It鈥檚 that time of year: Winter is creeping in on us. As the snow slowly makes its way down the mountain sides in pursuit of the valley floor, it taunts and pokes at us while acting as a visual representation of the timeline we have.
The majority of the leaves has fallen from the trees and now litter the trails with shades of yellow and orange, in some situations making what lies beneath the tires a total mystery. The guessing game of how many layers to wear riding has also begun; it鈥檚 one that is challenging even for seasoned veterans of the local climate.
It鈥檚 a time of year when the trails become significantly quieter, the events of the summer months seem like long ago, and many of the local racers are either pulling up on the end of a well deserved break or are kicking off their training regimen for the 2015 season. Life slows down, boding well for reflection on and assessments of the summer had. How well the last training season went and whether it paid off are common concerns for the racers, before they assess how to change it, if at all, for summer 2015.
Most other riders reflect on the good times had through the summer. The trips that were planned, some acted upon and others falling by the wayside, are remembered, while thoughts of what to do next summer in order to keep it fun, keep progressing or simply take in new experiences take on conversational roles as many await winter.
Personally, the summer of 2014 threw a rather large curveball, only to be followed almost immediately by another. In an all-too-common scenario within the cycling world, an earlier injury led to another one, when perhaps getting stuck back into riding a little to soon. No one likes being injured, but after more than a number of years chasing goals in this rewarding sport, I鈥檝e learned how to adapt and stay positive while still staying involved in the wider community, the largest factor in my ability to remain positive during the down times.
As a result, this summer saw a deeper (again) appreciation of photography, race coverage and writing, as the creative outlets allow me to stay in touch with what is happening while also feeling a sense of achievement, despite not being on the bike. Not being able to participate in the local Sea to Sky Enduro series, I instead opted to shoot each race in a form of visual expression. It allowed for continued involvement with the people with whom I am most familiar, as well as pushing my own creative boundaries (and time management). The pinnacle of my year, however, was working the Crankworx EWS; it was one of (if not) the most challenging days of shooting ever experienced; it was incredibly rewarding and one I won鈥檛 soon forget.
Despite the injuries and not being able to have the summer that I dreamed of all last winter, it was still an incredible year. In a sense, whenever life presented me with lemons, usually by the half-dozen, I made lemonade, each sip more rewarding and enjoyable than the last. But none of this lemonade would have been as tasty without the amazing community in Squamish, my family and close friends, or the like-minded people with whom we share this town. Whenever feelings get down, turning to any of these people in your life is a great way to remain positive. Keep an eye on the big picture, even though you鈥檙e forced to live in the moment.
