Breakout of Skullduggery - Again!

Last winter our main volunteer project was hand-benching the first stage of our intermediate-grade Park traversing track, Skullduggery. You can read what a mission that was in our blog archive for November 2010.

This year we undertook Stage Two, the connection between Flamin' Nora and Bay View. We still had steep sided slopes and damp gullies - this is Kaiteriteri, after all - but somehow the work didn't seem quite as hard this time. Even with it being 100m longer!

Maybe we're just getting better at it. We certainly had a lot more fun (see 'The Fun Factor' post of August 2011) and you'll notice the difference in character of the two sections when you ride the complete length.
It's a great credit to all of those people who gave up so many of their Sunday mornings to swing grubbers. A huge no. of individuals were involved but these guys were the ones who got to celebrate the breakout...


So what have we got?

1.6kms of narrow, flowing singletrack that weaves across the upper flanks of the Park. It is best accessed from the top of Big Airs but you can also drop onto it from Velocity or, half-way along, Flamin' Nora.

You'll ride through a rich diversity of flora that includes kanuka, pine, beech, rimu, broadleaf, ferns & pungas. There's plenty of birdlife in there as well but you'll probably find that, once you've got your flow on, you won't want to stop.

To make sure you get the best from this new circuit, we've decided to make all of Skullduggery and the top section of Bay View down to just before the water tank ONE WAY.

This is a major move for us in terms of our track network. It acknowledges how many more people are now using the Park, the preferred direction they ride in and our need to ensure they can do so safely.
The nature of Skullduggery makes passing hazardous in several places and the top bit of Bay View has a blind corner with the potential for a high-speed collision. We'd rather you can bomb both tracks as fast (or slow) as you like without risk.
It also means those on a DH blast down Rockface get to prolong their buzz for a bit longer...


This marker post indicates the entry to Skullduggery. It's graded Intermediate due to the narrowness of the track and the fact if you fail to stay on it, you could potential tumble a long way down. I always tend to cast a quick glance over the side in a couple of places to make sure there's nothing down there that shouldn't be. So far, so good :-)

Next on the post is the logo for this track's sponsor. It's the support of local companies like Kaiteriteri Kayaks that help fund our work in developing the Park. It's certainly not limited to locals though. If your company would like to sponsor a track, we're always adding more!


A few posts back I blogged about our 'forest royalty'.

A shady gully shortly into the new section is home to three magnificent rimu. They're estimated to be about 500 years old. That they escaped the bush-clearing fires & loggers of the last century is a marvel, esp. given Kaiteriteri and the region's history.

When we discovered them, we felt as though they'd just been waiting all this time for us to come along...



Another feature of these giants are their hemiepiphytic rata vines. Metrosideros robusta begins its life as a seed high in the upper branches of the host tree. Over the centuries it sends down tendril-like roots that thicken into matted 'pseudo-trunks'. Northern rata has greatly suffered from the predations of possums both in the North Island and upper South, the limit of its range, which makes their survival here even more remarkable.

We've created a small clearing here to enable you to enjoy a few moments sitting in their presence.


Beech trees always make their contribution to the tracks, as well. After all, who doesn't like riding in their dappled shade or beech leaf litter!

This impressive stand frames one of our mini-roundabouts.

Controversial at the time - because it was initially so tight that hardly anyone could ride it - it now provides the perfect site for a group photo!




One thing we learnt while building this track is that sometimes it's a good idea to leave the chainsaw behind.

People have to be more creative and that makes for a more fun track - unless you're over 6'5" , I guess :P

In fact, there's stuff happening all along Skullduggery.
At least, while concentrating on what may be around the next corner, you won't have to worry about a biker coming in the opposite direction!


We're hoping that this sign on Bay View, just above the water tank and the entrance to Heartthrob, will take care of that.

If you're used to riding/pushing/carrying your bike up Bay View and Rockface for a downhill run, it's not all bad though.
We've just finished benching a climbing track that will get you all the way from Ziggy to the top ridge! We'll be closing it again in a couple of weeks to complete the grooming but, in the meantime, you're welcome to sample it (in DRY conditions only, please).
When the tape goes back up, you can rest assured its opening isn't far off...

Starting Early...

I bought my first mountain bike as a 40 yr. old. I took to the sport like an English rugby player to a dwarf-throwing competition and, several bikes later, I'm still getting as much fun from it as on my first outing.


These days I can't venture onto a tramping track without assessing its potential as a back-country ride. I have more bike clothing than casual wear. My bike costs way more than the vehicle I drive (tho', to be fair, the van's not that flash. It is, after all, a bike wagon).

