Kamloops kid Graham Agassiz is the latest graduate from the Sombrio Amateur Team to the Cartel. With an impressive 2008 season under his jersey, he has earned more than just his stripes. His contest results speak for themselves; with a star studded field at Darren Berrecloth’s Invitational Slopestyle, Agassiz threw down for a solid 3rd place podium finish, battled hard for 2nd place at the Red Bull Round up, and landed 3rd at Jordie Lunn’s Peanut Butter Knife Fight earlier this spring.

“Agassiz’s riding style is a perfect match for our brand” according to Sombrio’s owner and founder David Watson. “He blends new school slopestyle flare with big mountain madness. He is a very talented, young rider who is on the brink of a great career. Sombrio is extremely pleased to have him riding on the Cartel.”

Agassiz’s big mountain debut will take place this weekend at the Red Bull Rampage in Utah’s burley backcountry, where he has been invited to compete with 26 of the world’s most talented riders. “I like to think of myself as a big mountain rider, but people don’t know that about me” says Agassiz.

Keep your eyes peeled on the big screen for the Sombrio Cartel’s newest member in New World Disorder 9 “Never Enough”, and CKD 2.

About SOMBRIO: The original rider-owned purveyor of world leading design and manufactured high performance apparel, outerwear and subversive street wear for core bike and mountain culture enthusiasts. Based out of North Vancouver, British Columbia, Sombrio was founded in 1998 and is led today by pioneering rider, Dave Watson.

Sombrio sponsored riders include: Greg Watts, Steve Romaniuk, Graham Agassiz, Rob Jauch, Jordie Lunn, Ryan Berrecloth, Kamil Tatarkovic, Andreas Hestler, Claire Buchar and Kathy Pruitt. Sombrio clothing and accessories are available in stores worldwide or online at: www.sombriocartel.com & www.sombriogirl.com

The course wasn´t what I really like. It was completely flat with no big jump and super hard physically. In qualification I sprinted on the 7th place and was getting ready for next day. The race started after 8pm with great atmosphere. Spectators just surround the whole course and were cheering so good! It was perfect to race there. In semifinal I almost got on to the 2nd place in one corner but unfortunately there wasn´t enough space so I had to go to the small final. After my attempt to pass in the small final I almost went down, lost speed and finished on the 8th place overall.

This weekend I will do a night fourcross race in Poland and next week there is a final World Cup race in Schladming.

Have a good time
Cheers

Kamil

Kathy took gold at this pasts weekends Jeep 48Straight at Diablo.

“I didn’t come here with the intention of winning, but I’m really proud of myself for earning this title,” said Pruitt. “I’m really sorry that Melissa fell, but I’m glad I had a chance to go up against her in the final. We have all had our falls, and that’s the way it is sometimes. She is my buddy and my first reaction was to stop, but I reminded myself that there was $5,000 waiting for me at the bottom of the hill. This is my biggest achievement to date, and now I want to take this momentum to the World Cup circuit and see what I can do.”

Women’s Results:

1. Kathy Pruitt, Santa Cruz, Calif.

2. Melissa Buhl, Chandler, Ariz.
3. Lisa Myklak, Boulder, Colo.

Men’s Results:

1. Cody Warren, Alpine, Colo.
2. J.D. Swanguen, San Diego, Calif.
3. Jared Rando, Canberra, Australia

www.48STRAIGHT.com

I just got home from the 3^rd annual Bearclaw Invitational. For the third year in a row Darren put on a deadly competition. The course which was completely redesigned was by far one of the most progressive works of art that I have seen. I’m sure you will be able to see more pics of the course as the recaps start rolling on the web and in Magazines, but I thought I would include a shot of the final drop specked out with some Red Bull signage.

