Chris McBride

[ Street Luge ] [ What's New ] [ Latest ] [ Events ] [ Fashion Show ] [ Helmets ] [ Group Shots ] [ How To ] [ Boards ] [ Chris McBride ]

In 1997 I saw the XGames for the first time. I have no idea how I missed the first two games, but I saw streetluge for the first time and I loved it. I started to search the web for information and found a couple of sites. This was before lllv.com and streetluge.com. I did find a pointer to RAIL, and became a member. I started to build my own luge. I contacted John Lewis, web master of the streetluge.com. He hooked me up, and we went riding with some local pros, Kurtis Head, Lee, Lugentsteind, and Lewis. As far as experienced teachers go, if your not in Southern California, the next best place to be was up here in Seattle. Kurtis and Lee taught me a lot and gave my some suggestions on how to improve my board.

I was off to my first race, Castaic Lake in early 1998. The race was canceled, due to the course being washed out. I went to LA anyways, and a bunch of people went to Templin, I think we had about 40 people the first day. I was hooked when I was going through one of the corners with about a dozen other riders. I had riders all around me, what a blast. My last run down, Sunday evening resulted in a broken arm. It was a stupid mistake. I went wide on a turn to get around a wreck in front of me, and hit a small rock in the road. I lost control and slammed into a boulder. Word of advice, NEVER EVER HIT ANYTHING if you can avoid it.

My first race was NSLA's race in Asheville, NC. I continued racing as an amateur, mainly with NSLA. I raced as an amateur at EDI's first race at Mammoth. I took second in the Super Mass. I think I could have down better if I hadn't broke my finger in practice.

In 1999 I took fifth at the first NSLA race of the season, on Mt. Cheaha. I got another fifth place am finish at the next NSLA race in Madison Indiana. I was doing great and was pretty happy with my results when I placed 18th at Santa Rosa. I worked the starting line at the XGames. I was pretty stoked about events. After returning from the games, a bunch of us went out riding. One week before NLSA had two races planned, and two weeks before EDI's Mammoth race. We went out riding, and hit some new hills. Stupidly I hit the road harder than I should have, ran off the road and broke my arm. Turns out if I had raced at Mammoth, chances are I could have made it to the first Gravity Games.

This was a turning point for me, three broken bones in two years. I almost quit, but I really enjoyed the sport. So I gave it another shot. 2000 was a down year, mainly because I wasn't ready after my broken arm. I was out of shape, and I didn't push as hard on the course. Fortunately I came out of 2000 without any injuries, and only a couple of wrecks.

I hit the race scene hard in 2001. I had decided to go overseas for one trip. I couldn't decide between DHX and Hot Heels. Auld convinced me (thankfully) to go to Hot Heels while I was at DHX. I knew that Hot Heels was a technical road, and I wasn't a very good technical rider. But Auld convinced me if I liked DHX I would love Hot Heels. DHX was one of the best events I every went to, live TV and 30 thousand screaming fans! Hot Heels is something completely different. I fell in love with both places. And to top it off I got an eighth at Hot Heels, my best finish ever.

I also decided to go to Aviemore and France. I left North America for the first time in 2001, and ended up leaving three times. I still can't figure out why I waited so long to travel. 2001 was a great year, international travel, Big Air, and invite to the Gravity Games, and I finished 12 in IGSA!

2002 was the best of times and the worst of times, for me and the sport. I started strong in 2002. New leathers, new board. I visited all the same races, and had some good finishes. In fact I ended up 5th in IGSA. Got another invite to the Gravity Games, but turned it down to go to Big Air. At Big Air I had a horrible wreck, breaking an arm, a leg, and a nose! Although my bones were still healing, I ended up racing at the end of the year taking a second place on buttboard!

I hope to continue in 2003, but its going to be hard, as I am still rehabing my injury.

I spewed a cherry bomb doing about 70. Fortunately the road was a straightaway, and it was a rear wheel.