| QT MTB Club Roundup |
| Written by Aaron Fernandez |
| Sunday, 15 January 2012 20:33 |
Trail Building and MTB Survey updateJanuary 15, 2012 Last spring the Queenstown mountain bike club surveyed its members to find out where to target the clubs resources and time. The QMTBC was originally formed to build new trails and gain access to existing trails and this remains the primary focus. As reported in the original survey results, respondents said that they wanted to see the Queenstown mountain bike club:
So here is the latest on what we are doing:
Creating more cross country singletrack
As reported in an earlier news report we have plans for 75km of new mtb trails that link and extend the current trail network. While a lot is still in the pipeline, the club has started building a new trail into and out of 7 Mile from the town end carpark. This trail will provide a more rideable alternative to the steep, loose track from the carpark to the lake. Linked to this will be a new trail that will climb through the trees beside 7 Mile creek to provide an off road alternative to riding up to Moke Lake. This trail has already been scoped out in conjunction with DOC (including archaeologists) and we are just awaiting final approval before starting to build it. The rest of the 75km network that is on DOC land is awaiting final approval of the ongoing managment agreement with the QMTBC. Advocating more access to existing trails Club president Tom Hey has been working closely with DOC towards opening up some prime trails in the region that are currently only available to walkers. We can’t go into too much detail at this delicate stage of the process but rest assured that if it comes off it will be a significant addition to mountain bike riding in the Wakatipu area! Maintaining momentum in building new downhill trails and 7 mile trails The QMTBC supported a recent push to re-open a couple of downhill trails in the Queenstown Bike Park. These trails had been closed for a couple of years but were local favorites and a few club members put in some volunteer effort into helping Skyline to re-open them. Out at 7 mile, approval has been obtained from DOC to build a new trail linking Bliss and Loop 7. This is a low-key build of a hand-built rustic nature that will provide a link to enable much needed bigger loops to be ridden. As well as a great challenging XC ride there will be a few optional AM style drops and rock ramps to challenge the more adventurous rider. Maintaining the existing trail network Much work has been done maintaining the existing trail infrastructure. We have had a major re-vamp of the Wynyard downhill trail and a significant upgrade of the gorge rd jump park – both projects that were initiated and funded by the QMTBC and our members contributions. We have also run some post-winter trail maintenance sessions at 7 Mile to tickle up the tracks a bit for summer. Without a regular once over the trails soon get overgrown and rutted out. A regular weekday evening for trail building sessions We have been running a Wednesday night trail building session since October out at 7 Mile to build the new track into the area from the town end carpark. This has been very effective and we are now well over halfway to completing the track. If you want to help simply turn up at 6pm on any Wednesday at the 7 Mile carpark and get stuck in! Wednesday Night Trail BuildingJanuary 15, 2012 Good dig last week, even more progress with native singletrack. Thanks to all who came out! Doing it again this Wednesday, no track building experience or special equipment required! Meet at the 7 Mile car park (town end) at 6pm every Wednesday. Wednesday Ladies Night @ SkylineJanuary 15, 2012 Come along and join the club and Outside sports ladies for a fun social ride at Queenstown Bike Park. Just roll on up to the Skyline ticket office from 5pm and give them the secret code – “ladies night ride” for a discounted pass. Thursday night ride 19/1January 15, 2012 We are going out to Macetown this week. Meet at Arrowtown carpark next to the skatepark at 6.30pm. MTB Trail Map Advertising OpportunitiesJanuary 15, 2012 The definitive Queenstown MTB trail map has been selling like hotcakes this season and we are now making the final touches to the next edition. There are still a few advertising spaces to fill so if you would like your business to be there in front of mountain bikers from Queenstown and elsewhere please get in touch! All profits from the map go to supporting work of the QMTBC. To contact us just go to the About QMTBC page and choose marketing from the dropdown box on the email form at the bottom of the page. Unofficial New Zealand Pump Track ChampsJanuary 15, 2012 The Monster Energy Unofficial New Zealand Pump Track Champs were held at Outside Sports’ Ride Demo Centre after the Monday’s DH race and sounds like it was a fun wind down from the days racing, there were competitions for fastest lap, best trick, most stylish lap, best crash and last man standing. For more details and a couple of pics head over to Outside Sport’s report. Queenstown round of NZ DH cupJanuary 15, 2012
Last weeks first round of the NZ mountain bike downhill cup was a great event. There was a good crowd of riders testing themselves against the ‘old school’ DH track on the side of the Remarkables overlooking lake Wakatipu. The track consisted of many fast loose flat corners with few jumps or berms which saw some great drifting. Local Queenstowner’s showed they can rock up on a brand new track and mix it with the best in the country. Although there was not as big a representation from the local riders as in previous years when the Nats were held in Queenstown those that did race got some great podium finishes. Local Harriet Latchem got 2nd in the elite women category, Kelly McGarry 2nd in the masters 30-39 men, Naomi Wilson and Alanna Columb got 2nd and 3rd respectively in the open womens, and Mathew Gilan got third in the under 15 mens, well done guys! It has been cheekily suggested that maybe