| 83 Dirt Trailbuilding CONTRACTING Security cameras | Pool fencing | Bio socks PROUDLY SUPPORTING DIRT TRAILBUILDING T T Emma Bailey Future of mountain biking in good hands Building bike tracks requires specialist knowledge that gives a track a certain ‘feel or flow’ that Cam Bisset has learnt from years of riding and building trails. “In about 2008 to 2010 mountain biking became more mainstream. It became the new golf. Councils got on board and started building tracks too.” As mountain biking took off and became the new golf, Dirt Trailbuilding owner Cam Bisset was able to turn his hobby into a job. Cam formed Dirt Trailbuilding in 2021. Based in Methven the business covers greater Canterbury and specialises in the full spectrum of tracks including alpine single tracks, asphalt skills tracks, walking tracks, bike parks and pump tracks. “For me it started out in my spare time because I love mountain biking and would build trails and then my hobby became my job.” While he still spends a little time building trails in his own time, he is pretty busy with his business. “In about 2008 to 2010 mountain biking became more mainstream. It became the new golf. Councils got on board and started building tracks too.” Prior to founding Dirt Trailbuilding, Cam managed D&E Track & Trail from its conception in 2013 and overall has over 18 years’ experience designing, building and managing trail building projects. Building bike tracks requires specialist knowledge that gives a track a certain ‘feel or flow’ that he has learnt from years of riding and building trails. A high level of machinery operation skill is also required for a fast and efficient build. Trails bring communities together, he says. “Obviously you have a honeymoon period at the start when everyone is pretty pumped and wants to try the track so it’s really busy. “The trails not only benefit the trail users but also the local businesses and communities.” Recently they have been working for the Christchurch City Council on an asphalt pump track at Bromley Old School Reserve. The renewed community dirt pump track features progression rollers and small jumps. They have also been upgrading the track at Burnside’s Westburn Reserve with a newly functional skills track. They also do work at the Mt Hutt Bike Park and have recently completed a new walking track in a reserve at Gibraltar Rock in the Port Hills and the Sharplin Falls track out the back of Staveley. “The track was closed in 2010 after the earthquakes. With Mount Somers Walkway Society we scoped out a new line and that got approved by DOC. We had to fly in two new bridges as well.” He is always looking at new trails being built, particularly overseas, for inspiration that he can incorporate with his own ideas. “I look at the terrain and you can visualise what you want to do. It is so rewarding when you get it absolutely right.” The industry has a grading system, he said. “There are guidelines and you build to a certain standard, so say an intermediate trail is the same level of difficulty wherever you go. “There are quite a few boxes to tick. You have to mitigate environmental issues like removing vegetation and sediment run off. “We do work for the Department of Conservation building tracks so we have to be careful we are not damaging the tree root system. “Quite a bit of effort goes into picking a route.”
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