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Building at Moos

Dec 20, 2008 at 9:51
by Daniel Jones  
This blog shows the progress we've made at Moos trails since December 2008. It was initially for the first trail building competition but I decided to keep it going as a permanent record of the goings on at the trails.

We started Moos in the summer of 2008 when there were just a couple of abandoned jumps. So far we've fixed up the two original jumps and added a few more. Making up team Moos is me, Geoff and Adam did some digging too.Took a few photos today to show the starting point for the trail building competition.

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Pump lump and third takeoff, plan is to make the pump lump at least twice as big and to redo the third lip as its too mellow.
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7th jump in the line, already started, need to finish shaping the lip.
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Landing is going about a foot higher and needs to be shaped.
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8th jump, not done much yet, need to be built up alot, takeoff to be about 6ft high.

Not sure how far we're going to get by April, should get up to the 8th done. Lots of room after this we should eventually have at least another four jumps.

Update - 21/12/08.

Put loads more dirt on the 8th, its about 6ft now and nearly ready for claying.

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Update - 27/12/08.

Finished the hip landing today.

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From the back...
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and the front...

Update - 01/01/09

Takeoff after the hip nearly finished, didn't finish shaping it because it would get damaged by the frost.

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Update - 02/01/09

First pump lump finished.

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Update - 24/01/09

Was a good day today,

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reshaped the 3rd lip
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Then we made the second pump lump bigger, was so small before you couldn't pump it at all.

Update - 04/02/09

Finally finished the hip takeoff, been putting it off for a while now.

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Shaping the last bit

Update - 10/02/09

The trails made it onto the Dirt magazine website today!

Update - 15/02/09

8th landing finished today, really pleased with it.

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Update - 01/03/09

Not much been done recently, been riding in this nice weather. Made a start on the 9th jump, here it is,

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Update - 15/03/09

Shaped the 8th takeoff, and did loads of work on the 9th but no pic of that, will get one next time, here's the takeoff,

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Update - 22/03/09

Not alot of building got done this week, was riding them all weekend. First 5 are worn in good the 6th, 7th and 8th have been attempted but still need more riding and drying out. Pics of the riding on my profile and some of how the jumps look after riding them in.

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Got a little bit more done on the 9th, half shaped the lip it will be another ft taller when finished.

Update - 05/04/09

Had a good building day on Saturday.

We didn't quite have enough speed after going round the 270 berm due to it not being tight enough to pump, we'd never built a berm like that before so didn't know how tight to do it, anyway we decided we would just put a pump lump on the end. Well we rode it today and it works so no pedal after the berm now which makes it so much nicer to ride. Also lengthened the 5th jump by about a foot but no pic of that.

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before...
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and after...

Update - 21/04/09

Lots happened since the last update.

6th lip reshaped was a bit kicky before, also landing widened was sketchy before with the tree so close, now looks like this -

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Started new line, will be an option instead of the tech section after the berm, eventually will join up with hip landing.

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Major changes done to the 8th jump, lip used to be about 7ft high and was taking to much speed so cut about a ft of takeoff and landing, and landing steeper as well.

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Finished the 9th takeoff

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Line is now working amazing up to the hip jump, jump after the hip is riding but need some change to the lip which will be done soon.

Update - 12/05/09

Done a bit more building no pics though, got a speed jump roughly done after the 9th its got a huge gap and nearly finished the berm for the alternative line.

Been doing loads of riding so here's a pic, not me by the way

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Edd one foot table

and jack made a short vid from the weekend, enjoy

Views: 6,308    Faves: 1    Comments: 25


Update 16/05/09

Went up trails today did a bit of building got some pics of new stuff though.

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Speed jump after the 9th, bit rough needs shaping, line is going to split in two after this. On the left we started rollover double and on the right we started a step up which we're digging into the ground will be trick jump and line will end after that.

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New berm for other line.

And finally a pic from the last weekend nothing new just an over view of the start of the line.

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Update - 11/06/09

9th landing almost done, just got to clay the other side.

