May 19, 2015, 9:24 a.m. -  Mark Obsniuk

#!markdown I have built and maintained many a trails. I helped complete the Saw Blade on Burke and tried in vain to maintain the trail till the tools were stollen. Flagged Massage Therapy with Sean from Crank'n Carven. Maintained trails throughout the Fraser Valley, Manning park and beyond. Countless miles of Chilcotins trails, spent a weekend chain sawing out the blowdowns to link the Shulaps traverse. So I have some familiarity with trails from a building and maintenance stand point. To me "shore style" trails means poor line choices and building techniques. Many trails combine both issues. Some more recent trails have terrible line choices that no matter how well they are built the ground simply won't support the traffic. Espresso and Forever After trail are prime examples of line choice issues. I've talked to many people about these two trails and the disappointment in the trails and deterioration is not just my own. Good examples are Asian Adonis where the line choice allows the terrain to help guide the rider and allow a natural speed scrubbing vs the turn at the bottom of a fall line section straight into a turn. My favorite lower mainland riding loop is in Port Moody. The descent on Eagle Bluff to Academy then over to Strong Road, Starz and exit to Inlet drive is a wonderful mix of features, flow and technical XC. My complaint here is that many of the shore trails can still have the feel without falling apart due to poor line choices. Mission has some really nice trails that are challenging and well built with good sustainable line choices. I avoid many shore trails due to the feeling of guilt of riding a trail that simply can't sustain the riding. In section that are breaking up I slow down and ride very