And I really should cull the bike collection one day...

The only thing about coming to the sport late, is that, with age, an increasing sense of self-preservation kicks in. I abandoned the idea of getting into jumps the day I landed on my head amid pieces of my helmet. And I no longer have the patience or inclination to spend hours practicing manuals, 360 endoes or switchback wheelies. I'm happy to settle for watching Danny Macaskill on youtube.

But I do envy the skills of those who can & do. Many's the time I've thought, if only I'd got into mountain biking earlier...

So I got a particular buzz out of seeing the number of kids who turned up at the Park on Saturday for our Family Fun Day.
Everywhere I looked there were youngsters on their bikes.

Marty Clark and his Way2Go skills course was hugely popular - and not just with those on 16" or 20" wheels!


This is where they begin acquiring the skills and confidence to become mtbers. The sort of kids who'd rather be out playing on their bikes than their playstations.

The sort of children who can go out riding with their parents - at least, while mum or dad can still keep up...


Meanwhile, the pump track was getting a thorough work out.


At one point it looked like a blur of motion with so many riders on at the same time - the teens pumping hard enough to get air off the rollers, the younger ones pedalling the berms a little higher with each circuit.

And when things quietened down a little, the tots took their turn.


Starting early with colour co-ordinated bike & riding kit is also very important...


Alongside all this action, there was also some racing going on.

Marty Richards, seen here with daughter Tasman, was one of many who accompanied a child around the one-lap circuit before bombing off for a fast blast on the full course.

Despite some tough climbs, it was impressive how many young'uns managed to ride the whole 'beginner' route.





Not that those at the other end of the age-spectrum weren't giving it a crack either.

Even surpassing me in the veteran bracket, Tom Dunn showed that the miles you put into the legs when you're young can keep the wheels spinning six decades later...

These two photos were taken by Oliver Weber, along with many other great shots you can view in full quality on his website.
http://www.oliverweberphotography.com/client-login/
The client login is "family" and Oliver donates 50% of sales to the Mountain Bike Park.

Also working hard on the day were the guys from More FM who kept a steady supply of free bbq sausages on the go, nicely followed by some donated Talleys ice-cream tubs.

Straight after the race and handing out of spot prizes (did anyone go away with nothing?), most of the kids presented themselves to Emma Bawtree for some free mtb skills coaching. Emma divided these into U10 and 10+ and no doubt there were a few parents closely watching the workshops, although they would have been ably catered for by Emma's adult session that followed.
Anyone interested in joining one of Emma's popular wheelwoman coaching clinics can contact her on 027 624 5368 or email emma@nztraveldesigners.com.

Congratulations to fastest 3-lapper Jacob Anderson, chased home by 2nd & 3rd place-getters, Scott Barr and Kistof Zernikow.
Other results can be forwarded if you email info@kaiteriterimtbpark.org.nz.

We're a small group of committee members at the Park and putting on an event requires all hands on deck. The reward comes from seeing so many people enjoying themselves on their bikes. And who's to say that many of these "beginners" won't, one day, be the ones running the show...

Family Fun Day

As part of the Nelson Cycle Fest., Kaiteriteri Mountain Bike Park is once again hosting the More FM Family Fun Day.

This was a really popular event last year. The one, two or three lap options attracted beginner & elite riders alike, all going as hard as their level of fitness allowed!

There were dads that did a lap with a child before hooning off for another lap or two at race-pace, some for whom it was their first time in a mtb event, others that just saw it as a fun way to work up a sweat before retiring to the beach for the afternoon.

This year, on October 8th, promises more of the same. More FM will be firing up the loudspeakers and the barbeques, there's a free beginners mtb workshop being run by wheel woman, Emma Bawtree, and a swag of spot prizes to be shared amongst competitors.

Marty Clark will have his Way2Go portable skills course in action and the pump track can also help keep young'uns entertained while you throw down a scorching lap. Or maybe just line them up for a free Talleys ice=cream...

At just $5 for U14s, $10 for others or $20 for a family group, it sounds like a pretty cheap Fun Day out to me!

Log onto nelsoncyclefest.co.nz for all the week's activities or here:
http://nelsoncyclefest.co.nz/2011/07/29/the-more-fm-kaiteriteri-mountain-bike-challenge/
for more info.

The event kicks off at 10.00am so arrive early if you intend registering on the day.

Forest Royalty

For such a small, semi-rural region, we do pretty well in the volunteer stakes.

From late-March to December we hold weekly working bees on Sunday mornings and I never fail to be impressed by how many people turn-up for these. Rain is no deterrent - in fact, some of our best bees have been when it's been pouring down!

