The Corkscrew Tree

As expected, the Park's been pretty busy over the past month.

You don't often notice it on the tracks but stand in one place for any length of time and you'll be passed by a constant stream of riders.
Sometimes this means that an otherwise quick bit of maintenance can take 2-3 times as long, as grateful bikers stop to express their appreciation and share news of developments in their own regions. Whether it's summer holiday returnees reveling in the new tracks or newcomers exploring the network for the first time, I always get a buzz out of seeing the smiles on their faces.

Jane Pikethley (pink) from Gisborne and Tracy Harwood (blue) from Wellington were certainly enjoying themselves!
Staying at Tracy's family bach at Little Kaiteriteri meant they could be on the tracks within a couple of minutes of pedaling.

Tracy's husband, Phil Hartwick, also introduced his grown-up daughters to mountain biking during their visit, creating some more fans of the Park's 'family-friendly' tracks.

No doubt, they'll soon be joining the throngs of 'returnees'...





One of the tasks I've had on my To Do list for a while is to plant a 'Corkscrew Tree' on the Corkscrew skidsite.

Earlier attempts to get one going on a nearby post were frustrated by the corkscrews going missing within a matter of days. A strange choice for a souvenir, you'd think, especially in these days of screwtops, but there's no accounting for taste.

I decided I wouldn't be deterred... yet.
While planting my post, a relieved Mal McGrath from Christchurch topped out at the skid.

He was happy to give me an idea of how its positioning would work while giving me an update on the riding in his home town.






No sooner had Mal left than James Smith, also of ChCh, arrived, grateful to have made his first ascent!

It was a fairly humid day, and that last pitch had been tough, but James recovered quickly enough to ceremonially insert the inaugural corkscrew into the Tree.

I managed to get another 3-4 in before my mobile went. A rider had broken her wrist on Skullduggery and an ambulance was required.

Fortunately, as well as having a phone (and paracetamol!), she had a map. She assured me she could walk okay so I was able to direct her to a track hub where I could meet her and take her to the ambulance rendezvous point.

She also had a spare inner tube and remembered an earlier Park blog where we showed how a tube could be fashioned into a makeshift sling. This proved an ideal way to support her arm on the long walk out. So, all in all, pretty well prepared for that moment when her bike turned into a bucking steed.

I was able to get back to the Tree a couple of days later and complete the job. The two on top were donated by Park regulars so I hope they, at least, last the distance.

Maybe they'll even inspire you to scour your cutlery drawers for that now-obsolete corkscrew. I've left a few holes empty just in case...

While on Corkscrew... last month we trialled our first Corkscrew Sunday event.

Ten riders turned up for the timed ascents and descents of the track for a combined total. The idea is to log times over the course of a monthly series and chart performance improvement (or not).

It was a popular format, especially as it gave a rare opportunity to bomb down the track without fear of meeting someone coming up.

We'll be holding the January one soon so check in on our Facebook page for notification.

Before I packed up for the day - to take my wife back to the hospital for a CT scan on that wrist, Scott Cameron turned up.

Scott is a Kaiteriteri local who probably walks the tracks more than he bikes. He asked if I'd mind if he invested in a slasher to  trim the trackside overgrowth of bracken and fern fronds during his walks.

Mind....?!!

We bikers love it when the Park's many walkers take it upon themselves to keep the tracks debris-free and those pesky fronds from face-slapping us as we whizz along.

It's a great way for them to show their thanks to the volunteers who have given so much of their time in creating the network.


It's a sort of "You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours" trade.

Just don't use one of those corkscrews to do it  ;-)

2013 Park map

Here it is, our latest trail map :-)

We had to delay getting it to the printer so we could include a couple of late additions but we ended up making the deadline by at least a couple of hours.

Cruise Control is already proving popular with beginners and experienced riders alike. Somehow it now takes an extra effort of will to take the Sidewinder/Swamp Monster option but its calorific value probably equates to a slice of xmas cake.

Corkscrew takes the title of People's Favourite - mainly, I think, because you get two tracks for the price of one. I was told recently by a local we shouldn't bother with building our planned downhill line because he'll still choose to come down Corkscrew. We've included it in our 2013 build programme, anyway...

Our three ridgeline descents are still as challenging as ever but they each have their fans. Due to the stupidly steep gradients of the upper sections, these tracks are technically 'unsustainable' but, somehow, four years later, they're still there. Make a clean run of all three and you're eligible for one of our Special Edition 'Expert' Park t-shirts.

