Easy Rider

The word is out to the local schools that there is now another good reason to locate their camps at Kaiteriteri. These pupils, with their teacher and a helping mountain biking parent, from Hope were staying at Bethany Park Camp last week and getting their first taste of the tracks.
Here, they take a breather and regroup at the top of Swamp Monster before setting off down Glade Runner.

They all looked to be enjoying themselves and, being based right at the exit of our Easy circuit, I don't doubt more than a few of them came back for more...

The focus has been on surveying new track for the past month. True to form, the Kaiteriteri terrain on the south side of the Park boundary is as gnarly as everywhere else we've been so far.
Our attempts to create a bypass to Sidewinder's switchbacks were ultimately thwarted by steep-sided gullies so, after several aborted attempts, we were forced to abandon this as an option.
Instead, we'll look to improve the berming of the existing switchbacks to make them less threatening and flow better.

And so, onto Easy Rider...


Carrying the clinometer on these expeditions is Michael Brewer. Operating as a two-man team, we've become pretty used to the rugged topography of the 180ha Recreation Reserve. Hacking our way through clumps of five-finger, mahoe, punga & ferns in the many gullies is par for the course.



The tool of choice here is my long-handled slasher, weilded as sparingly as possible for a reading to be made by sighting on my equally bright cap. As many kilometres as we've already surveyed, it's still very easy to creep up or slide down when negotiating steep country and the clinometer is essential for keeping us to the required gradient.


The gullies count as easy going, however, compared to the open slopes covered in towering gorse & bracken. The slasher makes little headway here and a combination of sawing through gorse branches and crawling over or through the bracken means each metre is hard-won. Also, the wasp nests that are relatively easy to spot in the forest are less easy to see when they're underneath the bracken! A boot in the heart of a nest is a sure way to make some new enemies...

We're now only one or two half-days from completing the surveying of Easy Rider. Already, it will count as being the longest track in the Park. Throughout its length we have endeavoured to keep it within an overall gradient range of plus or minus 5% which means, in order to make a connection down to the Riwaka-Kaiteriteri Road, we will have to create some switchbacks.
From whichever point we start to significantly drop in height, we will also begin an Intermediate-grade track that branches back up to join onto Bay View. This track will eventually traverse right to the northern boundary of the Park.

Our first working bee of 2010 is scheduled for March 7. We'll post a reminder here and email all those already on our database. Email info@kaiteriterimtbpark.org.nz to be added or just kept in the loop. Meanwhile, there are always other ways to spend your Sunday mornings...

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 :)

Teeing up for Summer...

No, they're not the winners of this summer's Mr & Miss Kaiteriteri competition (that local calendar highlight takes place on New Year's Day) but whoever struts their stuff wearing our tees is almost guaranteed to carry off the crown!

Even if the catwalk isn't your scene, you'll still look good and feel even better, knowing that by buying a MTB Park t-shirt you're helping to fund future track building.

To make it easy for you, we've priced them at just $20. If you're visiting the Park, they're available at the Kaiteriteri Store. Otherwise, email morristrainor@slingshot.co.nz to order one (p&p $4.50).

You can even save $5 with a cap and t-shirt combo! $35 for the pair (p&p $5.50) marks you out as a Park supporter who's doing their bit to advance our trail network.

With Kaiteriteri rapidly filling up, it's great to see the tracks getting so much use. Cars with bike racks are becoming more common than cars with boat trailers. Maybe it's our big sign by the Kaiteriteri turn-off that's bringing them in. Maybe it's just that the word is out that there's riding for everyone, from beginner to expert, and that there's no better way to wash off the dust afterwards than a dip in the sea.

Thanks to Craig Skillicorn for this telephoto pic from the Flamin' Nora lookout...

And to cap it all...

While the coolest place to be at Kaiteriteri this summer is up on the mtb tracks, the coolest thing to wear down on the beach is one of our caps.
At just $20, they probably represent about the best xmas present you could gift to someone special this year, unless you'd rather be the one attracting all the attention yourself...




Our Park logo looks terrific on all four colour options: black, royal blue, red & navy blue.


Contact us at info@kaiteriterimtbpark.org.nz to order (p&p $4.50 for 1-2 caps; $5.50 for 3 or more.)
Alternatively, the Kaiteriteri Store has stock, including dinky little bells for just $3. If bike bling is your thing, or you just want to make sure you don't have any unpleasant encounters on the tracks, these are a pretty useful accessory.
All sale proceeds go to funding track development.

