Mountain bikers in Williams Lake are baring almost all in a new calendar, Riders of the Cariboo.
“We wanted to get a community calendar out there of people in the biking community,” said photographer Kent Bernadet who, along with the help of Erika Driedger, organized the photography and logistics, respectively.
“I kind of brainstormed about making a calendar inspired by that fireman style [of calendar] but with faces of our community involved as models.”
In the calendar models are photographed tastefully nude, and strategically covered, for the most part.
Bernadet, a mountain biker himself, got in touch with the Williams Lake Cycling Club and decided all of the profits would go to them, donated by his company, Kent B Photography.
From there he contacted models — men and women — who he thought might be interested and organized various photo shoots in and around Williams Lake and its vast network of mountain biking trails.
“The girls involved, they had a big part in supporting it. They had fun with it,” he said. “The guys were a little harder to convince.”
Photographs of members of the riding community on their bikes, riding trails and captured in strategic locations adorn the pages of the calendar.
He said shooting the images for the calendar was a blast.
The photo editing process, meanwhile, was a bit tricky and strange at the same time, he said, noting he’d never done a project similar before.
“There were some things that had to be tucked away,” he joked.
Since the calendars arrived the project has received provincial attention. He’s been interviewed on CBC radio and word of the calendars quickly spread.
“We’ve been selling them throughout B.C. and even into Saskatchewan,” he said.
The calendars’ concept was a way for riders to give back to the WLCC, who build and maintain trails around Williams Lake.
“The biking community’s pretty active here,” he said. “This is kind of a way to say thank you in our own way and give our part.”
Once the calendars arrived and after flipping through its pages, Bernadet said he’s thrilled with the way it turned out.
“I think we put out a good project,” he said.
“Thanks to all the models on behalf of myself and Erika. They were integral in donating their time and exposure.”
One-hundred-fifty copies of the calendar were printed, but Bernadet said they’re selling fast and there’s a possibility more will be printed.
Calendars are $20 and are available at the following locations: Red Tomato Pies, Gecko Tree Cafe, Red Shreds Bike and Board Shed and the Bean Counter Bistro.
To ship, calendars are $25 and can be ordered at www.kentbernadet.com/calendar.
For a video previewing Riders of the Cariboo visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inZR_L0_b6k.