A Life Devoted to Digging and Riding MTB Trails | Rocks, Dirt & Familia

Sammy Mercado devotes his flesh and soul to creating his own utopian freeride mountain bike zone, without constraints. Using his own manpower, along with a shovel, pic axe and some water — water he carries into the desert using 5-gallon buckets — Mercado has carved a slice of freeride paradise into the hidden hills of Southern California.

Mercado's passion for the sport is tantamount to the best riders in the world. Even if no one was watching, he'd still be out in the dirt, doing his thing. We caught up with Mercado to find out what it takes to build a Red Bull Rampage-inspired run, and brought out Claw and Storch to complete the trifecta of shred.