The main focus for the past two winters has been the hand-benching of Skullduggery: a narrow, winding singletrack that traverses the Park north to south 100m above sea level. Many of our regulars have invested dozens of hours in this task and it's no exaggeration to say that if they miss a w/bee or two, they start to feel withdrawal symptoms.

Just as the track unfolds in new ways as attendees follow the guideline surveying ribbons, so the Park slowly reveals its hidden treasures. Mature pine & kanuka stands give way to towering beech trees. Damp, shadier areas are thick with broadleaf & tree ferns. Streams trickle and splash on their steep descent to the estuary and out into the Bay.

The recent 'discovery' of three magnificent rimu along this route has provided the highlight of this journey of exploration so far. Estimated to be in the region of 500 years old, they stand like kings in a natural amphitheater. How they escaped the loggers of the previous century is a marvel. It seems as if they've been waiting for us to bring our mountain bike track to them.
You cannot but feel humbled in their presence...

I'm deliberately not including photos at this stage. For a start, it's hard to do them justice when you're an amateur with a cheap compact.
Secondly, for the time being, at least, it's as if they 'belong' to those volunteers sculpturing out the track from Kaiteriteri's hillside. Everyone feels a sense of ownership and the need for such trees to be properly acknowledged within the Park setting.
When Skullduggery is finished, we'll do that in a way we hope is fitting to their grandeur.

But for the time being, if you want to experience what it is like to be in the presence of forest royalty, you're welcome to join us at our next working bee :)

Much as we rely on volunteers to help extend our track network, there are other tasks around the Park that also require 'manpower'.



A couple of Saturdays ago, Ross Maley undertook to plant some native grasses along the earth bank separating the Skills Area from the trailer park.

No doubt, his son Sam was a help, when he wasn't doing laps of the Pump Track, as was Craig Skillicorn when he joined them before setting off for his own ride.


Kaiteriteri local David Ryder regularly makes his quad bike available when there's heavy stuff to be shifted.

Recently we needed to get some culvert off-cuts (donated by Fulton Hogan) about a kilometer into a digger-benched track currently under construction.

David began by towing them up the steep exit to Big Airs.

There wasn't a lot of manoeuverability along the new track but we managed to get to the gully where a stream needed to be crossed.



'Grib' Buchanan turned up to give a hand to install the culverts, here filling the bags we used to armour the sides.

Since arriving up from Dunedin, Grib has become a working bee regular. He's up for any ride that's going, be it local or Nelson way, mtb or roadie. Never happier than when on a bike.



It was only fair that he got to test ride the new bridge.

So, a few individuals giving up their time, another couple of tasks accomplished. Not the sort of thing many people using the Park would especially notice but all contributing to enhancing the experience...

The Fun Factor

There's a playful little breeze filtering through the trees at Kaiteriteri these days.

Its infectious qualities have been felt by all of those who turn up for our weekly working bees. Gone is the mantra of "more metres! more metres!" - in its place is the far more rewarding motivator of "more fun! more fun!".

To be fair, last winter's project of hand-benching Skullduggery didn't offer much scope for playfulness. The steepness of the gully-ridden terrain restricted the options for creativity and, as progress at times slowed to a crawl, counting off the metres at least maintained a sense of momentum.

At times it felt as though simply completing this section of singletrack was enough of a goal, without trying to add bells & whistles.
And there's no denying it was a terrific achievement by our small (but perfectly-formed) volunteer workforce to finish it in time for Spring.


So you could suggest that the new spirit of playfulness that accompanies our current hand-benching efforts on the Skullduggery extension is merely due to the slightly easier terrain we've had to work in. But that would be missing something.

More at work here is the awareness that we're no longer just turning up to build track, we want to make fun track!

Everyone seems to have been caught up in this new enthusiasm to be creative. There's a whole new buzz around the working bees and not turning up means you miss out on the opportunity to have input.

And there's no denying that having a good idea adopted by the crew adds to that sense of shared 'ownership' of a track, making it that bit more special each time you ride it.

Coming from the opposite direction, we're about 2/3rds along the way towards joining up last year's section of Skullduggery, which terminated at the junction with Flamin' Nora.
So there's still plenty of time to get involved! People who haven't attended our working bees can't appreciate the sense of camaraderie and accomplishment we share. But, believe me, like playfulness, it can be quite infectious...

Fortunately, this mysterious breeze permeates all parts of the forest, including where Karl Thompson & I are working with the digger.
Last week we made our long-awaited start on Skyline, the track that will provide bikeable access to the top ridge from within the Park boundaries.

