RIDING IN RETALLACK
Steffi Marth got a once in a lifetime invite from Kurt Sorge to go and ride in Retallack, British Columbia. What would you do?
How high and far can someone actually fly on a mountain bike? My previous idea of manageable dimensions on two wheels is currently being completely overthrown. I crouch in the bushes in one of the most remote places I have ever visited. All of my focus is on staring through the eyepiece of my Nikon camera. I cannot miss the upcoming flight phase of this crazy rider, because such a riding style cannot go on forever and I want a picture of the spectacle as long as it is still possible.
We are in British Columbia (B.C.), Canada and the scenario with the bushes, the remote location and the insane mountain biker is playing out for the second time this week. At Red Bull Rampage last year, I briefly got to know the extremely humble, three-time winner of the most important freeride event of the year. When he is not on a bike, Kurt Sorge comes across as relatively inconspicuous. He always has a warm, contagious smile on his face and takes time for everybody coming up to him with questions. Because of his approachable and open nature, I simply asked him in spring if we could visit him at home in Nelson. Without any great expectations, he surprised me: “Sure, just come along!” No sooner said than done, we arrived in Vancouver airport to take a 6-hour drive to the interior of B.C.. The drive is super scenic – and our anticipation really increased when we enter the beautiful Kootenays.
Kurt orders us to a boat landing stage in quiet and quaint Nelson. As we stand there with our pile of
luggage and bikes, we have one last doubt that one of the best freeriders on the planet is serious about us. A small white motorboat comes rushing from afar in full throttle mode; the driver is wearing a casual cap and thick sunglasses with a big grin on his face. “Welcome to Nelson” Kurt calls to us. The adventure begins by transferring to the other side of the river, where only a dozen people live on a slope in the forest. His neighbour is none other than Gareth Buehler, who is known to every freeride enthusiast. Just as crazily talented as our host. Kurt shows us his newly built little wooden hut and the monstrous piles of earth that he has pushed all around. You can hardly see what a jump or landing should be, but they are definitely motocross-sized. For take-offs, he had about 3m high metal ramps welded, which are not yet in place. We are totally overwhelmed by this hidden paradise with a waterfall behind the house and his own vegetable garden, plus motorbikes and excavators everywhere to build and maintain his “playground”.
LIVING AND BREATHING FREERIDE
In the coming week we will participate completely in Kurt’s life with training in the gym, mountain biking with friends, surfing behind his motor boat on the river and social barbecues. Mountain biking with his buddies was a real experience, because it felt like his entire circle of friends could take part in Red Bull Rampage. Without real warning, we ride trails in borderline too steep terrain, peppered with wooden kickers and drops. Kurt’s clique not only jumps over it, but turn in all directions through the air. Everyone rides a big bike, we are the only riders without a double crown fork, which feels very scary on these trails. This is a real adrenaline and testosterone circus. But the generally relaxed and warm atmosphere brings everyone safely down the hill.
Two days later, in the middle of a relaxed siesta, Kurt announces that he wants to try his big jumps for the first time. A hand full of friends stand on the property in no time and help to give the jumps the finishing touch. We have to set up the cameras so quickly; he simply starts pedalling without announcement and pushes himself off the metal ramp at a decent speed and aims for a 90° turn across the air. He brings the bird down perfectly and in his
typical casual style. I also like to lovingly call it the “Don’t worry style”. I can’t believe my eyes but luckily we have our memory cards inside the cameras as evidence. He has similar jumps in Retallack, which is only 1.5 hours car drive away. To our surprise he offers usa trip there to get the kickers in shape. We don’t have to consider for long and move on through B.C. with Kurt in tow.
ONWARDS TO RETALLACK
A mountain bike system like Retallack is totally new to me. The winter program consists of cat and heli-skiing from the Retallack Lodge. If you want to ride your bike in Retallack, you have to book into this lodge, which can accommodate a maximum of 25 guests. The price is impressive at around $AUD650 per day but you can enjoy an absolute VIP program. The trails are built and maintained especially for the lodge guests. The trail builders are on duty every day, as are other staff to take care of the guests. There is full board and VIP service with its own shuttle truck and of course: heli biking. This costs extra, but is actually a must once you are here. Two mountain peaks are flown to by helicopter, Texas and Reco Peak. From the lodge you can reach the mountain peaks that overlook the entire B.C. interior with a shuttle, followed by helicopter within 30 minutes. What comes next borders on sheer madness - the laid out and well-groomed trail down from here is peppered with steep wall curves and jumps and never seems to end. The best thing about it: only the helicopter customers of the lodge can ride it, that means about 20 rides once a week. It couldn’t be more exclusive. I am totally blown away by this departure when we decide to shuttle again immediately afterwards. Here, of course, everyone wants to get the most out of their price-intensive stay.
This summer is so hot, it hasn’t been raining for weeks and we’re riding around in a huge cloud of dust. When we hang out in the deck chairs in front of the lodge with our lovingly served cold drinks in the late afternoon, Kurt asks us if we want to go on an adventure with him. Although we are pretty tired from this intense program, we are of course innand start to take our truck up the mountain into the wilderness. The destination is a remote hut at the foot of the Reco Peak Trail. It is right next to his monster jumps, where he also organises the famous Hoff Festival, where the world’s elite
mountain bikers who jump big line up. Before the sun goes down, we push our bikes a few hundred meters top the trail towards Reco Peak and ride down together into the sunset.
Back in the hut we find that we have forgotten a few essential camping things: light and water! But we have wine, schnapps and burger meat. A fire is quickly made at which Kurt tells us some Grizzly Bear stories. You can see them here on the mountain regularly and of course it scares me. The coming night in a hut that is too hot will be pure torture for me. Leaving meat on the stove, feeling a bit tipsy and the supposed grizzly in front of the door triggers a slight paranoia.
The next morning Kurt is awake in no time and has the tools in hand.
We get him a couple of loads of water from the stream and water his jumps. Does he really just want to sail over these giant jumps for breakfast? Without warming up, without spectators, without announcement? He does not need a test run, but can fly straight through the air on the first try. With this size jump he is surely in the air for longer than three seconds. It must feel insane. Our cameras click on rapidfire as he pushes up again and again. After about ten runs, he even throws down a huge Superman. At the end of this season, our new Canadian friend is the first rider to ever win the Rampage in Utah for the third time and we were there to celebrate with him. A summer of absolute superlatives!