Dave Swetland Memorial Trail gets a Facelift from the Locals

This past spring, I got the chance to dive into a project that hit all the right notes—a trail rebuild in the heart of Christina Lake, B.C. And not just any trail—this was the Dave Swetland Memorial Trail (DSM). A 700-meter descent that’s a total mix of single track , tech, and forest flow. It's got history, it’s got style, and it needed some love.

The DSM trail means a lot to riders around here—it’s more than just dirt and rocks, it’s a part of the culture. The WildWays crew had already been putting in serious work with hand-built jumps, drops, and features. I was enthusiastic to put some sweat back into the trails. I’ve been dreaming of this kind of project for years, so when the opportunity came to grab an excavator and go, I wasn’t gonna let it pass me by.

Fast forward a few phone calls/meetings and there I was—sitting in a massive machine, staring down a hillside with only four days to crank out 600 meters of trail. And let me tell you, moving dirt with an excavator is a whole different beast. Blown tracks, hydraulic leaks, barely any sleep, but holy hell—this was a whole new level of fun for me.

Why Here?

Now, why this town? Why this trail? Christina Lake isn’t just a spot on the map for me—it’s home. My family has deep roots here, and I was lucky enough to spend every summer soaking it all in. Some of my fondest and earliest memories are tied to this place—those warm, carefree summers by the lake, living life to the fullest.

We were so carefree that we nearly rode all the way to Rossland from the top of Santa Rosa Summit—an adventure that turned into a total 13-hour fiasco, filled with bear scat and bushwhacking. It ended with us being rescued by a guy named Joe—this redneck who found us in the middle of nowhere, at a place called Big Sheep Creek. Then there was the time I took my middle-aged babysitter, who had never ridden a bike off-road, down the Spooner Creek trail. She ended up bruised and battered, but she was alright in the end. I was young, made of rubber, and completely clueless about the dangers of it all.

All of these wild ideas came from the mischief my younger brother and I cooked up while hanging out at the Garth Sander Bike Park. By the time we’d found the park it had seen better days, but even as a kid, I could see the history. Filled with decrepit dirt piles and rotten skinnies it wasn’t pretty but you could tell the magic was still there. On that property was WildWays Adventure Sports, the real heartbeat of the local scene. The walls lined with photographs of the park in it’s prime and Kona Bikes.

I spent hours there, drooling over the Konas in the basement, imagining the day I’d be big enough to ride a Stinky. To this kid, those bikes weren’t just bikes—they were a ticket to freedom, to adventure, to whatever was waiting around the next corner. It wasn’t about racing, about hitting the biggest jumps—it was about the ride. The pure joy of getting lost in the woods, conquering new trails, and feeling that rush that only bikes can give you. This place is where the love started for me, and it hasn’t stopped.

Many years have gone by but one simple fact remains the same, Christina Lake and the people that make it, rule.

Dave Swetland: The OG Legend

Then there’s Dave Swetland. The guy was a straight-up legend. Even though I never met him in person, his legacy is everywhere around here. Dave was a pioneer, the kind of guy who put mountain biking on the map in the Kootenay Boundary. His appearances in the Kranked video series are burned into the memories of everyone who’s ever thrown a leg over a bike in this area. He was the real deal, always pushing limits, always pushing the culture forward.

Even after his tragic passing, Dave’s spirit is alive in every corner of these trails. The people he inspired are the ones who built the same trails I cut my teeth on. When I got the chance to work on the DSM, I knew I had to honor his memory, his passion, and the countless riders he’s influenced. This project was my way of contributing to that legacy.

Fast forward a month, and boom— my contribution to the overhaul was finished. An army of volunteers logged over 650 hours, and put together a $30,000 project for almost free? It only cost the KVCA a few cases of beers and some sweat equity. Magic. Big shoutout to all the legends who made it happen: Dan, Seth, Zav, Josh, Vince, Colin, Bob, Will, Tyler, and the groms from Grand Forks Secondary School Ski & Bike Club. Couldn’t have done it without you.

And the grand opening? A total banger. Leatt contributed swag, ENVE hooked us up with a cockpit, SRAM blessed us with a drivetrain, RockShox came through with suspension, and Kona helped cover the machine rental and media.

DSM’s return to grace was celebrated with an awesome BBQ and ride day.

Thank you, Christina Lake. Thank you to everyone who helped make this happen. It’s been a complete honor to give back to a community that gave me so much. Here’s to more trails, more memories, and more riding in this incredible place.