But before we go up, we have to go down. Getting to the base of the 'climbing' spur involves descending from the junction of Ziggy & Big Airs and crossing a stream. This gave us an opportunity to create some long traverses through some of the gentlest terrain we've encountered so far - definitely too good to waste!

So, again, rather than just look to see how quickly we could bench a route down to the stream crossing, we've also sought to add in some fun factor. As with the w/bees, it makes for far more interesting work and we know it's going to make it way more enjoyable for you to ride.

Unfortunately, the photo will have to serve as a teaser until the track is finished and opened to bike traffic. If you want to get an idea of what's taking shape, you're welcome to stroll down (or up, depending on where we've got to). Just please respect the signage and leave your bike at the taped entrance. Even if you see treadmarks already there, don't go adding to them as the more bike traffic the track gets before it's ready, the more grooming will be later required, delaying its eventual opening.
And you don't want to find out what a digger can do to a bike!

And, finally, on this playful theme, few things are as likely to bring a smile to your face while out riding as quickly as seeing someone on a muni.

There's a growing group of these mountain unicyclists in the region and their skills are not to be laughed at. Actually, I think laughing at them is quite acceptable as chances are they'll be laughing even harder. Talk about blokes old enough to know better having fun!

Marty Richards & Julian Daly gave Sidewinder and the rest of the Park the big thumbs up when they ventured over. I suspect it won't be long until they're demanding their own race category...

Changing the Culture

Craig Skillicorn & I recently attended the MTB Development Conference in Living Springs, ChCh. Many good things came out of the weekend, not least the opportunity to swap notes with many trail-building mtb enthusiasts from around the country.

From Southland to the Far North, there are some amazing tracks being created - sometimes by a few dedicated individuals, others by clubs that, through corporate involvement, have turnovers in excess of $100,000 p.a. I, for one, can't wait to throw my bike on the back and do a tour of all that's good in NZ singletrack. And that would have to be a long tour!

One resource I'll avail myself of is www.bigbluemtb.com, brainchild of Hawke's Bay MTB Club Pres. Don Bricknall.
The idea behind this website is to enable mtbers from 'out of town' to hook up with locals to get the best out of the riding to be had in that area. With the explosion in track-building & mtb parks in recent years, what better way to ensure you don't miss out on the newest trails? Not to mention the best way to ride 'em!
And, in return, I get to show off the best of what we have to offer when visitors come to Tasman :-)

Another thing I took from the conference was the Christchurch Singletrack Club's observation that, over 2-3 years, they had helped effect a change of culture with regard to people riding wet tracks. The Port Hills tracks suffer badly from being ridden when wet and the burden of track maintenance was becoming unsustainable, esp. over winter.
Through a process of education and signage, they have significantly reduced the wear'n'tear of the Port Hill's trail network making for better riding for everyone when the time is right.

So what about Kaiteriteri...?

In part, the track damage we suffered this May-June was of our own making.
In trumpeting our all-weather tracks, we invited people to come riding all year round. While numbers were still relatively low - and rainfalls were normal - this generally held true. Those few areas that got muddy could be attributed to failings in track design or unanticipated seepage. Where possible, we carried out remedial work to alleviate the problem.

But the wettest Autumn in decades (ever?) and high Park usage meant that minor problem areas became majors and previously sound surfaces started to cut up. The run-up to our 6 Hr event saw many people out pre-racing the route, even during times of heavy rain.
Also, as other tracks around the Nelson area became too boggy, people increasingly came to Kaiteriteri for their fix. Attempts to close some of the worst affected tracks with tape were unsuccessful as individuals continued to ride the race circuit.

In the event, a week's postponement and fine weather meant that our 6 Hr went ahead and was enjoyed by all. But not before our volunteers had put in a power of work (see previous post) and are still left with a lot of damage to repair.

So it seems to us a change of culture amongst those who use the Mountain Bike Park might also be a good thing.

The first place to start is to ensure everyone is aware of the Mountain Bikers Code. It pops up from time to time in publications - it's even on our map board - but when was the last time you actually read it?
We'd like everyone to take note of Respect the Track: Avoid riding in the mud and rain.
It's included for a very good reason. Riding in the wet damages track surfaces. Once ruts or bogs have developed, they'll go on growing unless or until someone puts in the hours to clean them up.
At Kaiteriteri, that means volunteers. Volunteers aren't people who sit at home waiting for the maintenance call-up. We're people who much prefer riding to working. But we also accept that tracks don't build & maintain themselves. We're lucky to have so many people in our small region who do come regularly to working bees and we've made great gains in a short time because of that.

