Sedona MTB Festival
Who doesn't love a good party? Especially one that revolves around bikes and beer.
Sedona is one of my favorite places on earth to ride. Red rocks, technical terrain, hero dirt, stunning vistas and an endless number of easily-accessible trailheads make for a MTBer's dream. That vibe gets cranked way up during the annual Sedona MTB Festival every spring. This was my first one, and it was a blast.
I kicked the weekend off with a skills clinic led by good friend Amo at Sedona Mountain Bike Academy. Seriously, friends, if you're ever in Sedona and want to take your riding to the next level, call Amo. SMBA does individual lessons/coaching and scheduled group clinics. This one was a solid refresher for me, and helped get my head back into the game as I prepare to get my own coaching certification. And it was fun.
I also attended a few different "fix your own damn bike" workshops, competed (and I use the term "competed" very loosely) in a track stand competition, made lots of new rad friends, attended a few parties with some old friends, listened to some live music, and bought a bunch of stuff I didn't really need.
The high point of the weekend was definitely the women's ride with Flagstaff Lady Shredders. I just love riding with other women - we're all just out there to have a good time and slay some demons. This ride was no exception, and I've already made plans with a few of the women to ride again in the next couple of weeks.
One quick side note on festivals in general, whether its a mountain biking, yoga, music, or whateverelsefloatsyourboat festival, the organizers rely on volunteers to pull it off. Tickets to these things are pricey - but as a volunteer, you work a few hours generally in exchange for your entry ticket. I've found it to be a great way to meet new like-minded people, and attend festivals that would otherwise be out of my budget. At this festival, I worked an early morning parking shift with another rider who introduced me to a "nomadic adventure club" that hosts meetups all around the world for people like me. Win-win.
Mountain bikers are rad. Sedona is pretty. Beer tastes good. That is all.