jumping

We know, it was kind of weird. But you have to admit, it was pretty cool, right? We asked you to jump, and you responded in kind. We had about as much fun looking at the jumping photos as you probably did taking them - fantastic work everyone! You made Yann proud.

After reviewing the pictoral jump-a-thon, there was one that stood out as the most Yann-worthy: spacemonkey's soaring pic from the Chinese Garden at Louise McKinney Riverfront Park in Edmonton, Alberta.

spacemonkey's jumping prowess and his lady-friend Marianne's photographic timing earn them a box of biking-related goodies. The winner's booty is a YourMTB t-shirt, a cool t-shirt from LiveYourPassionGear.com, a box of Clif Bars, and some Kodiak Solstix wild salmon jerky.

Thanks for playing, everyone! (And just because the competition is over doesn't mean the jumping madness has to stop!)

Here at YourMTB.com world headquarters (a.k.a., the Enthusiast Group), we get to hang out with the Jump King. That's Yann Ropars, who is director of business development, a skilled mountain biker, and a superb -- and quirky -- photographer.

If you ever go for a ride with Yann, don't expect to keep your feet on the ground. At some point during the day, he'll make you jump in the air for his camera. Check out his jumping photo collection here.

Yann wants the whole world to jump. (Really.) And that means YOU!

So to humor Yann (and because it sounds like great fun), we're asking you and your friends to jump in the air next time you hit the trails on your bikes. And post a photo in our new Jumping Mountain Bikers photo gallery. (We're NOT talking about jumping your bike -- we mean jumping with your feet!)

We'll pick out the best photo submitted by a YourMTB.com member on or before April 30 and award some biking-related goodies. (We're still assembling the winner's booty, but it'll include stuff like a YourMTB t-shirt, a cool t-shirt from LiveYourPassionGear.com, a box of Clif Bars, some Kodia Solstix wild salmon jerky, etc.)

Yann's jumping photo tips

As to what it will take to win, it's not just about the jumping, of course. Mountain bikers go to some incredibly scenic places, so the background is super important to a good jumping-people picture.

Yann also points out that you don't have to jump very high to get a spectacular photo -- just bend your knees as you jump up, which gives the illusion that you're higher than you really are.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: YourMTB.com cannot be held responsible should you injure yourself taking a photo for this website. Be careful out there when jumping! It's not our fault if you stub a toe while jumping, or jump too close to a cliff and fall off!! (No Jackass-like stunts, please.) ... So jump safe! ... (Official contest rules.)

OK, get jumping!