With the help of many helpers (123 as at March 2009), we have been building a network of XC trails there during the last 3 years (started autumn '06).

This is a project completely reliant on community grant funding and volunteer labour - our team have spent over 1600 hours (as at March 09) on the project so far! We're always keen for more helpers so if you are willing to help out next time or just want to be on our email trailbuilding notification list, then please let us know by sending me a PM or emailing Craig & Rebekah on xc@paradise.net.nz . We will email you details of where to meet, when we will be there etc.

Tools are provided and we work as a team so there is plenty of opportunity for instruction and chatting

We aim to go over at least one weekend a month (often more) and try to alternate between Saturdays and Sundays. During the winter and spring months we may fit in the occasional extra day to make the most of the good digging conditions. We're currently over there every few days as we are getting it ready for three big events in March.

For those who don't know much about the project, we are building a network of mostly forested trails that are open to the public to ride and will eventually provide a fantastic race venue that allows for a variety of race formats. Living Springs is 450 ha of native forest and farmland located just past Governors Bay and goes from the harbour foreshore to the Summit Rd. There is currently a small gap between the Port Hills MTB trail network and the Living Springs trails but we are hoping to eventually span this gap with singletrack.

There is a diary of what we have done so far and a list of our great volunteer crew on the Trailbuilding page of our website http://www.mountainbike.orcon.net.nz.

We begun installing signage in January 2009 and once a bit more track is complete and a few more signs are in place we will have an official opening and will provide a map and more trail information on our website.

We'd love your help!

Email us on xc@paradise.net.nz or call 322 7886

I'm in - am flying in from wellytown 'specially to go trail digging at living springs .... well sort of.

Come on Chch - this project is going to provide a wonderful alternative to the 'classic out in the open' port hills trails we already know and love. Numerous are those who have ventured onto what's already been built and thought "this is cool, give me a grubber". It is the place you will want to go riding when the summer sun is high in a hot blue sky. Lets make it happen for this summer !!

We had a great crew today - our biggest turnout ever with 19 big kids and 6 children. We built about 179 m of new track, plus completed lots of labour-intensive sections that we had by-passed earlier (as we didn't have the necessary materials at the time). So thanks to Graham, Greg, Frog, Michael, Graeme, Nigel, Sean, Murray, Richard, Viv, Laurence, Dave, Phil, Andrew, Carey, Zane and Malcolm.

You guys are great!

Zane on Zanes

The final creek crossing.


For now

Yeah a good day for sure. That trail building thing is actually quite a bit of fun , in a labour intensive sort of way . Better bring my bike next time though

WOW, that looks so awesome - you guys & gals should be awfully proud of yourselves. Great work.

Yes, I must take my bike next time too... all that time shaping the berms in the corners and I have not yet ridden it!!!

I want to see the vid that Murray D took riding down the new part!!

How about some more photos XCwife??

inzane wrote: How about some more photos XCwife??

Well here is one taken a couple of nights ago from our deck.

Oh... That's not what you meant? You wanted photos of you? How about this one then...

and in full water colour action (I turn photos in to to watercolours when they are a bit blurry because then it's not so obvious)

As one of the few who did take a bike and get a ride in all I can say is the whole loop is GREAT. I lead Michael around (hope the Chch mtbike club ride today goes well) the pines - mississippi - zanes loop and it was all good - the run down zanes at the end, pretty much from the very top, was magic. Though I stuttered and dabbed here and there whilst Rebecca got some filming done, it was wonderfully flowy and varied. The whole shebang is challenging, FUN, grin-inducing singletrack

XCwife wrote: Oh... That's not what you meant? You wanted photos of you? How about this one then...

No, not more photos of me, but photos of the rest of the crew that were digging, and some of the trail they have created!!

And, as you can see from Zane's smiles, TRACK BUILDING IS FUN!!!!!

and a vid of Murray riding down the newest bits of Zane's trail.

http://www.vorb.org.nz/video-view-95190.html