Aloha

On the Coconut Wireless good news travels quickly across the island. Bad news travels quicker. When I got the news, we were standing on Kahili Ridge. From there you can watch the island stretch out East to Wailua and South to Kalaheo. The ridge is home to many native species of plants that are not easy to find anymore. Maybe ironic isn't the right word, but I can't pick another to describe it. The last time we spoke, I had just come back from Kahili Ridge, and you had told me how special that hike was. Though nobody was ready to hear the news of your passing, I'm glad I was there when I received it. I didn't spend nearly as much time with you as I would have liked, but in the short time that I knew you I cannot remember an instance in which you showed anything but the raw spirit of Aloha. You embodied that philosophy Corey. You spread the joy and Aloha everywhere you went and to everyone you met. I miss you brother, and countless others feel the same way. Keep an eye out for us and I'll see you soon.

We all know what you would like to see us do with this news; celebrate your life and celebrate all life. We will try to carry the torch that you effortlessly held. Thank you for everything Corey Clifford. Aloha

Going in Circles

The phrase has a negative connotation. Wasting time is a sin in a fast pace society. "Forward" is the battle cry.

If you want to see what progress looks like, just give shovels and beer to 15 dudes and sick them on a pile of dirt. With a concept in mind, we began reshaping the backyard. Now we go in circles all day, erday. Its all we do.

Kyle Lovelady

Adam Moore

Mike Lee

(Camera: Adam Moore)

Your's truly. (Camera: Adam Moore)

Again & Again

Why am I on this road? What am I looking for? Quality; undefinable without the context of form. You can't know it until you know it. Even when you do know it, you know there is still more out there. Quality is the goal that all walks of life share in common.

Kyle and I spent a few days in Upper Bidwell and we found a lot of quality. We got some really nice clips and I was able to learn a lot through trial and error. Kyle cranked out a sick edit (check it here) but I wanted to put something together as well. Here is what I came up with, enjoy:

Kyle Warner - Bidwell South Rim from Charles Finlay on Vimeo.

Bike Lee

Towns like Corning, CA are like grains of sand in a dessert. Paying no regard to posted signs or road etiquette; burning up miles on I-5 North, you could blow right by a town without giving a though or noting the name. So easy to disregard the fact that lives begin and end right here - right now. But by simply scratching the surface it becomes impossible to ignore a culture, character, or lack there-of. Either way you choose to see it, turn down a side road and look at the faces of the residents. Realize that the person looking back at you may never leave that town, never know the struggle or joy of life on the road.

Corning has a new skate park and Mike Lee ripped it on Halloween. 

Have a look:

The Riders' Digest | Ep2

By now I'm sure that my millions of followers are well aware of the ongoing pilot project The Riders' Digest. Recently, we dropped Episode 2, which has got to be blowing your mind, even after watching it 20 times in a row. But now its time to clue all of you in on whats going on here.

The Riders' Digest is an ongoing pilot video project that allows the audience a rare, uncensored  glimpse into our amazing lives. Using every asset in our arsenal, we strive to bring you some of the more tasty morsels of our misadventures, both on and off the bike.

Episode 2 is all about being stranded in San Diego. Which sucks, but not really. Enjoy.

PS don't take this seriously. 

We're out.

Silver Dollars

Life is full of surprises. One minute you are ripping it with your buds, the next minute you're in the ER with doctors looking at an X-ray of your fractured clavicle. Thats how it goes. Its not about what life hands you, its about how you play the hand you're dealt. When you live life to the fullest, recovery is just another part of the game, and recovery takes time. In the meantime, while you're down and out, I have found that its best to stay busy and to stay focused on the long term objectives. After all, time is only an illusion.

Last weekend I found some time to make it out to the Silver Dollar Raceway with the Greenline BMX Race Team and a few of my good friends Mike Lee, Kyle Warner, and Dax Downey. Greenline was able to rent out the track for the whole afternoon. Strapped up with my broken collar bone, I was able to get some great pictures for the team. These are a few of the sicker shots with Mike, Kyle, and Dax. Enjoy.

Greenline Cycles BMX Team

Kyle boosting. Dax staying low.

Then Kyle, Mike and Dax started to transfer the berms

Kyle Warner

Bike Lee

Dax

Dax and his fam. So presh.

Chico, CA

When they hear where I'm from, people always ask why I left. To me, the decision to leave home seems so natural that I never saw it as a decision. I see life as a series of experiences and a collection of stories. To stay put, regardless of how much I love it, would inherently place severe limitations on my goals to experience as much as I can. I try to remind myself of this as often as I can, both in favorable and unfavorable circumstances.

While leaving Hawaii for another adventure hardly felt like a decision, taking time off from school to pursue photography and writing was a stressful choice. Yet the past few months have been some of the most exciting and liberating times of my life. I've found that few things help me to appreciate life as much as traveling does, and life on the road seems to suit me well.

Right now I am in Chico, CA taking pictures between trying to make money. Wish me luck.

North Rim, Upper Bidwell
My friend Katie and her roommate's dog.

