Silk profile

1. Worth the time and proper wood work is art work

2. It does when you build to last. 20 years is possible

3. One time purchase when you re-use all nails when rebuilding wood work

4. Lots of great wood due to each winter blow downs.

5. Every rider has his own favorite terrain.

The title of this article is a bit misleading and is not correct. The Immediate removal makes it sound like the DNV is going in an ripping out all teeters ASAP. This is NOT the case.

They are working with all the builders who are part of this and have asked each of us how we want to make this work in a positive way.

The DNV has been very proactive in this and has let all builders know well in advance so we could all build a plan around each teeter replacement.

The DNV is NOT at fault and are extremely accommodating to other options that will keep the trails affected challenging and fun.

We the builders of Pipeline have been part of this process and are happy with what we have submitted to the DNV as a replacement and I am sure the rider will love the new features to replace what was lost.

Ahhhh HAHAHAHA.... 

Long live the Shore.

Posted by: cooperquinn

Yes, trail crew will be taking the winter off. The current schedule and budget sees re-hiring some full time crew at the end of Feb/early March (the 2020 budget has not yet been reviewed or approved by the board). This was brought up during the AGM - thanks to everyone who was able to attend, and for those who had other commitments or just weren't able to be there, the presentation (incl. consolidated financials) will be out with the next eNews.

The past three years saw significant increases in the size of seasonal trail crew, and the year round trail crew (and other staff). While revenues have been increasing year over year, it isn't currently enough to maintain our level of spending (we've operated at an annual loss starting in 2017). In my opinion, the trails very much reflect this - capital has been turned into assets. While having the crew year round is amazing, its not currently a model we can afford to maintain indefinitely. 2020 will see us working to increase our volunteer leverage & engagement, along with other changes to continue to ensure the Association remains relevant, vibrant, and financially stable for the foreseeable future. And, hopefully, with continued hard work and determination, revenue will continue to grow, and we'll be able to have a year round trail crew again in the near future. Given the levels of trail use we're seeing year round now (did anyone try to park at Fromme on Sunday?!), our trails need the constant work. We'll staff up/down with additional trail crew as budgets, projects, and weather/seasonality require.

Yes, it was a record year for membership, but membership dollars are under 25% of our annual revenues (& that $ figure includes Trail Boost sales); check the AGM presentation when its released for the full breakdown. On that note, for those who missed the AGM, individual adult membership pricing is increasing to $50 for 2020. If we maintain the same number of members, and people continue to purchase Trail Boosts at similar rates, this will increase gross revenue by a bit under 5%. We'll still be the cheapest membership of the big three in the Sea to Sky (NSMBA, SORCA, WORCA) by $10. Membership isn't just about revenue, though (hence why we've kept the price lower than many comparables), the membership number is often the critical factor that is used to determine grant allocations, engage sponsors, and importantly, advocate for mountain biking with elected officials and government staff.

EDIT: I should add; if you'd like to continue to see the level of trail crew work that's been happening for the past 3-ish years, the way to do that is with your wallet, and/or time. Your dollars matter, and sponsorship dollars matter if that's a thing at your place of employment. Fern level starts at $500, which is pretty palatable for many businesses - and it includes four memberships. 2020 Memberships are for sale, Giving Tuesday is coming (and you need to sort out your tax problem anyway)... there's no shortage of ways to participate. (we've already sold more 2020 memberships than there were members in 2011)

"2020 will see us working to increase our volunteer leverage & engagement"

Good news to keep trails maintained year round.

Hey Dean!

Blew out my right side bad a number of years ago also grade III plus blown RC with no surgery. Every single time I went over the bars it only ruined every bit of healing I had done. 6 months plus of nasty pain again all for nothing. Wearing a back pack... ouch!

I had to adjust my riding to keep the wheels on the ground and learn to enjoy the climb. It was the only way I could keep going. Had to switch my dominant side to my left for trail building so I would not re-injure myself.

As of now I have been 2 years with only minor aches that I can work out with a tennis ball.

Take it slow and try to build up your injured side and adjust your lifestyle is what I advise. Chronic pain is no joke.

I sure would like to know what everyone is riding to think that the climbing trail has become to easy. My daily 60km bike commute to UBC from Lynn Valley keeps me in what I think is good shape and I am on the climbing trail every Sunday AM.

