Video: 'Digger's Back' on an eMTB with Wade Simmons
Todd “Digger” Fiander and the Godfather of Freeride, Wade Simmons, are two of the most well-known characters on the North Shore - and for good reason. Digger’s spent his life building trails and features that have influenced riding networks around the world and Wade was right there with him to help make them famous with his skills on a bike. The two have worked side-by-side for over 20 years wandering the woods, sharing laughs on the trail, and filming for Digger’s North Shore Extreme movies.
From all the years of trail building, both of Digger’s knees deteriorated to the point of needing replacement. When it came time for the surgeries, the NSMBA put together a GoFundMe to help make his recovery a little easier and many people in the community came forward to support. Both the surgeries went as planned but his ability to pedal a regular mountain bike just wasn’t there. He hadn’t ridden any the trails he helped build in over 10 years and the future of him as a rider was uncertain.
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 | Mountain biking on Vancouver's North Shore, or the world for that matter, would not be the same if it wasn't for the trail building vision of Digger. I owe him a lot for helping to kickstart my riding career. I've known the guy for more than 25 years and live just 3 blocks away from him. Hell, I probably see him too much! All joking aside, witnessing Digger’s knees deteriorate over decades of demanding trail work was heartbreaking. It was painful to watch him move through the forest and even worse to watch him lose the ability to do what he loves - building trails. Once his knee surgeries were confirmed, it dawned on me that an eMTB could play to his favour and get him riding the trails again. It had been over 10 years since he'd been able to do so that was it. I had to get him a bike. |
Wade saw the surgeries as an opportunity to help out a friend who had given him so much over the years. It was his idea to support Digger with an Altitude Powerplay because he knew the assistance from the bike’s drive system would help get Digger back riding. Digger’s rehab started with laps up and down Mountain Highway on Mount Fromme, but he soon pushed outside his comfort zone onto many of the singletrack trails he’s helped build.
| Thank you very much to Wade and Rocky Mountain for getting me an Altitude Powerplay. It's helped me to get out and ride every single day, and it’s been a long time since I’ve been able to say that! |
If you ride the North Shore regularly you’ve probably come across Digger throwing dirt, cracking jokes, and tuning up the trails. We’re stoked to have him working on the local trails, but if anyone deserves to get out and ride them, it’s him.
Presented by Rocky Mountain
Featuring the Altitude Powerplay
A film by Union Production Co.
Featuring: Todd “Digger” Fiander and Wade Simmons
Director: Andy Rogers
D.P. and Editor: Dan Barham
Additional cinematography by Chad Jones
Motion Graphics: Simon Edwards
Executive Producer: Stephen Matthews
Photography by: Margus Riga, Ale di Lullo, and Dane Perras
MENTIONS: @RockyMountainBicycles
Author Info:
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Thanks Wade!
Thanks Rocky Mountain!
Great vid appreciate the stoke and getting Todd back out on the trails that would not exist if it was not for his work! Don’t forget people Digger founded the NSMBA, built approximately 50% of the bike trails on the North Shore, pioneered almost all of the trail building standards that the world relies on to create sustainable mountain bike trails, and so many more amazing accomplishments. All for the love of the sport and the community. This man has given his life energy to the world of mountain biking and the sport is what it is because of him. And he has never once asked for anything in return. Nothing. No recognition, no money, nothing. Wade (and others in the community) figured out how to get him riding again because we are all desperate to show this man our gratitude.
Is this an environmental issue, or ego? For example, who can pedal to the top and still have energy to be the fastest down?
Can any company sell EMTB frames please?
Less powerful motors and batteries options would be nice.
Adjustable CS and shock mounts would be nice too.
Thanks for all the hard work. For all these pros if it wasn’t for digger you guys would not be sponsored by the bike companies To the bike Company you should’ve given him a bike a long time a go and if it wasn’t for his videos you guys would not sold as many bikes as you have
Thanks Digger we all appreciate your hard work
I'm from the North shore there bud and have multiple generations of cyclists in my blood going back almost 90 years. I guarantee we and I were riding, living, eating and breathing MTB long before you came along. Remind me again who the pioneer of ladder bridges and freeride was from Idaho or Ohio or wherever the hell you're from? Because if history serves me correctly MTB is a West coast creation. From Marin to Vancouver....