REPO: POTOCZNY TRAILS MIKE AITKEN JAM

DATE: October 25, 2008
LOCATION: Potoczny Trails, PA
WORDS, PHOTOS: Mike O’Bryan

Would it rain, or wouldn’t it? In Western Pennsylvania, that was the question being raised last week leading up to the jam Mark Potoczny and others were organizing to help raise money for Mike Aitken’s medical bills after his incident a few weeks ago. To be honest, we would have still got together regardless if it rained or not. It did rain.....all night in fact. And while you would normally think that a ton of rain the night before a TRAIL jam would cause a wash out, it didn’t. Not all the runs were able to dry up, but a couple of the main lines did. And despite the cold fall weather and impending rain, we still had a good group of people show up to ride and raise money for our fallen rider and friend.

You also would have thought that considering there were five Aitken jams this weekend (and a Red Bull contest) we would have trouble getting enough companies to contribute. Well, guess again. We were amazed last week when package after package came in from all over the country. We had so many parts from so many companies that we will be having two more jams (details below), and will be putting a complete bike together that will be auctioned off with all proceeds going to Mikey.

On Saturday alone, we were able to raise $1700 to help Mike with his medical bills, and given the upcoming jams and bike auction, we can only hope that we can help that much more. Thank you Mark and the Potoczny’s for hosting the jam, the companies who contributed; and to the riders, from young beginners to the seasoned pros, who all showed up to help out. Props to the companies who helped out: Hoffman, Mutiny, WeThePeople, Fit, Fly Bikes, Fox, Eastern, Shadow Conspiracy, Subrosa, Solid, Sputnic, Odyssey, Lotek, S&M Bikes, Kink Bike Co, Red Bull, South Park Cycles, Props, InkDivision Tatoo, DK Bicycles, Verde Bikes, Levi’s, United Bike Co. (Apologies if I forgot anyone.)

Upcoming Jams: Another jam at Mark’s trails in Imperial, PA on November 8th and another at Tim’s in Erie, PA (date TBD).

Get well Mikey!