10 Reasons why Arizona is better than Whistler or Mont Saint-Anne in the Summer

August 14th, 2013 8:40pm

After 5 years in the bike industry, getting to travel to world cups, Crankworx, Redbull Rampage, Nationals etc, I get sidelined by a crash injury. It takes me a year to get straightened out again. During that time I kind of fell off the radar and so here I sit, during THE biggest two weeks of the season at home in Arizona, when the rest of my friends and colleagues make the trip to Mont Saint-Anne for the World Cup or to Whistler for Crankworx or both. In an effort to make myself feel better, I came up with 10 reasons why I am glad to be in front of my computer watching the events on Redbull TV instead of at one of the events.

10 Reasons Why it's better to be in Arizona than Whistler or Mont Saint-Anne in the Summer.

1) There are no lift lines. That's right, no waiting in lines with your bros shooting the shit and talking about the last epic run or massive air you caught coming down Dirt Merchant, A-Line or Crab Apple hits.

2) The trails are not blown out. The trails in AZ are solid. Really. They are full of rock covering up more rock. Mix in some nasty water rut and surrounded by cactus and more sharp edge rocks and now you have a trail that will break you long before you tame it.

3) There are no crazy riders to worry about on the trail. Only insane ones. No one rides DH in Arizona unless they are insane.

4) You don't have to hike some huge mountain to see the fastest Mother f'ers on the planet. That's because the two good mountains we have are owned by native Americans and they cant make a decision about anything including allowing Downhillers on them.

5) You get to be the fastest guy on the hill. Because all the fast guys went to Whistler or Mont Saint-Anne and the insane guys don't count.

6) You don't need to worry about the weather. The weather is Consistent in Arizona..Its fucking HOT, ALL THE TIME....which also means you don't have to pack a rain jacket.

7) You don't have to fight with other photographers for that RAD shot because there is no rad location, no rad riders and its too f'in hot to be outside carrying 50 lbs of camera gear anyway.

8) You don't have to beg for access to the Deep Summer Photo challenge.

9) You don't have to feel like the bike your riding is a piece of crap. Who wants to look at all that cool new stuff on the way to the lift anyway. It only makes you feel inadequate, underpowered and ghetto.

10) You get Ice in your drinks and free Air Conditioning where ever you go.