Before I get to anything bike-related, I want to make everyone aware of a project my friend Manuel Marqueda is doing. He is currently in Midway Atoll, one of the most remote places on the planet, documenting the starvation of thousands of albatrosses who mistakenly eat floating plastic trash for food. Manuel and his team have already released a few web videos about the project and the Discovery Channel is following their journey. Check it out HERE. 

    Manuel is from Spain, but is based in Santa Cruz, CA, and has done a lot of very inspiring work in the past. He is one of my friend’s who I can’t be around for a very long time because my stomach hurts from laughing so hard whenever I am with him. He’s a genius, but one who can actually communicate his ideas well - and always in an entertaining way.

    The Midway Journey is something that everybody should check out. It promotes green consciousness, is beautiful, and entertaining - so tell your friends!

    Now, onto less important things...like what I do on my bike. I went to Colorado a few weeks ago and competed in the Slope Sistair freeride competition. It was SO fun. Steph Nychka organized an amazing weekend of trail riding, slopestyle riding, jumping, and sleeping in a giant barn house with a very loud cat. Even that part was fun! The event brought out a bunch of really talented girl riders and the focus was on fun, not stressful competition. Because of that, the competition part was still fun (how many times can I say “fun” in one paragraph?) and I came in 2nd in the best bag o’ tricks comp, and 3rd in the slopestyle. I will be the first person to say I rode like a pussy in the slopestyle, but I also flew home completely unscathed. Only girl not to fall all week. Boo ya! I shouldn’t brag about those things or I’ll jinx myself.

    After CO I started filming with Aaron LaRocque for my next year’s video part. We are going full tilt to make the segment something that hasn’t been seen in the world of women’s riding. Our first shoot was up Mt.Washington (thanks Jesse for the ladder) followed by a really fun step up session in Victoria where I blasted off some no-handers, x-ups, and toboggans as clicked as possible. Of course, Aaron made it look golden and Taylor captured some great stills.

    Next in the world of mtb, I am off to Vegas for the trade show, followed by a few days in Moab with Norco, followed by a week in LA to hang with my lovely California friends, followed by 10 days in Oregon to shoot an episode of Ride Guide. I am expecting to be a bit “biked out” by the time i get home, which is perfect because I start my master’s degree the very next day.

    Speaking of school, I have already attempted to change my program and it hasn’t even started. Originally I was accepted into the professional communications program, but now I am trying to change into the professional communications program with a specialization on intercultural and international communications. The curriculum for the latter program is much more interesting to me...any prospective employers want to tell me which one they would hire me on? Yes?

     On that note I will leave you with this video: http://vimeo.com/6228027 It’s a complete joke. Please do not take this seriously!

    Ta ta for now. -Darcy