The Little Trail Hunter - Video
Join us for this heartwarming episode of Trail Hunter, as Matt Hunter and his son, Robbie, venture out for a little father and son time, just outside Kamloops, B.C.
If you learn just one thing from this video it’s this—things don’t have to be complicated to be fulfilling. A father, a son, some bikes, and a trail are all it takes. Recently, Matt Hunter took his son, Robbie, for a small overnight trip on the outskirts of Kamloops, near where they live. This meandering journey, with time to stop and explore along the way, proves that it’s the small things—the simple act of being together and sharing the adventure—that bring us joy. Little Robbie may have it all in front of him as he grows, but you can bet Dad’s going to be there to show him the way.
 | I love the way he gets excited about the littlest things. 'Look, Dad, it's some poop! - Matt Hunter |
“We ride there because it's close to home and it has nice mellow hills for the Hotwalk,” says Matt, explaining the route they chose. We watch as they noodle along mellow roads, Robbie dragging his feet to slow down when he gets a little too much speed, Matt carrying him when it gets a little hilly. It’s a trip made of moments we recognize or longed for from our own childhoods, and it's as lovely as it is uncomplicated.
The Hotwalk, a gift from Specialized after Robbie was born, has already seen plenty of action.
| He's been riding it since he was 13 months old [he's now two]. We took the seat off and built some custom padding so it was low enough. He started pushing it around on it as soon as he could walk. - Matt Hunter |
| He's always asking to go bike riding and camping and fishing, so that's what we did. - Matt Hunter |
Some bikes, a mellow trail, a sense of adventure, and hucking the occasional jump as your son cheers you on—it’s a simple recipe for adventure anyone can follow.
| You don't need to go far to create a real adventure for a kid. We have camped out just a few hundred meters from home. - Matt Hunter |
Produced By Matt Hunter and Matt Miles
Video by Matt Miles
Photos by Sterling Lorence and Matt Miles
Audio by Jason Chiodo at racketsound.com
Music by Mountain town by Jon and Roy
MENTIONS: @Specialized / @munter / @mattymiles / @sterlinglorence
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Big Plus - kids don't wear out high quality (and expensive!) bikes. I used everything for 3 kids and sold the weeride and 2 bikes for 60-75% of their cost, so it really is an investment.
During a day of shredding at Stevens Pass Bike Park alone I did some laps with a 62 year-old man who thoroughly outpaced me on everything from the technical gnar to the flowy jump trails.
Treat your body right and you may surprise yourself!
Kinda wish I could change my username without losing all the account history...
You are a genuine badass man. I open a beer to salute you! Cheers!
Let me clarify, I'm a part-time co-parent. Personally I think it's the couples with kids who stick together who are the true bad asses, balancing family duties while getting in their rides, usually individually. Seeing them out on "date rides" together is kinda cool.
Still, I've done a shit ton of riding/racing since discovering dirt 25yrs ago and my most satisfying biking moments have been with my girls. This summer we did a week-long camping trip near Sechelt, BC. While exploring some green/easy singletrack under old growth forest canopy (a BCBR trail) they had fun telling the old man "dad, move your butt out of our way".
i dont normally get misty eyed about bike vids but this one got my shop all dusty. my wife and i wont be able to have kids and this is the kind of stuff i wanted to do as a dad.
Truth
havent given up all avenues
volunteering with the local trails for youths group next season also
There's probably some local options similar to this one
Sure kids are going to absorb quite some of your time and energy. But if you make it fun, it is going to be good fun. Not a day goes by without a good laugh. Now I've always been more into short blasts rather than epic rides and if you plan it wisely with your partner you can still have several of these a week. I get about three or four 60-90min rides in per week (after work) and a longer weekend ride. And as you see here, within two years you can take your kid along on an overnight trip.
You're going to cherish this for life, your kid is going to cherish this for life as well.
How was he carrying him on his back? I'd be paranoid yes fall. And camping on a cliff?! I'd not sleep in case he woke up and fell off in the night! Also, anyone know what that trailer thing was that fitted the Enduro?
One thing that struck me is that bikes for kids are more and more "kids friendly" but look at those huge grips! They are the same size as on adult bikes. The kid has a hard time gripping them. Never thought of it until now. Specialized, you need to do them smaller
Vid of the year for me as a dad with a 3 year old who just experienced his first taste of MTB.
My daughter rides more horses than bikes, ...but she rips trails with me from time to time.
m.pinkbike.com/photo/10049727
m.pinkbike.com/photo/10049728
I remember when Matt H. WAS a kid.
Cheers
Only thing more vomit inducing than a hokey Hunter video is all the PB ass kissers trying to taste his shit. :/
For the past 7 years my 2 boys and I have gone camping/biking in the UP Michigan. There is nothing I look forward to more than that 3rd weekend in July.
If Matt or anyone else can tell us I'd really appreciate it. Hard to find a really sturdy kid-pack without a hard frame...
Maybe it wasn't part of his thought process at the time, but once it's up on pb tagged as "I am Specialized" with a spesh logo at the end, it's a commercial, pure and simple.
As for "didn't know anything about being filmed" you have got to be kidding. He's a kid, not a goldfish. There are both stills and video shot front on with the camera at most a few feet away, and some of the stills shown above are from inches away. My younger boy is not much older, and even a year ago he would have been asking to see the shots on the camera, and wanting to take his own photos and videos (couldn't balance a bike at 18 months, but could walk away with my full frame DSLR, turn it on, and take photos). Again, doesn't mean Robbie didn't enjoy every minute, but I would be very surprised if he didn't have a basic idea of what was going on.
As far as your criticism of the commercialization of Matt's son is concerned, just reading the rest of these posts about how so many people are stoked to go biking with their kids, far outweighs any possible negative slant on the whole experience!