Thaba DH track closing

[remfactor]

It amazes me how everybody seems to agree withe the course friendliness to novices and the B-line story.

Here in Tzaneen, our problem is the lack of numbers.

We are only 3 or 4 riders to ride our course regularly (turned out to be more of an enduro course than a gnarly DH one).

So it took us (only 2 people building most of the time) over two years to complete the project!

It is now to a stage where we have quite a few different line options plus B-lines everywhere needed (I counted about 20 B-lines on a +/- 4mn30s run!!).

We are in the process of trying to organise an event this year, but it can only work if we get riders from outside the province to come and ride, otherwise, we will be 4 or 5!!!!!!!

The course is really a lot of fun and enjoyable by all. Open 24/7, no entry fee.

Come and try it out 

[NicoBoshoff]

This is the sad reality of things here in SA.

Maybe we need to focus more on getting people involved with organised build days - if you can get 10 - 15 guys together, you can accomplish quite a lot in one day, but usually its only 3 or 4 guys working their butts off, and you only build maybe 1 feature in a day.

Its an awesome feeling getting to ride trails that you actually had a hand in creating!

Way I see it is the only person that can close down a track is the landowner.  A landowner will usually only do this for tow reasons:

 

- It's costing them money and becoming a hassle;

 

- It's too great a liability.

 

Both of those will result from building gnar-only tracks.

So whether it's just you and two other guys slogging it out and building (like us in Paarl most of the time) or 20 volunteers of the whole cycling spectrum or you're a professional, paid builder, you have to cater for all or the inevitable will result.

 

Yes it grinds your gears to waste time building stuff you won't ride, but I do that often on both sides of the coin - chicken lines and big jumps.  I build because I want to see people ride and enjoy themselves.  I want that because then I will always have a spot to ride and be happy. 

 

Every obstacle on Paarl that has fallen into disrepair is a bad-ass feature that I am sure three people used to hit with regularity.  The stuff that still stands?  The stuff that the average rider can hit or easily roll around without taking a year.

 

And Paarl is on the WP DH calender.  Not a dumbed down track by any stretch of the imagination.  Just safe.

 

Lots of stuff I looked at in France and went "HOLY SH*T!!!!" with my second immediate thought being "Oh look! I don't HAVE to do that feature and I can still ride the trail". 

[Super_mil]

Way I see it is the only person that can close down a track is the landowner.  A landowner will usually only do this for tow reasons:

 

- It's costing them money and becoming a hassle;

 

- It's too great a liability.

 

Both of those will result from building gnar-only tracks.

So whether it's just you and two other guys slogging it out and building (like us in Paarl most of the time) or 20 volunteers of the whole cycling spectrum or you're a professional, paid builder, you have to cater for all or the inevitable will result.

 

Yes it grinds your gears to waste time building stuff you won't ride, but I do that often on both sides of the coin - chicken lines and big jumps.  I build because I want to see people ride and enjoy themselves.  I want that because then I will always have a spot to ride and be happy. 

 

Every obstacle on Paarl that has fallen into disrepair is a bad-ass feature that I am sure three people used to hit with regularity.  The stuff that still stands?  The stuff that the average rider can hit or easily roll around without taking a year.

 

And Paarl is on the WP DH calender.  Not a dumbed down track by any stretch of the imagination.  Just safe.

 

Lots of stuff I looked at in France and went "HOLY SH*T!!!!" with my second immediate thought being "Oh look! I don't HAVE to do that feature and I can still ride the trail". 

 

Totally agree with the points you make regarding land owners. 

None of them need MTB'ing of any nature on their land. 

 

WRT the France comment at the end you are 100% right. Almost everything there is rideable but keep in mind that they have dedicated builders and DH is a BIG money spinner (still tiny in comparison to the winter ski season, but a summer income for a lot of people), so it's in the best interests of the parks to attract as many people as possible.

 

What we do lack in SA are people who genuinely want to build trail, for the love of riding new trails. There certainly are a couple like the Trail Fairy looking after the Spruit and there are a couple elsewhere but they are few & far between. Most (myself included) are just consumers and expect well built, well maintained trail. I'm trying to build more 

Both times I've been to Morzine we've hooked up with a guy from the UK who just loves building!!!! He heads out after a days riding to build once the lifts are closed and slowly eeks out a trail off the beaten track and he does this while on a riding holiday. We somehow need to get one of these dudes at each of our major DH venues! 

He builds so much he even got a short article in Dirt Magazine. While some of his ideas are not what we need in SA, the article is worth a read. 

[G00SE]

Way I see it is the only person that can close down a track is the landowner.  A landowner will usually only do this for tow reasons:

 

- It's costing them money and becoming a hassle;

 

- It's too great a liability.

 

Both of those will result from building gnar-only tracks.

So whether it's just you and two other guys slogging it out and building (like us in Paarl most of the time) or 20 volunteers of the whole cycling spectrum or you're a professional, paid builder, you have to cater for all or the inevitable will result.

 

Yes it grinds your gears to waste time building stuff you won't ride, but I do that often on both sides of the coin - chicken lines and big jumps.  I build because I want to see people ride and enjoy themselves.  I want that because then I will always have a spot to ride and be happy. 

 

Every obstacle on Paarl that has fallen into disrepair is a bad-ass feature that I am sure three people used to hit with regularity.  The stuff that still stands?  The stuff that the average rider can hit or easily roll around without taking a year.

 

And Paarl is on the WP DH calender.  Not a dumbed down track by any stretch of the imagination.  Just safe.

 

Lots of stuff I looked at in France and went "HOLY SH*T!!!!" with my second immediate thought being "Oh look! I don't HAVE to do that feature and I can still ride the trail". 

 

 

Agree 100%

At Hakahana there are A, B and even C lines around the main features, and the main lines have also been made as safe as possible.

[The MTBer]

I am one of those beginners who started the beginning of the year. The first thing I learned from JP is that if you can't ride it, then don't, it is as simple as that and if you ride and you screw up and fall, don't complain because you choose to ride it. Jp and a few of the guys build 139, that is super gnarly and a little bit dangerous, there isn't really B lines, but I don't care because I am taking the risk to enjoy other guys sport, 2 months in and I can jump most of the big stuff at 5m gap jumps. We were talking the other day, Gauteng doesn't have any good tracks to practice for nationals except Thaba. 139 will also close is the near future because the land it is build on will be sold.

 

I really don't mind building, in fact I would love to say I helped with that big jump or I build that burm. I know the local guys keep 139 and Helderkruin in a rideable state. Next weekend would of been my first time to go to Thaba and try my new skills on a national track, but that will not happen anymore...

 

Sad to see everything go, but in 2 years time I will not be a student anymore and I would ride all over SA and help those guys with building to keep as much guys in the sport as possible.