I am Alive!!!

Man, what a crazy weekend.  That was by far the gnarliest crash I have ever had.  I fractured 3 vertebrae in my spine and fractured my shoulder.  I could have been dead or paralyzed, but , thankfully, I was given another shot!  I have to wear a really uncomfortable collar for  2 weeks and then its back to building trail.  That’s why you wear your helmet and chest protector kids (remembered the helmet, forgot the chest protector).

It looks like my DH racing days are over, but PTD still charges forward with the same ambition.  I am glad everyone liked the trail so much and hopefully will be able to enjoy it for many years to come!  Thanks everyone for all your help and concerns, stay tuned for some positive event post soon. ~WOODY

New Fatty Fest DH Course (Eureka Springs, AR)!

A whistler-inspired, rhythm and flow oriented PTD creation in Arkansas.  I would venture to say that this is one of our best creations yet.  We have scratched the original 1/2mile of fire road for a 1/2mile of super- flowy, stunt-laden singletrack.  This will make the whole trail a solid mile.  I will go ahead and pre-warn you, THIS IS NOT A DH RACE COURSE.  In fact many competitors will probably not like it to race on, but we bet you will keep coming back for more b/c it will test your flow skills, and if you don’t have any, don’t worry, this is your chance to learn.  As for the race; it should be interesting, I think the guy with the best bike-handling skills will take this one…the XC endurance days are over.  Come out and enjoy the fruits of our labor this weekend. Big thanks to the City of Eureka!

Slight right hip off the triangular stone embedded in the ground at the top right into an insloped berm lander.  This will be one of the more advanced features. Pictures really don’t do this justice.

We all ate lunch off this berm.  This is what happens when you get BMXers to build MTB trails…you turn around and they’ve turned chunky hash browns into perfectly smooth skinless whipped potatoes:)

Justin P. Brindley Mountain Bike Trail, Sugar Land, TX

The PTD team has just completed another unique mountain bike specific trail system.  After a long 3 weeks in the insanely hot Texas sun, we walked away satisfied with the completion of  another recreational facility that people will enjoy for generations to come.  Though small, the 2mile trail system boast a total of 15 wooden technical trail features to enhance the experience.  This will be the perfect trail system for riders of all levels, but will really be a great platform for the progression of beginner/intermediate riders.  We would like to give a special thanks to the unsung heroes of this recreational facility, Justin’s family, who donated the funds to develop this park as a memorial to their son and fellow mountain biker.  All of us on the PTD team have spent our lives enjoying the outdoors and traveling  as much as possible in an effort to milk life for everything it is worth, so we took a great since of pride and responsibility in this project upon discovering that Justin lived life by the same principles.  We hope we were able to meet the expectations in an effort to commemorate a fellow mountain biker and world traveler…thanks to Justin’s Family and the City of Sugar Land for this opportunity.  ~The PTD Team.

Trail………………………………………………………………………

TTF Additions (Stockton Trails, MO)

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……………………..

Ross McMaster Returns to Arkansas!

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……

PTD are officially Professional Trailbuilders!

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!

Trailbuilding Clinic for Boys & Girls Town Missouri

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!

Lake Stockton, MO Trails

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.

Devil’s Den Trail Renovation

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.

2008 Slaughter Pen Halloween Jam SUCCESS!

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!