Kurt Lancaster tests out the first (and currently only) tabletop.
The riding paradise of Nelson will soon have even more good times with the addition of some perfectly sculpted jumps.
Nelson Mountain Bike Club (NMTBC) has started work on a set of jumps just a few minutes from the CBD, with the support of the Nelson City Council.
The project plans to build two lines of jumps at Branford Park, in the Maitai Valley. There has been a set of jumps there for years but they’ve always been small in scale.
The plan is to build a line of friendly tabletops designed for beginner/intermediate riders, and a bigger line of gap jumps for those who have been shredding a little longer.
Hamish Berkett turning powdery brown potential into mountain bike magic.
The park is getting a full makeover, with large diggers brought in to seriously move some dirt in the quest for the perfect set of jumps. Volunteers from NMTBC are operating the machinery and slapping dirt to give the jumps their final shape.
There will be a strong community and family focus. It’s intended to be a great place for anyone who loves bikes to hang out and build up their skills or just watch the show.
The rebuild has been driven by local teen hucker Harry Denton and a couple of his mates, who have campaigned for years to turn their local jump spot into something more. Recently they got together with NMTBC, who put in a formal proposal to the council. The proposal went through the process and got the green light.
NMTBC trails manager Ben Pointer estimated that the project would cost around $10,000 – although he said that figure was “reliant on a lot of people’s goodwill”. It will be funded through fundraising by NMTBC.
The digger makes for quick work, but they aren’t cheap to run.
Pointer said they “might push a couple of thousand cube” of dirt, which is a lot of dirt. Donaldson Civil is dropping off regular truckloads as they remove it from their roading projects in the region.
Its hoped the jumps will become a central hub for riding in the region as it is close to some of Nelson’s best trails. Pointer has a vision – “do your (trail) ride, jump in the river, huck some jumps, have a beer”. That’s something we can all support.
Currently the area is a construction site, with restricted access. It is hoped to be completed in a couple of months, if funding and the weather allows.
So far the project has received support from Ground Effect Cycle Clothing, Steve Rolston Limited Building, Donaldson Civil, and Krankin’ Kids Mountain Bike Coaching.
NMTBC have set up a givealittle page to help fund the project here. If you want to donate in a way that isn’t financial or get involved in this fantastic project, get in touch through the club website or Facebook page.
The testing is the fun part of the build process. That one works sweet.
