The Worst-Kept Secret in Squamish

The Kitsbow crew recently took a trip north to explore the sculpted singletracks of British Columbia. Jeff Kendall-Weed and "Made Rad by” Tony Baumann linked up with local producer Kevin Landry and pro photographer Blake Jorgenson, who brought along three gifted riders: Squamish native Stefan Shier and Kiwi trailbuilders Florian de Vries and Matt Harris. We outfitted the crew in head-to-toe Kitsbow and set out to hit some local lines in the dirt.

So how did we end up in the shadow of the Stawamus Chief? Well, let’s just say that our new all-weather prototypes weren’t getting a proper field test in Northern California in mid-August.

Squamish, on the other hand, typically sees more rainfall in the summertime than we do year-round. We were seeking the wettest, rowdiest conditions we could find. Squamish delivered.

Thanks to some key guidance from the natives, we managed to shuttle several tearjerking descents. We also turned our legs inside out on a grind past the snow line to appreciate the immense, lush landscape of the greater Howe Sound.

After a long day of riding and shooting in wind, rain, snow, and sun, on loamy chutes and granite slabs, it was time to unwind. The local boys directed us to enjoy a few pints and some local color at A-Frame Brewing Co., where we immediately felt at home. There’s something profoundly comforting about traveling to a new place and finding your tribe there; it’s often the reason we end up in far-flung bike shops and alehouses all over the globe. No matter where we go, there we are.

Squamish seems to be like that; it's truly mountain biking heaven, with a tight-knit community worth tapping into. So here's the worst-kept secret in Squamish: It's not just the excellent ales and killer trails that make this place so special – it's the thriving culture. It keeps us coming back. We're grateful we had the chance to really put our tough new gear through the wringer with the locals on their turf. But that's a story for next time.

Until then, we'll see you out there. Cheers.