Joyride 150 is a new skatepark in Markham, Ontario and I just read some interesting details about it on Capital. It seems absolutely ridiculous to me that they would build a BMX spot out of chip board and not allow brakeless bikes into the building. What do I know, though? Not enough to run a park, I guess.

Anyway, Capital put it perfectly, and you can read the rest of their entry right here.

“I’m no prophet, but I predict doom for Markham’s new answer to the famous “Ray’s MTB”. This park, if you haven’t already heard about it, is a year round all bike training ground with all kinds of really cool ramps, all made out of a space age wood compound called “chip board”… I’m not a scientist or anything, so I couldn’t begin to explain to you how engineers have crafted this magical board for maximum strength and durability. Although I seem to remember how easily squirrels could bore through it and get into my cottage as a kid… before we changed the window shutters to ply wood… but again.. I’m neither a scientist or a carpenter so what do I know.

Of these stipulations, one is “No brakeless bikes” (as seen above). And this really makes me reflect upon the failures of EVERY SINGLE INDOOR PARK to open in ontario over the past decade. Every time they fold, and always because they can’t remain financially viable. Not enough clientelle. So obviously opening a new park in Markham, it makes sense to bar 70% of the BMX/MTB community’s riders from riding it. And not even that, all the pro riders in the Toronto area are brakeless. The most influential dudes in the area will never ride that park. Great choice guys! You’ve clearly thought this one through. If you should have banned anything it should be pegs, not even perfect brakes will stop pegs from making gnarly holes in all your chip board ramps.”

Capital got a bunch of dudes together to do a Best/Worst of 2009 list and it came out great. Click here to check it out.

I woke up this morning, popped open my RSS reader, read this on Capital, and got really home sick. Click the photo above to check out an interesting photo essay from a trip to Toronto. Lots of riding and not much debauchery, but still an interesting read.

For the past couple of days, Jorden Guth, Andrew Grant and I were engaged in a short BMX tour of Toronto. I always look forward to visiting stinktown; its constantly an adventure. From the crazy jibberish speaking hobos, to the amazing pizza places on every single street corner to the abundance of incredible riding spots, you can easily spend a weekend immersed in the constant engagement of awesomeness.

Spotted this one over on Capital. Nothing too much to say about it except that there are tricks in it. Park looks fun, at least. Enjoy.

I enjoyed these a lot. Click that photo above to check out a couple more dope photos from the 39C Jam on Capital.

One of the disadvantages of shooting with film is the time it takes to get developed, and usually someone has beat you to the digital punch. That’s OK though. I just got a roll of film back that I shot mostly at the 39C Jam last weekend, and put up a few photos from the day, and the trip to the quarry afterward.

Spotted this on Capital after completely overlooking it on TCU. I had a lot of fun in Ottawa this summer, and the locals there are rad as fuck. You can read some words about it all on the site too, so check that out.
While I was lurking around the website I found this crazy picture of Dillon Lloyd, too. I didn’t really think that was possible before just now. Wow.

Yesterday saw host to the “event of the season” here in Ottawa. Jeff, Marc, Kyle and Jamie (and probably oxenburghinson to some extent as well) put on a jam with all the 39c ramps in behind Jeff’s warehouse. The turnout was healthy, I never did a head count but I’d confidently estimate having over 30 people there at one point.