The weather threw a wrench in the production so the comp was wisely pushed to Friday night. Saturday proved to be too wet to run the comp so the Friday night results stuck. Goldman killed it and took the win. He stomped both his runs and tricked every feature down the course. I think he was more stoked to win the chainsaw that went with the 7K for first. The awards ceremony was sweet as Darren gave the chainsaw to Jamie with it running. The sweet smell of 2 stroke filled the bar. Darren smoked the course and took 2^nd. Sombrio Am rider Graham Agassiz absolutely stomped his run and took 3^rd!!!! Ya Aggi!!!! Super stoked for the young ripper from the interior. Watch out for Graham ripping it up wearing the Sombrio colours as he can do it all riding the big mountains, dirt and now killing it with his first podium at a major contest. To boot he builds and has a rad personality. Congrats buddy!!!

As for me I got worked for the second year in a row at the Bearclaw Invitational. Last year I misjudged one of the boner logs and spilled to flat taking me out of the comp. This year I got worked in a different way. I was doing some maintenance on the last drop packing the top with my back turned. I wasn’t paying attention and the next thing I knew I woke up on the ground. My bro landed on my head off the drop…seriously. It was my bad as I wasn’t paying attention and my bro didn’t expect me to be on the landing. I was glad it was Darren that smoked me because if it would be any other rider they may not have had the air presence to bail after he was in the air. Luckily for me Darren bailed mid air and took one on the head. The bike hit me from 15 feet on the top of my head and my back. A couple broken ribs and a concussion and I was back in the beer garden. I was super bummed b/c I wanted to ride my new Knolly Endorphin (pic attached) on the course….oh well. There’s always next year.

For those of you who have not experienced the Bearclaw Invitational you should make plans to check it out. Darren started the Bearclaw Invitational 3 years ago because he wanted to put on an event for the riders. Often contests are developed by an event promoter and often the intentions are good but at the end of the day it’s a job for someone…it’s putting food on their table. Most of you don’t know this but Darren has been out of pocket since he started his comp. He hasn’t made shit in regards to revenue. So why does he do it? As mentioned above he does it for the riders. That’s why he throws the Bearclaw Invitational at the end of each summer, because it’s a good bro down for all the riders with some good cash up for grabs. He designs and builds the course with his good bro Jimmy and some other friends that he hires. He makes sure that all the riders like the course and is working up to the last hour when the contest runs to ensure the course is in the best shape for the riders. He wants everyone to have fun. He puts extra effort and resource to ensure all the riders are taken care of for accommodations and every rider invited walks away with a sweet consolation prize compliments of Dakine and the BC Liquor store.

Lastly, he throws the comp to continue progressing the sport of Mountain Biking. The course designs are evident as it challenges even the best slopestyle riders in the world. Darren loves riding bikes and loves the industry and he wants it to continue growing in a positive way that’s good for the viewers, industry sponsors from big to small and more importantly the riders. I’m one of the few people that understand why Darren destroys himself to put together a deadly competition at a time when he is the most busy. The vibe at the Bearclaw Invitational is second to none. Maybe it’s the venue on Vancouver Island, maybe it’s the people and maybe its Darren’s blood, sweat and tears that makes the event so special but here’s to the Claw.

Ryan B

Race started pretty good for me as I won qualification. After that I got through all my heats and got into the final. In the final I took the lead on the first straight, keep it to the finish line and won the race in Prerov. I added a couple of pics just for fun.

I competed in “The Gala” all womens freeride event on Tuesday and had some fun. Just over 40 girls showed up to compete in the event, thats more than a World Cup! I was happy to finish 3rd since my riding focus this season has mainly been World Cups, not tricks! A big thanks to Katrina Strand and Lisa Lefroy for pulling the event together for the girls.

In between all of the riding events that were happening and behind the scenes were lots of media events and parties. I got to go out and shoot some photos with Sven and I attended the VIP Athletes party and The Sram Wiffle Golf Tournament but I had to skip out on some others. I had no choice, it’s been a long season of traveling this year and I just needed to take care of myself. Plus it’s been a long time since I’ve been able to be home to just chill.

The seasons wear and tear showed in my performance in the Canadian Open which wrapped up the last day of Crankworx. I just didn’t have the focus I usually have, it wasn’t me out there in my race run, I made a lot of errors. I finished 4th, just .3 secs off the podium which is still pretty good, I know, but regardless of my result and my time, it was the “I nailed that run” feeling I was looking for.

