So, the South Dakota Redbull marketing rep is on me about getting a pulse started in this state. If you've never been to South Dakota, there are some surprises you wouldn't expect to find here. And NO, to all you Cali-residents who've asked, we DO not still have Indians chasing cowboys with bows and arrows.
When we first started talking he said that the right place would make the event. I mentioned I had an "in" to a certain place that is untouchable: The Badlands of South Dakota. It's a national forest and placing anything other than a foot onto it is jail time via "intent to cause harm to a national monument."
So I've not only got a place that's out of Federal reach, it's also insanely cool and full of culture. Here's a broad image of what I'm talking about:
Look alittle closer and you get some of this:
Now here are a few pics from a while back, when a bud and I took the trucks out to go exploring in this "lost world." Oh, and not my busted Jeep Cherokee, and not my swollen muscles stuffed into the tiny Suzuki!
These pics show some detail, but you HAVE to have been here to know!
The "dirt" is the coolest ever. It's somewhat solid. You can walk on it and nothing happens, walk over it a few times and it starts to powder. Do the Happy Dance and it turns smooth as glass. Slightly wet it and let it dry and it's concrete. It also hurts a lot if you fall on it. Just a note. However, get it overly wet and it turns into mayonnaise. I had to walk 30' to a grass patch mid-sprinkle and I almost didn't make it, had 3" of sludge on the bottom of my shoes and was sliding all over.
What I want to do: Obviously, a biking event. But it's Redbull, so a friggin roadie tour on fatter tires is not on the menu. Slopestyle is being over done so much it's worse than meatloaf. A DH race...? Well, would still be cool out there if only because this terrain has never seen a bike tire before. There's land like it throughout the US, but each IS different, and I garantee it's never happened in SD! We are still bouncing a DH race idea off the back wall, but that's a last resort.
What I want to do is a STREET COMP in one of these bowls in the middle of nowhere. A typical low-level "bowl" has several layers, each layer drops 3-5 feet to the next with a totally natural, and totally perfect set up for rollin in on! My planned structures so far include a dozen picnic tables, Jersey barricades, two 30' long steel or concrete pipes about 2' in diameter burried in the ground at odd angles, some super rails ranging from 20 to 60 feet in length, large slabs of concrete to be positioned where convenient, a stair set, either wooden or concrete, for gapping, and along the back, also serving as the judges stand, a Semi truck and trailer. Under this would be a long, natural quater shaped wall. And I WANT to see someone railslide the top edge! Keep in mind all the natural elements as well, the area is packed full of "volcanos, transitions and bumps, and bowls. I wasn't really even into riding yet when I saw this place and it made want a bike. It's gorgeous.
I am pushing for a two-day event, day one for building. RIDERS will be build the area. It does have some natural flow, but we want to see some neat stuff. I'm more for the creativity portion of riding than just the sickest tricks or the biggest airs. That night, REDBULL PARTY. Ever been at a Rebull party???? I won't try to describe, let's just say GOOD!
Next day, ride. Compete. Call it what you want. We're thinking rider-judged right now, but considering bringing some pros/Redbull riders in as well. Nothing for sure yet, obviously.
What to ride? Anything you want. I want to open this up for your weapon of choice. Which would be cooler: A rail grind on an 8" travel bike or a 30' stepdown on a 20"? I'd LOVE to have to make that choice!
Separate classes for the different bikes? Riders judge or not? Other obstacles? These and many other things is what I need input on. What would YOU guys want to try?
When we first started talking he said that the right place would make the event. I mentioned I had an "in" to a certain place that is untouchable: The Badlands of South Dakota. It's a national forest and placing anything other than a foot onto it is jail time via "intent to cause harm to a national monument."
So I've not only got a place that's out of Federal reach, it's also insanely cool and full of culture. Here's a broad image of what I'm talking about:
Look alittle closer and you get some of this:
Now here are a few pics from a while back, when a bud and I took the trucks out to go exploring in this "lost world." Oh, and not my busted Jeep Cherokee, and not my swollen muscles stuffed into the tiny Suzuki!
These pics show some detail, but you HAVE to have been here to know!
The "dirt" is the coolest ever. It's somewhat solid. You can walk on it and nothing happens, walk over it a few times and it starts to powder. Do the Happy Dance and it turns smooth as glass. Slightly wet it and let it dry and it's concrete. It also hurts a lot if you fall on it. Just a note. However, get it overly wet and it turns into mayonnaise. I had to walk 30' to a grass patch mid-sprinkle and I almost didn't make it, had 3" of sludge on the bottom of my shoes and was sliding all over.
What I want to do: Obviously, a biking event. But it's Redbull, so a friggin roadie tour on fatter tires is not on the menu. Slopestyle is being over done so much it's worse than meatloaf. A DH race...? Well, would still be cool out there if only because this terrain has never seen a bike tire before. There's land like it throughout the US, but each IS different, and I garantee it's never happened in SD! We are still bouncing a DH race idea off the back wall, but that's a last resort.
What I want to do is a STREET COMP in one of these bowls in the middle of nowhere. A typical low-level "bowl" has several layers, each layer drops 3-5 feet to the next with a totally natural, and totally perfect set up for rollin in on! My planned structures so far include a dozen picnic tables, Jersey barricades, two 30' long steel or concrete pipes about 2' in diameter burried in the ground at odd angles, some super rails ranging from 20 to 60 feet in length, large slabs of concrete to be positioned where convenient, a stair set, either wooden or concrete, for gapping, and along the back, also serving as the judges stand, a Semi truck and trailer. Under this would be a long, natural quater shaped wall. And I WANT to see someone railslide the top edge! Keep in mind all the natural elements as well, the area is packed full of "volcanos, transitions and bumps, and bowls. I wasn't really even into riding yet when I saw this place and it made want a bike. It's gorgeous.
I am pushing for a two-day event, day one for building. RIDERS will be build the area. It does have some natural flow, but we want to see some neat stuff. I'm more for the creativity portion of riding than just the sickest tricks or the biggest airs. That night, REDBULL PARTY. Ever been at a Rebull party???? I won't try to describe, let's just say GOOD!
Next day, ride. Compete. Call it what you want. We're thinking rider-judged right now, but considering bringing some pros/Redbull riders in as well. Nothing for sure yet, obviously.
What to ride? Anything you want. I want to open this up for your weapon of choice. Which would be cooler: A rail grind on an 8" travel bike or a 30' stepdown on a 20"? I'd LOVE to have to make that choice!
Separate classes for the different bikes? Riders judge or not? Other obstacles? These and many other things is what I need input on. What would YOU guys want to try?