Dick Balharry Prize report

‘Christine had suggested I started with a Green/Blue-graded trail called Bobsled, named after its flowing sweeping turns. This trail is quoted as being “the most ridden trail in the world (probably)”. The trail is ideal for introducing beginner riders to mountain biking, and perfect for experienced riders to warm up.

‘Ryan had suggested that I try out a Black-graded trail, popular with intermediate and advanced riders, aptly named Espresso. All official Mount Fromme trails have been built and maintained by the NSMBA to IMBA standards and this was reflected in the condition of the trails and how well they rode. There were few signs of damage on the trails, no braking bumps or holes – a testament to the way they’ve been built and managed.

‘Before travelling to Canada, I had made contact with Michael Boyd who moved to Vancouver from Scotland. I’ve known Michael for a number of years through the Scottish cross-country mountain bike races. He suggested we meet one afternoon at the Mount Seymour trails just outside North Vancouver. We rode on some lesser used unofficial trails that, without local knowledge, I would never have discovered. These trails had signs at the entrance warning users that they were entering private land, and were in stark contrast to the well-built trails I’d ridden the day before. The trails were in a state of disrepair with holes, fallen branches and completely washed away sections. Whilst these trails offer a different mountain biking experience, the environmental damage caused by them must negate any positives.

‘I had organised a meeting with Alister McCrone, a recreation officer for the Sea to Sky district of British Columbia. I wanted to speak to someone who worked for the local government to get a different view on mountain bike infrastructure. Alister is an “old school” mountain biker who has been involved in trails for many years. We discussed all the issues surrounding mountain bike trail building in both Scotland and British Columbia. These meetings allowed us to learn from each other, even with my somewhat limited knowledge in comparison to those I was meeting with. We were joined by Abby Morgan, who works with Alister reviewing the trail applications. The Sea to Sky district have conducted many investigations into the economic, social and environmental aspects of trail building and they were more than happy to share what they had learned with me. The trail application form was extensive, and it is expected that each applicant should spend around a week filling it out. The overall impact of mountain biking in the area was seen as overwhelmingly positive, with the few jobs the government funded being seen as a nominal investment in comparison to the economic and social benefits of mountain biking in British Columbia. I was impressed with the positive attitude to sustainable tourism and outdoor lifestyle from a local government organisation.

‘The next day I visited Alice Lake Provincial Park. Following the Trailforks app, I decided to ride a highly rated route called Pleasure Trail. I was not disappointed! The trail had recently opened and had yet to have an official route sign installed. However, the trail builders had constructed a huge hanging sign at the start of the trail; those who had spent the past six months labouring wanted people to know what trail they were riding, and rightfully so! The trail descended a rocky forested slope over 300m, with perfectly placed wooden bridges linking boulders and rock slabs on the descent. The trail was a perfect example of the trail-building excellence present in British Columbia. I spent the best part of an hour on a trail that usually takes less than 10 minutes, taking photos and looking at its construction.

‘The following day began with an early start as I had contacted the local trail organisation Squamish Off-Road Cycling Association (SORCA) to volunteer with one of their trail-building crews. I met Dan Prisk, who was originally from Cornwall but studying in British Columbia, and the rest of the team which was made up of three other young enthusiastic trail builders. I spent the day working alongside the group while asking them loads of questions and taking photos. I learned that the trail crew were employed 4 days each week over the summer and paid the living wage to build and maintain the local trails. I got talking to Jano, who had just finished school and was spending the summer building trails and learning how to mountain bike. Despite spending much of the day talking, work continued and after a few hours good progress had been made.

‘For the final week of my trip, I made my way to Whistler, arriving halfway through the Crankworx Mountain Bike Festival, one of the biggest mountain bike events in the world. My time in Whistler was spent riding a small percentage of the huge number of trails in the area. While I hadn’t scheduled any meetings for my time in Whistler, talking to locals, tourists and trail builders in the area gave me a good insight into how the area is run.

‘I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Canada. Meeting like-minded people who were as enthusiastic about trail building and mountain biking as myself was amazing. I was welcomed with open arms by everyone in the mountain bike community, who were genuinely interested in Scotland as a mountain bike destination and more than happy to share what they had learned through years of work.

‘I was contacted by Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland following the trip and asked if I would like to present at the Scottish Mountain Bike Conference in November in Aviemore. Standing in front of 200 people was certainly nerve-racking but I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and meeting like-minded people in Scotland, along with the opportunity to meet a few of my idols within the mountain bike and trail-building world.I aim to continue my research in Scotland by contacting trail builders and groups around the country to gain insight and share knowledge. Undoubtedly, the Dick Balharry Prize not only inspired me but also offered an opportunity that I could never have undertaken on my own and which will influence my life and future career.’

Applications are now open for students to apply for the Dick Balharry Prize 2019. Applications close on 15 February 2019.