Glad to see we're keeping all you people happy!
As Russ and Tone have said, we have got an area set aside for 'freeride' type stuff, but it's DEFINATELY not a free-for-all-build-area. Anything that gets built has to be approved by the Engineer (me) first, and built to standards and designs that the FC are comfortable with (we're currently working up a set of standard details for things like berms, jumps, timber structures etc). This doesn't mean the stuff will be tame - the 'Danger Drop' is pretty hairy and has already given one guy a fair old headache (literally), and the stuff following will also be pretty big. The whole section will be graded 'double black' with appropriate signs etc. to ensure we don't get sued by fools riding beyond their capability. The deal for getting this area also requires that no other unauthorised building takes place in the forest, so if you see anything that shouldn't be there, let me know asap.....
With the trailbuilding, the basic deal is that if everyone helps with some of the xc stuff, then some materials and digger time is found for the freeride area.
There aren't any current plans afoot for specific DH trails (the funding for the xc trail is coming from Sport England and dh doesn't fit their 'user profile' for the whole scheme), but saying that, the black graded xc section is going to be pretty tight and technical feeding into a bit of a bmx-type jump section, the idea being that only the good/brave/foolish will be able to ride the whole thing without touching their brakes.....
If you would like any further information, please feel free to contact me at
michael.tearle@forestry.gsi.gov.uk
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