Alpine just finished up the Desert Trail Bike Park Project in Mesa, Arizona. This park has great potential for the all around jump/slopestyle rider with multiple jump lines, pump tracks, and flow lines. Something we wanted to focus on for this project in the design process was to develop a bike park that could cater to 4 generations of riders (push bikes, bmx, 24'/26, and the full suspensions) but also break some good ground on the jumping side of riding.
The plan
includes a 1-mile multi-use walking/hiking trail that is the key
backbone trail designed for most user levels. A 1-mile
long mountain biking trail will meander up and down while
circling the central knoll to create a variety of riding
conditions. The controlled, yet rugged bike trail will provide a
true mountain bike experience.
If you're in the Mesa area, come check out the park at N. Recker Rd. and E Mcdowell in Mesa, AZ.
Below are some photographs from the grand opening this past Saturaday.
Alpine is out in Parker, Colorado finishing up the Bayou Gulch Bike
Park. Things are coming together nicely and Alpine is in the midst of
fastening up some FlowForm Ramps
for some dynamic trail features to add to the sweet design Alpine
sketched up for Douglas County. The bike park is situated on a nice
little hill that gives the park some great flow.
Bayou Gulch's Phase 1 focuses on 3 different MTB fundamental skill tracks, starting off with a new to biking mellow skill track that offers riders an easy introduction to learning rollers and berms. The second skill zone introduces some more dynamic trail zones that incorporate gravity, flow, and a variety of technical features that mimic the famous North Shore style of riding. The third skill zone is a set of fast paced trails that descend down the hill catering to a myriad of different user groups.
Phase 2 at Bayou will consist of more intermediate to advanced trails incorporating larger features that push progression and bring another level of riding to round out the Bayou Gulch Bike Park.
Alpine Bike Parks have signed a five-year contract with the Sea Otter Classic, North America's largest cycling festival. This partnership recognizes Alpine Bike Parks as the Official Sea Otter Bike Park Designer and Consultant.
This last year at Sea Otter 2014 we dialed in features at the Ride Zone, Sea Otter Sender, and The Santa Cruz MTB Festival. Every riding session was a treat to watch, and we're psyched on using FlowForm Ramps on this years courses.
Alpine will be back next year making sure all the Sea Otter riding spots are ready for you to shred. Below is a video from the Sea Otter Sender and some select shots we got from the week.
The Invergarry Bike Park in
Surrey BC is a very impressive place. The park receives support from the SORCE
Bike Club (Surrey Off Road Cycling Enthusiasts) and it’s local
users. In addition to recently working with Alpine Bike Parks and Flowform
Ramps, the Invergarry crew is a solid group of dedicated volunteers. These are
the people behind it all. They provide the input, show up on the trail days,
and keep the place in top shape.
Trail Day Pumprack Time Lapse.
Invergarry is special because local riders envisioned and implemented it with
years of hurdles and hard work.Having
Alpine Bike Parks and Flowform Ramps involved has allowed it to take a
progressive leap.One of the main guys
responsible for this park, Jordan Proctor, provides some detailed information
on the park below:
Like many municipal
projects, Invergarry sounds like it's been quite the process for you. What's
some background history on it?
It all started with Derek Kost and I
coming home for a ride lamenting that there was no where to ride in Surrey.
This inspired Derek to show me the skeletal remains of what was Invergarry (the
spot had a ridership in the late 90's/early millennium).
Invergarry was once a construction waste dump and gravel pit and has some
unique terrain for riding. Seeing the potential for new riding features we
immediately starting building jumps in the bowl area where there were once
jumps before. This resulted in the city contacting us regarding the development
of a legitimate bike park at Invergarry. This was followed by a 3 or so year
process requiring us to make petitions, hold open houses, and build as much
cool stuff as we could to get people stoked about the idea of a park. We
developed a community of riders around Invergarry and teamed together as the
group Dirtwest (a bike club for Surrey North). During that time we also built
the 604 jumps and pumptrack area and worked with the City of Surrey to revamp
the jumps at Port Kells Park known as "Lucky Trails".
Who will this park be geared towards? Will it cater to all riding levels?
The final goal of the master plan is to
make a park that is accessible and exciting for all levels of rider, from a kid
on a pushbike to a pro level dirt jumper/freerider.
What has been the best part about
working with Alpine Bike Parks and Flowform Ramps?
There are many aspects to working with
Alpine that have been great. One of the most notable is their experience in
translating what the ridership wants into terms the city can easily and
enthusiastically get behind. The master plan that they worked with the City of
Surrey on has opened a lot of doors and opportunities for us. They have also
helped solidify the City's continued interest in future developments for the
park.
As for the quality of product, for the
most part the pictures don't do it justice. It was so cool to see some of the
best builders; Lucas Fulgam from Earth Ramp Bike Parks, Dustin Gilding, and Paddy K (Joyride
builder) were a few involved. The Flowform features are also nice in that I
never have to worry about coming back to spot seeing something has changed
because someone with a shovel decided it needs to be different. Having Flowform
features in the park also means maintenance is going to be a snap.
Who else was involved in making this park come to life?
There has been a ton of people that
have helped us get this park completed.
- Dale Tiessen of Dirtwest at that time, linked us up with SORCE (Surrey Off
Road Cycling Enthusiasts). I have succeeded him as president. Dale was
instrumental in advocating for continued funding into mountain biking in Surrey
by the city of Surrey.
- The park would not be half of what it is without the tireless efforts of the
Davidson family. Jim Davidson and his sons Scott and Will have probably got
more hours digging there than anyone else beside Derek and myself.
- The Parks, Recreation, and Sports Tourism Committee headed by City of Surrey.
Counselor Linda Hepner got behind mountain biking to help us achieve our
vision.
- Jeff Graham with the City of Surrey has been an advocate of bike parks in
Surrey since their inception. Jeff has been instrumental in helping us get
resources and guiding us in our navigation of the city and it's processes.
-Judd de Vall at Alpine. Not only did they build a world-class jump trail in
our park, he and the staff at Alpine also helped us develop a long-term plan
for the park which has now streamlined the process of future development of
Invergarry Bike Park.
Invergarry Bike Park is situated in a
fairly large area for a public bike park, any long-term goals for its
progression?
YES! There is going to be a ton of
upgrades coming to the park over the next couple years. In 2014 the plan is to
construct a beginners jump trail to make the park progressive and give people
the opportunity to build up their skills so they can ride the freshly built
Shovelbuster Jump Trail. Other upgrades on the master plan are a skills area
for the kids (log rides, ladders etc.), revitalize and expand the pumptrack. The
most exciting of all is the rebuild of the "freeride bowl" which is a
jump area with really exciting and unique topography. In the long term I would
like to see a larger single-track network for XC riding, so the park will be
able to accommodate every type of mountain biking.
When is the park expected to be open to public?
The new construction should be open in
the late Spring/early Summer; the official grand opening date is to be determined
as of now.
