A Look Back at 2018 at the Sicamous Summer Stomp Part 2 Season 6 Episode 9 Segment 2

Season 6 Episode 9 Segment 2
Sicamous Summer Stomp Part 2

Valerie Kent works in the motor clothes department at Barnes Harley-Davidson.  She loves her bike and going down the road.  Feeling the wind in her hair, going on adventures and meeting new people.  It's all about having a good time.

She's at the Sicamous Summer Stomp and has met a lot of friends so she loves to come back every year.

She has a sissy bar on her bike made by her husband and put together by a friend.  This is her fourth year riding and says her longest ride was over 900 kms.  She has put on over 14,000 kms in the last four years.  She just loves to travel!!

She is blessed to be working for Harley-Davidson because she gets to travel to these events, meet new people and talk bikes.

Ria Schness aka Ria the Welder makes custom sissy bars.  Ria fell in love with bikes at a young age.  She had two neighbors that would take her for rides.  Her boyfriends all had bikes growing up.  Finally four years ago she decided the wait was over and finally got her own bike.  Her longest ride was Kelown to Utah, camped 3 days in the desert, and rode back home.

Ria trades her welding expertise and will trade her custom sissy bars for bike maintenance, paint jobs etc.

If you are blessed enough to live where you can be riding today, please remember to ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you.

Belt Drive Betty

Editor & Rider

A Look Back at 2018 at the Sicamous Summer Stomp Part 1 Season 6 Episode 8 Segment 3

Season 6 Episode 8 Segment 3
Sicamous Summer Stomp Part 1

We got to visit with Darby Mills of the Darby Mills Project. This is their second year preforming.  Darby left the Headpins early to start out on her own.  They play some original music, some Headpins music and some really good old school rock covers.

Darby says she turns off the news.  The world is becoming such a crazy place that she has to shut off for awhile.  But don't forget, knowledge and education are so important.

Positive thinking is her way.  Give out what you want to get back.  During her stint doing network marketing, Darby learned that there are always hurdles and challenges in life.  She also lost her mom and husband within 6 months of each other and left her with a lot to reflect on.  She says she is very blessed now to be doing what she loves.  Do what you want to do in life.  It's scary but so worth it in the end.  Find your pat and take those hurdles to get to your goal.  She feels blessed to have the abilities and health to be doing what she loves.  You never know how much time we have left on this earth.

If you are blessed enough to live where you can be riding today, please remember to ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you.

Belt Drive Betty

Editor & Rider

 

A Look Back at 2018 at the Sicamous Summer Stomp Part 1 Season 6 Episode 8 Segment 2

Season 6 Episode 8 Segment 2
Sicamous Summer Stomp Part 2

Some amazing vendors were at the Sicamous Summer Stomp 2018.  One of the was Ken Patterson of Artist Bench Guitars.  He had a very unique booth with hand made cigar box guitars.
Each guitar is made with exotic wood and three strings.  Each has its on unique style and all are electric.  Some even have adjustable bridges and you can adjust the string height.

Ken is also a motorcycle air brush artist and has been for over 30 years.  He enjoyed the crossover to guitars and finds it a great artistic outlet.

He says they are a blast to play!!

Wade Stewart is an executive committee member, a co-coordinator and has also been the M.C. at the Sicamous Summer Stomp for a number of years.  He says its a curse and an honor to do so every year.  After all the moaning and bitching is done, we love it and its a blast every year.

One of the favorite bands this year is Darby Mills of the Darby Mills Project.  Wade has known her for over 42 years and she is also his Aunt.  Darby Mills is the scream queen of Canada!!  This is her second year at the Sicamous Summer Stomp.

Everything from the pit crew to the volunteers to the sponsors make up the Sicamous Summer Stomp.  They are the absolute heart of the event.  After having 7 committee members they are only down to two but the help from the volunteers that stepped up made everything come together.

Large and small vendors such as After Dark Distillery, Konquer Motorcycles, Harley Davidson, Rico RSK Apparel and Sweet Legs by Taylor, just to name a few, make everything happen.  There were some very unique and beautiful booths this year.  They always make for a phenomenal weekend.

The volunteers may not be able to rest until all is torn down and put away.  After the weekend they spend hours cleaning up every single cigarette butt and piece of garbage.  Sicamous has been very welcoming and we respect that.  RCMP were also amazing assisting with road closures and safety.

Remember to be safe.  There are shuttles to and from town and free camping.
Do Not drink and drive.

If you are blessed enough to live where you can be riding today, please remember to ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you.

Belt Drive Betty

Editor & Rider

A Look Back at 2018 at the Sicamous Summer Stomp Part 2 Season 6 Episode 9 Segment 3

Season 6 Episode 9 Segment 3
Sicamous Summer Stomp Part 2

Coming near to the end of an amazing time at the Sicamous Summer Stomp, we finally got to meet Mike Smith.  His birthday 29 years ago sparked the idea and 29 years later the Sicamous Summer Stomp is still a huge success.

He's incredibly happy to see the event still going on and loves the line up of great entertainment.  Mike used to be part of the day to day operations and says it was a lot of work.  He takes his hat off to those running the show now.  It takes a lot of volunteer power, the local community and the bikes to make it happen.  He commends the whole community for so many people that come out and help every year.

A great time was had by all.  Renee stayed at Joe Schmucks Roadhouse campground.  If you're ever in the Shuswap, this is the place you need to be!!

