Richard Rants Again!
Is more stunts always a good thing?
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There are some trails on Burke Mountain in Coquitlam that are extremely challenging. Trails like Triple Crown and Upper and Lower Vics are not only fun, they're also very technical and extremely challenging. (In fact, those two trails alone have claimed six of my ribs so far this year). There is also one key trail on the lower part of Burke that, while being less technical than the others, still has a certain flow to it and is always a great way to end a ride. |
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Now, the problem here is this; all the trails on Burke can easily kick my ass due to the incredible, sick imaginations of the trail builders and the way they have used the terrain. Steep singletrack, rock drops, log lines...they all combine into some of the most creative natural riding around. Burke is a thinker's mountain that uses the land, not man-made stunts.
Now, while the modern Shore trail builders have introduced teeter-totters, ladder bridges and other artificial trail accessories, which have been embraced by freeriders everywhere, these stunts seem to be popping up everywhere because anyone with a hammer and a saw thinks he or she can build them. Alright, there are stories out there about near-abandoned trails being brought back to life thanks to the creativity and vision of some craftsmen. That's great, but on trail networks like Burke, are these stunts really necessary? Just riding the natural lines is fun and difficult enough, so why is there this massive need to build a "mini Shore?"
Lately Flywheel has fallen victim to riders who consider themselves trail builders by erecting sketchy, wobbly stunts that are little more than wooden death traps. It doesn't take a degree in biochemistry to hammer some wood together - we had that technology when we were cavemen. Anyone who rode the big totter, half way down Flywheel over that mud puddle, knows what I'm talking about. After getting to the end of the rickety stunt in April, and it failed to go down, I was forced to bail out from 7 feet in the air...luckily I was ok, but I'd hate to have been the guy riding it when it finally snapped in two.
Building stunts takes a certain degree of understanding and construction skills. Building them so they work with a trail and flow like they have always been there takes a maturity and vision that many don't posses. There are three guys I know who have it all figured out. Chris, Jamie and Bill, you guys should write the book called "Zen and the Art of Trail Construction", and others would be wise to read it. See, these guys are responsible for one of the best riding areas around (which will remain nameless out of respect for the builders). How do they do it? They build trails. They don't just find a trail and throw some crappy structures on it. They survey, mark, plan and then work their asses off to create riding experiences that Cannondale Pro trials rider Lance Trappe and Matt Phillips of Mountain Bike magazine both called "The best ride I've ever had, without a doubt." That's high praise, considering the sources.
If a trail is challenging enough while just relying on the terrain, why not leave well-enough alone? After all, there are plenty of boring trails out there that could use a little action and attention.
Richard Belson