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Update - 12/06/09

Worked on the step up takeoff today, this is the 11th jump and will be the last for this branch of the line, the other branch is going to go on for a few more.

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Update - 17/06/09

10th landing shaped.

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Update - 19/07/09

Weathers been terrible and I went on holiday for two weeks so not much has been happening at the trails.

Some good news I think, the council have approved a plan to make the trails official, and give us some funding. So no more worrying about them being dozed.

There's a jam planned for the 15th August at Clyne jumps and Moos everyone is welcome to come ride, some of the King Of Dirt riders are coming and of course Danny Pace will be there.

We're desperate for some good weather to finish of the end of the line for the jam, just the step up landing to finish, and need to ride in the last three jumps. The landing so far,

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Update - 08/08/09

Finally got some decent weather and did some riding again, made some progress with the new line:

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Update - 29/08/09

Got an exciting email today confirming that the council have approved the plan to make all the trails and jumps in the valley official. The council will be providing funding of ₤50,000 for the next financial year and ₤8,000 for the 3 years after that. I have no more details yet about what we will be allowed to do at Moos but we will be getting a share of the funding.

It rained on jam day so we couldn't ride the trails, everyone went to Newport Skate park instead.

Weather is terrible as usual so not much happening at the moment, must be the worst summer I can remember. Started to clear out and plan a new line which will be the main winter project. The run in will start in the same place but this line will take a more direct route down the hill and the jumps are going to be much bigger.

Oh last thing, Dirt magazine put a nice pic of Moos in issue 91 of the mag in their regular Welshside feature. Here's the pic, rider is Edd Tucker.

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Update - 14/09/09

Went to the first funding meeting, went really well. Basically allowed to design some new lines and will get volunteers and possibly a digger to build them.

Done some building today as well,

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Cleared out from the roller double.

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New lip on new line.

And also started riding the 9th,

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Update - 27/09/09

First update since the start of the new trail building comp.

Amazing day at the trails today, Danny Pace came up and went nuts, and jumps were riding sweet.

Rode the 10th in the main line and the jump in the new line for the first time, both worked well.

Got the landing shaped on the new jump on new line, here's a pic,

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Update - 10/10/09

No riding this last week, put all the tarps on for winter.

Shaped the 10th lip today, and started planning out the new lines to show the council.

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Update - 18/10/09

Trails riding good this weekend, might be the last ride this year looks like rain next week.

Did some work on the 1st in the new big line will get some pics next time.

Update - 25/10/09

Looks like we won't be riding the trails now until next spring, anyway at least it means we'll get some proper building done.

Some pics of what we did this weekend

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Got the rough shape for the set up jump, needs claying now.

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Dug out the top soil after the landing and started on the 2nd lip.

Update - 01/11/09

Did a bit on Saturday, been pretty wet this week. Got the 2nd lip in the big line done roughly, will eventually be covered in clay.

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Update - 16/11/09

Its been very wet last couple of weeks, managed to get two days of building done on the 2nd landing on the big line. Its going to be huge and its a split landing as well so its taking a while, will get a pic when we get the rough shape done.

Update - 22/11/09

Been wet and windy all week, went up to check that all the tarps were still on and that the trails were ok, and surprisingly everything was fine. Did a few more hours work on the 2nd landing on the big line, here's a pic

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Also I bought a new camera this weekend so next summer I will get some proper pics and vids.

Update - 29/11/09

Got bored of building the big line so I started on a bermed pump lump on the other line, its looking pretty rad will get a pic next time.


Update - 30/11/09

Here is a rough sketch of our future plans, just got to see what the council say now.

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So far we have got up to the 10th done on the main line, that the one that start at the top left at no. 1 and goes around the 270 berm all the way down to the step up, no. 11. We started the step up and will get this done by summer.

For the line that starts in the same place but goes round the other berm, we've done up to the jump after the roller double.

And we've started the first two on the big line, the one that starts on it own on the left.


Update - 08/12/09

Not getting much done at the moment due to the weather and I got exams, so don't have much spare time. Managed to do a few very wet hours of digging and finished of this berm/pump thing, shaping it was hell.

