Trail/location: Witch's World Champs lower, Nevis Range, Fort William
Photographer: Brodie Hood
Here's the photo before and after it made it onto the cover. Photo: Brodie Hood
Getting the shot
What better way to show off some muddy winter fun on beautiful Scottish trails than with a well-timed, water-spraying puddle splash? Fort William local and Dudes of Hazzard pinner Joe Barnes nailed the ride, while photographer Brodie Hood produced the killer shot.
The run-in to this corner was a steep, wet and rutted drop into a tight left-hand berm. Water had filled the trough, and on the exit was an awkward step off a right-hand drop. We never planned for it to be a cover shot – this was the Wrecking Crew gone wild. Riders Lachlan Blair, Fergus Lamb, Liam Moynihan and Joe himself needed no encouragement to discover who could make the biggest splash, with each taking it in turns to try and empty the puddle.
Fergus tweaked an ankle, and more than one rider discovered first-hand how soft the dirt was here. When you and your mates are pushing each other and laughing at each other's misfortunes, it's truly one of the greatest things about the sport.
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Brodie was constantly encouraging the boys to keep trying, persevering with new angles and shots, and trying to be in the right place at the right time to perfectly capture the water being sprayed towards him. We think he got it just right and captured the moment brilliantly. This was one of those shots where fun and style walk hand-in-hand – something the Dudes of Hazzard are famous for – and it made the ideal cover for our 'wet and wild' themed issue, where we get stoked and soaked (see page 52 of the mag), to highlight the best ways to maximise your fun in the mud!
Liam whips up a wave of muddy goodness. Photo: Brodie Hood
Lachlan tries his best to soak everyone but himself. Photo: Brodie Hood
Luke Marshall is a technical writer for BikeRadar and MBUK magazine. He's been working for both titles since 2018 and has over 20 years of mountain biking experience. Luke is a gravity-focused rider with a history of racing downhill, previously competing in the UCI Downhill World Cup. Educated to a degree level in engineering and with a penchant for full-throttle speed, Luke is more than qualified to put every bike and product through its paces to bring you informative and independent reviews. You'll most likely find him on a trail, enduro or downhill bike riding the off-piste tracks around south Wales and the south west of England. He often makes an appearance on BikeRadar's podcast and YouTube channel.
