The forest elves are stirring..

With things being so quiet on the blogspot, you'd be mistaken for thinking things have been quiet at Kaiteriteri. On the contrary, the tracks have been humming with bikers with everyone giving a big thumbs up to the network so far.
This positive feedback is hugely encouraging for those of us involved in planning this year's programme. Also appreciated are those who have made donations to the Park, either directly, by using the Donate button on our sidebar or by purchasing a t-shirt or cap. Everything goes into track development so you can all feel a part of our project!

Many of you will be pleased to hear that we have started surveying a bypass to Sidewinder. The eight switchbacks on this track provide the biggest challenge to those relatively new to mountain biking and this 600m section of track is the 'odd man out' in our otherwise Easy circuit.

The bypass will involve a much longer length of track that branches off Salivator and largely maintains its height until joining Sidewinder near its connection with Swamp Monster. At least, that's what we hope - we've only surveyed half of it so far...

The first half of this track marks the beginning of what will become Easy Rider, an easy gradient track that extends into the southern portion of the Park. Tasman District Council have put up significant funding for Easy Rider, which we hope will provide an alternative access into the Park for those commuting by bike.

Local mountain biking GP and regular Park user, Deborah Morris, is fast developing a reputation for being the "MTB Doctor". At last year's Marble Mountain MTB event, she interrupted her ride to attend to a rider with a broken collarbone. More recently, she assisted in the helicopter evacuation of a rider badly concussed while biking at Canaan Downs. Yesterday she was called to the MTB Park to attend to another broken collarbone.


Deborah was impressed with the injured individual's method of supporting his arm on the long walk out and thought other mountain bikers might be interested. Making use of the spare bike tube provides excellent support, is adjustable to any length and is - or should be - something every biker already carries with them.

Caillin Morris-Trainor demonstrates how to use this simple but effective First Aid Kit accessory.

Many of us are still in holiday mode at the moment, getting in as much riding as we can by entering or training for events, or generally just mucking about on bikes & boats. We're looking to start up our Sunday morning working bees again in a few weeks' time and will welcome new recruits. If you'd like to volunteer some occasional mornings to help develop Phase Two of our track network, contact us at info@kaiteriterimtbpark.org.nz

People who make a difference...

It is with great sadness that we at Kaiteriteri MTB Park acknowledge the death of Emmanuel Rejious. Emmanuel was killed, along with two of his three NZ-born daughters, in the recent earthquake in Haiti.

I came into contact with Emmanuel via a colleague's fortuitous encounter with Jeffrey Kohen, President of Now and Zen, a US-based t-shirt manufacturing company. Jeffrey's company operates a subsidiary company called NonProfitees (www.nonprofitees.org) that offers at-cost printing of tees for non-profit organisations.

As we at Kaiteriteri saw the merchandising of t-shirts as a valuable way of both promoting the Park and generating some track-building revenue, we leapt at Jeffrey's offer to print our tees for us.

Jeffrey put me in touch with Emmanuel, NonProfitees' Program Director, and there began a long exchange of emails whereby he sought to help us clarify and finalise our order. In the context of NP's usual non-profit or charitable clients, our minimum order of 300 tees was small-fry. In addition to that, our order involved international p&p and customs clearance, both of which lay outside of NP's usual operating framework within the domestic US market.

Nevertheless, Emmanuel was unfailingly helpful and patient throughout this process. He always responded promptly to emails and invested them with a warmth that made the exchanges become increasingly personal. I had a sense that Emmanuel was determined to do all he could to accommodate us.
By the conclusion of the order, we were expressing our enthusiasm at meeting each other on his next visit to NZ.

Throughout this period, I had no idea that he was based in Haiti with his wife Emily, caring for his three daughters, and working for the UN while engaged in several other roles. In the wake of the Haitian tragedy, I have had the opportunity to read more of Emmanuel and Emily's work in many of the world's poorest countries. Their whole-hearted commitment to helping those in need was, and for Emily no doubt remains, their guiding passion. I feel privileged to have briefly intersected with Emmanuel's life and, for those of us already wearing the t-shirts (http://kaiteriterimtbpark.blogspot.com/2009/12/teeing-up-for-summer.html), we can share in a special link with his life and work.

The above photo was placed by Afke on http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=250861649126, a fund that has been established to assist Emily Sanson-Rejious and her daughter adjust to life without a devoted husband and father.

Guy Trainor

A Day in the Park

One of the bonuses of popping into the Park for a bit of maintenance is all the positive feedback you get from people riding the tracks. This time I remembered to take my camera...

Christian & his mate Toby (out of pic) were up from Christchurch. Last summer they were cutting back gorse to ride some firebreaks, this year they found a bit more track on offer!




Next around the corner was Gary from Riwaka, pretty chuffed to be discovering what is now virtually on his doorstep..













This might be John from Richmond...












unless this is (sorry guys).













Above, this is definitely Carsten from Germany...


















Not far behind was Richard from Ohaka














riding with Hamish of Christchurch, doing the hard yards on Swamp Monster.











Hammering down Rock'n'Roll was Wayne, also from Christchurch,















with son, Jacob, right on his wheel.










Lots of walkers have been making use of the Park's track network as well, including Sue & Steve from Christchurch.









Tony, also of Christchurch (is there anyone left in ChCh..?), decided the Pump Track wasn't really his thing..











while his biking buddy, Richard, from Brightwater, had a couple of warm-up laps.












Phil & Tania from Christchurch prove that not everyone wants a "lazy Sunday afternoon".











This was Claire's second visit to the Park - but she only has to come from Mapua.









Done for the day, I caught this family group from Christchurch & Wellington just heading into the Park.

Thanks to all the above who interrupted their ride for me to snap them. It's great to see the Park getting so much use from riders of all ages, fitness & ability.



Hopefully, everyone will grab a MTB Park cap and/or t-shirt from the Kaiteriteri Store before heading home to help fund this year's track-building programme :)