Jared Eberwein: Belated communion with a Florida Winter.
“When Matt Coplon invited me to go out to florida for profile trip two years ago, he was pushing for me to get out there in the winter time. I had my heart set on experiencing a florida winter, the trip ended up getting pushed back to April. Which was still good, but a bit humid, and not legitimately a florida winter. Didn’t make the trip any less awesome then it was, but the following year was my goal to get out to florida during the winter. The flight was bought months in advanced, then I ended up falling a couple months before, which was my bad ACL injury of last year. I was healing up, and making plans to reuse my plane ticket that I had to abort on the previous year. I set the trip for early Feb this year, and I made it to the date ready to ride. I just got back from florida on my week long trip, the florida winter is awesome, but I learned that I’m fortunate enough to live in a location (SoCal) where I too get to experience awesome weather. It was great to get back out to Florida, and revisit everyone from my previous trip two years ago. I got to spend a couple days at the Profile location, hung out for a couple days, visited with the crew behind the scenes. Saw some new things going on that will be revealed later this year, and even learned a thing or two. Aside from the visiting side of things, I had a week of riding everyday, new spots, new parks, private places, and endless street spots that Matt Coplon puts time into hunting for. Even on somedays when Matt was a bit busy, a new friend of mine, Spencer was kind enough to pick me up and take me around town, thank you. Tons of riding, wore my pads so much that my legs got a bit rubbed raw, that sucked! I put in a good beach day towards the end of my trip, never went on the beach in Florida, nor went in the ocean. I hung out on the beach for a while, then made myself get in the water just because I was there. It was cold and I didn’t want to, but I had to haha. I was lucky enough to have a few perfect vegan meals, prepared by Matt’s lovely wife, Cat-Woman. One of my most fun moments could have been easily over looked I believe, but to me it was perfect. After spending the day at the Profile mothership with Matt for the day, we headed home towards Matt’s house, and stopped to pedal around some downtown neighborhoods of Tampa. Matt forgot his camera, but I had a Sony Action Cam that cam in real handy for documenting our fun pedal around town. Matt took me to a rail hop at an abandon house, which he hadn’t done yet, because he was by himself when he found it, and wanted someone there with him once he decided to hop it, so he shared that experience with me. We figured a way out to train the hop together. Matt said there was another rail about down the way, then it became, how many can we fit in before the suns gone. We were able to get three rail hops in, all before the sun had set. It was a little goal we set, we achieved it, and I had the time of my life doing so. Really made me feel good in general, so much fun to be had still when it comes to my bike.”
Had to ride downtown in sweats and a tank top because I forgot my clothes luggage at the airport.
Downside whip at the fowler ditch.
New cement at the SPoT skatepark
Rail ride to whip at the Sarasota park.