Aerial gravel drop at Arapuke
A helicopter has saved the Manawatu¯ Mountain Bike Club hours of back-breaking work.
The club had a chopper from Rangit¯ıkei Helicopters working at Arapuke Forest Mountain Bike Park yesterday, dumping 80 tonnes of gravel to improve the park’s trails.
The helicopter, piloted by Simon Werthmuller, dropped 750-kilogram bags and volunteers spread the gravel around, while a designated marker biked around to make sure the drops were in the right place.
There are about 30km of trails at the mountainbike park in Kahuterawa Valley, near Palmerston North, and the club is building a new one called ka¯rearea, named after the New Zealand falcon.
Club treasurer Pete Wells, who is also leader of the Arapuke trails sub committee, was on hand to help as the helicopter buzzed overhead.
Club members used to use a car trailer and an electric wheelbarrow, so this was a step up.
The club is spending about $110,000 on the trail and wants to make the park rideable all year.
Wells said it has spent about $500,000 in the past five years improving the park. A lot of the money comes from grants, but the club also has sponsorship.
The Palmerston North City Council gives it $20,000 a year, and $30,000 maintenance money.
About 45km of new trail is planned, Wells said.
‘‘We’re trying to become a serious mountainbike destination.’’