SUMMER2016
MOUNTAINLIFEBLUEMOUNTAINS
83
Of course, onopeningday, I couldn't find anyone
to ridewith. So Iwas curious to seewhowould
showupon a gorgeous Fridayon theMay long
weekend. And youknowwhat?You couldn’t find a
wider cross-sectionof people.
My first ride up the gondolawaswith a couple of
high school students. I asked thempoint-blank,
“shouldn’t you guys be in school?”Towhich they
both replied, “yep.” I consideredhigh-fiving them.
My second ride upwaswith a guy just finishinghis
night shift inMidland.Hewas planning toput a
few laps in, gohome, eat dinner then go tobed.
Thenext ride upwaswith three youngmen, aged
about 21.Theywere burstingwith excitement.
Theywerehere for thewholeweekend and riding
everyday.And theywere staying in anRVnearby.
I consideredhigh-fiving theseguys too.Because if I
was 21 again, that sounds like thebestweekend ever.
I shared thenext gondola upwith anover-40
couple. She said shewas so scared she felt like
shewas going tobarf. “She gets like this onher
first run every year,” saidher husband. But I saw
them around for the rest of the day. And shewas
grinning ear to ear.
Then I rode upwith fourwomen.Now I'mnot
foolish enough to guess the age of anywoman, so
I'll just sayover 30 (bynearly a decade). Four of
them.Their backs, gloves and legswere covered in
mud, and Imust say: Ladies, it’s a good look.
Then I ran into anold friend in the lineup. A
friendwho isn’t afraid to come downhilling.We
rode the lift and joked and laughed all thewayup.
He toldme his girlfriendwas pregnant andhewas
proposing thatweekend. I high-fivedhim.Then
we rippeddownRaisinRun at full speed.
Forme, openingdaywas an experiment to see
who showedup and to solve the problemofwhy
my friendswon’t come downhillingwithme. And
youknowwhat? Iwasn’t short on company. And
the people I rode the lift anddid lapswith, already
knew that one universal truth.Themost important
truthof all: riding a bicycle downhill is fun.
You should try it.
OPENING
DAY
2016
MARC LANDRY/BLUEMOUNTAINRESORT
