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Costa Rica Trip - Winter 2009
by strahan
Posted: Mar 23, 2009
While pondering over coffee one afternoon in the summer myself and a few friends came to the realization that we ain't getting any younger, in fact at the time... within a 6 month time frame we'd all be pushing the boundaries of 30.
This was the catalyst that got us planning...
This was the catalyst that got us planning...
Words: Nick Quinn
Photos: Strahan Loken
As such it became a bit of a 'mission' of ours to at least celebrate this coming of age in a little bit of style. Emails started flying, recruitment conversations erupted and mouse ball / wheel clicker buttons started howling. Where to go? Peru was a our first thought, but in the end Costa Rica won out namely because a few of us had been there before with Chris Winters' Big Mountain posse. Tickets got booked, accommodations secured, trucks rented, logistics...sort of worked out and of course bikes got packed. We were going to write some long boring jibber jabber, but honestly I think Strahan's photos speak volumes for both our experience, the riding, the culture and the celebration that life only gets better with age. Shred on, spring is coming to North America...let's all welcome it with open arms!
The crew consisted of Calgary riders, Brett Wootang Clan, Mark "Grande Hombre" Satre, Conrad "Man of Leisure" Spring, myself Nick, Victoria's Strahan Loken and young buck Ken Perras.
Oh ya...I should mention good ole Ken Perras sneaks in there at 24. We dragged his arse along to "get cultured" with us old responsible, wise guys. What you think Ken...learn a few things?
-strahan.pinkbike.com/
Photos: Strahan Loken
As such it became a bit of a 'mission' of ours to at least celebrate this coming of age in a little bit of style. Emails started flying, recruitment conversations erupted and mouse ball / wheel clicker buttons started howling. Where to go? Peru was a our first thought, but in the end Costa Rica won out namely because a few of us had been there before with Chris Winters' Big Mountain posse. Tickets got booked, accommodations secured, trucks rented, logistics...sort of worked out and of course bikes got packed. We were going to write some long boring jibber jabber, but honestly I think Strahan's photos speak volumes for both our experience, the riding, the culture and the celebration that life only gets better with age. Shred on, spring is coming to North America...let's all welcome it with open arms!
The crew consisted of Calgary riders, Brett Wootang Clan, Mark "Grande Hombre" Satre, Conrad "Man of Leisure" Spring, myself Nick, Victoria's Strahan Loken and young buck Ken Perras.
Oh ya...I should mention good ole Ken Perras sneaks in there at 24. We dragged his arse along to "get cultured" with us old responsible, wise guys. What you think Ken...learn a few things?
-strahan.pinkbike.com/
58 Comments
- + 7
dirtball
(Mar 26, 2009 at 0:43)
Sick... Costa Rica seems to be a great place for anything these days. Gotta get my ass there...
costa rica is amazing. i go there a bunch and it amazes me every time. it is just a beautiful country
agreed, i was there is 2006 - trip of a lifetime! costa rica is amazing just a beutiful place, if anyone gets the chance to go, GO!!
I went there last summer... We went mountain biking on the volcano of Arenal, So sick, plus we met a local who hooked us up with some stinkys for $5 a day. The next place I want to hit up is Thailand, supposed to be insane!
ride near antigua at all? I was there a few months ago in the winter and did some riding. great local trails, mostly stuff villagers used to get from village to village quicker. great ride, techy. where'd you guys ride?
i am going to antigua in nov. for my wedding....
there is good riding there?
tell me more!
you can PM me if its easier...
thanks!
there is good riding there?
tell me more!
you can PM me if its easier...
thanks!
http://www.adventureguatemala.com/biking.html
this is the company i went with. Great people, experienced riders and they know the area well. def. recommend "Cielo Grande". it's quite a climb in the beginning so be in shape and prepared, the decent is well worth the climb though, def. the highlight of my trip.
this is the company i went with. Great people, experienced riders and they know the area well. def. recommend "Cielo Grande". it's quite a climb in the beginning so be in shape and prepared, the decent is well worth the climb though, def. the highlight of my trip.
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30? 30... ? 
well happy birthdays to you all, and wow, what a keen trip! Me and my "around 40" will have to do this soon!
well happy birthdays to you all, and wow, what a keen trip! Me and my "around 40" will have to do this soon!
Don't like picture videos, but that was great! Definitely Dominical for 2 pictures at 187 if I'm not mistaken, love that place. Pura Vida!
30 isn't really old - it's all relative, I'm 37 and I don't feel old at all, in fact I don't feel noticeably different from how I felt at 27. Costa Rica is beautiful though! See any dinosaurs?
As I said to Conrad on his last day...hope you guys got a blast...Nick I was waiting your call for yet another trail for you guys to know...shame we can't see guys ripping down here to learn more tips to reboust the DH scene in Costa Rica...
what a cool trip!! the beautiful country, "the riding, the culture and the celebration that life only gets better with age" Wink
thanks for sharing
thanks for sharing
Great photos, seems that you had a blast! Unfortunately I was not able to meet any of you and, as SATA said previously, we would have been able to show you lots more places to ride and to enjoy, and also we would have loved to share and soak in with you guys some of your experience, as it would help us a lot in our DH riding/racing, trail building, and basically to make our sport grow down here... So if you ever come back, let us know so we can set you up with lot more places to rip, and share experiences with you guys! Pura Vida!
Ahh, Imperial, Pilsen, beaches, scenery, sunshine, food, great people and now bikes! Wow, I miss that place. Great job boys!
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Hey Nick, great slideshow! Thanks for joining us again in Costa Rica...
If anyone would like to join Wade Simmons and Big Mountain next winter, we've posted our 2010 dates...http://www.ridebig.com/trip_costarica_puravida.html
We also run epic DH trips in Peru and Switzerland, check it out: http://www.ridebig.com/index.html
Happy trails!
If anyone would like to join Wade Simmons and Big Mountain next winter, we've posted our 2010 dates...http://www.ridebig.com/trip_costarica_puravida.html
We also run epic DH trips in Peru and Switzerland, check it out: http://www.ridebig.com/index.html
Happy trails!
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I am very jealous...i've been trying to get down there for over 2 years now. So many great things to do there and s. american women are hot. Some very good photos you got there! Next time invite me!
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WOW, YOU GUYS ARE AMOUNG SOME OF THE LUCKIEST MTBERS IN THE WORLD, props to you boys going down to costa rica 
one of my main dreams
one of my main dreams
Dude...the sadest thing is that most of those trails are private...not many people knows where they are...they keep'm private for a good reason, but sometimes is a shame for us as well...
yea man that is pretty sad, but makes sense at the same time like you said, they need to preserve all the trails and such
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That slideshow was awesome. The riding, food, culture look incredible. There were some really nice cloud and lifestyle shots in there too.
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I recently (january) went for a 15 days trip to costa rica. I was riding x-country with a group a 8 people from france. To my big surprise our guide told us that there aren´t a lot a downhill or even single tracks in costa-rica. I didn´t believed him and when I see these pictues I feel that he had no idea about freeriding.
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