Taa Daaa!~

BEFORE...

AND AFTER!!!

We are 80 percent complete in all phases!!



Go and enjoy this park on June 16th, it encompasses every skill and fitness level and has been 100 percent built on peoples passion to introduce to you what biking really is and how it can benefit your life. Sounds cheesy but it is true, get in there and enjoy it and a huge thanks to all the volunteers and all of the donations to the Friends of North Saanich Freeride Society!

So June 16th we expect to be 100 percent open in all the new phases only leaving the Pro line and the much anticipated dual slalom course to be built which pending donations of material and funding for completion!

Remember riding this park before the opening date JUNE 16TH is illegal and will result in further delays in the parks opening. Please respect this and wait until it is ready, we have worked very hard to acheive thsi and it would be a shame to have it closed due to a few people who decide to jump the fence.

Other than that get ready for a fun summer!

New Free Ride Site

Time to check out the new Free Ride Website, we are still adding new info, but lots of images from the unofficial opening are available to see thanks to some quick camera action.

Time to get in Shape!

This is me and yes I am wheezing in pain. I just finished hiking my bike up a cliff face and I admit I am out of shape!



Good thing we are building a Fitness track littered with jumps and flow to get me in shape!

I was on Pinkbike today and Katrina Strand our local ripper from Whistler listed a Training program.

Check it out!
SPRING FITNESS TRAINING PROGRAM PART 1!

Last weeks track connection!

Decline posted on their website a mini blurb on the Flouride race where Drew won second place last weekend. Second isn't bad since Drew slaved in the North Saanich Freeride Park for three days straight, him and I quit at 8 pm on Friday dehydrated and out of fuel for the bobcat.

Drew's our park slave as long as we let him play with a shovel and a bobcat he doesn't talk back too much.

Visit Virtual Descent.com for a run down of the course!

Results:

Pro Men:
1. Lars Sternberg- Fluidride/Fox suspension
2. Andrew Mitchell- Cove Bikes
3. Bart McDaniel- Center Cycle
4. Richard Mukai- Rotec Cycles
5. Sean McClendon- Decline Griz America

Now keep in mind we are building a modern freeride park here in North Saanich and Drew is our key guy along with Kyle Michell -no relation- Since Kyle is in China building the worlds BMX track, Drew and I have been focusing on setting up the pump track area and planning layouts until Kyles return.
Check out Kyles Jumps in his front yard for a taste of whats to come.

Kyles work in Madrid...


And Kyles work in California...


This past week Drew and I did a super human feet and did a track connection -not the prettiest but we intend to top the track with proper soil as what we had was not future friendly.



Massive shout out to Jim Dunlop for supplying his personal bobcat for us to use, without it nothing would have happened and to Tammara at Classic Transport for picking up and delivering the bobcat for us to use.

I cannot even begin to count how many various firms have chipped in selfishly to make this work!
So hopefully this park -free at anytime for anyone- will set a standard for park designs in other communities and we can start training athletes for our sports both BMX and MTB. Keep an eye on the blog for updates!

Freeride Park update!

So what I have learned is this... Sun is better than rain and snow!

This was two weeks ago, after days of sunshine it decided to snow on the park on a build day. So... building was off but we decided to keep the machine in action and at least chew up some material because that is just fun.

This past weekend we had a mini build planned and cove-shocker Drew Mitchell of Cove Bikes swung over to help connect the large pump track but again it decided to rain. No luck. But we took the time to use North Saanichs Wheel Loader and designed the little kids track and form some berms with base material.

Everthing is wet so until ther material dries we are going to wait and hunt down more material for the park so we can make it professionallyBig Props to Gordy Martman Excavating for consistantly backing us up with machinery, it is making other parks jealous at how good we have it.

Bike Park update!

We have been building in the winter time, not the best when dry material is key but we laid the pump track on the first sunny day we had.

Now spring is here we are scrambling for material to help mix into the clay on premise and big thanks again to Gord Martman Excavating, who has again stepped in with some material for us to use. The excavator was taken way temporarily but will be back for a few hours of mixing then we can loop the pump track.

Check out the quick videos.

Bike park in top gear!

This is Dave Aylard of Brackenhurst Farms admiring his gardening skills after a full 8 hour day of bulldozing the park then wind rowing the material along the north fence.

On top of donating his Bulldozer and expertise Dave has also donated gravel for our access roads throughout the park.

Our design concept relies on the skill levels divided by three key roads that will not only just divide the park in phases/skills but act as spectator roads for event days, competitions and the curious parent who wants to watch their child in all areas of the park.

This is Jim Dowd. Jim is a farmer by day and night and professional tree faller on his coffee breaks. Jim showed up between his busy day to strategically remove some trees deemed hazardous so that we can safely design throughout the natural sections. No animals or ferns were harmed in this trees falling!

Big thanks to John Plant of John Plant Excavating for stepping in and helping organize with Gord Martman Excavating for delivering Dave's bulldozer to the site.

This has truly become a community event with everyone chipping in for the cause and we are beyond pumped to build this park like no other and start developing future athletes by simply giving people a place ride.

Too many people quit riding over the lack of places to explore so if you want to get on board and help us out by all means get in touch!

What is needed the most is motivated individuals to rally up memberships and help organise work parties.

A second and very important position is of course donations and fundraising. Someone who sees the cause and the vision we have of making this park a modern fitness park.

Please email nsfreeride@gmail.com and CC gp.spi@shaw.ca as well and we will be in touch.

Cheers!

Fitness park Phase 1!

And this is just the kids section...


Sorry Locals only... go build your own pumptrack!

Nah this is a free park and just a sample of whats to come in here North Saanich.

This is about 1/3rd of the pump track more to come with crazy lines that connect to each other. It will be starting out with a triple step up into a flowy straight stretch that offers transfer lines and a big triple into a berm once you get into the flow. This is fun for kids and the pro so we will make it ultra sexy for all of you to come ride it.

This is a out of the ordinary park, mainly because we want BMX and MTB of all levels to ride and have fun but we need help! The pump track is a sample of quality to expect backing up our claims that we have one of the best builders Kyle Michell designing and constructing this Park.

And this is our last section to eb built- the pro section! The picture makes this look small but we piled our start ramp to 25 feet.

Stay tuned and by all means contact Greg at gp.spi@shaw.ca for volunteer and sponsorship info.