Kicking Horse Bike Park - Trail Crew Update #9 - 2010

Sep 29, 2010
by Steve Crowe  
The straight goods on Kicking Horse Bike Park, straight from the trail crew's fingertips.

Worst. Septem. Brr. Ever. What the bejeezus just happened? I'm looking out the window on the last day of the 2010 season, and it is coming down in buckets. Again. But not September 25th, it was amazing. And it is that day that we'll choose to remember as the last day of another incredible season at Kicking Horse Bike Park.

Read on,
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"Wow, how did those other guys get their feet so high? Did they all jump on 3 like we said we would?"

Before we close the tool shed, put our feet up on the desk, crack a cold one and remember the laughter and tears, let's have a quick look at was done around the park during the last half of Septrainber.

Buffalo Jump: This short gem has become one of my favourites on the mountain. We gave her a lot of love and attention throughout the season, and ended in the same vein. The first bridge is the last feature that we need to replace, but that will have to be another day.

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Old speed killer bridge
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New speed enhancing stepdown hip (does that make sense to anyone?)

Northern Lights: If nothing else, all this rain showed us where our puddles are. We began the long journey of de-mudding NL with the largest project. The lovely little meadow at the end of the trail was in danger of being annihilated by all the tire tracks going around the trail-wide puddles. We hope we have created a permanent solution with this armour quarried from the chutes above. We figured if rock roads worked for the Romans for a thousand years, they'll be good for our contemporary two-wheeled gladiators too.

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2011: What is up for next year, you may be asking. Funny, we've been asking the same thing. And we think we know the answer, as much as anyone knows answers to questions about the future. First, we'll continue work on developing the new black jump trail. Second, we'll continue greening our green runs to make the learning experience one of joy and success. Third, we'll dress up Showdown so that its tables don't have to be embarrassed and self-conscious at parties anymore. And fourth, a whole bunch of other stuff we may or may not get to (like paving (Tr)agic Carpet Ride).

Featured Trail: I dug through the archives for this one. At this time of year I would have preferred to have shown the Fall colours which make the mountain look like a '70s basement shag carpet (a really nice one, I mean), but it rained nearly every day. And then on the one good day - last Saturday - I was too busy wahooin' to mess around with a camera. So here is mid-mountain treasure: Blaster, circa July.

Views: 9,277    Faves: 44    Comments: 6


Thanks to everyone who came out this season. You endured the ravages of Golden's worst bug season in recent memory, the blistering sun of mid-summer, and the torrential monsoon of September. But judging by the conversations we had with you and the comments on this blog and forums, it seems you had a good time. Which is great, because we'd feel a bit guilty if we were the only ones having a good time here. Now I'll bid you a fond adieu until Spring, and leave you with a few late season photos.

Hope to see you when the snow flies.

Ride on.

Crowe
www.kickinghorseresort.com

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Ryan Harvey performing his fly-on-a-wall routine on Rock N Roll.
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My view when I hit the secret Boo gap jump.
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Aaron Enns collecting a summer pay cheque while training for winter. The helicopter is lifting part of the new patrol shack that now sits on the Super Bowl saddle - a brand new chunk of terrain open this winter.


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BlackCrowe avatar

Member since Jun 24, 2008
54 articles

34 Comments
  • 6 0
 I just had to chime in here. I must say I had the chance to hit KH for a day this summer and I can't stop thinking about it. I was afraid ALL the terrain would be too raw and rough, but there is plenty of everything! The woodwork and smart trail designs really made all the runs a blast. From steep, smooth, rutty, jumpy...it was all good!. Add in the huge elevation on each run and you have one of the best riding mountains EVER! Thanks a ton for all of your hard work, crew. I can't wait until spring...
  • 1 0
 I got a season pass this summer and will buy one next summer at KH that is Smile . Thank you for a great summer and the effort on the trails. I know it not the big W but still your the only resort on this side that trying so thank you for that....
happy trails
  • 1 0
 Made my first trip (and shortly after my second trip) to the hill this summer. Great mix of trails and great elevation and scenery. I will definitely be back next spring for some more runs... and then some more runs... and then...
  • 1 0
 Was there this past Saturday, lucked out as Sunday was not a fun day... Trails were in great shape for end of season riding, after all that rain! Thanks to the KH crew for keeping it real and all there hard work. Was nice to see Boo one last time before he sleeps the winter away too, see you in the Super Bowl!
  • 2 0
 I only made it to KH once this year. I wish I would have gone more. They have really stepped it up. I cant wait to see what is in store. Their jump trails need a little work to flow, but they are not bad.
  • 1 0
 Made a stop at your hill on my way through this summer. The wood work and rocky terain were a blast. Hard to drag me away from Silver Star but I will make sure I come back next year for two days and see more of it. Keep up the great work!
  • 1 0
 some awesome tech singletrack, nice and fast. but just not quite right. dangerous terrain, whack jump trails, strange berms. and the final jumps at the bottom make the riders look like tools they didn't mention about the grizzlie escaping once either
  • 2 0
 No not at all... Get it kicking horse and they are kicking!... Ok maybe its only me who got that but still I think its funny =)
  • 1 0
 Rock road is a decent idea ! I am curious to see the amount of traction that you will have when it's wet though ! How about mixing dirt with betonite like some people do for dirt jumps !!!
  • 3 0
 knobs in the trail, looks like a sick run.
  • 8 1
 y dont i live in a shack and do runs like that run every day of my life?
  • 1 0
 should be called finger blaster
  • 1 0
 Will def be back in 2011, and I will bring the anchors and Rock drill... Wink

props to the trail crew for doing an awesome job, Golden is my second home.
  • 2 0
 guy on the far right-"dude you stepped in bear poop"
  • 2 0
 so much rock! I want to go
  • 2 0
 WTF! That was a grizzly bear!???
  • 2 1
 yup, you can usually see them within 10-50m when riding on any trail.
  • 4 0
 That is really sick!! that bear can rip a men in two!
  • 1 0
 Thats f'in nuts. I almost fell out of my seatr when I noticed the bear.
  • 1 0
 oh dear..
  • 1 0
 That bears not on a trail or anything. It is in a large fenced grizzly bear enclosure. Kicking Horse has had orphan bears up at the mountain for a few years now. They take care of them and they are sort of a tourist attraction. The gondola goes right over the enclosure.
  • 1 0
 ahhhh. Still pretty neat.
  • 1 0
 nice to see some arms on the onboard cam. not just these 800mm handlebars. btw nice track!
  • 1 0
 looks so sweet!! especially that sick ladder at 1:40, and all the awesome rock work!
  • 1 0
 the first photo is wicked , but whats the last guy doing?
  • 3 0
 - a majestic river dance. ^^
  • 1 0
 verry hard work, for a verry nice track
  • 1 1
 Sweet. Great work on the trails, especially digging those dive bomb s-turns. Might have to make a trip there next summer!
  • 1 0
 wow. one day I will go there...just need to make the trip up to CA.
  • 1 0
 woot woot. its near me Smile
  • 1 0
 Oh that looks freak'n Awesome!
  • 1 0
 Dam I want to be there..
  • 1 0
 sweet!
  • 1 0
 THAT LOOKS AWESOME!!!!!







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