Pump track test for young bikers
Four new tracks, and a proposed $500,000 community pavilion, are helping build the future of mountain biking in New Plymouth.
The recently built tracks at the New Plymouth Mountain Bike Club’s Lake Mangamahoe Bike Park, 11km south of the city, are a response to the rapid growth of the sport in the region, NPMBC chairman Hamish Neale said.
A community pavilion, for all forest users from rogaining and orienteering to mountain biking and trail running, is being planned as the next step to cater for the growth.
‘‘We’ve had phenomenal growth in the club and rider numbers in the past five years,’’ Neale said. ‘‘Last year the club’s annual membership reached 940, and we have already reached 700 members so far this year.
‘‘Our target is to reach more than 1000 members in 2019.’’
Neale said one of the biggest growth areas for the bike park was junior riders.
The pump track completed in early March by Rotorua track builder, TrailPRO, near the entrance of the bike park would help the younger age group develop their biking skills before tackling more challenging terrain in the park, he said.
‘‘The pump track is designed as a confined space for practicing skills like cornering and bunny hops.
‘‘When the young riders get proficient on the smaller track they can feel more confident to go out into the bigger, longer trails in the forest park.
‘‘It’s about building for the next Wyn Masters, or Sam Gaze.’’
Neale said there was strong demand from the young riders to build a dedicated skills track.
‘‘We got approval from the New Plymouth District Council who own the forest and applied for funding from the New Zeal;and Community Trust.
‘‘It’s now been open for only a week and already it has had a lot of use.’’
Club member Andy Paterson was holding coaching clinics, called ‘Little Rockets’, on Saturday morning’s for young riders to develop skills, Neale said.
The club had also developed three more Grade 2-3 tracks totalling 2.5km to add to the 40km of trails in the park.
‘‘We have a wide range of abilities, from youth to cross country to enduro, among members in the club which we need to cater for,’’ Neale said.
‘‘We are building tracks to cater for all needs but the park doesn’t have a high elevation so we are limited in what we can do with the downhillers.’’
Neale said the club wanted to build facilities to serve 80 per cent of the community to encourage more people into the sport.
The proposals had been on going by the club committee for the past five years, he said.
‘‘The proposed pavilion will be shared by all those sports which use the forest, not just the mountain bikers.
‘‘We will have a outdoor teaching area, bike wash, storage area, seating, toilets but walkers, runners and event organisers will be able to use it. It will be designed a community sports hub.’’
NPDC had approved the concept, and an application for funding was in the process of being lodged for external funding from a community trust, he said.
Neale said the estimated cost for the building could be $500,000.
Much of the pre – application work had been completed voluntarily by club members, he said.
Mike Watson