there might have been more Queenstown entries but that some of the Bike Park Superstars didn’t like the idea of a corner without a berm… Check out the great photos in the NZ DH NATIONALS | REMARKS GRASS TRACK gallery on the QMTBC facebook page. Oceania Road and TT championships – Volunteers requiredJanuary 15, 2012 Our roadie brothers in Queenstown are running a major race in March and need volunteers to help out, get in touch with Colin if you can lend a hand… Hello Colin Blackie is my name and many of you may not know me as I normally sit at the rear of most rides (especially if they involve an increase in altitude!!) I have volunteered myself to assist Scott Rainsford and some other keen and motivated people whom have formed a committee to assist Scott in planning for, and running the Oceania Road and TT championships between the 16 – 18th of March 2012 at Queenstown. My role is to co-ordinate the various volunteers that are required and hence I am asking you to put yourselves forward as cycle enthusiasts to help us out PLEASE! What better way to get involved and have a front seat view of this major cycling event and at the same time join us in promoting the sport and the great area we live and cycle in. If you can help then please complete the details on the attached spread sheet – save it! and then send to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and I will then get back in touch with you all. The sooner the better please as we need to have an indication of the numbers good enough to help out ASAP. Thanks and a safe and happy Christmas and New Year cj Colin Blackie Mobile: 0274 345 628 DD: 03 440 2509 Extn: 34409 Fax: 03 440 2501 E-Mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it A healthy treat from Organic ExpressJanuary 15, 2012 Make sure you’re feeding your body the right kind of fuel. As a member of QMTBC, delivery is free when you buy your groceries online at Organic Express (normally $5). The rural delivery fee still applies if you live out in the wops, but that’s only 3 bucks so it’s still a bargain! Press Release: Results Round One National Series South Island Cup QueenstownJanuary 14, 2012 To download the full results click here: 2012 DH1 Queenstown Results Tuesday 10th January 2012 NZ MTB Cup Queenstown Downhill Round One Wrap The 2012 NZ MTB Cup presented by Nature Valley got off to a scorching start today in the blistering heat of Queenstown. The new Remarkables downhill venue overlooking Queenstown airport, Frankton and Lake Wakatipu delivered dry, dusty, and very hot racing conditions for the multi-national field of 151 starters today. Competiton was fierce across all categories, with the new downhill race course cutting up during the two days of practice and competition to become worthy of this level of contest – huge braking bumps and multiple choice lines, including long off-camber sections provided plenty of challenge for all on the hill. In the Elite races today, the womens field was always playing catch-up to Wellington’s Sarah Atkin, who had the measure of her competitors in both seeding and race. Atkin won by a massive 15 second margin over recent UK immigrant Harriet Latchem, with Nelson’s Veronique Sandler in thrid. Both Atkin and Sandler have progressed through to the Elite field this year after stellar 2011 seasons in the U19 ranks, and having represented NZ last year at the World Championships. The mens Elite race had a number of international racers taking on a very strong NZ field. George Brannigan (Havelock North) was last starter today, having seeded fastest in the mornings shake down. The Devinci Global professional waited for his race start, in the knowledge that he would have to put down the same speed on the Remarks course to claim the win, having seen his competiton one by one post times that could easily take the podium top step – any mistake would be punished on the clock. Christchurch’s Joseph Nation had set the time to beat early in the race order, with a brace of solid competition only just behind him. Brannigan held his nerve however, and went slightly faster than his seeding run to take the win by a comfortable 2.5 seconds. Of note today in the Elite mens results list was French visitor Jerome Clementz who is a Downhill Super Enduro maestro, winning every major Super D event around the world in recent years. Clementz switched to the downhill bike for this weekend and showed that he is also multi-talented, with a fourth place finish. The Junior races were also exciting to watch, with riders moving between categories with the new year. Second year U19 racer Reece Potter (Golden Bay) won the tough U19 class, but by the slimmest of margins over Leo Sandler (Nelson) who had his first start as an U19 rider. In the U17s, Josh McCombie (Dunedin) cleaned the field out with a solid display of consistency. The biggest fields racing today were in the Senior Men and Masters 30-39 categories – both highly competitive at the top end and right on through the middle order. Fastest seeds in both cats followed through to take the win, with Nelson’s Jake Boylett and Derek Winwood claiming top step of the podium. Fastest seed in the Masters 40+ Darryn Henderson also took the win. The Open Womens category had good numbers racing today, with a good contingent of local Queenstown riders taking to the Remarks hill. But none could match Auckland’s Adrienne Hooper, who with today’s win completes a rapid transition from a national level cross country racing career to the vastly different downhill discipline. Other category winners were Sopie Tyas (Auckland) in the Junior Women, and Oliver Jarman (Christchurch) in the U15 men. The NZ MTB Cup continues this coming weekend in Dunedin, with the second round of the Downhill series on Friday/Saturday the 13th and 14th, and the first round of the Cross Country Series on Sunday the 15th. Both races are taking place at Logan High School at the base of Signal Hill. Brief results: Issued by MTBNZ Events |
| Last Updated ( Tuesday, 24 January 2012 23:26 ) |