The House, Chico CA
Kyle Warner's thoughts on yard work: "I bet, if we rut it out a little deeper, we can do some bar drags"

Horseshoe Lake, Upper Bidwell

Adam Moore burning the midnight oil. I wanted to do some evening shots but poor planning had us showing up at twilight. No matter; I got to practice some low light shots and Adam got real sick off this rock ledge.

Leave your thoughts. All the best, CF

The Rider's Digest

"In two hours, I am going to do the best thing you can do in Vegas, leave."

Creative ways to enjoy your time in Las Vegas while not spending money:
- Riding in casinos
- Getting kicked out of casinos
- Hot dogging down the strip
- Chainless races down parking structures

I have been to Las Vegas, and it is good. I had the good fortune of going to Interbike this year with Kyle Warner and Andrew Fiore. For those who are ignorant, Interbike is a huge event for bicycle industry professionals. The event blew my mind to say the least and again I had the good fortune of meeting some really good folks in the industry. First and foremost the Incrediwear team who I got to spend a lot of time with and test out some of their really innovative recovery products. Also the Suntour guys for tolerating my presence and the guys at Sea Sucker for letting me test some of their awesome bike racks. I don't have as much money as I pretend I do, so I was only able to make it rain for a short amount of time. The whole event was completely overwhelming and by the end of each day all we wanted to do was ride and chill out. We accomplished what we set out to do and a whole lot besides. This is the Rider's Digest of  Interbike 2013

The Rider's Digest | from Charles Finlay on Vimeo.

This was shot on iPhone

Monkeypod Jam

Aletha Thomas was my 5th grade teacher. Now, along with her husband, daughter, and crack team, she makes amazing jam and runs Monkeypod Jam. Today, she brought over some samples and I got a couple of quick shots in the fading light. It was a great exercise that taught me some things about evening light - primarily, while you can get great color, you must be mindful of shadows. But the jam: insanely good. 

Test shot of Tahitian Lime Curd, one of my favorites.

Orange Cranberry Sauce.

Spiced Tomato Jam. On basil, cheese, cracker = Little Italy in your mouth.

Papaya Chutney

Mango Chipotle Jam

Follow the White Rabbit

I've heard of Kalepa Ridge since I began mountain biking. The reviews were as mixed as the sources. But Chris Marsh gave me the straight scoop - moto singletrack with some flow and some steep. Sweat and tears as we hiked to the top with bikes and camera gear, but the riding is some of the best on island. We spend most of our time on video but we got a few stills.

 Too good not to do again. Chris Marsh hiking back up a particularly nice flow section.

Steep head angle, narrow bars, 4in of travel... yeah, why not? Photos by Chris Marsh

A Video

Kaua'i North Shore from Charles Finlay on Vimeo.

Thanks for watching, let me know what you think! I know is not great quality and I didn't spend too much time editing it, plus my riding is weaker than a cocktail in Utah, but hey. hey. BTW, watch in HD on vimeo. Apparently I need to pay money or something if I want to post in HD. Jokes on you vimeo, I don't even have money.

Big thanks to Applesauce for sharing awesome music! Thanks to Chris Marsh, the man behind the curtain. Shot on my Canon EOS 60D, hand-held, no tripod.

Song: Here I Come by Applesauce (U.K.E. Studios)

Smooth Edit

Let me begin by informing you all that I am working on my first edit with my new camera. Now watch this super smooth Deity Components edit that was created by my good friends Kyle Warner and Brian Raphael.

Deity: Kyle Warner- Long Way From Home from deity on Vimeo.

If I can spend twice as much grueling, squinty-eyed time bending over my computer and to produce something with an eighth the artistic creativity and cinematographic precision, well you can bet my impatient, lazy ass I wouldn't have the humility to refrain from posting it on every internet outlet my little mind could fathom. Great job Kyle and Brian.

http://www.brianraphaelphotography.com/

I have a camera.

And, no surprise, I'm a natural. This is because everything I've touched in my 22 years of existence has turned to pure gold. I've pulled some less than cool guy moves in the past, but its really all about how things shake out. I highly recommend you constantly monitor my blog. Maybe you can learn a thing or two. Rule #1: Always give credit where credit is due. To my friends who helped me take some cool pics, this one is for you.

These are some of the first pictures to make it out. Enjoy, critique, tell me its sh*t - I don't really value your opinion. I'm sorry, I'm perfect. Just like my photography.

Makawaina at Dawn

Lilikoi Blossom (or passsssssion fruit)

Looking great ladies. Keep it up.

Very confused.

Waimea Canyon

No complaints.

Applesauce! Pff, yeah I know the band. Camron, Rory, and Paul. Sorry Hamster and other percussion guy. Its great to know you guys are rock stars and don't give a sh*t about flash in your eyes because, lets be honest, you better get use to it. Check these guys out.

Anonymous gentleman hanging it out inside Waiohai. You're doing great.

Every summer I have to come home and deal with this shit.

And these people.

Taking me out to dinner.

Great day of shooting with my buddy Chris Marsh. Great job Chris. Maybe we can take pictures of you next time. Maybe.

Wow. Another one for the books. I hope you enjoyed that. Until next time.
CF