By Sean Magee, DOC Ranger (Nelson)
Conservation Week this year was an opportunity for us to promote mountain biking as an accessible and enjoyable way to ‘discover the world where you live’, while raising the profile of the Kaiteriteri Mountain Bike Park.
There was plenty on offer at the Kaiteriteri Mountain Bike Park—from bike checks to pest control
In partnership with the Kaiteriteri Mountain Bike Park’s volunteer committee, an open day was held on the afternoon of Saturday 1 November.
The public could experience the park’s easy and intermediate tracks, guided by a member of the committee, and learn about the construction of the park.
Bikes were available to borrow and a qualified bike mechanic was on site to check bikes for free.
Free bike checks and plenty of opportunity to share good ideas
Park volunteers and track builders were also available to answer questions on route suitability and difficulty.
Although it was a beautiful sunny day, numbers were less than expected with around 50 people turning up. Most of these were intermediate or advanced riders who took advantage of the shuttle bus transport option to ride the more difficult tracks, although a few families took up the opportunity to have a guided ride on the easy and intermediate tracks.
It’s never too young to get started
The volunteer run trapping network—to control rats, stoats and weasels within the mountain bike park—was also featured.
Kids especially enjoyed activating the DOC200 trap with our ‘stoat on a stick’.
The ‘stoat on a stick’ got caught in the trap over and over again!
Even though Conservation Week 2014 is over it’s never to late to get out, explore, and discover your world.
Kaiteriteri Mountain Bike Park is a great family-friendly option.