On hot days, when you need to seek shelter from the beach, it's always a relief to enter the forest. The damp gullies of Shady Lady, Glade Runner and Skullduggery offer cool havens and, if you care to stop, you may find you have some of the native birdlife for company.

If it's views you're after, the one from Corkscrew's skidsite is probably the most photographed, but take a cruise along the ridge to Flamin' Nora if you want the full monty. A personal favourite lies on Bay View between the water tank and Swish - easily missed so you need to be looking if you want that bay view.

Scoot is ably fulfilling its role as a handy bypass so we've been able to extend the One-Way section of Bay View all of the way down to Swish. Now you can hit those swooping BV corners knowing you have the track to yourself ;-)

An extension of the hand-built Skullduggery into the southern perimeter of the Park will be the focus of 2013's working bees. "The volunteers want a project!", we've been told and we're delivering. It's a densely-vegetated part of the Park so if any of you vols want to help with surveying (read: bush-bashing), we'll be keen to hear from you...

This Summer, to help newcomers orientate themselves to the network, we've added a few arrows to our marker posts.
The green will steer you along our recommended Easy route, the blue for a more challenging Moderate circuit.
You'll even find a blue on green combo for a mix of both grades - how's that for ensuring you have a stress-free holiday!

Our tear-off padmaps are in the process of being distributed around the region. The Beach Camp Office is already well-stocked, as are several Motueka outlets. A gold coin donation is always appreciated but, if you think that's too much to ask, you can print one off from the Map link on the menu bar.
Having made the effort to get to us, we want to make sure you get the most out of what's on offer.

And finally, with the increased numbers in the Park over the holidays, it's great to hear those bells jingling! Much as I look forward to meeting new people on the tracks, I'd rather it's not on a blind corner :P

Have a great holiday.

Easy Rider Upgrade - A Start...

Those of you who have been following the progress of the Tasman Great Taste Trail (GTT), the region's family-friendly cycleway, will be aware that its heading for Kaiteriteri.

The Mountain Bike Park's contribution to this venture was to allow one of our most popular tracks, Easy Rider, to become part of the cycleway route. This meant that GTT cyclists will be able to avoid the steep, narrow, winding road between Tapu Bay and Kaiteriteri.

As gentle as Easy Rider is, however, it is still outside of the Grade 2 parameters that apply to the GTT.
This means that we need to go over the entire length of the track widening, smoothing and, to some extent, leveling it to meet the requisite standard.
And, as the 'new' Easy Rider will extend right through to the Park entrance off Martin Farm Rd, it means Salivater will be subsumed into the cycleway route.

Digger operator Karl Thompson and I recently made a start on the project,. We decided to tackle the biggest challenge first - upgrading Salivater.

There is a sense of irony about the complete remodeling Salivater has undergone. Jonathan Kennett surveyed this track, our first, back in September 2008, using a clinometer and piece of string to good effect. In September 2012, I walked the same track with Jonathan, taking mental notes as he pointed out where  gradients were too steep and switchbacks too tight for Grade 2 trail. If only we'd known at the time  :P

So we say goodbye to Salivater (left) and welcome the first stage in the upgrade project (right).
And, yes, they are the same section of track...

But the above is minor compared to the eight(!) new switchbacks that have been sculptured by Karl and Mighty Mouse the digger (somehow its first name stuck).
They finished their artistry on Monday and, in our haste to get the track (re)opened as soon as possible, Matt McCann and I set to with rake and compactor.

Here, Matt puts the finishing touches on the swooping new intersection that connects with the short section of  original track remaining to link you to the rest of the Park's network.

In fact, Matt  - who part-times at Stewarts Cycles in Nelson - pushed and pulled the compactor over the whole length of track in some of the hottest days we've had so far - so buy him an ice-cream if you see him on the beach this summer.

The berms are still a bit soft so go easy until they've had a chance to settle...

Then it was down to the bottom to take down the tape and open the track for business!

Arriving on the scene were Marushka and Pete Lucas, over from Golden Bay.
They were the perfect couple to 'test ride' the entry switches and gracious enough to let me snap a pic in the process.

I've no idea whether or not they intend to ride the rest of the Great Taste Trail but they can certainly lay claim to be the first to ride part of it from Kaiteriteri :-)


We're taking a break over the busy Summer period but are looking forward to carrying on with the rest of Easy Rider's upgrade in the new year. It's scheduled for completion by July 2013 but don't be surprised if we beat that deadline - we've got too many other other projects in mind to let it take that long.

