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Some people are better than others at spotting potential, and an even fewer number can bring those dreams to life. It takes a brilliant mind to gaze into the future and see what’s coming, and Graham Agassiz can see for miles.
Graham grew up in Kamloops, British Columbia, a hub of freeride mountain biking. The surrounding landscapes have inspired riders’ minds for generations, manipulating their minds to recognize the potential in the natural terrain.
A decade ago, Graham first noticed the chute out of his truck window while on his way elsewhere. At this point, his skills on a bike had given him a professional athlete career and taken him around the globe travelling all over competing, filming, and exploring new terrain – all of which were well within the pocket of his comfort zone. He was at the forefront of a new guard of competition, equipped with both slopestyle and big mountain skillsets and although his job called him to the contests and exotic film shoots, the backcountry lines of B.C. called to his soul.
When trying to make sense of his own aspirations, Graham’s often found himself inspired by his friend and mentor, Mason Mashon. Mason’s a few years older than Graham, and over the years has helped him to realize and understand the idea challenging the impossible. So, when Graham spotted the chute from the highway that day 10 years ago, he brought the idea of riding it to Mason who he knew could help bring the idea to life.
Good news travels fast, and with the excitement of a new mystery chute circulating throughout the B.C. mountain bike community, both assembling a crew and starting the build happened more easily than expected. However, after a few initial days of scouting and trail work, they had bitten off more than they could chew and had to pull out of the project leaving the line left unrideable.
The initial dig went well but it also wasn’t meant to be - at least, not yet. Plagued with injuries, scheduling conflicts, and competitions, it would take several years to return to the chute. As the time went on, Graham’s draw to the project grew stronger. And it wasn’t just his desire to be there, but more so his desire to not be where he was. The demands of contests like Rampage are real, forcing rigidity and structure on the self-expressive nature of freeride. There’s of course room for creativity, but only so long as it fits into the week of building, and you have control over your line. The contest is baked with anxiety, compromise, and stress, which didn’t allow for the freedom Graham sought.
Four years after first putting tools to the line, the time was finally right to head back into the chute. With Rampage out of the picture, Graham was free to dedicate his mind and immerse himself in the project. With a basecamp established, the gang once again came together to move thousands of pounds of shale, logs, rocks, and dirt. Swapping old stories while simultaneously creating new ones, everyone knew they were in the right place despite the discomfort.
Going into this, the crew knew that some comforts would be left at home - but Graham made sure that didn’t mean meals. Over the years, he’d taken up hunting and fishing to further connect with and understand the outdoors, and he’d brought along Chinook salmon, mule deer, and the last bit of moose from the previous hunting season. Graham and Mason teamed up to make delicious meals each night, providing for the body as well as the mind with their knack for backcountry cooking. Roasting game meat over a fire of juniper on the grill (“Grizellda”) and utilizing a large Dutch oven (“the Dutchess”), game meat and fresh vegetables were prepared daily. Grizellda and the Dutchess were a duo that everyone was glad to see at the end of each day.
As the dig days dragged on, the added complexities of frost and snow were wearing everyone down. With only a few hours of direct sun and a fire in the evening to maintain each one’s life force, an exit was established out of the chute and in the most substantial digging effort yet. Finishing with a massive bench and catch berm to control exit speed meant one thing: the next morning, the chute would be ridden.
10 years raged by in one minute and nine seconds. Fear, anticipation, and satisfaction came together in one wild ride. Every win deserves a victory lap, so Graham opted for a second lap down the chute to add in the flair he’s become so well-known for. When he first spotted the line, he knew it was where he wanted to be, even if it didn’t make sense in the moment. That belief and self-confidence is what’s carried him through the years, through his career, and down this chute.
After Graham’s final lap, the crew met at the bottom to celebrate. Everyone had seen what he’d accomplished, and after working independently to capture the moment, the camaraderie was electric. By chance, two old friends happened to be driving the road to catch the action firsthand, and for something that had been kept secret so long, there were no two better pals to witness the. This further fueled the flames of victory and as the chapter of the chute came to a closed, Graham’s mind was stirring with his next big adventure, becoming a father.
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