ESCAZU – In the hills off Calle Vieja, the old road connecting Santa Ana and Escazu, a group of daredevils riding iron horses frequently get together to negotiate the most unlikely promontories and man-made obstacles, defying gravity and doing their best to stay perched atop their curious two-wheeled vehicles. The object is not only to get from point A to point B, but also to ensure that feet do not touch the ground, something that frequently calls for spectacular maneuvers that launch these riders up in the air.

Welcome to the peculiar world of motorcycle trials, an extreme variation of motocross that calls for a lightweight dirt bikes with a specialized suspensions and no seats. There is a great deal of rider skill and balance involved, and the obstacles call for a high degree of creativity and handling. Bike trials draw upon the freestyle ethos of mountain biking, BMX and skateboarding, and like many other fun extreme activities in our country, it is gaining certain popularity. Here is a photo set that The Costa Rica Star photographers recently captured, if you want to take a close look at the action.

Just like Costa Rica is a surfers’ paradise due to its gorgeous beaches and clean breaks on both coasts, and a mountain bike paradise due to the miles of pristine and challenging trails, and a skater’s paradise due to the uneven topography and careless architecture and construction, bike trials enthusiasts have it made here thanks to rocky spots in San Antonio de Escazu and el Alto de las Palomas, the rocky beaches of Playa Carrillo in Guanacaste, and many other seemingly inhospitable terrains.

Motorcycle trials, also known as observed trials, enjoy more popularity in Europe and some countries in South America than in Central and North America. Trials aren’t necessarily speed events. Unlike other motorcycle events where riders must get from point A to point B in the shortest amount of time, trials follow the freestyle spirit of executing spectacular maneuvers across obstacles that even experienced mountain climbers with gear would avoid.

Bike trials require incredible balance and throttle control. Riders must be well acquainted with their motorcycle’s limitations and center of gravity. The idea is to get over the obstacles in a graceful manner, avoiding touching the ground with their feet, an action that is akin to a personal and technical foul in other sports. Prods and dabs, as these fouls are called, are the bane of every trials bike rider. The riders must become one with their iron horses, so to speak, in order to succeed at bike trials.

A less graceful and super-extreme form of trials can be seen on the popular ESPN X Games. The event is called Enduro X; a crazy race that combines indoor motocross, freestyle and endurance. On Enduro X events, riders struggle against each other and they can dab as often as they want. If they launch off into the air is not because of design; it is rather a byproduct of wanting to reach the finish line first and in one piece.

Motorcycle trials call for endurance, creativity and patience. Riders are judged for their skill and ability to avoid dabbing, as well as for their prowess executing tricks such as wheelies, full-on air, side traction, rear-tire pivoting, and others.

THE NATIONAL TRIALS TOURNAMENT

Trials are getting better organized in Costa Rica, and the first national tournament is taking place this Sunday at the Alto de las Palomas in Escazu, starting at 10AM. Patricio Castiglioni and Valerio Pastorino are helping advance bike trials in our country, and if everything turns out as planned, their hard work will pay off by bringing the first Latin American indoor trial tournament here later this year.  The tournament is taking place on the same weekend that the FISE extreme sports festival is going on at La Guacima, so Tico fans of extreme activities are in for a treat.