As Monday morning came we loaded up the cars with bikes, gear, and people we made our way toward Portland. We had hooked up with the NSMB.com boys the day before and rode skatebarn and took some runs around the BMX track. They met us on the road in Olympia and we continued on our way.

After almost four hours of driving we arrived at Hindsight MX track just west of Portland- the venue for the contest. This place was big and construction of the jumps was under way. The course started in the second level of the arena which had a roll-in to a 2’ lip with a 17’ gap and 5’ drop in to 8’ landing. After you landed you went straight over a small roller then hit a good sized six pac of jumps that ended in a smaller step. Then you took a couple pedals into a curved wall ride into landing then a step up onto the GI Joes van with a small drop off the end. So now that the course was laid out it was time to get some practice after getting some lunch.

After lunch we arrived back to start riding but only to find out Adam Hauck just took a bad crash and knocked him self out and was taken to the hospital for observation. Once the course reopened we all started taking our practice runs and getting used to the course. The course was very fun and was very well set up for the making of a good contest. The tricks started flowing as people were learning the course. I tried the first flip on the first set and under rotated a little taking a hard crash but I got up and kept riding. Mike Metzger hurt his hand also during practice. The whole GHY team started throwing tricks trough the section and picking our lines for our runs. So after riding we head to the hotel and got our rooms and got cleaned up for dinner.

We were getting ready to leave for dinner when someone got the bright idea to start tramp biking on the beds of Steve’s hotel room. The first thing that went wrong with this was Sean almost falling out the 2^nd story window when he took a bad bounce. Lucky the screen stopped him from falling out the window. The other bed was being used by Palu. He ended flyin off the bed head first into the wall. So after that it was off to the ‘Acrop’ for steaks and entertainment. After dinner we headed back to the hotel for some needed sleep. The next morning we got packed and headed to the event.

As we arrived we got padded up and started taking our runs and getting our lines dialed. Then came contest time. The AM’s were up first and it was looking like it was going to be a good show. Seattle was in the house with many riders putting on a good show. Shawn Wilson had the hair; the grill and the style to make the finals were he put some good runs together. Abbit Wilkerson might have had the most style of any one riding pro or am. He was riding smooth with stylish tricks. Looch was making moves look easy with big tuck nohanders and a big manual across the van to step down. Looch went down on a manual across the step up step down in finals not before leaving his mark on the judges. Julian H. was also a strong presence during the finals with no-cans and big style. Andy Grant making the trip from Bellingham brought his A game and threw big tricks mixed with smooth runs to take home a brand new Black Market. Hats off to all the AMs for putting on a great show.

The pros started warming up and getting ready to throw down. As qualifying started it was clear that everyone was going to bring it. I was in the first group of qualifying riders and was not having the best runs. I think the pressure was getting to me. But I knew what needed to be done. So I dropped in and went to flip the first jump only to manual down the landing to loop out to my butt and end my day in an instant. After being helped aside the contest got back under way.

The Northwest was doing what they could to hold their own. Andy Sundbuam was giving it his all with a double tailwhip over the last step up along with many other tricks. Guy Marsh was more than able too, throwing massive style with turndowns and smooth 3s over the jumps and off the end drop. Walker Wilkerson was killing it with smooth tailwhips over the second set and last step up. He was also 3ing the jumps along with the last drop. Joe Perrizo was killing the flips with flipping the drop in and the first jump very smoothly. Also big no-cans and 3s. Robbie Wright after his appearance on the local news probably did the biggest superman seat garbs mountain biking has ever seen. Robbie is a true showman and wanted to land his run but wasn’t able to pull it.

Then Phil Sundbaum brought the crowed to life with big 3s off the drop in strait in to a bigger 3 over the first set. Then following up with big supermans seat grabs and tailwhips over the sets and off the last drop. Phil was making every thing look easy which is why he took home 2nd in the finals.After the contest we packed up the cars and made are way home thus ending our trip. We want to thank every one that made the contest happen. It was a great time and I can’t wait for the next one at Windells near MT hood in September. Till then keep riding.

1. Cam McCaul
2. Phil Sundbaum
3. Trond Hansen
4. Dave Smutok
5. Alex Reveles
6. Greg Watts
7. John Jesme
8. Aaron Chase
9. Ryan Howard
10. Guy Marsh
11. Tyler McCaul
12. Andrew Taylor
13. Jamie Goldman