I am missing out on the Canberra World Cup, it just isn’t financially realistic for me to go all that way for one race but I am planning to get to the World Cup Finals in Schladming, Austria in September. I think I am sitting in 8th overall and I’d like to end the season that way. That would be great for me.

So now it’s a couple weeks of rest, rehab and some coaching for the WORCA Youth Dirt Program.

Thanks to you all for your backing!!!

See ya. Claire.

On the first day of practice, I immediately felt at home with the course. You didn’t even need to pedal once down the whole course it flowed so good. My favorite part was the last feature which was an on off box that was bowled out with a lip on the end. after the first day of practice it went into the VW trick showdown comp. It was a 45 minute jam session on 2 different features on the course, and whoever did the best trick won. The first feature was a dirt jump, and I wasn’t too into it because I had something big planned for the last drop and I was really nervous about it. When the session changed to the last drop, I took a couple set up runs before dropping in for the most nerve racking thing I’ve done in a long time. After dropping in, I wasn’t nervous because I knew I was gonna do it. I went off the small lip, did a flip whip, and landed perfect!! I immediately got tackled by all the riders, and the session stopped because everyone knew they couldn’t beat it. After picking up the big $3,000 check, it was time to start concentrating on the finals.

I have had bad luck at Crankworx in the past, so I wanted to do well this year. Qualifying went well with all the riders stepping it up for a spot in the finals at the biggest event of the year. They only took 8 riders to the super finals this year, but it worked out because I qualified 6th. My first run went ok considering I was saving stuff for my last run. Just before I dropped into my last run, they replayed my flip whip off the drop from best trick. The crowd of 25,000+ people roared, and I immediately got scared. I was so nervous going down the course that I slipped a pedal, and couldn’t finish my run. As I was walking off the course they announced something, and the crowd roared again. I knew what they wanted, and with a quick raise of my hand, I dropped into the last feature, and landed a flip whip even cleaner than my first one in best trick. Even with a mistake, I still ended up 7th because of my first run, and I was stoked because this was the highest level of riding that mountain biking has ever seen!!

I am still up in Whistler just riding the mountain before going to Vancouver Island for the Bearclaw Invitational. Wish me luck next week!

See ya- Greg

WHISTLER, BC August 14, 2008 - The first ever VW Trick Showdown roared into the Whistler Mountain Bike Parks Boneyard today and amazed hundreds of spectators as well those watching via live webcast at Crankworx.com and Go211.com.

The VW Trick Showdown was a winner-take-all, rider-judged event based on two 45 minute sessions on two features within the Boneyard Slopestyle course. The top rider from each session took home $3,000 for best trick. To add to the prize purse, the announcers had $2,000 worth of fifty dollar bills to divide between the riders who laid it all on the line during the event.

Casey Groves of Kelowna, BC took session one and $3,000 for stomping an amazing Quadruple Pendulum and snagged an extra $350 of cold hard cash in the grab for his relentless effort. “I’ve never won cash before,” says Groves. “The jump in session one was perfect, John Cowan did an amazing job building this course.”

To take top spot in the second session, Greg Watts of Santa Cruz, CA executed one of the most incredible Step-Down Flipwhips ever seen in competition. Watts walked away with $3,000 for winning session two and $300 in the cash grab. “Everything in Whistler rules,” says Watts. “This festival is made up of the best things in life and everyone here threw down today.”

The VW Trick Showdown was webcast live on Crankworx.com and Go211.com and watched in many countries around the globe including the United Kingdom, Scotland and the USA. The winner-take-all, jump-jam style sessions and the instant cash rewards during the sessions were an instant hit with riders and fans, and made for an entertaining event from start to finish.

The VW Trick Showdown was the highlight of Day Six at Kokanee Crankworx 2008. Day Seven includes the ‘Giant’ Slalom finals from 4-8pm including a Live Webcast on Crankworx.com as well as more live music on the TELUS MainStage featuring Josh Martinez from 1:30-2:30pm and Ka NAAN from 2:45-3:45pm.

For more event results and live webcasts of the Monster Energy Slopestyle, VW Trick Showdown and the ‘Giant Slalom’ check out www.crankworx.com.