Rayne's Ride the Giant went off this weekend and we've got fresh news and killer photos for you from our man on the course.  Check out the stoke, and check out the shots!

Race Report:

RIDE THE GIANT 2

  Speed checking and pre-drifting were almost constant.  The rain, for sure, was a disappointment but the vans kept shuttling full loads of eager riders up the course.  The road was slippery and tossed riders at every section but as quickly as they slid off they were back in begging for more.  In moments spent hiding under trees and drying my lenses and gear I saw riders with soaked shoes and gloves, dripping helmets and soggy road rash and grins with dirt and pine needles in their teeth.  

The day was wet and cold and awesome and everyone seemed to be making the best of it.  For those that had enough of the cold and rain they escaped into the mobile coffee house half way down the course.  The Valley Grind was keeping riders warm, happy and caffeinated all day.  Saturday finished soggy but Sunday was all sunshine.

  Sunday morning offered up a dry course ready to be painted with urethane.  Everybody was stoked and hit the course fast and hard, the shuttles were packed and had long tails of skitchers.  The freeride was insane.  It was frantic, no one wanted to waste a moment and blurred past me in trains of four or five.  Lunch seemed to be a reluctant rest for everyone even though many riders found themselves flopped onto a massage table and quickly drifting out of consciousness.  After lunch the course was split, top section for freeriding and the bottom section for crazy head to head racing.

  Riders chose their opponents, belted out some custom rules at the starting line and blasted down the course.  There were one push starts, no push-wiggles only, no foot-braking, no gloves, no hands and truck loads of wrecks.  Racers were bleeding, bruised and rashed and loving every second of it.  Semi-finals had Wolf Coleman up against last year's runner up, Summerland local, Travis Craig and then Max Erwin versus last year's champion, K-Rimes.  The races were intense, I wish I could have been at every corner because every corner was piled with screaming spectators chanting and exploding as the racers battled each other and the mountain.  Every race was decided on moments and destiny dramatically unravelled a much anticipated rematch between Kevin and Travis.  I propped myself up at the last corner squinting up the road, waiting and listening as the crowds erupted at each hairpin.  I could see the second to last corner through my zoom lens and started firing as soon as they slid around the corner.  But I soon realized as Kevin raced closer to me with his head turned behind him that Travis must have went off course early on.  Kevin comfortably slid the last corner and crossed the line alone.  Travis came into view without a hint of defeat and hit the last corner hard, lost control and his board speared me as I tried to leap over it.  He gathered himself and his board, showed off his recently acquired wounds and finished the race.

The crowd of volunteers, spectators and racers piled up at the bottom of the course congratulating Kevin and Travis and begging to hear the play by play.  Graham and Andrew stood in front of the Rayne tent with a table full of goodies and a megaphone in hand.  The swag riot was soon in full mayhem.  Brawls tumbled down the hill in pursuit of gear from Sector 9, Landyachtz, Rayne, and Switchback.  Race finalists scored cash and boards from Rayne and riders who showed the most style and skill were loaded to the chin with gear.  The second annual Ride the Giant Freeride finished with a traditional group photo, everyone exhausted and already talking about next year.  

 
  Ride the Giant is an awesome event.  Giant's Head is a mountain that demands the best from those that ride it and in return it sends the riders off better than before.  Andrew, Graham and the rest of the crew from Rayne, the volunteers and the town of Summerland put on a one of a kind event that displays the beauty and skill of longboarding.  Rayne continues to show it's passion for the sport, not just in their incomparable boards but also in their events which are run with class and respect ensuring that events like Ride the Giant will return year after year.  Truly, Rayne is building a legend in Ride the Giant. 

  Missing it next year isn't even an option.

All words and photography by Dustin Heigh/Emblem Photography.  You've seen Dustin's shots before:  he shot last year's Maryhill Festival of Speed and captured some great images.  Thanks to Dustin and to everyone supporting the longboard racing scene!  Remember, if you ain't going fast enough to need a helmet, you ain't skatin' fast enough!  If you've got an event you're putting on, racing in or just going to stoke and enjoy, drop us a line so we can help you tell the world about it!