05/12/2008

- The Dirt Yard - Words by Jeff Bertoia

After hitting up Piper Down, I decided the next evening to ride the local dirt jump park après work. It’s owned and operated by the Town of Smithers, which is cool, but it really needs some work. It has no flow and I was disappointed after hitting only one good table 20 times over. Young children ran all over the place as their parents drank beer and played slow-pitch in the adjacent field. Slightly disgruntled, I packed up and headed out only to meet a couple local riders on their way home from riding the bluff, a well- mapped, and coordinated trail network just above town. When I questioned them about any other dirt jumping zones they told me about a place in Telkwa called The Dirt Yard, where some local guys where building some great big stuff. “Nuff said, thanks boys!” and off I drove.

The DirtYard near Telkwa B.C. Click to enlarge

Approaching Telkwa, just over the river and down the road next to a large cleared lot and a log-home construction site, was a vision I had not expected to see in a middle-of- nowhere kind of place. These guys will soon have jobs sculpting the Whistler boneyard once they graduate from high school. After a polite introduction to Kenton Haywood, the Dirt Yard's creator, we sessioned the jumps and sat down for an interview. I was interested to discover how a 16-year-old dude with a backhoe, loader and mountains of dirt managed to create something Brian Lopes would be stoked on.

One of many lines.  Jeff Bertoia does it up Northern style. Click to enlarge

To set the scene, we sit on a 25’high dirt mound run-in, on some steps his dad had gathered from an old mill. This gives the Dirt Yard a really professional feel. The ghetto blaster cranks out tunes from the Disorder and Collective movies, and the picturesque, snow-capped peaks of the Telkwa mountain range form the backdrop.

JB:  Kenton, solid work here, what a surprise?! When did you start building the Dirt Yard?

Kenton:  I started in 2005, the year I started mountain biking. I built a 20x20’ tabletop so my Dad could watch me catch some “air” on my bike. My Dad, Gary, has a log home building business and sells topsoil so I had access to all the dirt I wanted - and that's how the dirt yard was spawned.

Kenton Haywood ~ Small Town Visionary.

JB:  For a two year old rider you’ve got some sweet skills and one helluva playground to practice in. What’s your current ride, and do you have any sponsors?”

Kenton:  No sponsors, but I do work for the local bike shop in Smithers, McBike, as a tech, and they give me good deals. My ride is a custom built Snipes hardtail, on which I’m currently missing a back brake! Since I’ve started riding I’ve blown two front shocks, but never really hurt myself.

Hometown hero:  Wayne Goss sessions the DirtYard in preparation for his NWD 7 Seggy.

JB:  You want to shout out props to anyone?

Kenton:  Yeah, Wayne Goss and his girlfriend Teresa are big inspirations and it's sweet to be able to ride and build with someone of that caliber. Wayne is really creative and helping sculpt the yard for his upcoming segment this August here in Smithers.

We hit the Dirt Yards jumps and wall rides for over an hour until the Alpenglow hits the Telkwa Mountains. Then Ken, Gary (his Dad) and I settle in for a brew at the top of the stairs to reflect on the day. As he Alpenglow fades, I say thanks to Ken and head off as the sunsets behind Hudson Bay Mountain.

Josh.

( I made it back on my last trip to Smithers in the end of August, and just missed the Disorder crew’s arrival, and subsequent filming in Smithers. Look for the Dirt Yard during Wayne Goss’ segment in Disorder 7.)

Speak the truth about Jeff's article here.