2006 Test of Metal Trials is Cancelled

[rcoope]

Fellow riders,

Several issues have appeared which has made it necessesary to bring the Test of Metal trials as it has been known these last nine years, to a close. First, the race is moving its finish line back to the field north of the logger sports ground where we were last year. This takes us back into a space with no obstacles where everything has to be imported. The problem is, with the decline of logging and the rise of construction in Squamish, it's getting very difficult to get the materials, transport and lifting equipment we need to make sections. At the same time, my own inspiration and commitment has been attenuated by fatherhood and increasing work responsibilities. It therefore makes no sense to try to continue with the Test Trials as it has existed. It was a great nine year run, we built some amazing sections and had some classic contests. I leave the field with satisfaction and great memories.

While the Test is done for now, all is not lost. First, Trialsworx at Whistler on July 29 should become the Canadian NATS event for this year. There will be an official announcement shortly. Second, a natural terrain trials event may return to the Test in 2007. We need to do some groudwork but something else new and cool may yet arise.. Finally, Dave Herr is going to try to put something together that weekend, possibly at Belcarra. Watch this space.

Thanks to all the riders who came out, and all the volunteers who made it great.

Robin Coope

[jobottDMB]

:wtc: :wtc: :wtc: I probably wasn't going to be able to make it to this but I really wanted to. Its a shame to hear, the comp looked like it was a lot of fun last year.

[starass]

:wtc: :wtc: :wtc: I probably wasn't going to be able to make it to this but I really wanted to. Its a shame to hear, the comp looked like it was a lot of fun last year.

Yes, I agree.

[lucky13]

Thanks Robin, good luck with being a daddy and workin the worky work. What are you now? Mad Genius +10damage?

[seattletrials]

dang. I guess I'm not going to clean house... haha

[ddrain]

Robin Coope...How the hell are you? I was having Japan '99 flashbacks the other day....

[lucky13]

Deleted my comment.

Test of Metal was my inspiration to be a better trials rider for years.

I hope we can make it happen again or start a new legacy...

[pwilk]

The NATS page has been updated to reflect the schedule changes. For more information on the Whistler event you can go to:

http://www.natrials.com/2006/whistler.php
and
http://www.baiabros.com/Trialsworx2006.htm

[brian_E]

yeah plane tickets... :rant:

[DangerousDave]

did you actually buy plane tickets? where are you coming from? There will still be a comp in place of the test of metal and i'm sure it will still be worth your while

[bubbazanetti]

It is a real shame to hear about the end of the Test of Metal Trial in Squamish, BC. Zak & I had journeyed up many times, to frolic in the often cold, wet BC playground. Robin laid out some of the finest, most creative sections I have ever seen. I am sure they were on par with some of the local man made events in Europe & Japan. I remember his water pits, first a small one, then as funding & manpower grew, a bigger one, probably 50 feet across, with a huge log 5' above the water. One year, Jeff Lenosky & Chris Clark felt it was necessary to don water wings & beach sandals to ride these sections! Then in 2002, the famous Bandini Mountain water fall on huge blue tarps. Always a good mix of natural stuff configured to be challenging, among the huge logs, rocks, rusty cars & vans strewn about. The impressive things about Robin was his ability to get the town to help & to muster the manpower to move these obstacles around with power construction machinery. He got alot of support, and in turn presented a well-run, entertaining event.

We had the pleasure of bringing with us some of the top U.S. riders over the years...Scott & Monica Thompson, Stevie Morgan, Tony Spann, Sidehop Sam Phelps, etc. Among the visiting U.S. dignitaries were NORBA champions Ryan Cecil, Mike Steidly & Jeremy VanSchoonhoven. I had the good fortune to meet many Canadian stand-outs there...Ken Gauthier of the Trialsin Shop, Ryan Leech and his girlfriend, now wife, Caryn, and a very young wild man Kris Holm on his Norco unicycle. On our last trip, we made it up to Whistler to see the city-operated trials park...unbelieveable!

Sadly, as I have slowly disappeared from U.S. Biketrials, so it seems has my friend Robin Coope. Robin, I wish you & Stacy well, and also your new off-spring, though I suppose he or she's at least a year old by now. Among the things I'll miss as we remember Squamish, are the BC Mining Museum, Tim Horton's honey cruellers, eating at the Vancouver Bread Garden restaurants, the wild Super 8 indoor swimming pool, the big Squamish Chief steam locomotive passing by the middle of town, but most of all, the friendship with Robin & Stacey. Thanks, you guys, for the memories & good times!

Jon Maeda

[bubbazanetti]

Test of Metal Trials...R.I.P.
It is a real shame to hear about the end of the Test of Metal Trial in Squamish, BC. Zak & I had journeyed up many times, to frolic in the often cold, wet BC playground. Robin laid out some of the finest, most creative sections I have ever seen. I am sure they were on par with some of the local man made events in Europe & Japan. I remember his water pits, first a small one, then as funding & manpower grew, a bigger one, probably 50 feet across, with a huge log 5' above the water. One year, Jeff Lenosky & Chris Clark felt it was necessary to don water wings & beach sandals to ride these sections! Then in 2002, the famous Bandini Mountain water fall on huge blue tarps. Always a good mix of natural stuff configured to be challenging, among the huge logs, rocks, rusty cars & vans strewn about. The impressive things about Robin was his ability to get the town to help & to muster the manpower to move these obstacles around with power construction machinery. He got alot of support, and in turn presented a well-run, entertaining event.

We had the pleasure of bringing with us some of the top U.S. riders over the years...Scott & Monica Thompson, Stevie Morgan, Tony Spann, Sidehop Sam Phelps, etc. Among the visiting U.S. dignitaries were NORBA champions Ryan Cecil, Mike Steidly & Jeremy VanSchoonhoven. I had the good fortune to meet many Canadian stand-outs there...Ken Gauthier of the Trialsin Shop, Ryan Leech and his girlfriend, now wife, Caryn, and a very young wild man Kris Holm on his Norco unicycle. On our last trip, we made it up to Whistler to see the city-operated trials park...unbelievable!

Sadly, as I have slowly disappeared from U.S. Biketrials, so it seems has my friend Robin Coope. Robin, I wish you & Stacy well, and also your new off-spring, though I suppose he or she's at least a year old by now. Among the things I'll miss as we remember Squamish, are the BC Mining Museum, Tim Horton's honey cruellers, eating at the Vancouver Bread Garden restaurants, the wild Super 8 indoor swimming pool, the big Squamish Chief steam locomotive passing by the middle of town, but most of all, the friendship with Robin & Stacey. Thanks, you guys, for the memories & good times!

Jon Maeda

[AaronLutze]

Hey Robin-
Thanks so much for putting the Test of Metal together for so many years. It was a great event and your dedication to it was an inspiration to us all. Congrats on building up such a great event and thanks for all the good times!

My Goatwheels jersey still smells like that goofy little "pond" that you built.

Aaron