Digger and Danger

Words by Peter Campbell. Photos by Cam McRae and Noel Hendrickson.

I've just finished viewing RTTH and K4 and I've got to say the current rash of videos leave me yawning. Yes, the riders are unbelievably skilled athletes performing feats of daring heretofore believed to be impossible. But they are missing the innocence, earthiness and humour that is innately a part of mountain biking. Only the NSX series of videos has been able to capture the essence of our sport. Who can forget the shrieks of non-MTBR's as we proudly sat them in front of the crash-fest known as NSX1.¡­Or when 60 year old Pete Morin dazedly proclaims to Dan that "the shoulders fine" after spearing headfirst into Mother Earth from a 12 foot ramp¡­. Or, Will Craig flying one way while his bike and appendage cartwheel the opposite¡­. Or, Dan's demonic grin at the camera through the freshly laid rungs of yet another demented ramp on his masterpiece known as the Circus, as if to dare the 'wannabes' to come and spill some blood and break some bones. Ah, the moments are priceless, which brings me to the point of my writing.

The two men inextricably entwined through these historical renderings of our sport should be paid the highest homage for their contribution to it. The chronicler, and the Circus animal. But they have done much more than record history, they have in fact created it, which is why they stand so far above the other video-makers out there who simply rely on exotic locations, repetitive big jumps, and staged skits for their spot of celluloid.

 

I can only sneer as I thumb through American magazines, which seem to delight in listing such things as the 'ten most influential people in our sport' only to run off a list of the people who've made the most money off of it. Of course it is impossible to gauge, but I believe that if a worldwide tally of hours spent by individuals creating trails for others to enjoy were made, Digger and Danger would be so far ahead of third place as to not be funny. Did I say trails? Oh, what an injustice. The humour and energy so obvious in their videos, is oh so evident in their masterful creations. From discombobulators and sky-bridges leading nowhere to the artistic rendering of the landscape, rock faces and old growth stumps, the pure frightening flow has all sprung from their fertile imaginations. And it has all been done for absolutely zero monetary reward or expectation.

 

They have been the catalysts for the 'North Shore Scene', as it has become known. Their influence is so wide spread now that it is actually quite comical. What started as a couple of guys creating a challenging riding environment for themselves; one of whom could ride it all and constantly craved for more, the other more happy to watch and laugh and get some pictures of the insanity, is now the driving force behind the whole sport. Their influence is indelibly stamped on every trail on the North Shore and many trails world wide, as well as the bikes being produced, the style of riding being done, the 'Wade' generation, and the next generation.   To these two we should all tip our lids. Without their inspiration and inventiveness we'd all still be doing cross-country loops, gasping a lung and watching a heart rate monitor. And to all the marketing suits out there trying to cash in on the slogan, you should all be paying royalties to the only two who truly deserve the right to use it - The North Shore Digger and the North Shore Danger Man.

Danger Dan at work

 

Digger filming Danger

I can't wait to see the slo-mo of Dan barrelling through the series of huge jumps, then whooping through the lurching, off camber teeter totter, on to a four inch wide stick taking him 30 degrees up from three feet to seven feet, on to an eight foot high teeter totter with a 6 feet death drop at the end to a short transition followed by a six feet launch.   The World Cup will be oh so cool, but don't lose sight of the fact that the best riders and the best riding in the World is right under our noses, 365 days a year, thanks in no small part to two men.

Contributed by Peter Campbell. "The Ox", as he is affectionately known is currently doing some much needed rehab on the Kirkford trail. He does nice work for a transplanted Australian.