Bike track for under-12s

At the site of a planned children's bike track at Albert Town are Bike Wanaka club president Mark...
At the site of a planned children's bike track at Albert Town are Bike Wanaka club president Mark Gould (centre) with club member Carlos Gerrard and his son Vincent (6). Photo by Lucy Ibbotson.
Wanaka's budding biking enthusiasts will be well catered for at a new facility on Albert Town reserve land, aimed specifically at developing bike skills in children aged under 12.

Bike Wanaka club president Mark Gould said an agreement had been reached with the Department of Conservation to build a children's bike track on the Hikuwai conservation area, on Gunn Rd, which was the site of a large vegetation fire in March.

The idea came from club member Carlos Gerrard, who will be heavily involved in construction of the track.

Mr Gerrard believed very young bikers needed a more age-appropriate facility than the existing Lismore Bike Park in Wanaka.

''We already have a world-class facility in Wanaka for [riders] who are good, but for kids who are wanting to get good, it's an intimidating place to go when there's 90kg men doing jumps,'' Mr Gerrard said.

''It's the first of its kind really where it's a serious training facility for under-12s to start to get their aerial awareness ... it's specifically designed for honing kids' skills.''

Two undulating, all-weather, kidney-shaped loop tracks will wind through the reserve's regenerating kanuka stands, around a central family picnic area. Very small children on pedal-less wooden balance bikes, through to those on their first geared bikes would be able to use the tracks, Mr Gould said.

The track's construction is being funded by an $8000 grant from the Wanaka Masonic Lodge. It is expected to be completed before Christmas.

Bike Wanaka's next project is building a 10km loop track, also through the Hikuwai reserve, beginning and ending at the Lake Outlet Holiday Park.

''That will also help relieve the pressure on the Outlet Track [next to the Clutha River] and the conflict between bikers and walkers,'' Mr Gould said.

A children's BMX park proposed for Queenstown Lakes District Council-owned land in Lake Hawea recently gained support from the Wanaka Community Board.

lucy.ibbotson@odt.co.nz

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