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2wheels1loveJamaica 2015-16 Goals & Dreams
2wheels1loveJamaica.com2Wheels1LoveJamaica's 2015-2016 goals & dreams.
For the last 4 years most of my time in Jamaica has been spent designing, trailblazing then grooming and organizing a trail system overlooking all of Negril's coast up in Red Ground and Good Hope. During the process I have taken on an adittional 2 crew members along with my long time Trail Boss Goalez[Gold Teeth] a substantial amount of work has been accomplished. Starting with the original DH trail built by JAMBA [Jamaica Mtn. Bike Assn.] from pre-2000-2006 2Wheels1LoveJamaica required an entire new canvas to build on due to the complete destruction of the south/west coast by Hurricane Ivan in late 2004 that left the 2006 Jamaica Fat Tyre Festival scrambling to find a trail for the 2005 National XC and shortened version of the National DH course. This area was left for dead until 2W1LJ started trailblazing and marking the are in 2011.
The Red Ground Graveyard trail was blazed followed by Spanish Gold Teeth and then Scrub'a'Dub forming a labyrinth of trails that cover the highest parcels of land overlooking the 7 mile beach and the long winding cliffs.
A careful and delicate approach had to be taken to involve the land owners, farmers and others living in the bush who rely on water supply, privacy and eco-friendly trailblazing that includes sustainable trail building that limits the damage done by trail tools, the cutting of overhead foliage and the noise and mark of mountain bikes.
This year I cut the trail I have been lusting to take on for 10 years, the old DH course that was the base for the JFTF 1999-2006 ridden by mountain bikers of every ilk including some heavyweights in our field. Shaums March, Lars Tribus and Kyle Strait were victors of the famaous event started in '99 by Rusty Jones and Linda Levy in Negril, Jamaica. This trail had input from everyone from Red Bull donating a digger to DHers wanting various line choices to locals wishing to be left alone along with their multiple veg, fruit and ganja farms developed over centuries on desolate nasty terrain like the dirt we mountain bikers yearn for. The new premier trail getting most of my attention this year is Rusty Roots.
This trail not only includes the starting gate of the old DH course but it heads up and deep into the nasty section where even the hardest bushman stay away from as we ride around black holes and the remains of a century old Spice Plantation under a thick jungle canopy. This was the nastiest trail I have ever attempted to tackle as the terrain is made up of pourous rock, corral, lava and limestone covered with thorns and loaded with vines and crawling jungle foliage.
Rusty Roots drops off the original starting gate of the National Jamaica Down Hill track merging eventualy with the other 3 trails all ending at The Achee Tree Restaurant a short mile from Negril's endless beach. All four trails will now get proper treatment like a true mountain bike trail should receive. Now that the basic lines are blazed, cut and groomed they are ready for some burms, drops, rock gardens, stunts and other fun line choices that were a mere dream 5 years ago.
Respect to everyone and I hope to see you all in a fi bush riding like a Rambo in 2016.
Marshall Paul
trailblazer
[PV=][PV=https://www.pinkbike.com/video/401445/]
For the last 4 years most of my time in Jamaica has been spent designing, trailblazing then grooming and organizing a trail system overlooking all of Negril's coast up in Red Ground and Good Hope. During the process I have taken on an adittional 2 crew members along with my long time Trail Boss Goalez[Gold Teeth] a substantial amount of work has been accomplished. Starting with the original DH trail built by JAMBA [Jamaica Mtn. Bike Assn.] from pre-2000-2006 2Wheels1LoveJamaica required an entire new canvas to build on due to the complete destruction of the south/west coast by Hurricane Ivan in late 2004 that left the 2006 Jamaica Fat Tyre Festival scrambling to find a trail for the 2005 National XC and shortened version of the National DH course. This area was left for dead until 2W1LJ started trailblazing and marking the are in 2011.
The Red Ground Graveyard trail was blazed followed by Spanish Gold Teeth and then Scrub'a'Dub forming a labyrinth of trails that cover the highest parcels of land overlooking the 7 mile beach and the long winding cliffs.
A careful and delicate approach had to be taken to involve the land owners, farmers and others living in the bush who rely on water supply, privacy and eco-friendly trailblazing that includes sustainable trail building that limits the damage done by trail tools, the cutting of overhead foliage and the noise and mark of mountain bikes.
This year I cut the trail I have been lusting to take on for 10 years, the old DH course that was the base for the JFTF 1999-2006 ridden by mountain bikers of every ilk including some heavyweights in our field. Shaums March, Lars Tribus and Kyle Strait were victors of the famaous event started in '99 by Rusty Jones and Linda Levy in Negril, Jamaica. This trail had input from everyone from Red Bull donating a digger to DHers wanting various line choices to locals wishing to be left alone along with their multiple veg, fruit and ganja farms developed over centuries on desolate nasty terrain like the dirt we mountain bikers yearn for. The new premier trail getting most of my attention this year is Rusty Roots.
This trail not only includes the starting gate of the old DH course but it heads up and deep into the nasty section where even the hardest bushman stay away from as we ride around black holes and the remains of a century old Spice Plantation under a thick jungle canopy. This was the nastiest trail I have ever attempted to tackle as the terrain is made up of pourous rock, corral, lava and limestone covered with thorns and loaded with vines and crawling jungle foliage.
Rusty Roots drops off the original starting gate of the National Jamaica Down Hill track merging eventualy with the other 3 trails all ending at The Achee Tree Restaurant a short mile from Negril's endless beach. All four trails will now get proper treatment like a true mountain bike trail should receive. Now that the basic lines are blazed, cut and groomed they are ready for some burms, drops, rock gardens, stunts and other fun line choices that were a mere dream 5 years ago.
Respect to everyone and I hope to see you all in a fi bush riding like a Rambo in 2016.
Marshall Paul
trailblazer
[PV=][PV=https://www.pinkbike.com/video/401445/]
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Member since Jan 9, 2008
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