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PHOTO BY JEREMY VAN DAM The need for speed Colin Ruttan lost in his teen years was found during a trip to Blue Mountain Thrillseeker gets back on 2 wheels Story by Teresa Latchford Cover photography by Steve For Colin Ruttan anything on two wheels will do The longtime New market resident consid ers himself somewhat of a thrillseeker hence the four specialized mountain bikes and motorcycle crammed into his one- car garage He admits he lost his need for speed in his late teens but one trip to Blue Mountain with a close friend reignited his lust for being on two wheels I hadnt been on a bike for 10 years and all of a sudden I was downhill mountain biking he said while sneaking a glance at the mountain bike race playing on his living room TV But after biking one day with a friend I was hooked He was using a borrowed bike that day but within a month he had purchased his own and started practising his downhill racing skills That summer he found himself in Ontario Cup competitions which only deepened his passion for the sport It was unlike anything I had ever experienced in competi tion before he said Other riders would help you out with a part of the course when you said you were having trouble Competing against respectful opponents who shared in his pas sion only heightened his attraction to the extreme sport To create more relationships Mr and four others came together to form the downhill racing team Havok Rac ing Think of skateboarding 20 years ago mountain biking wasnt really accepted in society he said We would ride around town and people would call us hooligans Contrary to what others thought Mr Ruttan felt they were 20-some- things trying to make a mark by using their energy in a productive manner After putting their five heads together the racing team came up with Havok Jam to pres ent their sponsors to the public and increase the awareness of the sport within Newmarket and York Region If you would have told me it would get as big as it has or that I would have continued the event for seven years when we started it would have laughed he said shrugging his shoulders The team of eager riders approached the town about a dem onstration at Fairy Lake Park during Canada Day The set up consisted of five riders five bikes and one ramp It was a day of riding laying in the sun and doing some tricks to show people more about the sport he said It was really relaxed and COLIN RUTTAN FINISHES OUR SENTENCES My guilty pleasure is never feeling guilty about anything If I could have lunch with anyone in the world it would be Bob because he inspired a nation If I were stranded on an island I couldnt live without my cellphone something with two wheels and my pocket knife My favourite place in Newmarket is my house and my second home which is the Lion Firkin To find out more about Havok Jam visit more ramps a DJ and more people who are interested Fellow Racing member Dave Forbes finds Mr Ruttans dedi cation inspiring and volunteers to help out every year even if it means completing a week worth of con struction in just a few days I think he enjoys watching the event and getting to see the sport progress Forbes said of his well received by those passing by Every year since that first Canada Day show the demonstration has evolved into one of the largest mountain bike competitions in Canada and attracting competi tors from across the country Last year the town estimated more than 20000 people showed up to watch the event Every year it just gets bigger and bigger he said There are now longtime friend It is personally rewarding to see the next genera tion He thought the Blue Mountain trip that introduced Mr Ruttan to the sport would have discouraged him since it was raining and the duo spent more time sliding down hills on their backsides than on their bikes We had a lot of laughs that day he said I thought it might scare him off but he stuck with it For those who have never met Mr Ruttan Mr Forbes describes him as the most outgoing positive and giving person who is always willing to lend a hand but wants nothing in return Planning for this years event has already started he said noting it takes a lot of work to get the event to go off without a hitch But any chance to share his passion for the sport with others makes it worth his while We are giving youth something productive to do rather than them being out and getting into trouble he said The thanks of the riders and their parents is so rewarding He prides himself on the com petition being unique in format compared to others in Ontario and the rest of the country Traditional competitions have riders practise for four hours and then do a few runs to demonstrate their skills But at the local event riders ride all day and then a win ner is chosen Although Mr Ruttan no lon ger competes in mountain biking events he still takes every oppor tunity to get on the hills when he is not fulfilling his duties as an elec trical transmission controller with Hydro One I cant compete because of some of the injuries I have had he said But once I get out on those hills again I feel that yearning to keep riding When he cant get out to the hills or ride crosscountry he satisfies his twowheel addiction with a ride around town on his motorcycle Cuisinart St Newmarket NEW HOURS on Friday Sam- 10pm Saturday Sunday Reg 1939 Sale FloorJStep 24x24 Reg 1239 Sale 9 To re h i er el Lamp Reg Sale