Sometimes things just dont happen the way you thought they would.

So the other day Im riding our DS 450 X-MX at our secret test compound. I've been trying to get in shape enough to go back and race another CMRC ATV race again and before I started riding I figured Id better make sure the track includes all the elements I might run into on a real motocross track. So, I set out to build a few step up jumps. Something ive never been very comfortable with in the past. My first few build attempts went well. The jumps were too steep but they were do-able and not "too" big.

I rode for a day, adjusted things as needed with our trusty backhoe until I got everything where I wanted it. The next day I decided to invite some friends over to test out my new track layout.

The day started off great, everyone was having a blast working their way up to the bigger jumps and stylin off the smaller ones. A.J. was the only one who would actually hit the new step up jumps id made and he even said the one was just to gnarly and that it needed to be fixed. I just said id do it tomorrow.

At the end of the day we were puttin on the last few laps, the sun was going down and was at the worst spot for the biggest of the 2 step up jumps. It was right in your eyes on the lead up and then cast a dark shadow on the face of the jump. Id hit this thing like 100 times that day so I just figured I didnt need to see it that well to know what was going to happen.

Sure enough, I come barrelin into the face of this thing, maybe just a hair too slow. The take off was fine but I came up short on the landing, cased it and went flying over the bars. This whole process didnt hurt as much as I thought it might. What came next just sucked.

As I was flying through the air I spotted a rock in the ground. Not like a stone, but like a giant slab of rock... possibly connected to the earths core somehow. It wasent smooth like I was hoping though, it was all edgy, bumpy and rough. Based on my immediate calculations, that rock was exactly where I was heading. And, as if I had laser guided aim, I landed, back first, on this rock.

Im not a small dude. 240lbs does not come down all light and fluffy if you get my drift. I laded on my left lower back and at first it didnt hurt but I knew it wasent good. So I got right up, got on the bike and drove home before the shock and adrenaline wore off and the pain set in.

Turns out I bruised my back and side up pretty good. The bruise went through to the bone on my hip but an X-ray showed that nothing was broken or out of place. Lots of ice and some down time and im all back to normal, ready to ride asap. But maybe ill wait till the sun isnt in my eyes and I can actually see the jump.

Live and learn I guess.

Until next time

L.

Ride Safe, Ride Sober, and We'll see you next week on DirtTrax TV

This is my first post as the host of DirtTrax. So much has changed around here the past few months its really hard to comprehend. Of course, the biggest news, as most of you will already know, is that SnowTrax and DirtTrax TV have been purchased by Supertrax International. This means we are now affiliated with the industries #1 Most Read snowmobile magazine and the industries Most Opinionated ATV Magazine, All-Terrain Vehicle. Which makes sense since we are the most watched and most opinionated Snowmobile and ATV TV shows.

As if being purchased by a whole new company wasen't enough, we also decided to freshen up the shows look at feel just a bit. A new opening segment, new theme song and some new elements within the show have all been painstakingly created, edited and included and, from my initial viewing, have taken the show to a whole other level. Im so impressed with the work of our Editor Mike Pollington and our Director Of Photography Kyle McDougall. It really was the 2 of them that made all the new changes come to life.

I certainly hope everyone will continue to watch DirtTrax TV each week. We are striving to bring you more and more of the juicy ATV goodness you've come to expect from us. As always, if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to e-mail us at any time. We love hearing from our viewers and we always try to respond as soon as we can.

Till next time,

L.

a little about luke..

Since his first ride, on a Suzuki LT 50 3 wheeler in 1982 at only 2 years old, luke hasnt stopped riding ATVs. From 4X4's to sport quads and side by sides he truly loves everything about the sport and enjoys riding "every spare second" he gets. With a strong history in snowmobile racing and numerous national titles including a #1 National Championship, Luke has developed a deep understanding of not just the enthusiastic side of riding, but also the technical side as well. "Racing snowmobiles for so long at the level I did helped me develop a clear ability to relay information about the vehicle I was riding, to the people around me. Racers have to be able to tell their crew how the vehicle feels, how its responding and reacting and to do that, they have to understand the whys and hows of how that vehicle works. I think that has alot to do with my ability to clearly relay information about the ATVs I test on the show."
Luke has been involved in the ATV industry for as long as he can remember as his dad, Marks, side kick when he was young, his time as a feature editor for All Terrain Vehicle Magazine to his present role as the Host of DirtTrax TV. "This is what I love to do. I love riding ATVs of all shapes and sizes. I love challenging my self and my bike to see what were both capable of. I love being sideways at 60 MPH. I love hitting big doubles in 3rd gear. I love getting so dirty the bottom of the shower turns brown at the end of the day. Im so fortunate that I get to do what I love for a living, Im blessed to be able to do this and I thank God for the opportunity every day."
Luke started with DirtTrax in 2008 as the shows Co-Host and quickly became known for his honest, no nonsense opinions. "I believe the most valuable thing a person doing what I do for a living has is their credibility. There is a certain skepticism surrounding the general media these days. The public believes we say what the advertisers tell us. We like bikes from whatever company pays us the most. This is simply not true at all. Everyone on the DirtTrax crew knows that the truth must come first. If an ATV is amazing, we'll say it. If an ATV needs improvement... we'll say that too. And if there is something about an ATV that is simply terrible. Well, we have to be honest about that. Sometimes we get in trouble for it... but in the long run, even the advertisers trust our credibility so they dont stay mad at us for long"
"As a kid I always wanted to grow up and be just like my dad. We did everything together, including riding ATVs... three wheelers at the time. When dad started All Terrain Vehicle Magazine all I wanted to do was write for the Magazine and eventually I did. But when the opportunity arose to work on DirtTrax I knew that it was where I really fit in. And now that the companies are all owned by the same people I get to not only work FOR my dad the way I always wanted to, but I get to work WITH him, ride WITH him and do all the things we've always done, every day. Which is why this doesnt really seem like a job and is yet another thing I thank God for every day"