Coming up... our new Park map!

Building a track

We had the unique experience recently of completing a new track in just two Sunday morning working bees.
To be fair, all it involved was clearing regrowth from an old road that belonged to the time when the Reserve was a forestry block. We've come across a few of these on our track surveying missions - bush-bashing our way through thickets of broadleaf, tree ferns & kanuka to suddenly find ourselves on a wide bench - but never have they suited our purposes as well as our latest discovery.
In fact, it was along the exact route where we had discussed the need for a track!

We wanted an easier option to link Tank with Swish, bypassing the steep, rutted climb to the water tank that gives Tank its name.
We also wanted to provide a safe way for people to get from Swish to Tank, rather than climbing the steep, blind corner with the ever-present risk of meeting someone bombing down from the water tank at 30-40 kph.
And here it was, just waiting to be rediscovered...

During these working bees, I reflected on the different roles that individuals adopt in building a track.

Out front, you've got the pioneers.

They're keen to see what's coming up, what challenges or surprises they may find, what the lie of the land is.

They don't mind getting scratched or pricked - even the possibility of wasp nests doesn't hold them back.

Michael Moss, Steve Fry & Mike Nelson led the charge on this w/bee, hacking and sawing their way through undergrowth and fallen kanuka so that a route emerged for others to follow...




In their wake came 'the grubbers' - guys like Bill Hollick (and many others out of shot) who hack out the bench with mattocks/grubbers and give the track its riding line.

Sometimes you can get whole lines of these tireless workers, swinging their grubbers in a kind of graceful harmony.
You might expect that to be accompanied by some mournful, chain-gang, chant but they're too busy chatting and catching-up with each other's news for that.

Few things make a more satisfying sight for a track-builder than seeing rideable trail emerge before your eyes.

And no more satisfying feeling than counting off the completed metres at the end of the morning. At least, until you get to ride it..

Bringing up the rear are 'the finishers' - those happiest with a spade or rake.
We dub them our Ministry of Fun. Their task is to identify potential features in advance and make sure that they are left for them to craft into rollers, steps, jumps or tabletops.

We generally leave a few tools by the track for the first week or two because these are the ones most likely to return after a few test rides to make sure it's jumping, pumping and flowing as it should.

Here Jay Nelson, Tom Filmer and Thomas Williams finish some final grooming on a tabletop, watched on by Bill and Quinne Weber.

So, all integral elements of a good track-building crew, complementing and complimenting each other's efforts in bringing a new track to life :-)

And, as is so often the case at Kaiteriteri, no sooner have we put the finishing touches on a track than the first rider comes exploring...

Jill Clendon had read about the w/bee on our facebook page and thought she'd check out our progress.

Her timing couldn't have been more perfect!
We were all standing round admiring our handiwork when Jill came swooping round the corner, grinning from ear to ear.

There's nothing volunteers love more than hearing appreciation for our efforts and Jill was generous with hers. Being a good sport, she even agreed to 'test-ride' the tabletop for us.
I'm sure next time you're back, Jill, you'll be getting air off it !

And what are we calling this short and sweet addition to the Park network..?


"SCOOT"



In other news...
Some of you may have noticed that we've begun the upgrade to Salivater to bring it within grade for the cycleway to Kaiteriteri. This involves a complete remodelling of this track so it will be closed for the duration of the work. Please refrain from riding it while the tape is up.
In the meantime, use Half-Pipe to connect with the main network and be aware of those coming up if you're going down.

Cruise Control

Well, it's been a long time between drinks for the website blog!

A few reasons for this: our facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/KaiteriteriMTBPark) is doing a great job of getting trail news out as it's happening, a wet winter frustrated our building programme and... I absconded to Europe for another long cycle tour :-)

Still, things never stand still and, in my absence, the rest of the committee pulled off a very successful Family Adventure Race as part of the Nelson CycleFest (pics on fb), completed a new exit to Remedy, that now aligns with Shady Lady, and undertook various maintenance tasks around the Park to keep the tracks open and humming.

Alongside this, once things dried out a bit, Karl got back on our digger to groom up this year's big  project, the 1.8km Cruise Control!

With the amount of traffic it had already had, plus the speed with which the clay turned from mud to rock once it finally stopped raining, Karl wasn't quite able to bring up as smooth a surface as we generally aim for.
But that will happen soon enough... a couple of days of rain and that ride line will be sweet.

This new track offers an alternative - and easier - way to get to the Kimi Ora hub. It bypasses Sidewinder & Swamp Monster, both of which will be upgraded to Intermediate. If you're a beginner or have little ones in tow, this is the way to go.