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Update - 24/12/09

Been working on the step up landing, getting there slowly got it half shaped will be going about another foot higher.

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Update - 28/12/09

A bit more shaping done on the step up...

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Update - 29/12/09

There's a couple of short clips of the trails in this sweet Danny Pace edit by thatdontmeanjack.

Views: 13,268    Faves: 133    Comments: 29


Update - 02/01/10

Done a bit more on the step up landing, seems to be taking forever but it's just me building at the moment. Not quite as tall as I wanted but couldn't be bothered to make it any bigger we'll have to wait and see how it rides.

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Update - 09/01/10

Been doing a bit of work on one of the lines branching off the main line going to be so rad, jump to split landing one straight, one hipped The hip going into a huge berm then new lip and landing into the hip landing on main line.

Also Gusset have used a pic of Moos in there advert which is in this months MBUK magazine. Rider is local Danny Pace, pic taken by Sam Davies.

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photo

Update - 13/01/10

Thanks to Pinkbike for putting my other blog on the main page. Lots of good news. The trails got loads of exposure, a few of the other trails sites posted up pics after seeing the blog, and Dirt magazine are interested in putting it in their magazine.

Lots of local riders saw the blog and have offered to come and dig and ride, so I will be organising some dig days when the weather gets better.

rhyssutton made this awesome vid of the trails which I didn't know existed until he posted the link on the blog. Here it is...


Update - 20/02/10

Haven't had much time to get up the trails recently, went on holiday and then had to do some building at a new bike park that's being built locally.

Did a few hours work today and built a new pump in between the 9th and 10th looking pretty good. Can't wait to ride again, won't be long now.

Update - 02/03/10

Had a meeting with the council last week, showed them my plans they seemed ok with them, just got to measure the area with GPS. Just got to sort a few things out and hopefully will have the diggers in some time in April.

Did a super long day of digging on Sunday with Geoff, finished of the new pump lump, and did a bit more on the berm after the big roller double. Berms gonna be huge when we finish digging out the inside.

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Weathers looking good this week, maybe take the tarps of and ride again this weekend can't wait.

Update - 09/03/10

First ride of the season on the weekend, was a bit slow and damp but still pretty stoked to be riding dirt again.

Loads of crashes on Sunday was so funny, all the locals came down, Pace went in the pond first run, Ash went over the bars on the 2nd and Roider Phil crashed twice on the 1st and went in the second gap.

Pace and Adam went mad as usual, Pace got the new line running looked like hard work but should be good when it dries out a bit. Adam flipped the hip and landed it, first person to do it, and I missed the shot which sucks.

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Pace on the 6th.
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Adam on the hip