Meanwhile, with the Opening behind us and the cessation of weekly working bees for the summer, a few keen trackies have turned their attention to some old favourites.
Before there was a Mountain Bike Park, there was little more than a few firebreaks that dropped down from spurs off the top ridge. Because of the extreme steepness at the top, they are high maintenance tracks and, if neglected for too long, deep ruts form in the soft granite soils.
This weekend, Kaiteriteri veterans Michael Brewer, Craig Skillicorn & Guy Trainor spent several hours carrying out remedial work on Flamin' Nora & Velocity. It was hot work but the reward comes with the fantastic views and riding the freshly-groomed tracks afterwards!
They're by no means finished so, if any locals want to do their bit to keep these tracks open & rideable, don't be shy...

eh, that was Grand...

On November 16, 2008, 13 of us gathered for our first working bee at the Kaiteriteri Recreation Reserve Board's overflow boat trailer park. It also served as a dumping ground for years of accumulated rubbish (old posts, broken culverts, rusted steel) and did not look a promising site for what we wanted to become the entry point for our track network.

On December 6, 2009, a transformed trailer park provided a superb venue for the Grand Opening of the Kaiteriteri Mountain Bike Park (KMTBP). Gone was the rubbish, replaced instead by a view out over Kaiteriteri's famous estuary. A perfectly sculpted earth bund wall now demarcates the road entrance track, Pump Track & planned skills area and start of Salivater from the area retained by the Board for their parking needs.
It was within this area that we assembled on Sunday morning for the ceremonies. Following the opening karakia, it was into the speeches in which all paid tribute to the many individuals, volunteers & local businesses that had contributed to the project.
The speed at which the Park had come into being was a recurring theme of these speeches - a real testament to what can be achieved when a community gets behind a good cause!

The Park was then officially opened by the cutting of a ribbon by Tasman District Mayor Richard Kempthorne, attended by (from left) KRRB Chairman, Peter King, DOC Nelson Marlborough Conservator Neil Clifton, DOC Motueka Area Manager Martin Rodd, KMTBP Project Manager Guy Trainor, KRRB Manager Rob Guild, and KMTBP Chairman Mike Kirkwood.

Attention then turned to the unveiling of the pou by local iwi members. Carver Tim Wraight explained how the figurehead, representing an ancestor of great mana, both welcomed bikers and provided protection over them while using the Park.
Carved from local totara and sited on a mound, it strikes a commanding pose overlooking our entranceway and skills area.

The planting of a miro then followed, symbolising the birth of our new venture. These proceedings were a reminder to us all of the responsibility we carry in developing this wonderful resource.

This was also the cue for us to don helmets and grab bikes for the mass ride. Richard Kempthorne, Guy Trainor & Neil Clifton led out a large contingent of riders of all ages for a leisurely lap of the benched track circuit. For many it was their first foray onto the tracks and they were clearly impressed with what they discovered! At the Tank intersection, some of the more adventurous spun off to explore the more challenging tracks while the majority of us made our way through to the circuit exit and back along the road to the trailer park.
Immediately following the departure of the mass ride, Martin Rodd led a group on a walk-through of Salivater & Half-Pipe. For these largely less-confident riders, it was a reassuring look at the type of tracks that we hope will see them becoming regular Park users.

Meanwhile, the Pump Track was going off! All of Mike Kirkwood's fine-tuning was paying off as some skillful riders demonstrated perfect pumping technique. The action wasn't limited to them, however, as people of all ages were queueing up to have a crack. It was a new experience for most and a good insight into how their riding skills could be quickly improved with a bit of practice.
Concurrent with the PT show was the Mystery Time Trial where it was revealed that Mayor Kempthorne, an enthusiastic recreational mtber, had set the time to match. Many tried but lucky Robin Thompson snared the $50 Shoreline Cafe & Bar voucher by coming within 20 secs.
Shortly after 12.30 Jane Rose & Jenny Dore led off a posse of women for their bike skills w/shop, which they then split into two groups based on ability. They all eventually arrived back long after most had packed up and left! The big grins and excited looks on the faces of the participants was great to see. With Jane & Jenny's excellent coaching, women who had never been on off-road mtb tracks before were finishing by coming down Half-Pipe's Intermediate-grade switchbacks, while other's had picked up tips that they'll be able to pass onto their 'more-experienced' partners (if they're lucky :-)
The bike shops all chipped in with some great spot prizes which added to the fun & festivity of the occasion. The committee did a fantastic job sizzling the sausages, selling the carrot cake & merchandise and keeping the action rolling. All in all, not a bad way to celebrate our Opening...

A video of the day will shortly be forthcoming. Meanwhile, if anyone has any good photos of some of the action, we'd love to get them up on the blogpsot. Send to morristrainor@slingshot.co.nz.