We also welcome Golden Bay Fruit on board as Cruise Control's sponsor and their logo will soon be affixed to the marker posts. Track sponsorship is a significant source of income for us in developing the Park. It helps us buy and maintain our track-building tools and machinery, purchase materials & fuel, print maps and covers a host of other expenses. If your business might be interested in sponsoring a track at the Park for 2 years, send us an email at info@kaiteriterimtbpark.org.nz

The other way people show their support is via donations. The metal donation box at the entrance is always well-used, especially over Summer when many visitors like to show their appreciation for the efforts of local volunteers.

But not everyone goes pedalling with their wallet so we've added a QR graphic for those with smart phones who are also smart enough to have downloaded a (free) QR reader app.

Simply scan the image and it will take you straight to our PayPal account. Tap in the amount of your donation and 'presto' - your karma balance is immediately topped up!

There are others who use the PayPal link on the sidebar to convey their monetary thanks. Significant donations are individually acknowledged under the Supporters tab on our Homepage.

Finally, for now, an example of what our Park might be able to offer some time in the future out of these donated funds.

I came across this on an Austrian cycleway. As well as all the tools you'd need for basic maintenance, a workstand and foot pump, it also had an inner tube dispensing machine for 12 different tyre sizes!

Plus!!! It was located next to a bar where you could ask the fraulein to bring you a stein while you worked (or didn't :-) .


Coming up: what generated our biggest working bee turnout all year...?

The story so far...

Four years ago, the bush-clad slopes behind Kaiteriteri beach were largely unused.

A few local walkers, runners and mountain bikers accessed the firebreaks but even some of these were being rapidly overgrown by gorse. The only visitors who ventured off the firebreaks were those engaged in less legal activities, at least until the police starting using aerial thermal imaging...

In the summer of 2008, a Concept Plan was commissioned of the Kennett Bros. by the Kaiteriteri Recreation Reserve Board (KRRB). While it identified potential for a mountain bike park, it also acknowledged the challenge the steep terrain presented. It was possible, they said, but it wouldn't be easy.

Their report was presented to, and approved by, the KRRB in September 2008. A purposefully-designed MTB Park was still a fairly radical concept for the Board at the time, whose focus was largely centred around its twin roles as a beach holiday destination and a jumping-off point for the Abel Tasman NP. A few holidaymakers would arrive in the camp from Christchurch every summer with bikes on the back but their choices of places to ride was pretty limited.

So it was no small leap of faith by the KRRB to embrace the vision of a family-centred mountain bike park and throw their support behind it.

The original proposal outlined a 3 year, 3 stage development programme that would see the creation of a pump track and two track circuits (easy & intermediate) that traversed the lower slopes of the Park. These tracks were all in place by the end of 2011.
But it seems we had awakened a sleeping tiger.  Like cars on motorways, it seemed the more tracks we built, the more people arrived to ride them. It quickly became apparent we needed to expand the trail network.
This mushrooming interest in mountain biking had not gone unnoticed by the KRRB. Now there was barely a car in the beach carpark without bikes on the back. Increasingly popular with mums and/or dads with their kids, many regularly travelling from Nelson, the Park fulfilled the Board's mandate of investing in family-oriented activities.

In early 2012, they asked the management team, Kaiteriteri Mountain Bike Park Inc. (KMBP), to provide another 3 Year Plan. This Plan outlined how the KMBP envisioned track development, along with other Park enhancements, through to 2015.
A pdf copy of the report is available by emailing   info@kaiteriterimtbpark.org.nz

Building tracks at Kaiteriteri is expensive. Steep slopes mean slow progress, and tracks (e.g. Corkscrew) that demand multiple switchbacks slow it even more. In budgeting for the proposed programme, the KMBP recommended that the purchase of a mini-excavator could provide savings over hire options. The further the network extended from easy-access points also increased the case for a 'digger' that could remain on-site when bad weather forced stoppages.

Just as they did in 2008, the Board again recognised the value of investing in the Park. Not only did they approve the 3 Yr Plan with its $60,000 track building estimate, they also agreed to fund the purchase of a 2nd-hand excavator.

All of us involved in developing Kaiteriteri Mountain Bike Park know how fortunate we are to have the KRRB as project backers. The vision they shared with a few enthusiastic mountain bikers back in 2008 is now a reality - and we haven't stopped yet!