MOVED THE BLOG TO HERE

http://www.moostrails.blogspot.com/

Author Info:
Trailboss-Dan avatar

Member since Mar 20, 2008
2 articles

133 Comments
  • 14 0
 liked the work from the beginning, keep it going.
  • 9 0
 Thanks, got a couple of weeks off work so we're going to be doing loads after xmas.
  • 3 0
 they are looking awesome... some of the nicest looking ive seen
  • 3 0
 It's crazy seeing how the plants grew through this blog
  • 8 0
 Holy Shit there nice n' big
  • 3 0
 dan the 8th looks so big now...i didnt realise how big the gap would be...not a bad thing tho, they shud be great this summer. also, the take off must be quite tall now as the landing is over 6ft and shorter than the take off.
  • 3 0
 Fuck dude, i wish my dig piles were pure clay, and could make PERFECT jumps like those, but no onterrible has to have ROCKS in the fuckin clay HUGE rocks. Any ways dude sorry for the rant... Amazing Trails big respect dude.
  • 3 0
 They just keep getting better and better. You've inspired me to finish my trails off. You need to get some helmet cam footage in the summer of the whole line.
  • 1 0
 yep, deffo...me and dan were doing trains on the line today...and a helmet cam of that would be soo nice..good idea!
  • 3 0
 congratulations on winnig that competition your trails are sick and i would love to ride them, shame they are a trek away in wales
  • 2 0
 Dude trails are looking amazing, sounds awesome that you got that much funding! Do you know whats happening with that now, is it towards building more, or opening out the trails as a place for the public?
  • 1 0
 The funding is for all the bike tracks and trails in Clyne Valley, so Moos will only be getting a share of the funds. I'm not sure yet what we will be allowed to do with the funds yet.
  • 1 0
 looking good guys-heres a liitle video i put together when i was at your trails last: www.youtube.com/user/rhyspect
i gotta find a new spot to dig as my trails are getting flattened
thanks for the motivation, i would go dig if i had somewhere to build
  • 1 0
 thanks for the link thats the best vid iv seen of the spot, mind if i put the link in my blog?
  • 1 0
 yeah no worries, sorry for the bad music-youtube wont allow me to add my own, so had to pick sumin off their site
  • 1 0
 I have to say just been to your jumps and thay must b the best made jumps that I have seen awsome job.I would love to build my own jumps but I have family and work comitments and there is no way I could spend hrs up a mountain digging jumps without my wife leaving me. I would have the utmost respect for any trails that I ride as I understand the amount of time and effort it takes to build jumps or DH tracks as I have helpt built a few in my time and would never turn anybody away from riding them.I hope it is ok for me to ride at moos and I'm willing to help u dig when i can.Keep up the good work.
  • 3 0
 Thats the nicest building I've seen in a long time, props.

How many people have you got digging?
  • 5 0
 Thanks, normally just 2 people.
  • 4 0
 even more props, I'm building myself and it seems to take an age to get anything done/
  • 4 0
 Two people have done all that!! What do u live there or something??
  • 3 0
 Haha well no I got a full time job, but on the weekend yes, if im not riding.
  • 1 0
 unless u only have 2 people riding them, i think thats bullshit
  • 1 0
 whats bullshit? what difference does it make how many people ride
  • 1 0
 u put all this work into your jumps and then ppl come and ride without even helping? that just doesn't seem right to me
  • 1 0
 yeh well it aint right, but what can you do. Its same everywhere though
  • 1 0
 I've gotten chains for both my spots and only let ppl who help to ride, maybe something u want to consider if you don't like how people respect your work, when people don't have a place to ride they tend to dig more
  • 1 0
 yeh but its public land so i've got no right to chain it up.
  • 1 0
 ahh ic, well i hope people learn to respect ur work soon. keep digging ur do amazing work.
  • 2 0
 looks sick, would love to have somewhere that good to build, or ride.
you guys have worked hard, and now reaping your rewards. Smile
  • 1 0
 I've been wanting to build some jumps in these woods near my house, but I've never built before...how do you know how steep to make them, how far apart to make them, ect.? You seem to know what you're doing haha
  • 1 0
 You have to decide how big you want the gaps if you build on a slope you can start them small and get them bigger down the line. For steepness again its preference depends what type of lips you like, obviously the steeper you make them the higher you go. If you havent built much jumps before then really its just gonna be trial and error until you find out how you like them. dont be worried about getting them a bit wrong first time, our jumps nearly always need tweaking to make them work perfect.
  • 2 0
 wow u have been working hard guys ahh well shall see u all sometime soon and dan are these jumps possibly the best in wales
  • 1 0
 These jumps are going to become famous.
  • 3 0
 DIRT SHOULDN'T BE SO NEAT!

