Well I haven’t been home in over a month, its been none stop go go go.  6 contests in 5 weeks.  Here is a couple photos.  When I get home Ill gets some more stuff up!

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Hello,

The last few weeks have been very busy for me. I was just recently out in Quebec for the first of two Canada Cups this season. This was my second time travelling to Mont Tremblant, Quebec, and they made some changes to the course this year which made it a lot more fun to ride and made the whole trail flow a lot better. I had a crash in my race run, drifted off a bridge at the top of the course and had to pull my bike out of the ditch. I had a good run after that though and managed to gain some time back, taking 5th in Junior. Aside from my crash I was happy, as I know I was on pace. Travelling with the Cycling BC team is always fun, and overall the trip was awesome.

I also did the local Sunshine Coaster DH the second week of May. It was my home track so it was a good way to start off the season. I raced my Banshee Spitfire, as that was what seemed to be the fastest bike on the course. I felt great in practice on race day morning and was stoked to start racing. Before I could get a quarter way down the track my derailleur snapped off so I pumped my way down the course, staying off the brakes as much as possible trying to maintain all the momentum I had. I had to push with one foot in one of the top sections, but managed to keep it going till the finish, getting a little loose in the steep sections trying to make up for not being able to pedal. I came across the line to take 2nd place on the day, which I was stoked on considering having to do almost the entire course without a derailleur.

I am still waiting to hear if I will be able to compete at the two North American World Cups at Mont Sainte Anne and Windham. As there aren’t many National races this year (Only two Canada Cups and Nationals) I think this would be an awesome experience and would give me a chance to compete at the international level with all the top riders from around the world.

Between races I have been out on my Banshee Spitfire and going for longer all-mountain rides in this awesome weather. I am closing in on just over two weeks of high school which means a lot of studying for tests and a lot of catching up in homework from missing soo much school while racing.

I’m very excited for this season and have a lot of confidence in my riding. Canadian National Championships at Mont Sainte Anne is my most important race this season as it is a big deciding factor in claiming a spot for World Championships. Nationals being at Mont Sainte Anne this year makes it that much more exciting, and if I do get the chance to go to the Mont Sainte Anne World Cup two weeks before Nationals it would give me a huge advantage at Nationals, knowing the course already and having raced on it.

Thanks,

Forrest Riesco

forrestriesco.blogspot.ca

Sunday morning comes and it came with some rain and fog and mist, not the weather we were looking for seeing as we were going to go bike racing.

After getting warmed up and called up I stood on the line with the who’s who of Fast Minnesota Mountain Bike racing.  At go we were off the line heading across the grass heading up the small hill and out to the fire road before the first big climb. This section was wet soggy wet,, and things slowly got dry as we hit the climb.. First section with the Plastic Egg Cartons was slick and the group was moving it was tricky to keep the wheel on the ground here,, Kept charging before the respite under the chair lifts, before heading up Shady Lane. Again right where I wanted to be riding strong and feeling good. First lap was pretty uneventful some jockeying around for position and i was content to sit and find my rhythm. Second lap started and again was felling pretty good slipped one spot but kept the rider in site. With Dace O chasing and me charging I entered a corner on the low side and as I came through I high side and got a little loose,,,,,, Next thing I know I am off the bike and hugging a small tree. As much as that hurt it saved me from what could have happened which would have been ass over tea kettle down the hill.. Dave flys by and I collect my self.. Not thing body or bike broken as far as I could tell shifting was messed up.. I looked down to see my hanger was twisted and now I am not shifting missing gears and pretty damn sore.  I put my head down and just kept on charging… From here on out it was all about finishing and riding as strong as I could. Some where in lap three I was joined by two riders from Mankato who were riding strong and I hung on the best I could.. At the start of lap four the passed me flying and i was content to solider on. In the space of the lap I managed to get around one of the riders and caught to the other and worked with him until the last mile or so. Made as pass as his legs shut down and I was stuck in my 15 tooth,,standing and grinding.. Once I realized I was not going to get passed i shut it down and coasted in to the finish.
Crossed the line in 8th place loosing 3 or so spots with the crash,, but once I cleaned my self up I was pretty happy with the way it all worked out.  Body rode well and the bike before and for what it is worth after the crash both did really well. I am happy with all the work that I have put in now just need to put it all together.  All my kinds sponsors and family put a lot of time and energy in to me
and I am very thankful to have the support that I do,,, I could not do it with out them Thanks,,,
And to top off the day the Pip crossed the line in third scoring a spot on the podium and some cash in had,, good job kid more hard work and you will be on top..

NW Cup Rd 2 on pinkbike.com

Weekend at the NW cup in Port Angeles. Brought my good friend Andrew Taylor to the second round of the
NW cup back in April to do some filming, it was a super fun weekend. Thanks to Andrew Taylor for filming.

I was stoked to see this photo of me get ‘Photo of the Day’ on Pinkbike.com May 7th 2012.  I was doing a bar drag at Race the Ranch in Kamloops. Photo Credit: Clayton Racicot

I have always wanted to ride Kamloops , but until this spring have never had the opportunity. The countless web images of the surreal landscape that boasts dusty rolling hills, deep clay canyons, and sparely treed slopes made Kamloops seem like an ideal location for biking. On the last weekend of spring break,  I had the opportunity to drive out to the loops with Sebastian Lutz and his family for the weekend. It was the first time we had been on our bikes in over six months because of the snowy winters we receive in the Kootenays and it felt amazing to get back into biking and soak up the warm Kamloops sun shine! We had one and a half days  to ride as much as we could and also get a bit of footage and the Kamloops Bike Ranch did not disappoint! Our expectations of  the riding Kamloops has to offer were exceeded and we left feeling stoked on the trip but sad to return to the three feet of snow at home. Photo’s were shot by Eli Lutz, video by me and Seb.

iXS Back Country Collection on pinkbike.com

Hey guys my name is Braden Schleith 13 years old from kelowna bc canada. I have been riding for 2 years now and have gained a ton of experience. I feel that I at a high skill level for my age. Also very mature for how old I am. I love represtenting companies and seeing them progress. My current sponsors are Raceface components, demon dirt clothing, morpheus bikes, and kelowna cycle. Shout out to all of them for getting me this far! This year I plan to go to some various events including race the ranch downhill bike race, wam bam dirtjump jam, kelowna cycle super d race, and silverstyle slopestyle bike jam. Wish me luck! I love meeting new people and helping companies grow and expand there product.

My wife and I arrived Saturday as planned, got my registration pack, cruised the expo, then went to the hotel.  The next morning, we get ready, get in the van, and it decides not to start.  Not just a “give me a jump” not starting, a “time to learn how to hot wire” version.  By the time I learned this new specialty, it was well after my event start time.  Good thing we brought the wife’s bike along.  We rode from Pacific Grove to Cannery Row, stopped along the way and saw some otters and seals/pups, and ended up “making lemonade out of the lemons we were given”.  Ended up being a great weekend after all.

Read about my trip to Moab here