Saturday, Jun. 07, 2008

Oregon mountain bikers jump into "The Lair"

By Mark Morical, The (Bend) Bulletin

BEND, Ore. -- Sam Pinner rumbled down an impossibly steep and rugged section of rocks on his 46-pound beast of a mountain bike, then flew off a steep jump, letting out a joyous scream as he landed.

The section he rode, called the Money Shot, is a small part of The Lair, Central Oregon's new riding hot spot for more aggressive and daring mountain bikers.

The Bend area has long been recognized as a mecca for cross-country mountain biking.

But in free riding -- an increasingly popular style of mountain biking that includes riding enormous jumps, steeply banked turns, and heinous rock sections and drops, among other advanced terrain -- Central Oregon was lagging behind.

Pinner, 41, noticed that shortcoming not long after he moved to Bend from Colorado seven years ago.

"There was no real aggressive riding out here," Pinner said.

He vowed to himself when he moved to Central Oregon that he would change the way that people ride their mountain bikes.

"I was half joking, but it's kind of happening," he said.

After years of pleading at Central Oregon Trail Alliance meetings and negotiating with the U.S. Forest Service to build on its land, Pinner finally got his way.

The result is the 35-acre Lair, designed mostly by Pinner, and built with the help of nearly 1,000 volunteer hours from Central Oregon Trail Alliance members.

The area is located a couple miles south of Phil's Trailhead, just west of Bend.

At The Lair during an afternoon break in the rain, dozens of mountain bikers endured a short uphill walk to ride down their choice of three trails: beginner, intermediate or expert.

The size of the jumps and features varies with each level.

The Lair is set up as a progression-based area, where riders can start on smaller, tamer features and work their way up.

Carson Storch, 15, of Bend, was flying high in the air off some of the steepest jumps and performing tricks to perfection.

"It's a fun new thing for Bend," Storch said of The Lair. "It's a great place to progress. It's just super fun, and well-made and maintained. I've progressed a lot here, and gotten better doing bigger jumps."

Bikers began riding at The Lair last October, but the area is still only about 70 percent complete.

Most of the area has been machine-built with smaller excavation equipment.

In addition to the three jump lines, which wind their way downhill, a few other sections are yet to be built, including another downhill run and a trail to connect The Lair with the Phil's Trail network.

Currently, the easiest way to get to The Lair is to drive in on gravel roads from Phil's Trailhead.

The Lair is unlike any other section of trails in Central Oregon.

Black Rock near Salem and Post Canyon near Hood River offer similar free riding options, though those places incorporate many wood structures while The Lair is made mostly of dirt.

"They made great use of the space they had available," said Matt Difani, 21, of Bend, who was riding at The Lair. "It's a lot of creative stuff; a little bit of everything. Anyone can have some fun here."

Pinner said free riding is the direction in which the sport of mountain biking is headed.

Bike shops are selling greater numbers of heavier, longer-travel (more shock absorption) bikes, which are made for downhill and free riding.

"It's diversifying, and it's one of the progressions of the sport," said Pinner, who grew up riding BMX. "Most people are stepping away from super-light bikes."

Safety gear when riding at The Lair is optional, but it is recommended by Pinner.

"We strongly suggest full-faced helmets and body armor," he said.

And, he says, it's important not to ride outside your abilities.

It is no secret that there is an inherent danger when flying off jumps and drops on a mountain bike.

That type of riding is usually for the younger set.

"The future of any sport is, you've got to get youth interested in the sport," said Kent Howes, president of the Central Oregon Trail Alliance.

But older riders can be found at The Lair as well.

Bend's Tim Collister, 50, was hitting some jumps with his 17-year-old son at The Lair.

"I can do most of the intermediate (course) except for the rock drop," Collister said. "I used to race dirt bikes when I was young -- it's like in the old days."

It may seem like the old days, but it's really the new days for mountain biking in Central Oregon thanks to Pinner and a slew of volunteers who carved out a place for thrill seekers to play.