Marin Bikes Blog

The Santa Cruz Mountains, part of the Pacific Coast Ranges, are considered a temperate rain forest due to the diverse plant life that thrives there. Some of the world’s southernmost redwoods, as well as small pockets of old growth,  are found in this very unique biome. This dynamic mountain range is largely the result of a compressive uplift caused by a leftward bend of the San Andreas Fault. Speaking of compressive uplifts, Andrew Taylor, Marin Bike’s  slope style and high flying ace, took us to his secret forested playground of dirt jumps so we could see where he refines and perfects his aerial acrobatics.

Pack it up Superman, AT is in the house!

With AT as our guide, our intrepid Ride Guide film crew ventured into the dense, lush canopy of the Santa Cruz Mountains to check out a spot that only those who “need to know, know”. I guess we needed to know and, thankfully, didn’t have to be blindfolded or perform some secret handshake to prove that we we worthy of entering the place where many of today’s top dirt jumpers have honed their skills.

AT, along with his buddy Shelby, rolled some of the “warm up” jumps to shake of the prior evenings spirited rounds of beer pong and, more importantly, to get ready for the fireworks that were to follow. The ease with which  the two riders flowed over the massive berms, hips, doubles, and kickers was awe inspiring. The two riders bombed the runs with the synergy and flow similar to synchronized swimmers, each knowing exactly what the other rider was going to do, how fast to go, and how closely to follow.

Now, don’t go trying to find this spot because you won’t. It’s secret nature actually is a good thing because it ensures that these jumps aren’t destroyed by too much traffic and, most importantly, allows these pros to practice their craft in relative obscurity, perfecting tricks that only those in “the know” see until it is unveiled in a contest. Speaking of contests, Andrew will be competing at Crankworx Colorado and then Crankworx Whistler, so be sure to follow him so you don’t miss the high flying tricks he plans to unleash on the competition!