RED BULL MEDIA HOUSE

MOUNTAIN MODS
NORTHEAST BUILDS WITH AARON CHASE

Freeride pioneer, Aaron Chase dreams up, designs, builds and rides three different features for three Northeast terrain parks, showcased in three episodes of Red Bull Mountain Mods.

Freeride pioneer Aaron Chase takes viewers to three Northeast Region resorts; Highland, Loon and Thunder, and creates a unique feature at each, aligning with their unique characteristics. Chase, a New Englander born and raised, guides viewers from conception, to design, to implementation to testing, covering a different park in each of the three episodes. Chase gives viewers a behind the scenes look at what it takes to create features at mountain bike parks.

“Bike parks are usually looking to get new trails built and old trails maintained properly,” Chase said.  “I love going to a Bike Park and adding a feature to engage the riders and level-up the established trail.”

These three bike parks, the closest in location to Aaron’s home, were the perfect three parks to focus on for the episodes. Chase wanted to take on each park one at a time and create a feature that would enhance the individuality of each bike park.

“I knew that Highland needed that tire slide at the bottom of NE style,” said Chase. “Loon is so new and lacks some progressive stunts and Thunder had an amazing hay loft that rides were coasting by every run and now the old barn is part of the bike park and can be enjoyed by everyone.”

The goal of this three-episode tour was to create features for all riders to enjoy safely, and create a leave behind for the resorts that would uplift each of their parks in a unique and custom way.

Chase, a well-traveled professional mountain biker continues to highlight the Northeast as some of his favorite riding. “It’s the terrain, weather and people that make the Northeast the best place to ride, no doubt.  I loved growing up here and now New England has the largest consecration of bike parks in the US!”

Chase, the only constant from episode to episode, usually looks to one or two friends who are available to come out and help him and of course ride.

The future for Aaron and the New England terrain parks is far from over. “Each project is different,” Case said. “I have ideas of stunts that have worked in the past and others that I am still dying to try.”

We caught up with Aaron Chase for a short interview about MtnMods. Check it out below.

THE LOAM WOLF: I’D LOVE TO HAVE SOME TEXT ABOUT HOW YOU ALWAYS COME UP WITH THESE RAD IDEAS YEAR AFTER YEAR, WHAT THE CONCEPT WAS AND WHY IT EXCITED YOU.
AARON CHASE: The concept is simple, “If you want to ride it, you must first build it!” In my heaviest years of progression, I was working the summer to create a 3-minute segment. I feel lucky that now I can merge my building tips and riding ideas into a RAD series with Red Bull to leave behind the MtnMods for the rest of y’all to enjoy!

TLW: WERE THERE ANY CHALLENGES EXECUTING EITHER THE BUILD OR THE RIDING YOU DIDN’T EXPECT?
AC: Oh, always…The hay conveyor was the toughest build, on the drawing books it was simple as pie but to make it safe enough to “leave behind,” we had to take the build to the next level!

TLW: DID THE FEATURES COME OUT AS YOU ENVISIONED THEM? THEY CAN’T ALL BE WINNERS RIGHT?
AC: Yeah, I would say they did. I can envision them as clear as day when I walk up to a zone. I like talking the theory of an obstacle and what can be done on it. Building a new feature to leave behind with the MtnMods name, these must be winners every time.

TLW: HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH OCCASIONAL PROJECTS THAT DON’T PAN OUT AS YOU’D HOPED?
AC: I have not done a project that has not worked out… It is true. Some are better than others but when I think of my last project that did not work out, I just do not have one.

TLW: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT THESE PROJECTS? DREAMING UP THE LINE, BUILDING, EXECUTING OR WATCHING THE FINAL EDIT?
AC: I love building a feature with a dedicated crew. Everyone is on the same page, we have two days to build it and ride it, it is GO TIME. That is the rush right there, building and riding something that works is never easy but always pays off!

TLW: YOU WERE SO MANY EPIC, FEATURE-LENGTH VIDEO PROJECTS BACK IN THE DAY. I’VE GOT A STACK OF VHS AND DVDS WITH YOU IN THEM. DO YOU MISS THE DAYS OF BIG MOVIES? CAN WE BRING THEM BACK?
AC: I think that ship has sailed sadly… Those were the best days ever, I was able hang with the coolest group of people that have opened my eyes to a world bigger than my home town but small enough like the bike industry. I feel honored every time someone asks me questions about a movie segment and know how impactful those movies were for so many people. I can relate watching BMX, Ski, Moto, etc movies in that day, VHS&DVDs were the valuable portal to what was happening at the moment.

TLW: DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER FUN PLANS FOR 2021 COMING SOON?
AC: Travel less… (which is crazy but much needed) and share the STOKE with COMMENCAL bikes! You can come see me and get a bike out of the North East Demo Center right here at my house. I live right near Highland Mountain and will be riding with people all over the area, enjoying the local flavor and being my most influential ambassador as I can.

TLW: ANY OTHER STUFF YOU THINK IS VALUABLE, YOU WANT TO PLUG, DISCUSS OR MENTION?
AC: Check out my signature Leatt 3.0 Shoe @ Leatt.com

To keep up with Aaron, his antics and any future MtnMods, follow him on Instagram.
Thanks a lot dude.

About Red Bull Mountain Mods with Aaron Chase:

Over the past nine months the bike industry has exploded with riders and enthusiasts getting outdoors and discovering/exploring bike parks more than ever, and Aaron Chase was no exception. As bike parks in the Northeast continue to expand and grow in parallel with the industry, Chase saw an opportunity to leverage his creative vision and develop some unique and fun features that will be available to everyone to ride in his own community. As a celebration of Northeast mountain biking and Chase’s vision, we documented the process of building these features out, resulting in a three-part video series covering bike parks at Highland, Thunder and Loon. You can find more info on how and why this project came to life below.