October 17, 2008

ROLL MODELS

++++++++++All things inspirational. T6 doing it their way...diving into the shallow pool head first,blood ripping with the passion and excitement of a newborn, learning and growing and loving it all the way.  Making a difference from the inside out. Lalonde on a mission. Never resting, a constant pedal to the metal. Creative fire burning and the legs raging. A lesson in living life as each day is the last.  And brother Joe, for pushing through life's curveballs, staring the future in the face and never throwing in the towel.  The pursuit of faster, harder, stronger, and better..all with a style that none if it really matters if you ain't having fun.  Fast and furious, these guys are the driving force of learning the left side of the crowded road at 5am Down Under, breathing deeply as life's miracle is around the bend, and gaining knowledge and confidence that doing it my way is the way. Congrats boys...and thanks for the pull.

October 9, 2008

October 6, 2008

October 4, 2008

L.A. under a blood R.E.D. sky



Client:  R.E.D. 2010 Print Advertising Campaign
Location:  Smashbox Studio #3A, Los Angeles, California
Talent:  Davis, Pearce, Piiroinen, Aguirre, Teter
Creative:  Soldier Design (Bobby, Cassandra, Ryan)
Production:  Jen Budner (hair/makeup), Adam Moran (Photo Asst), Reid Sterrett(R.E.D.), Susie Flores (Burton Team Manager on location)

Just completed the Hollywood shoot for Burton's R.E.D. 2010 Ad Campaign...a one day blitz collaboration with Soldier's crew on  their progressive creative concepts.  Big production and fantastic location and process, many thanks to all involved for making the journey from Sydney a huge and efficient success.  Look for the ads to drop in the near future.  --CURTES

October 1, 2008

BROKEN, BEAT & SCARRED




MonsterSquad handles the airport pickup while the eagerly anticipated Portland rendezvous weekend of friends bikes and home blazes into BLACK WEDNESDAY as the revelation of what is left behind and what is gone....the SuperflySS, the Trek, and enough carbon to fetch a hefty amount on the street, not to mention shred sticks and gear to really make someone's Winter smooth...all raped with nothing left but the dirt on the ground from the last mtb sprint.  Shock that can only be leveled by lining up for the first of two 45 minute mad dashes in the dustbowl Indian summer heat at the Veloshop's rampage and the Barlow Battle.

"thirty seconds single speeders..................."

With no prep for the dirt besides the left-justified Australian roads and three cocktails to lesson the blow of the 13 hour flight home,  a quick preride in denim on the dusted off Vanilla1SS had me scrambling for gear change again and again.  Flat fast start as the time off the bike tells me to settle in and relax about 10th wheel going over the first barricade bridge combo, the mistake that put me upside down in a mass pileup seconds later as the leaders disappear into the wisconsin-like singletrack.

The majority of the race spent relearning the technique and handling of the bike, the ‘MTB it ain't‘ and cockpitting from the hoods sent me into the rough time and time again.  With 5 to go, the sexiness of the Vanilla steel smoothed out my sloppiness and the form started to return, the chase closed the gap as the death magnetic blazed on inside.  Three to go and they were in sight, and within seconds the catch was made.  We rolled the 3 pack sharing the load and with half a lap just outta the ditch to go, the Signal went and he wasn't to be caught…Pete having the legs and the gear to hold off our frenzied spin-fested podium trio.

Another hauntingly hot hot heat day at Barlow High...confidence in the bike put me on the frontrow and the ultralight 34x16 kept me there as yesterday's effort turned to the pain.  A dry fast and incredibly fun course as everyone was out to enjoy the sun…the railroad tied run-up a crowd favorite as the cowbells echoed through the forest...the exact spot where the rooted NW tundra grabbed my ankle and took it sideways around twenty five minutes into the now strung out SS showdown.  Survival mode kicked in and as the power faded, the desire and knowledge that this was my only slice of PDX CX DIRT for the 2008 season carried me home in for a 5 spot.  

(snagged snaps:  oregonvelo and pdxcross.com)

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