:P Totally loving it man.
  • 3 0
 Holy shit those jumps are amazing
  • 2 0
 just keeps getting better and better, i wannna ride em on my BMX they look so FLOWYYY
  • 2 0
 dude you guys are such good builders. mega props man i want to build jumps like that.
  • 2 0
 dan if i lived nearer i would be a volenter to help build these jumps look amazing
  • 1 0
 how long did thay tack to bild man ther radd did u plan all the lines out or did u just mack somthing up ass u went a long sweet trails by the way
  • 1 0
 thanks, been building since summer 2008 just 2 people. yeh we have a pretty good idea what we want the line to be like before we start.
  • 1 0
 ok chers man
  • 1 0
 New camera!!...*green with envy*
Big line is coming on really niceSmile
When are you going to take the camera down the trails for some super sweet pics then???Wink lol
  • 1 0
 Things are going slow at the mo cuz iv got exams coming up but im gunna do loads over xmas. Will take the camera in spring when we ride, should be good, will get some vids as well, maybe a walk through of the lines.
  • 1 0
 Sweet- a walk though(or rideWink ) would be sooo goodSmile
exams???
  • 1 0
 yeh i have an exam in a couple of weeks, its on corporate reporting im an accountant lol
  • 1 0
 Ouch..:S
Ive only got GCSEs:P
I want to do media, in mountain biking, and move to aptos... lol
Accountant and a DJer...they fit well!!!
  • 1 0
 The Trails are looking Pimp Dan tup
I expect you will be doing allot of building during the winter?
and that plans looks awesome... is it for really or Imaginary?
  • 1 0
 Thanks, yeh its for real we've already started on the big line as you can see. Once i get my exam out the way we will be doing loads.
  • 1 0
 sweet, i cant wait to see your progress over the following months tup
  • 3 0
 holy shit if thats "small" i cant wait to see big
  • 2 0
 The clay must be blessed or something because all of those jumps look amazing!
  • 1 0
 oh my god ur shit good at making them ive got a bit of land and i wnna make some im only 12 so i avent got tht big yet so i want mine a lttle bit smaller. kwl i luv ur jumps
  • 1 0
 thanks mate, good luck with your build
  • 3 0
 Keep working, Your trail will become famous.
  • 2 0
 I'm excited to see some video of theses lips being hit, them jumps are textbook perfect!
  • 2 0
 Thanks, cool to hear that from such a respected trail builder. Can't wait to ride them now, will get a vid up probably some time in April when it dries up a bit.
  • 2 0
 Congrats on getting that funding! This is good news for the biking community, keep it up.
  • 2 0
 Those jumps look amazing, keep going guys!
  • 2 0
 damn nice trail gentlemen
  • 2 0
 so nice man , keep it up !
  • 2 1
 i want to start building stuff like that at my place but it isnt going to be that sick but ill make it work
  • 2 0
 its gd to hear the counciol are geting involved
  • 1 0
 where are you getting this dirt from? are you hauling it in or digging it from nearby?
  • 1 0
 big hole by the side of the jumps
  • 1 0
 that must be one stinkin large hole. and that dirt looks beautiful. what is the make-up? i'm guessing sand/silt and clay...
edit: nevermind. i see from your comments that it is just good clay
  • 1 0
 yeh its quite big theres a pic in my "random" folder. the clay varies sometimes there some silt in it. makes it much less sticky and easier to shape
  • 1 0
 i had pure clay at my old house, and it was just a major pain to dig through. props for digging that by hand, those jumps are freakin sexy.
  • 1 0
 f*ck me they are so sick there f*ckin amazing ssssssssiiiiiiiiiiccccccccccckkkkkkkkkk
  • 2 0
 WOW!!!! Thats all i have to say.
  • 1 0
 these jumps are mad, i want to ride them! i wish i had that kind of dirt at my trails
  • 1 0
 truly epic jumps buddy i went to see the the clyne jumps but cant wait to see your jumps now look so smooth just got to start jumping bigger things before i hit yours tyre huge
  • 1 0
 i knew i recognized the jumps in that advert from somewhere,
nice work keep it up Big Grin
  • 2 0
 sweet. definitly subscribe.
  • 1 0
 thats super nice man! i didnt know frost ruined lips though... O.o well we dont get much frost here anyways...
  • 1 0
 Thanks, yeh the the frost is bad, only for freshly made stuff though.
  • 1 0
 oh ok, we got frost twice this yr lol and the temp right now is 7ºC and it's night... lol
