Me and my Element on Porky Blue, what a view

Lately it's been just me and my Element on the trails... my Rocky Mountain Element that is. The silver, pink and white bike has seen a lot of mileage this year and treated me well. But it's starting to get lonely out there, and while I'm excited for the TR3 to arrive, I'm also looking forward to the rest of summer. Golfing, hitting the lake, BBQ's, and of course the Element, but hopefully with some buddies and without a heart rate monitor.

What a difference a little Vitamin D can make! The last couple of weekends the town was buzzing as people roamed the streets, socialized at cafes, picked up their bikes, or grabbed a snack before heading off into the mountains for an adventure.

The adventures have been a bit on hold lately, working our tails off trying to get the first edition of the Fernie Mountain Bike Guide to press - and it finally happened! The guide will be out this July.

Powering Up at the Top of Swine Flu

A few weeks ago after riding Swine Flu, a trail with an attraction that has spread like a disease, I was heading to Essential Yoga Studio for Core Class, only to find out it was cancelled. Boo, there goes a lame attempt at cross training! The gym was an option... but the trails more enticing. Tired of riding solo, I went by a friend's to see where they were heading.

Em's Last Dual Slalom Run

Emily Brydon finished off her impressive career in Nakiska at Nationals this March, winning her tenth National Championship, skiing the Dual Slalom in "style", and celebrating alongside her teammates with BC/DC at COP and onto Ceili's Pub for the evening. To say she was exhausted is an understatement, to say she was excited about what the future holds equally so...particularly the immediate future.

It all started a few years ago on a Brodie Bruzza - a freeride mountain bike so obviously not suited for me but it was just the right price. I had recently moved back to Fernie after nearly eight pasty years between Uni and working in a cubicle under hideous fluorescent lights. It was time to get back into mountain life, and mountain biking seemed like the thing to do.

Under the wing of what I aptly named the "Biker Bitches" (attempt walking down a trail with these girls on your rear and you’ll understand why) I quickly became enthralled with the sport. Some used the word obsessed.

We decide against attempting the bus system when we finally reach downtown Vancouver. Our shoulders are aching, we're starving and parched, so settle in at a street side cafe (taking up nearly the entire place with our "luggage") and make a weak attempt at eating healthy and re-hydrating. Erin heads outside and a friendly doorman hails us a taxi, whom takes us out of the hustle and bustle of the Vancity to the quiet and quaint Kitsilano.

If you would have told me in December, when we were receiving Monster Powder reports of 23cm + from Fernie Alpine Resort on a regular basis, that a measly 11cm would excite me in March I would have laughed out loud. Potentially to the point of embarrassment. But alas, it is March 9 and after weeks of spring skiing and dirt making itself known on the hill I was like a kid on Christmas day when I pulled the drapes early this morning. And giddy as a school girl taking fresh turns on Lone Fir. Ahhh, powdery goodness.

So, where was I. Ah yes, Tokyo Toms.

I shuffle into one of the tatami rooms thinking I have found a safe zone. With Erin to my right and Julie Langevin to my left, I relax a little. Erin's on Gorb watch, so hopefully I'm safe. The "kegs" of Asahi and litres of sake make their rounds, and Emily is in true form, spending time with each and every guest.

It's midnight on Thursday evening. The Fix has just gone to press, and I'm frantically packing for a six day Olympic adventure. I somehow manage to catch a couple hours of sleep, a training run to our upcoming performances. I pick up Erin, we grab a coffee for the road, and talk and giggle like a couple of school girls all the way to Cranbrook. It's starting to sink in, we're going to the Olympics!

Why does Fernie support Emily so passionately? Here are a couple of recent scenarios that perfectly epitomize Emily.

When she discovered that she could attend the opening ceremonies she was so excited and texted to let us know. "We'll be watching for you at the Brickhouse! They're throwing a party to raise funds for your foundation," we respond. And what does she say? "I wish I was there with you guys..."