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Follow this link to read a new article by Vicky Sama about the Paradise Royale Trail, a 14-mile singletrack loop that IMBA helped build on California’s Lost Coast:
http://singletrack.competitor.com/destination/lost-coast-california/
I was just at a conference about quiet recreation and conservation and acquired my new favorite sticker for my tool box:
Courtesy of the Backcountry Hunters and Anglers.
Deep within the Australian Capital Territory (the ACT), the nation’s capital city Canberra holds some of the best mountain biking in the world! I was taken on a single-track tour by some of the creators of this “mountain bike wonder”, Reece Guihot (advocacy and trails officer for CORC) and Anthony Burton (president of CORC). The Canberra Off Road-Cyclists (CORC) is one of Mountain Bike Australia’s (MTBA) strongest clubs. Similar to MTBA, CORC takes on race promotion, high-level advocacy and trail stewardship. They have an unbeatable track record. In 2007 CORC put on 67 competitive events and 20 social events, and over the course of 2006-07 contributed 4,000 volunteer hours at Stromlo Forest Park. They have helped create and maintain trails in 7 ride locations in the Canberra vicinity including the brand new Stromlo Forest Park.
Mt. Stromlo was a beautiful place to enjoy trails until the bush fires of 2003 toasted 1200 hectares (3,000 acres) of forest. Government officials and outdoor enthusiasts planned to raise the “phoenix from the ashes” with the dream of an outdoor sports complex. Several partners and visionaries came together including world-renowned trails planner Glen Jacobs. Glen designed the trails and with help from CORC volunteers the mountain bike sector of the venue came together.
In 2007 the 7.5 million dollar multi-use outdoor sporting facility was officially opened. Stromlo Forest Park has something for everyone, including a cross-country running track, a paved road cycling circuit, an equestrian center and a complete mountain bike park. Presently they have 45kms of XC trails, a 2.2 km DH course, a beginner DH course, a short track, a trials area and an impressive 4X track. CORC put on the largest 24-hour race in the world (held annually) with 2,400 racers and 10,000 total people attending! Stromlo Forest Park and CORC have hosted the National Mountain Bike Championships for the last two years and will be doing so again in 2009, and this year will host a round of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup followed next year with the 2009 World Mountain Bike Championships!
It was a real treat to sample the trails and get to see first hand what fuels a world-class cycling facility. I gave a presentation for the land managers of Stromlo and neighboring national parks in the Canberra region. Canberra is known for its outstanding bicycle pathways system and now the mountain bike park at Stromlo. However there are little to no legal mountain bike singletrack trails to get riders from nearby Canberra and other communities, so many cyclists are driving to the venue or creating illegal trails through national park lands. Park officials are ready for change, and we can look forward to a promising future with CORC, MTBA and IMBA lending a hand.
Thank you Canberra,
Joey Klein