but if u put a cover over the jump it should be ok right? O.o
  • 1 0
 Yeh the covers do keep the lips frost free most of the time, but we had a week of really cold weather, it was barely above freezing in the day and i think it got down to -10 in the night, the surfaces of the lips were pealing and half the last takeoff collapsed.
  • 1 0
 How big was the line before? Do you guys know if the speed will be correct for those jumps?
  • 1 0
 We rode the first 6 jumps last summer, so we've got a pretty good idea of the speed.
  • 1 0
 I see, I just didn't see old pics of the whole line where it shows all of them together. My trail has been drying up and I've been having more people help, I'm planning on getting a lot more done before the competition ends keep posted.
  • 1 0
 Cool, yeh I didn't put pics of the whole line because im not going to be doing any work for the competition on most of it. Pics of all the line are on my profile though.
  • 1 0
 Do you make a form of the jump with regular soil then cover and shape it with clay?
  • 1 0
 yeh the middle of the jump is top soil
  • 1 0
 I thought so, otherwise you must have some freakishly large clay deposit to dig from, not that the one you do have isn't huge haha
  • 2 0
 nice!Big Grin
  • 2 0
 nice where this
  • 1 0
 Swansea, in Wales.
  • 1 0
 wow guys keep it up i'm not sure how much better dirt jumps can look
  • 1 0
 whoa everythings supersizeBlank Stare loving it guys
  • 1 0
 amazing work guys. cant wait to see them when they are fully done.
  • 2 0
 fuck man, thats gnarly.
  • 1 0
 i wish i had that space near me
  • 2 0
 this is so sick!
  • 1 0
 Dude your jumps are amazing. How do you get your lips so crafted?
  • 1 0
 Thanks, lots of shaping and beating and having good clay helps.
  • 1 0
 wow... lurvly trails. nice work. spanish dirt is just dust and rocks
  • 1 0
 how the fuck do u make them so nice like wats the secret
  • 1 0
 haha no secret, just gotta have good dirt and take time to shape it
  • 1 0
 kk thx but damnit i was hoping for some like secret shit and the dirt in washington is mostly shit ugh thx tho
  • 2 0
 so so nice
  • 2 0
 braVo...x
  • 1 0
 noticed that one of your pic's was in dirt mag, good job boys
  • 1 0
 haha yeh thanks, we got funding from the council too.
  • 1 0
 sweet, what will that let you do, get a digger?
  • 1 0
 not sure yet i will keep the blog updated when i know more
  • 1 0
 coolio
was planning a taking a trip up but the weather has been awful Frown
  • 2 0
 any news about the funds
  • 1 0
 see the last blog entry thats the latest, will know more after the next meeting and im not sure when that is yet.
  • 1 0
 looks amazing since the start.u built your trails up amazingley. props
  • 1 0
 thanks, come ride one day if you want
  • 1 0
 proberly when i get better. and have my new bike (dmr transition)
  • 1 0
 no fair! we have nowhere to build...
  • 1 0
 noob question!! when your shaping do you pack it into place or carve it?
  • 1 0
 nah we never carve stuff, we shape the back and sides first then pile clay on the front rake it into the right shape then compact.
  • 1 0
 ok thanks
  • 1 0
 tell me how to build them lol you lt are savage with just 2 peeps working
  • 1 0
 haha savage that made me laugh. yeh we got alot to do, want to get a big line built ready for summer. building is easy you pile the dirt up shape it compact it, let it go hard, test it, change it etc... easy.
  • 2 0
 that place is the best
  • 1 0
 Where do you get your clay
  • 1 0
 from a big hole hiden in the bushes
  • 1 0
 thats seriously impressive. wow.
  • 1 0
 good work!jumps look amazing!
  • 1 0
 Amazing. Will you be having any input on the new pump track at Clyne?
  • 1 0
 maybe not sure whats happening with that
  • 1 0
 looks like scalpel trails but damn skectchy
  • 1 0
 Holy Shit they look sick! Wanna ride them so bad!
  • 1 1
 there amazing Smile would love to hit em Big Grin
  • 1 0
 keeep it going.
  • 1 0
 sweet
  • 1 1
 God, thats so close to me. I'm tempted to invite myself. lmao.
  • 3 1
 God shall spite the man that sets forth to invite him self to such quality trails such as these. have mercy on your soul.
  • 1 0
 Wow ice is annoying...
  • 1 1
 wow those are ill







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