A rider gets some air on the advanced jump line. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf
Waitangi Mountain Bike Park has just undergone its biggest expansion since the first trails opened a decade ago with the opening of a new, adrenaline-inducing jump zone.
Pekenui Jump and Skills Park, which covers an entire hillside at the bike park's entrance, features three jump lines, two climbs, a scenic ridge descent, and an area for honing bike handling skills.
It is hoped the new facility will further boost mountain biking's popularity in the Bay of Islands, and help attract visitors to Northland outside the busy summer months.
Waitangi Mountain Bike Park manager Tiffany Holland was the driving force behind the project. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf
Park manager Tiffany Holland, the driving force behind the project, said Sunday's opening was the culmination of two years of planning and fundraising, and two months of construction by Rotorua-based trail company Empire of Dirt.
The opening was also a chance to reveal the new trail names, gifted by local hapū Ngā Hapū ki Waitangi, as well as the stories behind the names.
"It's really important to us to celebrate the cultural heritage of this area," he said.
Lukas Bayer was one of the first riders to try out the new jump park. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf
Holland said feedback from the jump park's first users had been enthusiastic.
"Everybody's loving it. Lots of 'sick!' and 'amazing air!'. The kids are really doing well, and it's all about progression, so we'll see some really good riders coming out of this."
The aim was to increase riders' confidence with handling skills and balance, and encourage them to push themselves further.
"You can see the progression from when the kids started riding to a few hours in, they're already doing heaps better."
A rider tests Puanga Matariki, the advanced jump line at Pekenui Jump and Skills Park. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf
Holland said the $300,000 jump and skill park was entirely community funded.
The bulk of the money, $160,000, came from community group Focus Paihia, while Lotto granted $100,000 and Foundation North another $25,000.
Local businesses donated another $60,000 in materials and services.
A little twist, and a lot of steez, as a rider takes a jump on Puanga Matariki. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf
Holland said the mountain bike park was originally built in 2016 to encourage people of all skill and ability levels to get outdoors and take up riding.
"We struggle with our health statistics up here so we really wanted to provide a free-to-ride park so it's accessible to everybody. It was also about celebrating heritage and creating an awesome facility to bring visitors to Northland, which has benefits for everyone."
She said the numbers proved its success, with more than 142,000 rides to date and $10 million injected into the local economy.
Over the same period volunteers had donated 20,000 hours of their time to the park.
Pekenui Jump and Skills Park boasts three jump lines of varying difficulty. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf
Northland MP Grant McCallum, who attended the opening, said it was the sort of community-driven, community-led project the region needed more of.
It helped attract visitors to Northland outside summer, by creating a land-based activity that could be enjoyed all year round.
"Our biggest challenge in Northland is not the summer tourism season. That's pretty busy, as we all know. It's that winter off season, that's what we're focused on. Our challenge is to give people reasons to come up here out of season."
A rider commits to a drop on Puanga Matariki, the advanced jump line. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf
McCallum said he was also "a big fan" of a plan to extend the existing Opua-to-Horeke cycle trail all the way to Dargaville.
"It's about getting out and enjoying the cycle trail culture that's really developed in this country."
One of the first riders to try out the new jump park was Lukas Bayer, who grew up in the Bay of Islands but moved to Rotorua in the hope of becoming a professional mountain biker.
"It's amazing to have a facility like this at Waitangi," he said.
"I wish it was here when I was still living here. It's an amazing place for young kids, and old kids as well, to improve their skills, learn something new and push themselves out of their comfort zone, but do it safely at the same time."
Duelling riders on Puanga Matariki, the most challenging of the park's three jump lines. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf
Chris Kurien, of Haruru, near Paihia, said the new jump park was "absolutely incredible".
"It's such an asset for the Bay of Islands, and it's going to bring so many people to the area. And it's amazing to watch all the young people, and not so young people, enjoying it today. I've tried it, it's awesome. I need a bit more talent, but I'll definitely be down here practising a lot."
Sunday morning's blessing was led by Ngatikawa Taituha of Waitangi's Te Tii Marae.
Te Tii Marae chairman Ngatikawa Taituha (left) leads a crowd of eager riders to the new jump park ahead of Sunday's opening. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf
The jump lines range from beginner (named Manurere) through intermediate (Wētā) to advanced (Puanga Matariki). They include features such as tabletops, wooden drops, hips, step-ups and rollable gaps. The flow trail descending to the park entrance via a ridge is named Haututū.
Pekenui translates as "big jump".
Waitangi Mountain Bike Park is located on Bayly Road, just past Waitangi Golf Course, and is open from 9am until dark 365 days a year.
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