To help acknowledge their role, we've recently added them as Foundation Sponsors to our website.
Clicking the link in the sidebar will take you to a profile of their involvement. They're a modest bunch so I've yet to score a group photo.
In the meantime, we're using their logo which, in turn, takes you to the website that outlines all of the Kaiteriteri-based activities they're engaged in.

Our other Foundation Sponsor is Andrew Spittal, via his Family Trust. Andrew came on-board right at the early stages and remains a huge asset to the Park. You can read more of Andrew's contribution by using the sidebar link but I'm afraid clicking on his photo just gets you a larger version of it ;-)

Project Manager Guy Trainor receives the keys from Todd Blackwood (R)

As soon as Andrew heard that we were on the look-out for a 2nd-hand 1.5t excavator in good condition, he started asking around his mtb riding buddies, many of whom are in the construction industry.

One of these is Todd Blackwood, Sales rep. for Cable Price in Richmond.
A keen mtber and 'trail pixie' himself, Todd knew of a trade-in that would tick our boxes (zero-tail swing, retractable tracks, safety features) and arranged to have it transported up from Invercargill.

Once in the workshop, his team gave it a good going over to make sure it was thoroughly up-to-scratch before handing over the keys. They even fitted it up with a tilt-swing bucket the Board had agreed to additionally purchase.

Needless to say, we're totally wrapped with our latest acquisition!
It was immediately put into service benching our current project, Cruise Control (you can see it in action last week on our facebook page).
You'll be able to admire its work (at the hands of operator Karl Thompson) once we've completed the grooming of the track in a fortnight's time - weather-permitting!

We see it as the start of a long and productive relationship...

Those that Do...

Over recent weeks I've been on the verge of a rant about 'track consumerism' - the attitude where riders expect to be able to use tracks without any sense of giving back. I suspect this is a growing trend, fed by the emergence of so many new mtb parks & trail centres on public land, and certainly not restricted to Kaiteriteri.
We build tracks, encourage people to come and use them, and then moan when we're faced with the burden of track maintenance. You could say, "It's your own fault!"

But focussing on those that don't is a depressing train of thought - far better to focus on those that DO.

We have quite a small pool of mountain bikers to draw from in Tasman, especially within a half-hour commute to Kaiteriteri. What's been amazing is that, since our first gatherings in late 2008, we've kept a core group of people who remain absolutely committed to the venture.

These individuals largely constitute our current committee. You can see who they are via the About Us link on the menu bar but, if you wanted to meet them, our Sunday morning working bees are the best place.

They each have donated hundreds of hours to the Park, be it in track-building, track maintenance or in numerous other committee tasks & functions. It takes a lot to develop and run a MTB Park and without these guys, it would grind to a halt.

But as generous with their personal time as the committee is, even they would burn-out without the contributions from our wider pool of volunteers. So far this year, 30 people have turned up for one of our w/bees. Of these, four have attended 10+ and another seven 4+. But even those who have only managed 2-3 are doing their bit - giving back - and that helps keep the rest of us going.

We're in the process of reviewing our working bee format and hope to have some fresh ideas come out of it. If you have some suggestions, we'd love to hear them. But I suspect the bottom line will remain the same, the future of the Park will depend on how much support it gets from the local mountain biking community.

Website & Facebook
David Konecny is our Go to man for any website upgrades. David set up the original blogspot and has periodically tweaked it into how we want to use it. Recently we thought it was time for a refresh and we hope you agree it's looking better.

You'll see there are now social media buttons at the bottom of each post for you to share via email, twitter or facebook. We've also included a link to our new facebook page in the sidebar. This has been up & running for a couple of weeks now and being well liked! It will be the place to go to for the current news & photos and we hope you'll use it to give us feedback. David's also increased the size of video playback on our park tv, always a good place to visit if you're wanting an idea of what the Park offers.

Easy Rider
The Tasman District Council largely funded the construction of this easy-grade track to provide an off-route to Kaiteriteri, bypassing the steep and narrow, winding, coastal road.
It has now been selected to form the final stage in the regional cycleway network, the Tasman Great Taste Trail.

This necessitates a significant, but achievable, upgrade. The result will be a smooth, flowing trail suitable for all ages and offering some of the best views of Tapu Bay in the Park.

Cruise Control
Work on our latest, family-friendly, track came to a halt mid-July when Karl's digger broke a coupling (see previous post). Today our "new" digger arrived in Kaiteriteri and we'll be back into action tomorrow!
You'll hear more about our digger in our next blog but, meanwhile, you'll be able to follow our progress on facebook...