If you are blessed enough to live where you can be riding today, please remember to ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you.

Belt Drive Betty

Editor & Rider

A Look Back at 2018 at the Sicamous Summer Stomp Part 1 Season 6 Episode 8 Segment 1

Season 6 Episode 8 Segment 1
Sicamous Summer Stomp Part 1

Ride Like a Local spoke with Steve Hammer, one of the event co-organizers.  Steve started with the Sicamous Summer Stomp in 1994.

This year they had 14 bands booked for the event.  Darby Mills, formerly of the headpins, was one of the performers.  Darby is also a co-organizer and has a voice that can rock!

All original 6 members  have since retired, however, Howard Halek came out of retirement and the proud age of 74 to light the night time bonfire.

So many amazing sponsors make the event happen.  Pubs and distilleries small and large all come together to help with the event.  Twin Anchor Structures has been a major sponsor.  Warner Rentals powers the campground and in return sends a very small bill.

In 29 years The Sicamous Summer Stomp has raised well over 1/4 million dollars just in cash donations alone.  The economic benefits to the community are estimated over 2 million.  All together they believe it is somewhere around 50 to 70 million raised!!

For the 30th year they will be scaling back and going old school.  They will have bike days with in the community with a family day as well.  A great party will still be had at the campgrounds at the end of the night.

All in all it is a great weekend to get together with like minded individuals and have a great time.

If you are blessed enough to live where you can be riding today, please remember to ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you.

Belt Drive Betty

Editor & Rider

The 25th anniversary version of Summer Stomp - A HUGE Success

The 25th anniversary version of the Summer Stomp was a roaring success.

Riders from all over western Canada converged on Sicamous BC, and were treated to a wide variety of entertainment.  

I missed the burnouts and first round of bands on Friday as I had stopped in Golden overnight so I could see a friend in the hospital.
I heard nothing but rave reviews and was wishing that I could clone myself.

Saturday did not disappoint either though. It poured from Golden to Malakwa but then the blue skies materialized and the rest of the day was picture perfect Okanagan weather.

The main street of Sicamous was a motorcycle only zone and was lined with vendors of all types just like they are at all the major American rallies and there is no fee to visit these vendors or any of the entertainment on the street.


Kamloops Harley-Davidson was there with their event truck, Rollin' Rubber from Vernon was letting riders know about their tire services, Behind the Bars was selling all kinds of gadgets and goodies, and the list goes on!


There were handmade belt buckles, handmade shirts, leggings and all kinds of food vendors and then of course the beer gardens.  The music was rockin' and people were dancing to the BC DC Band - the AC DC tribute band. What a hoot!  This is a fun band to watch and listen to.

At 4 pm the poker run with over 100 bikes rolled in and that was a signal for the stunt riders to start doing their thing. People lined the street watching talented young men whip their machines around doing stop pies and all sorts of stunts.  

The winds were too high so Kris Garwasiuk was not able to perform any freestyle jumps, but the crowd thoroughly enjoyed the entertaining riders on their sport bikes.

After the beer gardens closed down on main street, I headed off to my accommodations in Sorrento. 

If you don't reserve your accommodations in Sicamous a year in advance, you aren't going to find a motel or hotel room!  




I headed back to the main Stomp grounds at 10pm.

The venue was laid out very well with tenting off to the right of the main gates and vendor alley straight ahead and ringing the perimeter.   There were big tents and picnic tables for those who wanted to partake in the food and beverages out of the heat of the day.  The big Houseboat where the VIP's were partying was full and people were hollering and hooting - having a blast.



Vendor Alley still had many vendors open, Up Your Leather, from Vancouver, Rose's Front Room from Blackfalds Alberta was there as was Dark Lord Clothiers just to name a few.  

 There were 4 - 1% er booths on the grounds, and lots of new club patches everywhere. 

This time, as in the past, there were no issues with the clubbers other than the fact that they bring the gang squad with them. A few patrons were uncomfortable with the police presence, but the officers were pleasant enough and not oppressive in their numbers.  

LegZZ, the ZZ Top Tribute band brought the house down. There were people everywhere and not one person was standing still, they were bouncing around, singing to the music, dancing and just having a smoking good time.

At midnight was the wet tee shirt contest and there were a dozen gals who decided they wanted in on the action.  Some people don't like this aspect of a lot of biker events, but the ladies who got involved seemed to love the attention they were getting.

I myself don't really get into the whole wet tee shirt contest, it's just not something that I enjoy and certainly not something I would participate in, but there are many who have no issue with dropping their laundry in front of a few thousand people.

I did note that the police who were on the main gate all wandered down to watch the contest and they seemed to be enjoying the show, even the lady police officer.

As I headed back for the main gate to leave, so did the police.

It had been a long day but thoroughly enjoyable day.
I want to thank Steve Hammer and the entire Stomp team.  I truly enjoyed the heck out of myself!

For those considering attending the Summer Stomp, stop considering it and just do it, you'll have a blast!  Not only is the Stomp a well run event, but the location is awesome, tenting is included in your ticket price and the town of Sicamous is so welcoming that you will feel right at home!

 (The following photos are from insight-photography.com and give you a glimpse into the first 2 days of events that I was not present for):

To see the other photos from Insight-Photography, visit: http://www.summerstomp.ca/2013-photo-gallery

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider