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Mountain Biking in Paradise

$430 donated

Given by 5 generous donors in around 4 months

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Help the Bay of Islands community create a world-class mountain bike park so New Zealanders can bike in paradise!

Northland

The Waitangi Mountain Bike Park is a not-for-profit, community-led facility in the Waitangi Endowment Forest, located in one of the most beautiful places in the world - the Bay of Islands. Picture this: lush Pohutukawa-clad islands fringed with sandy white beaches, dolphins sighted almost daily in the beautiful waters, a newly-built museum on the Waitangi Treaty Grounds.

And now add a world-class mountain bike park too.

For the thousands of riders that congregate in hot spots like Rotorua, Nelson and Queenstown, a professionally built mountain bike park is a compelling reason to venture north. Thanks to the big dreamers at Focus Paihia Community Charitable Trust, an award-winning community organisation, that dream is becoming reality.

Internationally-renowned Southstar Trails began construction of STAGE ONE/Zone 2 in October 2015. Zone 2 is now almost complete: a total of 21km incorporating 10 trails. The trail network has grown rapidly over the past six months and the trails cater to all levels of ability, with great flow and features, from introductory downhill riding, jump trails, cross country and beginner trails.

A further 50km of trails is to be developed in the next few years and we are currently seeking funding to support the addition of a further 7 trails in the coming year. All up there are five zones to be developed so there’s plenty more trail development planned!

Money raised will go entirely to trail maintenance and development and is vital for the sustainability of the project.

The Waiting Mountain Bike Park provides the perfect introduction to mountain biking with lots of easy, scenic trails that you can take at your own pace: initial trail design and development has focused on the family friendly grades with most of the trails built grade 2 (easy) and 3 (intermediate), with one grade 4 (advanced). The downhill trails make most out of the 100m of vertical elevation available providing a lot of fun for a small amount of climbing. There are plenty of fast, flowing berms, rollers and jumps. Grade 2 and 3 runs are so well built that they're still fun for more advanced riders.

The Waitangi Mountain Bike Park will remain a non-commercial community mountain bike park, and continues to be built by the efforts of the community, with teams of volunteers venturing out most weekends to tackle new areas - from fencing building, to digging post-holes and track maintenance.

For more information contact info@focuspaihia.org.nz.

Photo and video by Thomas Falconer/In The Frame Media

About us

Focus Paihia works on behalf of the community to see Paihia become an exceptional place to live, work and visit. We want to see Paihia ‘blossom’ and thrive, while retaining its friendly, village like atmosphere.

To make ‘Paihia shine’, through: clear leadership and direction by inspiring and uniting our community and celebrating our successes; supporting and facilitating our community’s ideas for future public developments;

commenting and providing submissions on future developments; having strong relationships and open communication practices; encouraging local sustainable employment opportunities; promoting and maintaining a rich, versatile and sustainable volunteer base; and a sustainable charitable entity while remaining impartial and focused on the bigger picture.