns.com

This winter has been an amazing time to spend with freinds and family over the Christmas holidays and get out on the slopes with even better freinds.  But as the snowbanks start melting I am excitedly looking forward to the seasons changing.  We have a new KBC trail crew to get the your favorite trails dialled in and build brand new downhill and XC trails for you to explore.  Make sure to check in with Chuck@kamloopsbikecamp.com to get your perfect mountain bike getaway planned or give him a call at 1-877-377-8665

KBC has really hit a home run this year for sponsor. It's rare to get a group of businesses that all come from the same background and share the same vision and passion. 

This year Brodie is suppling KBC with bikes. I'm so stoked!!! I rode a Brodie Devo for a couple of years and I really had some of the best rides on it. This year...It's the Damian. A perfect fit for riding KBC's lake facility. It's a great all around bike that will do anything. Great components...If I was to make a bike that would represent a perfect freeride bike... that would be the Damian. Brodie is also looking after suppling our rentals with a choice between a hard tail and full suspension. The Bruzza is great for a XC pedal and a trip down some freeride trail. The Diablo will be a our full suspension bike this year. Talk about bomber!!!  www.brodiebikes.com 

Sombrio has long been the leader in riding gear. Designed by riders, for riders. A great combination. Dave Watson and crew come to the table each year with better products. Looking at all the product that Sombrio makes, shows how they think of the riders first. Durable, great looking, just plain 'cool' is the best way to describe Sombrio gear. Sombrio is letting us at the stockpile and we couldn't be happier. We'll be constantly reviewing the great products offered by Sombrio just so you know what sets Sombrio above the rest!!!    www.sombrioracing.com

With the gear and bikes looked after, there is only one piece missing and that was a shop. Full Boar Bikes in Kamloops has been 'The Shop' in Kamloops for an amazing 10 years. Trev and his crew are as grassroots as you can get. Trevor has had his hands in the construction of some of the best trails in Kamloops and started Full Boar as a bike tourism business. I was lucky enough to go on a few of his trips. Learned a lot to say the least. Full Boar handles both Brodie and Sombrio product so it's a perfect fit. KBC clients will be getting the 'VIP' treatment in service and any riding gear you need. Full Boar is looking after keeping our head protected by Giro. Giro will also be a rental helmut for those who need the best. All your retail needs in kamloops...one stop...Full Boar Bikes.                   www.fullboarbikes.com 

KBC is very fortunate to have the support of the top bike shop in Alberta. Bow Cycle has long been a fixture in Bowness. In business for 50 years this year!!! Are you kidding me? They're a reason they are the top dealer for every product they sell. We starting working together last year and since then it just keeps getting better. It's a experience to just walk through Bow Cycle. The owners and staff are as professional as you can get. It's like they're all from BC!!! Just kidding Bow staff. Bow is our unofficial Alberta home. Kelly Servinski is one of Bow's top dogs. Marginal rider with a sence of humour. Kelly is the guy you want to talk to if you have any questions about KBC. He's been out a few times now. We are going to be offering tours that start and finish at Bow Cycle. Look for KBC at COP this spring just so you can talk to us and have any question you have answered. Remember in Calgary... one stop does it all. Bow Cycle!!!                                   www.bowcycle.com

KBC will be giving product updates regularly so you know what you need and where to get it.

On behave of KBC, I would like to personally thank all our sponsors for this year. With a team like this...It can only make you're riding adventure one for the movies!!!

I had a chance to sit down with Dustin Adams for a visit. If you don't know who Dustin is...2-time Canadian D/H Champion. One of the fastest riders to ever ride for Canada. He's been running his own business constructing kitchen tops out of concrete. Making an amazing product and he's been working hard of coarse.

His time has become quite valuable but I manage to get him to commit to coming out and doing some day rides. Not many people know that he is a great trail builder and wants to leave a signature trail at KBC. He built one of the best known tails in Kamloops mostly by himself. I'm sure you've heard of it... ROSE HILL!!! I have to say though, when Rose Hill was first built, just cleaning it was a major task...a reason to have a party since it was one tough trail. Rose Hill was Dustin's training ground.

Dustin coached for KBC when we first opened our doors 5 years ago. It was a learning experience to tag along while he passed out pointers to all the young racers. Some riders have just got it... Dustin is one of those riders. KBC is going to try to free Dustin from his business at least once a camp. KBC is really looking forward to what Dustin has up his sleave as far as a trail. Who knows, you might get a chance to help dig with Dustin and see how to build from one of the best in the business. Not Chuck... DUSTIN!!!

In case you're planning to overhaul your kitchen, give Dustin a call and see what he has for you... 250-372-0875, you won't be disappointed

Kamloops Bike Camps have just been nominated for Tourism Business of the Year by The Kamloops Chamber of Commerce. We are very happy to be recognized for our hard work and the quality of our product. This is a first for mountain bike tourism in Kamloops and we plan to live up to this honour by continuing our quest to be the most diverse, mountain bike specific riding facility. Many thanks go out to all of those who have supported us over the last year and we look forward to seeing all our new friends out this coming season… We’re going to open with snow on the ground!!! Let’s give that a try.

Well, phase #1 of the Jump/skills park is completed!!! Everything is completed till the first groups of riders start coming through and then we start adding. The jump park was the last to get finished.

Matty D from kamloops Mountain Bike Rider Association, oversaw the the jump construction, making sure the lips and the spacing was perfect. He also decided to jump on my ride to make sure they worked... you build them, you go first!!! I was right behind him.You can't take that from any builder. Your sweat, you're first. We can already see the possiblilities for our next set. We have a group of great tabletops, now it's time for some doubles to join the different lines.

We have finished Elementary School which is a new 8.5 km long freeride trail which I started at the end of last season. We are planning to add a few trails this summer. I want to give riders the opportunity to be the first to ride a trail. It's an awesome feeling and an experience that every rider should have a chance to do. It can only be done once and there's nothing better than leading your crew down a fresh trail. SICK!!!

Had a chance to see Roam last week in Kamloops. What can I say... AMAZING!!!  Matt Hunter really showed how to step it up and test the boundries. Darcy and Jamie just show how great a talent they are to make such a great film. Very cool to see KBC in the film. I wish I could ride those lines as effortlessly as Matty. Don't we all.

Had a chance to talk with Tyler Klassen at the premiere and he is going to make a trip or 2 this summer. It's been a couple of years since Tyler could make it up and I'm looking forward to seeing Super T back at KBC!!!

I'll be getting more photos up this next week since we've got the full crew from Pink Bike stopping by this weekend for the full review. Should be great!!!  Off to Alberta for the Roam premiere in Edmonton put on by the good folks at United Cycle. Should be insane...500 seat theater and sounds like it's pretty well full. Check in at United to see if they have any tickets left. We're going to be giving away a couple of trips while we're there. Come on Edmonton!!!  Get out and see Roam!!!

Holy Crap!!! Things are almost finished at the park!!! Second generation trail builder Seanna, came out to help Chuck put the final touches on the log rides. I'm posting some shot in 'Photo ablum #2' so you can see the finished product. We've got something for everyone. All we have to finish is the pure beginners ride. We will be adding all summer as rides get here to add their ideas. In the KBC way, everyone has a say.

We had our first riders last Sunday and what a blast... Just to get out and see the freeride trails and take notes. Hello Mr. Shovel...Got some great feedback on the skills park and used some of the input to finish the first phase off. I have already posted shots from that ride as you can see. Matty D. and a few other stars were throwing down the goods huge, especially for early season. All the stuff we used for ROAM got a working over!!! Couldn't be happier. 

I'll be posting more shots as we complete the 'Towers'.