Clinic love: “Carning” in California

Hi all. Just returned from two weeks away; one in California teaching, one in Martha’s Vineyard sleeping and fishing. The sleeping was much more successful than the fishing. Highlights from the clinics, and the word of the week:

carn verb. To crash, to damage one’s flesh. Dude, my front tire washed out and I totally carned!

Southridge Park, Fontana, CA

Pinned from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.: I did a private with professional percussionist Eric (great rhythm), then I rode DH with my buddy Jason, then I taught seven guys from the InCycle DH squad.

While I was riding with Jason I made a mistake that resulted in two very bloody elbows. When the InCycle race guys showed up, they were like, “Wait, the guy who’s supposed to teach us just carned?” Carned … great word.

Eric and I did drills in the parking lot, then we pumped the 4X track, then I showed him how The Pump applies to natural terrain. He pins an aggressive line on my P.3.

The team started with parking lot drills, then we sessioned the trail they has just raced. Kevin has squared the turn on the entrance bank, and now he’s eyes-out and railing. Well done.

This rock has magnetic powers! We practiced looking past this turn to the dip we’re about to pump.

Jason threads a tricky needle. Thanks for organizing the clinic – the best team manager ever!

Aliso/Woods Canyons, SoCal

My buddies and I used to ride this park back when it first opened. The park is now surrounded by houses, but the trails still rip. To think I used to hit 50 mph on my hot pink 1990 Diamondback Apex in full Lycra (also hot pink) …

Naoko and I rocked a private session with the goal of hopping her 6″ Transition Siren (sweet bike). Here she lays back into a nice manual. From here, it’s a matter of compressing the rear suspension and connecting with the ground. Funny: While I was demonstrating “wrong” technique, I slipped a pedal and carned my shin.

Ramon practices his Brake Fu. It’s all about driving the net force into your cranks.

Ramon sets an edge and lets his Turner do its thing.

Todd demonstrates perfect, if blurry, technique. Sorry — these are video frames. When you approach a steep roll-in, get as low as you can, then push your front end down into the transition. This insulates your head from the terrain and keeps you connected to the ground.

This is a very tricky turn on the Rockit trail. Todd, a former MXer, keeps his elbows out and makes an edge. I had SO much fun sessioning this trail on my 2008 Stumpy Pro Carbon. Back in 1990 we survived this trail — now we BRAAAP it!

Mere Mortals, NorCal

“Everyone else’s slow is our fast” is their motto. They are a fun group who rides with “no drops, no pressure and no egos.” www.mere-mortals.org

Explaining the fine points of braking. Lars from Trail Head Cyclery helped me coach, and he took photos, so I was happy to rock the THC jersey.

My shadow looks like a duck, huh? … Note the carn (yeah, it’s a noun too).

This ain’t Southridge, but it’s all relative. The loose gravel and water-bar-into-corner gave us a chance to practice loading the tires. Braaap!

Anne and I did a private session the next morning, and we focused on absorbing and pumping bumps. When I say you should be low across the top, this is what I mean. Anne’s bike.

Anne is getting it. The lower you get, the more you absorb, and the more you can PUMP!

When in Rome. The back of the Mere Mortals jersey says, “If you can read this, you can join us.”

And back in Boulder …
I was home for 16 hours between trips, and we rocked a fun Core Skills clinic.

The parking lot slalom is a great way to build and reinforce core skills. Ben was a very quick study.

Mike sets a strong edge. This is about smooth side-to-side transitions.

Chris is feeling the love. He came back out for yesterday’s Aggro Clinic.

Emily straightens her inside arm to set a good edge. Sweet!

It feels great to be back home. Yesterday’s Aggro Clinic was super cool, and I have a private group this afternoon. These guys are all gnarly MX and ski patrol dudes.

Dare I say braaap?