Striking Gold.

Spent the the weekend at Woodward West in Tehachapi, Ca.

I drove up with Chris Bracamonte and Cody McKenna to meet up with Tazz, who is living at Woodward for a few weeks.

Driving to Woodward from LA means going just far enough away to make it seem like you are getting away. You leave the city, cross the high desert floor, and go up over the first ridge of the Tehachapi Mountains. In just a few hours time I went from sitting at home in the busy city, to driving through the hellish desert suburbia/wasteland of Palmdale, California, ending up in a semi-lush mountain setting. Tahachapi is colored gold in the summertime, and this little trip proved to be nothing other than that.


GOLD.

After checking in to our room at the visitors lodge where all the visiting pros stay, we made our way down to the park for a night session. At about 9:30 or so I took a break and went to the store to get some beer for the evening. As I was looking in the cold box, Tazz walked in with two of my really old friends, Cody Davis and Art Galaviz. These dudes were just coming back from a hike and joined us back at Woodward for the rest of the session.



We rode for a few more hours and then headed back up to the lodge where we all had some drinks and laughs before turning in.


Tazz Hernandez


Chris Bracamonte


Mike Payne


Hey, it was pitch black out. Taking a photo with my camera in my right hand and a beer in my left.

It was really good to hang out with a few friends that I had not seen in a while, and just catch up on the little things in life. I also met some pretty cool people up there and took a lot home from the experience, including a first hand glimpse at how crazy good Mike Payne is. The dude just flat out kills.


Mike Payne

I've heard the name Mike Payne here and there and have seen a photo or two, but things like that never really sink in with me because I could honestly give two shits about who the "rad new rider" is this month. However, Mike made a different impression on me. He seemed really pumped to be doing all the massive tricks he was pulling, but never for a moment seemed cocky. Mike was just stoked on riding. I could tell.

I also had the pleasure of hanging out with those old friends, Cody D and Art . Cody and Art were working at camp, counseling kids. Sunday being registration day, they both had time off from duties to ride. Cody describes those duties as "Not taking any shit from the un-ruley campers and showing them who is boss". He also added that you "Have to teach the new counselors, to not be a bitch". Good to know, Cody... Good to know.


Cody Davis also showed the bowl in the hanger who is boss.

We rode in a Pro Demo on Sunday that went down pretty heavy. I did not get any shots of that, because I was riding and didn't really care to shoot such a spectacle, but I can assure you that people were landing shit. Big shit. Landing big shit is normal at Woodward. Duh.

After the demo and dinner we rode trails. Trails are always a highlight to me. What I love about trails above all other terrain is, you can't ride them on a skateboard, rollerblades, motorcycles, etc... Sure, you can Mtn Bike them, but they are still reserved for cycling. Nothing in the world can give you the feeling of getting through a new rhythm section. I love trails.


Cody McKenna


UFO in the trees!


Sundown

The trails session ended at sunset, and I decided to put the bike away for the day and just hang out till it was time to go home. My muscles were done. We were all hanging out in the Enterprise when Tazz had the best idea of the weekend.


What a way to end a stay.

Big thanks to Shawn at Woodward for putting us up for an evening and letting us ride. Much appreciated!

Enough said.

-Erik E
Juke it!