Skating on a new scale
Snakes, crocs among park’s design plans
BMX riders could launch themselves off a crocodile tooth or skaters could 360 off the tail end of a snake under plans to develop a reptileshaped pump track in Mossman.
Douglas Shire Council has released design plans for a $150,000 proposed pump track at George Davis Park for public consideration.
One track resembles the head of a saltwater crocodile, complete with teeth, while the other resembles a long venomous snake.
A pump track is a circuit of rollers, banked turns and other features designed to be ridden completely by riders “pumping” – creating momentum by up and down body move$131,000 ments, instead of pedalling or pushing.
They are used by mountain bike and BMX riders, skateboarders and scooter riders.
The tracks were designed by World Trail Pty Ltd, which is responsible for several mountain bike trails across the Far North, including Smithfield and Atherton.
Douglas Shire Mayor Julia Leu said the new eye-catching track would cater for increased usage at the popular park.
“I expect this project to really hit a mark with our youth,” she said. “These designs tap into the appeal of some of our more renowned wildlife and will no doubt complement existing facilities.”
The council also built a pump track at the Port Douglas Sports Complex in 2017.
Glen Jacobs from World Trails said pump tracks were becoming increasingly popular across the world.
“Pump tracks are exploding everywhere, like skate parks were 25 years ago,” he said.
“More and more people – kids and everyone – can ride on them with either scooters, in-line skates, bikes – anything,” he said. “If it looks like something, then it becomes an attraction, so it’s a win-win situation all around.”
He said the designs were intended to reflect local indigenous culture.
“It opens the door to overlay some artwork on the pump track that is unique to the Far Northern area,” he said.
“It will give the look and feel and shape of the Far North.
“In Darwin, there’s a hotel shaped like a crocodile, so we thought why not a pump track?”
editorial@cairnspost.com.au facebook.com/TheCairnsPost www.cairnspost.com.au twitter.com/TheCairnsPost