The Carriboo Jack

There's an arc here.

In 2018, inspired by events like Trans-Cascadia, I felt a pull to create something from nothing: a mountain bike event rooted in trail stewardship, a challenging race to highlight that work, and a party in the woods to bring people together afterward. I hustled for local support, spent my own money, built the brand, and made it happen. It was small—but there was a buzz. An energy that felt special.

Each year, the event grew. Sponsors came on board. Production became more polished. It started to look like the "real" thing. The Carriboo Jack was always a bit awkward by design—a backcountry race that pushed people outside their comfort zones. The first year, I begged people to sign up. A few years later, it was selling out in under 30 minutes.

And somewhere along the way, it stopped being fun.

I realized I was trying to make it big, when what made it meaningful was that it was small. Local. A little goofy. Personal.

Founder and lead organizer. I designed and executed every aspect of the event, including trail work, course design, brand identity, marketing, website, sponsorships, logistics, and volunteer coordination. The Carriboo Jack was a fully volunteer-run effort, with all proceeds reinvested directly into trail stewardship.

The most important design decision wasn't about branding, logistics, or scale—it was about restraint. Letting the event be what it wanted to be, not what I thought it should become.