That thing is a BEAST. Even after all this time I still get the angry just before the most welcome decent.  After more than 2 years I still can not clean this trail.

Maybe the bikes of today have made things to easy.

I am still on my 2007 26" heckler without a dropper seat post and it is no picnic to say the least.

3 cheers to Peter M and the crew for this trail.

Posted by: PaulB

Posted by: syncro

I remember when I first got into doing trail work something that Dave Diplock and others mentioned in respect to building stunts was having a qualifier at the start of the stunt. The start of the stunt should be the most difficult part or at least as difficult as the most difficult parts of the stunt."

What would be the qualifier for a teeter-totter or a steep ramp? In general, I pass on all but the easiest stunts. Understanding a bit more about how they are designed might help me wrap my head around giving more a go.

The Qualifier "being the hardest part of the whole feature" For example on Pipeline we have put in a very skinny entrance on the upper wood circuit that is by far the hardest part. The lower teeter on Pipeline also has a very skinny entrance before getting on the teeter which is easier than the entrance. 

The idea is that if you can not get into the stunt due to the hard entrance then perhaps you should skip that feature. If you know yourself as a rider you can have good / bad days. Sometimes you get right on that stunt and the entrance is easy. Other days not so much when your grove is not on.

I always have the rule of 2. If at the 2nd attempt I can not get through the entrance / qualifier of any stunt or wood feature I skip it for another day.

Posted by: andy-eunson

Posted by: skooks

I talked to Digger today and he confirmed that it is definitely happening. Apparently there was a law suit in Ontario after someone broke their neck on a poorly designed teeter and it has spooked land owners (or at least their lawyers). Still a good idea to email the district though.

Digger is hoping to hold a wake for the teeter on Ladies before he has to remove it.

They need better lawyers then. I handled sports liability claims for some time as an adjuster before I retired. There were far more lawsuits involving softball where players broke their ankles sliding into bases that were totally fine. All sports are inherently dangerous. As long as the TTF’s are well maintained and signed a defence of a claim is dead easy. The district I think is protected by the OLA and by the fact that the NSMBA does maintain the trails very well.

Another option if the NSMBA has to negotiate a compromise to keep the features, is to offer to build marked ride arounds on these.

The NSMBA is not responsible for all of the trails that this effects. Salvation, Boundary and Pipeline are among these non NSMBA trails which each has its own volunteer crew that takes direction from the DNV.

all of the above trails has alternate routes to all of the TTF's which have a Teeter and this makes no difference in the insurance underwriters eyes.

This not the fault of the DNV they have very little input on this.

Imagine going into ICBC and demanding concessions to your insurance. Good luck!

Time time to stop this has long past. The insurance underwriters "which are in Ontario" have mandated this and the DNV has no say if they want insurance.

When the DNV told me I had to remove both teeters from Pipeline I asked all of the above questions as well.

Nothing will change and they must go.

Teeter's have been removed from almost all playgrounds over the last few decades due to the number of injuries. Go to any school playground and try to find one. Heck Pipeline even has a death attributed to the 2nd teeter.

Good news is for Pipeline that each teeter will be replaced with something right out of the old school shore play book.

Posted by: syncro

Posted by: Kieran

Hahahaha

I'm guessing the majority of riders whinging about them ride rouge trails a good portion of the time. Is that being hypocritical?

well if you go down the rabbit hole far enough we're all being hypocritical in one way or another. 

i think the goal to shoot for is give back more than you take, or at least keep things in balance. I can think of a handful of people who are in a positive balance and feel that the majority of riders  - over 80% - are in a negative balance, some by a long shot. ebikes will probably make that worse.  it doesn't have to be that way though - again it's about creating the right culture.

Skinny Rock, Wood... No gold ribbons of dirt "NO FLOW" crazy old school tech lines that a e-bike will not do well on.

Boost mode on a skinny does not sound like a good idea...

If you are a builder on the shore and do not want a mass e-bike crowd it is up to you to build that trail.

Posted by: rat

Been along time since I dropped by here.  bought a new MTB so I figured I better get back on the ride more bitch less thread.  

been snowbiking, trials biking , Moto riding  but I guess its time to start turning cranks again

What bike did you get?

Posted by: ReductiMat

That is fucking awesome.

Right click inside any of the trails for  "LittlePlanet View" you can create the above and more.