With Queenstown's downhill mountain-biking scene flourishing,
local riders are intending to bring cross-country biking up
to speed with 75km of planned trails.
The Queenstown Mountain Biking Club's new president, Tom Hey,
announced plans for the cross-country trail proposal at the
club's annual meeting last Wednesday.
Designed to link Queenstown's "scattered" mountain bike
trails, the 13 additional sections would create an
"extensive" network of single track riding and walking, with
the longest section running for 25km.
"Really, the idea is to link existing tracks so you can ride
without having to get in a car and drive to your next ride.
There are a lot of tracks around the Skippers Canyon area and
we want to link it to Moke Lake and through to Seven Mile,"
Mr Hey said.
Another feature could be an "epic" back-country loop around
Mt Crichton.
The proposed network would have three hubs from which riders
could depart on various trips ranging from one hour or
longer, up to overnight rides.
Mr Hey said Queenstown was shaping up to become the southern
hemisphere's top riding destination, especially with the
gondola opening to bikes and there being lots of positive
marketing.
However, he believed Queenstown was a "bit behind " when it
came to cross-country riding, and said it would be great to
be able to enjoy longer single-track rides "in the amazing
back country we have here".
"We have great downhill, jumps and, when the Wakatipu Trail
Trust's Queenstown trail is completed, we will have fantastic
family-commuter riding. If this network is completed, we will
have filled the last void and truly can claim we are the best
of the south."
The club is working on getting permission for the trails and
the Department of Conservation is drawing up a management
agreement for the QMTBC to construct and maintain the trails.
However, those on private land will be subject to the
landowners' wishes.
To cover the costs, the club will apply for grants and
possible trail sponsors when permission is acquired. As with
most club projects, volunteers will do much of the work.
"Ideally, we would like to start this winter but it just
depends on a permission timeframe," Mr Hey said.
• Anyone wishing to know more, help with construction or
sponsor a trail can contact Mr Hey at trails@queenstownmtb.co.nz
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