The following photos are from a project we recently completed on some private land near Lake Stockton, MO. All the Technical Trail Features are built with rough-cut treated pine, full dimensions. We have toyed around with a couple of different techniques and discovered that the rough-cut is the best and the most aesthetically appealing.
The weight test……………………..
In the spring of 2008 PTD team member and pro slopestyle rider, Ross McMaster, visited his home state for the first time in 3 years to shoot a segment for his upcoming video “Living Dirty”. Along with him came his canadian videographer, Pat Henry. Pat has a masterful eye for aesthetics–a balance of nature and action. Below is a teaser of his segment from Arkansas featuring some hometown trails and the Slaughter Pen Freeride Park. Enjoy……
A couple of weeks ago we attended the Professional Trail Builders Association conference in Asheville, NC. We applied to become PTBA members. Approx. 60 trailbuilding companies from primarily the U.S. and Canada must review your application and portfolio/website and determine whether or not you your work and work ethic is quality enough to be granted membership. We are honored to be a part of this organization and want to thank all PTBA members, specifically, Woody Keen, Michaek Passo, Ken Eastin, Valorie Naylor, & Ben Blitch for showing us such a sweet time in Asheville (I love that town!) ~Woody
Most business men bring golf clubs, we prefer bikes. The riding was incredible! Thanks to Ben & Valorie, our rippin trail guides!
Last week we were able to work on a special project for the Boys & Girls Town, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of children with emotional and behavioral problems through superior, family-focused services. Needless to say, it was a very educational and gratifying experience to work with the kids and get them inspired to help us build trail and ride it. We want to thank all of the faculty for providing us with unbelievable accommodations and an incredible trail care crew. All the kids deserve a pat on the back! We will be back to build more trail and do a riding clinic. After this great experience we have decided that we want to start an outreach program…after every big trail project that we complete we will take some time out to give back through building trail and/or holding riding clinics for organizations like this who are making a real change. Thanks again. ~The PTD Team
Massive Switchback in progress.
Finished product!
More Pics coming soon!
Over the past month the PTD team has been working on a unique little project on private land near Lake Stockton in southwest Missouri. The trail sets on a 70ac plot of mellow rolling terrain infested with locust from recent logging and neglect…may not sound like the ideal location for singletrack. Needless to say, we were a little skeptical of whether or not a trail could be or should be applied to this landscape, given the amount of thorny locust trees, undergrowth, and lack of any substantial features or “control points”. But with our client’s ambition and our enthusiasm to simply build trail, we fired the saws and moved forward, cutting through the thorn entangled madness. Thankfully, persistence & confidence outweighed our refrain. This trail is proof that sweet singletrack can be built anywhere. In fact, I would go so far as to say that this is one of the best designed trail’s we have built! Stay tuned, this trail will eventually be part of a greater vision by the landowner as a private getaway for mountain bikers and outdoor enthusiast! Phase 2 will include stunts, rock features & a freeride park! This will someday be a destination spot for mountain bikers of the Central US! ~Woody
On the Road!
Construction Begins.
This is a CCC renovation project that Dave Renko, Chris Crone & I have been working on for the last month or so. We were hired by Devils Den State Park to do some renovation work on the “Devils Den Trail” and the “Yellow Rock Trail”. These two trails see over 100,000 hikers per year and there were some poorly designed sections that follow the fall line, so needless to say, they have been washed out and abused. The answer–stairs: lots and lots of native stone. We excavated all the stone from the surrounding area and constructed a 27 stair staircase. This kind of work will give you a new appreciation for some of America’s original trailbuilders (the CCC).
Revamped stairway, drainage feature, and entryway.
Before. Dave explaining what to do …this is all that happened the first day:)
After.
The fruits of our labor!
The Yellow Rock Trail Renovation Begins.
Before.
After.
A fun-filled weekend for both spectators and riders, mountain bikers and bmx’ers, and people of all ages. The first annual “Jam” was a success! We had 200+ spectators and approx. 100 competitors b/w the Slopestyle and Cross-Country events. PTD would like to give a special thanks to the City of Bentonville and the Trailblazers for providing the playground for this event to happen. We would also like to thank all our sponsors (Bentonville USA, Phat Tire Bike Shop, Mojo BMX, Graphics by Mike, Arvest, Honda, Dr. Woodruff, Clarion & Timberline Homes). We got a lot of positive feedback and plan to do it again next year! We hope to get on the AMBCS Series next year which will guarantee an additional 200 competitors to the XC Race. Also, we really want to push for camping and live music on site! This event has the potential to be HUGE! We’ll let the pictures do the rest of the talking……. Thanks, PTD
Where’s my volleyball…Wilson? See Ya Next Year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We are counting on locals to help us get the XC course and Freeride Park dialed before the event.
Come out, work, ride, and eat BBQ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Schedule:
Saturday Oct.25: CROSS-COUNTRY COURSE PREPARATION (Meet at Freeride Park 8:00am)
Contact Dale- 479-790-3233
Sunday Oct. 26: FREERIDE PARK PREPARATION (Meet at Freeride Park 11:00am)
Contact Woody- 479-966-0286
Thanks for all your help!
The City of Bentonville has decided to hire Woody as a seasonal employee in order to maintain the Freeride Park. Thanks to both inside and ouside interest groups, such as, the Kansas Freeriders, Oklahoma Freeriders, Arkansas Freeride Society and the RogUe Posse of Dallas, the Freeride park will be maintained on a regular basis. PTD plans to breakdown and rebuild the slalom track into more of a 4cross style race track, overhaul the DJ park and redesign and dial-in the pumptrack, which was built by volunteers, namely Dale Baily…thanks Dale! THIS PARK WILL BE TIP-TOP FOR THE HALLOWEEN JAM…COME RIDE!!!
Progress!
Pumptrack!!!
Flippin Joe reworking Wallride! We plan to slant it back a little further, which will make it a little easier to ride. Also we are putting up new plywood!
