Life in lockdown has been tough on the Coast’s sport and recreation sector, but members of Ourimbah Mountain Bike Club (CCMBT) have never been busier.
The club manages the Ourimbah Mountain Bike Park which has remained open throughout the pandemic.
With mountain biking deemed a suitable form of socially distant exercise and the park home to the only legal mountain bike trails on the Coast, it’s been getting a serious workout.
The influx of riders has mirrored the club’s trajectory over the past year, with 2019 one of their most successful competitive seasons to date.
With the sport itself also firmly on the rise, both recreationally and competitively, the CCMBT is gearing up for three major upgrades: an extension to the downhill trail, the installation of a jump line and a lower flow trail.
CCMBT Secretary, Leif Arnebark, said work had already commenced on the downhill trail extension which will see a new section added to the existing trail.
The trail currently incorporates a section of a pre-existing fire road which Leif said was jarring to riders, as it was low speed, non-technical and low gradient, compared to the rest of the trail, with the new section bypassing the fire road entirely and adding challenging obstacles to streamline the trail’s overall purpose and feeling as a technical and highspeed challenge for experienced riders.
A jump line is a course of jumps designed for riders of all skill levels to practice jumps.
Arnebark said community demand for one had been high, so the CCMTB was delivering.
“The jumps will start small and build into progressively larger and more difficult features so riders of all skills levels can practice and build confidence,” Leif explained.
The lower flow trail is an entirely new trail and has been highly anticipated by members.
Approximately 1,000m in length, the $27,000 project is intended as a developmental addition to the park’s offering that will deliver a new downhill trail experience for less skilled riders.
Leif said the new trail would have a less steep gradient than the existing downhill trail, as well as being wider and having more rollable features.
“This makes it perfect for riders looking to transition off beginner trails who might not be ready for the downhill trail.
“It’s a good mix and has been sorely needed,” Leif explained.
Work on the lower flow trail is due to start later this May.
Together the projects meet three of the CCMBT’s chief objectives in expanding and diversifying their offering, improving accessibility and promoting the Central Coast as a mountain and trail biking destination.
“Once completed, the three projects will allow us to have more riders onsite, both recreationally and for competitions, and will help us meet current demand.
“At the moment, the park has around 19kms of trails, but with current demand, we estimate that we need to double that to keep up with growth,” Leif said.
According to Leif, part of that demand stems from the fact that the park has become a major interregional recreational attraction.
“Competition wise, the CCMTB already hosts everything from local to national competitions at the park, but what we’re seeing is huge growth in the local circuit, and that’s where a lot of the demand is coming from.
“Aside from the Central Coast riding community, we regularly see riders from Sydney and Newcastle making the trip to the park, which just goes to show its tourism potential,” Leif said.
Looking to the future, Leif said the focus once the projects were completed, would be on getting the park and members’ competition ready, once COVID-19 restrictions are eased.
“After that, we’ll be looking at securing funding to start our next project, which will be the upper flow trail,” Leif said.
With that in mind, Leif said the CCMTB would be looking to local politicians for support.
“These new additions are fantastic and welcomed by the Central Coast mountain bike community, but we still have a long way to go before the park has the length and diversity of trails it needs to satisfy demand.
“We would like to call on Central Coast Council to support their residents and local MP’s by assisting with the creation and promotion of mountain biking infrastructure on the Central Coast, both for its intrinsic benefits and the tourism related economic benefits,” Leif said.
Source: Email and interview, May 5, 2020 – Leif Arnebark, Central Coast Mountain Bike Club