But they still represent only a small fraction of the number of people who use the Park.

What we would like all users to consider next time they're contemplating a ride in the Park during or immediately after rain is:
- does my need to ride wet tracks outweigh the 'needs' of the volunteers (who would far rather be building new track than fixing existing ones)?
- am I willing to be one of those that contributes to Park maintenance?

You might not see the connection between riding & volunteering but it was a recurring theme to come up at the Conference - how to engage more of our mtb population in track building & maintenance? It's something every club struggles with. Our management committee isn't a club but the same challenge applies. At Kaiteriteri we offer incentives like cash vouchers for attendance (sponsored by Coppins Outdoors) and provide tools on-site so you can 'ride to work', if preferred.

But that's not what really motivates our volunteers. To a person, they are individuals who want to give something back. They know, deep down, that trail pixies aren't building tracks while they sleep. They understand that unless tracks are maintained, they'll go on deteriorating until they become unrideable. And they know that when they ride other tracks elsewhere, there are people who share those values carrying out exactly the same work.
It also helps that, every Sunday morning when we gather for our working bees, we have a lot of fun and many friendships are made in the process :-)

The work can include clearing track-side vegetation, swinging a grubber, pulling a rake. Even bringing some baking counts as a much-appreciated contribution! If you think you would like to join us, check the website calendar for meet details and/or make sure we have your email address on our volunteer database.

And on a related theme, please note that the middle section of Shady Lady is closed for maintenance. A drain on the lower switchback blocked and, as a consequence, water has been running down the track. With traffic this has turned into one muddy mess!
We'll get to it as soon as possible but, in the meantime, you are free to use the Kimi Ora walking tracks to bypass this section (please observe their request to RIDE SLOWLY).

On a more positive note, Karl Thompson is back at the Park with his digger. We spent a couple of days doing maintenance on some of the tracks - we hope you notice! - before making a start on our next scheduled track.

But more on that later...

Kaiteriteri 6Hr goes ahead - and OFF!

They say every cloud has a silver lining. While a week's postponement of our 6 hour Mid-Winter Breakout due to wet weather saw some unlucky punters having to withdraw, others were wrapped to score a perfect Kaiteriteri day. The tracks had dried out nicely, the sun shone bright and the thermals were shed as the temperatures climbed. Some of us even returned from overseas or uni in time to enter :)

300 riders lined up for our inaugural multi-hour event and, by the resounding chorus of approval at its conclusion, it was a great success. Event director Wayne Pool's pre-race briefing that this was first & foremost a recreational occasion was well-heeded, even by those out to lay down scintillating lap-times.
From beginner to elite, everyone enjoyed the course and looked well-satisfied with the day's action - or maybe that was from the wild pork & apple sauce sammies that were freely available throughout the day...

Credit has to go to the Park's committee members and other volunteers who put in a lot of extra effort to ensure the event could go ahead after the wettest Autumn on record. The preceding Sunday 14 guys turned out in steady rain to spread gravel and improve water run-off (when best to do it?). It's this commitment that continues to reinforce our message that the Park belongs to all of us and that we share a responsibility to develop & maintain it.
Co-hosts Nelson MTB Club also put in a power of work, none more than Event Director Wayne Pool. His managing of the 6 Hr Breakout perfectly matched our MTB Park vision of staging recreational events that cater for all levels and see everyone going home looking forward to the next one!

Wayne Pool sets the field away from the Martin Farm Rd start...






Tom Filmer shot out to an early lead and, in the Solo class, stayed there - clocking up 16 laps in the process.


His time over 16 laps was only beaten by the Stoke Cycles A-Chain team, all riding single-speeds.









Champion multi-sporters Sophie Hart and Trevor Voyce relished racing on the fast tracks.












The under-over bridge was a popular feature...




Nathan Gilling enjoys some air off the optional ramp exiting the Tent Village...


Supporter Delwyn ensures a slick hand-over between Motueka mates Bill Hollick & 'Grib' Buchanan...





while Nick Kirby shows how much he enjoyed the new Kaiteriteri circuit.







Young riders Jordan Scott and Marcus Jones weren't giving anything away to their older fellow-competitors...




All photos courtesy of Oliver Weber and for personal use only.



These, and other photos, can be viewed in full resolution and purchased for a koha to Park development here:
www.oliverweberphotography.com/client-login/
Client login kaiteri

Race results can be viewed here:
www.nelsonmountainbikeclub.org.nz/6_hour_2011-results