Riding Santos MTB Park with Phil Kmetz

The good thing about staying in a motel is that it’s easy to wheel your bike in and out, even on the second floor. Although I’m over 4 hours away from my house, I’m only 10 minutes away from Santos Mountain bike park. I was invited here by professional mountain biker and fellow YouTuber, Phil Kmetz. We’re going to do some riding and get some video clips. Phil has ridden in all four corners of the planet, but chose to drive 10 hours to ride in Ocala FL on spring break. Now I must admit, when I moved down here I didn’t even expect to see mountain bike trails, let alone good ones, but I was thrown for a loop. Through sheer ingenuity and perseverance, Floridians have created some top notch singletrack. A prime example of this is Santos.

Today is the Fat Tire Festival. Thousands of riders have come here from out of town to ride demo bikes, hit the freeride section, and enjoy miles and miles of singletrack in the main part of the park.

At Santos, there’s a particular section that’s somewhat isolated from all the other trails—a playground for advanced riders, called Vortex. This sign implies a high possibility of destroying your bike or leaving in an ambulance so I think we’re in the right place. When you get into the trailhead, the first thing you see is a small set of dirt jumps with wooden lips. I could ride these all day.

Venture a few more yards into the park, and you’ll see—banana hammock. It’s a good time.

Phil and I warmed up around the front of the park and even played a short lived game of BIKE, which I lost. I got one letter on him with a tree ride, but that was it. Time to ride some singletrack.

Pretty much everything here at Santos is double black diamond. The sign at the front of the trailhead warns you about checking out the trails before you blast through them, but that’s just for newbs right? Yeah I’ve got this under control. Phil tried to warn me, but I found myself face to face with an unexpected hairpin turn after this hump. I was warned, by both Phil and the sign, but luckily I bailed just in time.

After the big crowds left the “Vortex Pit” I got to watch Phil session this double. He’s got exquisite taste in old school BMX tricks.

It’s been years since I rode dirt jumps, so next time I’ll be spending a lot more in this pit. Before the sun set I did manage to do a real sloppy 360 over this tabletop.

I ended this trip limping, and with scrapes down my torso. Although I did get to ride for an hour the following morning, this trip was just too short. After seeing what Santos had to offer I’m really pumped to check out more mountain bike parks, even if it means traveling a few hours. The locals here in Ocala are some of the coolest, friendliest, and skilled riders I’ve met. What they’ve built here is incredible, and I can’t wait to come back real soon.

Thanks for riding with me today, and I’ll see you next time.

[wesofx]

2:22
"Luckily I bailed just in time"
"Luckily I completely endo'd over my bars"
X)

[blindstuff]

If you liked Santos you have to try alafia, balm boyette and Carter road. Top quality stuff at all of them. Awesome video as always.

[BENfromSUNDIAL]

My two new favourite YouTubers I've been watching every day... And I hadn't realized you were connected! So cool.

[FourthRiverJoint]

Great video. I moved to Florida 4 years ago and never imagined mountain biking here let alone good singletracks. Like you said I was also thrown for a loop.

[rhunt]

2024, i love watching these old videos, now more relevant than ever since moving to Florida

[ntrent]

Seth you are awesome and make me wanna ride everytime I watch your videos! Keep up the good work and have a nice day or night 😀

[Weasawll]

"even if it means traveling a few hours" oh what he didnt know was in his future of packing bikes on planes and flying across the country

[SHWELL]

Looks like you guys had a great time. Hopefully I can get healthy and start riding harder and harder.. Gotta check out this park, only 1.5 hours away..

[jordidiego]

Glad to see you know Phil. Two of my fauvorite youtubers know eachother and ride together.😊😊😊

[chrismcinerney]

Thank you so much for the footage was looking into this park but was questioning weither they had any dirt jumps. Very helpful to me. Thanks again ✌👍💪

[BigC]

Been riding this trail for I think 4 years never gets old

[jakeallan]

I grew up in Ocala and I loved riding these trails and watching then ad more and more features now that I live in the Atlanta area I often take weekend trips back to ride there def check it out if you're in the area but I suggest you go with someone who knows the trails well bc there's just so much good stuff

[androidwhiz]

People laugh when I tell them I ride MTB in Florida, but anyone who comes out quickly finds out Santos is the real deal.

[cakelesscoder]

thanks for putting the script in the description, makes it really easy to get an MTB fix in class!

[duckcrisps]

Hey dude I love your video format with the voice over. It makes it a lot more engaging and nice to watch :)

[tillsy]

love the ending pov clip where we see its not all fun downhill but lots of hardwork too!

[bryceridesbikes]

Great footage. I Like The smoothness of the POV shots. Keep up the good work

[lolbigcock]

I'm a Florida boy and we make our trails out of sheer ingenuity, perseverance and phosphate quarry.

[MSduckhunter]

Man I love going back and watching these videos! I have been watching old videos from you, Alex, Brian, and Phil. Yall are some awesome dudes that really help spread the joys of mountain biking. I really hope some day I can run into you in Pisgah! Once this Corona is gone I'll be heading that way.

[rorosk]

I always tried figure out how the mountain bikers know the moment to make a turn, now i realised, they don't.