Tuesday, February 21

KBAR coming up...

Yep, the 2012 Kaiteriteri Beach Adventure Race is locked in for March 10/11.



This is a multi-sport event that caters for all levels - from the country's elite athletes like last year's winners Richard Ussher & Fleur Latimer to rank amateurs out for a day's fun (me).




There's a whole range of categories to enter including kids, teams, single or multi-discipline.

A highlight of this year's MTB 20/40 kms loop will be the opportunity to ride down Corkscrew. While there might be the odd demented soul from last year that will miss the hair-raising, semi-skid/slide fest that Velocity turned into after a night's rain, I'm pretty sure most riders will much prefer this year's alternative.

It'll make for a more interesting race. The climbers will be able to stretch the gap on the grind up to the top ridge while those with better riding technique will be able to haul them in on the long, switchbacking descent. Unless you're a champion at both...

Check out the mtb course options here:
http://kbar.co.nz/default.asp?PageID=23885



Meanwhile, the rest of the Park is still busy.

After coming across this group of Nelson riders for the third time in different parts of the Park, I felt a photo was overdue...





Andrew Meffan from Nelson now has even more reason to make use of his Kaiteriteri holiday home. I've spotted him a few times shepherding young ones along Easy Rider.

Daughter Iris is especially proud of her very blingy new bike - complete with recommended bell!







This lad, one of a group from Mapua, shows how to bunny-hop the gap jump.
Teens like these are crying out for more challenges on which to test themselves. If anyone has some simple ideas on how to enhance our Skills Area, we're all ears!


Recent arrival to Motueka from the Netherlands, Michiel Overweel, thought he may have died and arrived in mountain bike heaven after his first Park circuit.

'Though a keen mtber, they don't really do hills in Holland so, esp. after a long lay-off, his face was doing a good colour match with his shirt by the top of Swamp Monster.

Not deterred, two days later he was cresting Corkscrew.




The thing I love about mountain biking is that it's such a social sport. It's as much about the company you ride with as how fast or skillfully you can handle the trails.

The BBs and the BBs from Nelson seem a perfect example of this. Despite a little initial hesitation, especially after I said they would be appearing on our website, they gave up their acronym.
Meet... The Blistering Bollocks and Bouncy Bits!

The Park clearly offers something for mountain biking families that was previously lacking in the region.
I love coming across parents getting their kids into the sport, gently coaxing them through the more challenging bits, prepared to let them have a spill or two in the process of developing their skills.

The Hampden Street Hammerers (from the primary school in Nelson) were giving the pump track a good hammering when I chanced along. Only a couple could be persuaded to pause long enough for a photo with their minders before heading off up Salivater.

Our Park map currently shows two downhill lines (in black) as part of possible Corkscrew loops. Unfortunately, we ran out of time to complete these last year so our apologies to those who have gone looking for them.
The good news is that Andrew Spittal has managed to free up a weekend to bring over a Chings digger. If the weather holds true to forecast, we'll be working on opening up the overgrown firebreak from the top intersection. We'll let you know as soon as it's rideable.

The other line is to be a hand-benched track with much of the route clearing already done. It will be one of our first projects on the resumption of w/bees in March. If you live locally and would like to get involved, send an email to info@kaiteriterimtbpark.org.nz

Tuesday, February 7

A Day in the Park 2012

So Waitangi Day rolled around and, for me, it was a chance to have some family mtb time.

Seems I wasn't the only one...



Matt Redwood from Nelson was taking his young family for a spin. I just missed his other children but young Logan was sticking close to dad.


He wasn't too sure about the dude with the camera - I think he thought I was eyeing up his cool bike...






Alice Winter from Stoke was having her first visit to the Park.
Her introduction to riding switchbacks wasn't dampening her enthusiasm.


Meanwhile, husband Ken set off to enjoy Glade Runner after quenching his thirst from the Kimi Ora-supplied water tap at the top of Swamp Monster.


The Mosimann family from Pokororo were enjoying a shady catch-up.
Rudi and Maya were taking daughters Jasmin and Rowena for their first outing along the Park's 'easy' circuit.

Easy is a relative term in the world of mountain biking - and especially at Kaiteriteri where the terrain often dictates where the track has to go.
But our management committee fully appreciates how daunting newcomers (young & old) to the sport can find the Sidewinder switchbacks and the steepish climb of Swamp Monster.
"You call this easy?!", is a refrain we're not unfamiliar with...

In response, we've surveyed a new 'bypass' route for these two tracks. It will definitely offer an Easy gradient with some nice undulating flow to keep the riding interesting.
Like Easy Rider, this will be a good track for beginners to practise their skills and improve their fitness on. When they're ready for a bigger challenge, Sidewinder will still be there...

We hope to commence construction of this track in the autumn.


Corkscrew continues to delight all who venture on to it - with the debate raging over whether it's more fun to ride up or down!

Deborah Morris from Motueka enjoys the challenges of the switchbacks and the workout of the uphill...




While others find their mojo on the way back down...



I caught Greg O'Donnell, Sally Jehans and Krissy Ridder, all from Motueka, honing their skills on this series of twisters...


I'm afraid the formatting of the blogger.com. website lets me down at this point. While it all looks right in draft, once posted not all comments align with the photos.

I hope you can work it out...







Having made it to the skid site at the top of Corkscrew, mother & daughter contemplate the swim that awaits at the bottom...






Already heading in that direction was Rachel Butcher, over for the day from Richmond.







Sam Wilson and Bekah Phyn, both from Nelson, were exploring the Park for their first time, enjoying the cruisey flow of Easy Rider.








It was time to join my wife & daughter on the beach - but not before capturing the Radford family from Christchurch.

Annette led them back to the entrance...







closely followed by 4 1/2 yr old Jamie, fully recovered from a tumble on Sidewinder.




Bringing up the rear was Craig with 18mth old Lucy nestled on her top tube bike seat.

From the way dad was consulting her, I suspect she was the navigator ;-)




I know that there were plenty of others in the Park over the weekend but I was particularly chuffed to see so many family groups and newcomers in the couple of hours I was there on the afternoon of Waitangi Day. Despite some challenging biking for some, all seemed to be really enjoying themselves on a beautiful day.

Thanks to all the above for allowing me to briefly interrupt their ride...



Where every ride at Kaiteriteri should terminate...