by Jesse Holth | photo by August Horeth –
Bike parks are a wonderful addition to any neighbourhood: they encourage people to spend time outdoors, help to build
a sense of community, and are a way for both kids and adults to make friends and challenge their abilities.
Riders at North Saanich Freeride Park are greeted with a variety of tracks and jumps for every skill level, from beginner to expert. The Park is now open for the season, and anyone is welcome to enjoy the inclusive atmosphere of the grounds.
“A lot of youth use the park; it’s a great source of exercise,” says Kyle White, president of The Friends of North Saanich Mountain Bike Park Society, the not-for-profit that manages and maintains the park. “We work with the District to keep the bike park running; we’re a volunteer-led public group,” he explains. “We do everything from raising money to digging in the dirt.”
In recent years, the group has been able to secure more funding for the bike park. “When I first started, the average amount per year was about $2,000, and now – for the second year in a row – it’s at about $30,000 a year! So we’ve been able to make some pretty dramatic improvements,” says Kyle. The new additions include a viewing deck and a trick zone – they’ve also added some wooden ramps, improved the more difficult portion of the park for higher
skill levels, and redone the “green zone” area, a section that’s easier for kids and newer riders.
“We are also looking at some larger projects in the future,” says Kyle. “We want to get to the point where we can install an asphalt pump track, so the park is usable year-round.” Currently, the bike park is only open seasonally for the summer, until the fall brings too much rain for the dirt tracks to function. “We’re hoping for enough funds to keep a portion of the park open year-round.”
The park is enjoyed by people of all skill levels and is especially appreciated by families. Father of three Jeremy Beintemas spends at least two days a week at the bike park with his children, who are aged five, eight and 11. “I think the main benefit is the ability to have multiple people at different skill levels – we can ride there for a long time and enjoy ourselves,” explains Jeremy. “My older two are quite advanced riders, and the youngest is just getting into it. We can go there as a family, everyone can ride and progress, and we can all be there together.”
Jeremy explains that the bike park is different than trail rides, where beginner riders can get frustrated and discouraged, or feel left behind. “This environment is more conducive to a wide range of abilities,” he says. “I also think there’s a really positive community that’s been built around the park. I’ve been going for maybe four or five years regularly; I’ve watched some of the younger kids grow up and mature, and become contributors to the park on volunteer days. New riders are always showing up, and sometimes they’re intimidated but the regular riders are always there to help.”
“We also have a program teaching kids how to make bike jumps safely,” says Kyle. “And lots of youth have taken real pride and ownership in the park, getting involved with the community aspect and contributing to their local area – they want to make a positive impact.”
“We love it there, it’s just a great place,” adds Jeremy. “I’m very proud of Kyle for reinvigorating the park over the last couple years; it’s made such a huge difference.”
