Capital BMX

Sudbury Trails Spot Check

With more hype than ever surrounding these mystical beasts, I figured I would do a little writing about a beautiful set of trails over yonder in the northern part of our province. Only 5 hours from Ottawa lies some of the smoothest running trails around. Rich, Ginger and I made a trip to ride them last month, and ironically Chris ended up killing himself on a handrail before he had a chance to really slam on the dirt at all. After Ginger’s accident I kind of forgot to upload any of the good pictures we got riding the trails that weekend so here they are. Rich has since gone back with Jay and Jorden, and they’re apparently not getting any less awesome. 

Regardless of who is doing the most work on these trails these days, the man who made it all possible is Nick Barnard. Dude seriously put in 8 hour shifts, and made his kids help him. Thats a real dad. ‘No juiceboxes until the landing is packed!’ The trails scene in Sudbury is pretty gnarly now, lots of young guys throwing serious bangers consistently. When we were there, we didn’t really get to ride with any locals so I don’t have any pictures to show. But take my word when I say that these kids are good. 

 
When you first get to the trails, you might assume that all the jumps were built with a machine of some sorts. Usually jumps this size are built with bobcats… but not in Sudbury. All of these jumps, even the enormous step-up with a landing the size of a house were all built with nothing but shovels and a work ethic that exists only in a blue collar city like Sudbury. In fact, compared to any other trails I’ve ever ridden, these are in a league of their own. I literally could not believe how much larger they are compared to last year. But they’re built immaculately, each jump gives you just enough speed for the next. They’re downhill, effortless and scary as hell. 

Rich doing his 1 flip per year. Meeting quota.

Me turning down the big set

Rich, nosed 360 over the step up

Of course with a trails scene like this you’d expect that the rest of the city has to have other things to ride. There is actually lots of really interesting street there, as the city is built on hills and being a mining town was built really quickly resulting in an interesting downtown core with strange architecture and buildings with crazy angles. There is also a concrete park which was built 3 or 4 years ago and has some pretty neat obstacles to shred. 

Dangler Downwhip. nice background though...

Ginger with a pre faceplant icepick.

Sudbury might be a hard place to justify traveling to, what with the 5 hour drive and all. But if you enjoy riding challenging and fun trails, with perhaps a dash of street it is definitely worth the trek. Especially in the Summer, what with the abundance of swimming holes. Just don’t expect to see too many pretty girls, they’re all fat. Where do you think Jeff Bedard developed his peculiar taste in whales?

5 Comments »

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1. If by scary as hell you mean fun as hell pussy. Go ride your alymer lumps

   Comment by Kyle — July 18, 2009 #

2. I’m pretty sure i’ve spent more time riding these trails this year than you have sucka.

   Comment by Landozine — July 18, 2009 #

3. Man I get a lot of press on this front page.

   Comment by Rich Red — July 19, 2009 #

4. I was just trying to help you out, maybe score you some extra dough from your sponsors for all this exposure. you can take me out to dinner to thank me. a non gay dinner though…

   Comment by Landozine — July 19, 2009 #

5. [...] other day Chris posted a story and photos of a trails trip he took to Sudbury last month. The other week Rich Redmond, Jorden [...]

   Pingback by Capital BMX » Sudbury Trails - Jay Leroux — July 23, 2009 #

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