Kicking Horse Bike Park - Trail Crew Update 2 - 2013

That's the new bottom of Easy Rider, slithering around like a sneaky snake. Oh yeah, and that's Ryan Harvey, training to extricate you should the world's best shuttle vehicle break down. It ain't all just raking rocks. Ask us if we love our jobs! (the answer to your other question is: helicopter)

We cracked this season with our most trails open ever. Ever. Only one isn't open at the moment. Although it was a cool, wet spring, the snow disappeared quickly and we got riders onto the alpine trails lightning quick. The photo below was taken at the end of June; most of this snow is gone now and summer is blooming.
Can you spot the biker? Hint: he's very small.*

Here's another angle, from across the valley on Mount 7. The bike park is that ski hilly-looking place on the left.
(I can see my house. Can you see yours? If not, can you see your future...?)

The boys used some unconventional methods to encourage the snow to melt off the trails.


So while we're up here, let's talk about Pipestone. Love it. And I can say that because I didn't build it, except for some armouring. So nice to get off the 10 Road early in the season. Our alpine is really starting to take shape. We have further dreams for this place, so stay tuned.

We filled in the gaps on Stickrock. I won't lie, I had mixed emotions. I rode it one last time with gaps in the morning but ended up scaring the hell out of myself because the shaded wood was still wet. I was supposed to jump really high and be rad in this photo, but I ended up mostly death gripping and hoping not to begin a first aid training scenario. I didn't really want to include it here, but Nick Comstock did such a great job composing it. Thanks Nick!

The trail rides exactly the same as it did before. Some people tell me that they hate woodwork and so will not try Stickrock. But in my opinion, it isn't woodwork. It isn't work at all. It's woodplay. Ooh, I should trademark that.

Superberm has continued to receive a lot of our love and attention. The top of the trail is coming along really well, needing only a few more minor tweaks. The berm in the photo below was interesting to work with. It was a sloppy disaster when we first approached it. First we tried to drain it for a few weeks, then we returned and formed the bottom half while we formulated a complicated plan for the top. Then just before opening we peaked in and found it had dried completely. Guess which stage this photo represents.

We also experimented with some armouring that we are hopeful will work. And yes, we know the berm after this armour needs our attention.

We are soo very close to putting the final touches on our truly beginner Easy Rider trail. This has been a goal for years to encourage more learners to enjoy themselves and return. But the best part is even expert riders are enjoying it.



Otherwise, we've been doing a lot of early season tinkering, cleaning up after winter and raking out rocks already kicked up by you guys.

As for Swamp Donkey (I've just been warned that this may not be the ultimate name given to this trail, but I'm not dropping it without a fight!), all I'll say at this point is that the mini-ex is out there as we speak (yes, I realize that no one is actually speaking right now). So while we aren't speaking, let's look at some pretty pictures:


Not pretty!


Did you know your bike pass gets you in to see this guy? Well, not "in", but nearby.

Happy days to come, yes indeed. Ride on!
Crowe
*the rider is on the road, bottom right.

Racing Stuff That May Interest You (besides the Western Open)

Toonie Bike Race Series
Cultivating the DH biking movement and community feel – KHMR is thrilled to introduce the first Toonie Bike Race Series, spread over 5 legs forming a point series to find KHM best riders & featuring the best DH trails of its world class bike park. Sign up at Guest Services for the entire series and win up to a 2014 KHMR biking season pass (TENTATIVE –TBC), or join us spontaneously every second Saturday starting on June 29th. Winners will take back home SCOTT goodies! Game on!

All summer – KHMR Strava DH Open
Cultivating the Strava technology and DH feel – Saddle up and challenge the best home riders on their own terrain! All you need is to download the strava app on your smartphone, hit the trails & (crack the best time), showing off your skills against the clock on segments seeded by our Bike Park crew. For more information contact Guest Services or the Performance Rental Centre.