Bike
Bike
Queenstown gold: Gorge Road trails
Day two sees legendary MTB photographer Sven Martin and crew session the Gorge Road dirt jumps.
The sights of the Gorge Road bike park
© Sven Martin
The beauty of Queenstown is the accessibility and the variety. It is a small town but most of the riding locations are all packed in within the town limits. Besides the gondola, with its network of official mapped and unmapped trails, there are a number of other places where you can ride your bike. Give yourselves at least a week if you plan on trying to sample most of what is on offer.
For many years, Queenstown Mountain Bike Club has been one of the most active bike organisations in NZ, probably in the world. They don't wait for trails to be built by others or by private companies; they get out there and get building. Once they get the consent, they are out there digging and shaping the trails for everyone’s benefit. More towns around the world need to follow their lead.
You've probably seen or know of the Gorge Road dirt jump trails in Queenstown, but every time you see them, they never cease to take your breath away and make you do a double take.
A pioneer
© Sven Martin
There are lots of diggers and trail builders from both BMX and MTB that put many hours into sculpting, caring for and loving the Gorge Road jumps. No dig, no ride.
An overview of the dirt jump trails at Gorge Road
© Sven Martin
An overview of three quarters of the jumps, as the boys have fun.
Brothers in arms
© Sven Martin
Leif Christensen, Emmerson Wilken, Wyn Masters and Kelly McGarry ride the Gorge Road trails together.
Emmerson Wilken
© Sven Martin
Emmerson Wilken, originally from South Africa, moved here seven years ago and hasn’t looked back since.
Wyn, so masterful
© Sven Martin
Wyn Masters, with his timeless style, makes tricks seem effortless.
Kelly McGarry
© Sven Martin
Kelly McGarry just loves to ride. It doesn't matter what he does, he just excels at it all.
Kelly dumps it
© Sven Martin
A dumped three transfer by Kelly.
Emmerson Wilken, tailwhip
© Sven Martin
Emmerson Wilken nails a tailwhip.
Wyn Masters at Gorge Road Bike Park in Queenstown
© Sven Martin
Wyn gets barrelled on the party line.
In the VIP
© Sven Martin
A quick stop in VIP parking for Leif’s 4X4 man van and a much needed quick feed at the busiest burger joint in the whole of NZ. Don’t ask why, just go there.
DH legends
© Sven Martin
After a feed at Fergburger, I grab the DH bike again and meet this crew of DH racers for some laps at the Skyline Gondola. Knut Lokas (Hafjell, Norway), Bernard Kerr (Pivot), George Brannigan (Trek World Racing) and Wyn Masters (Team Bulls).
Wyn shows some form
© Sven Martin
This time last year, Wyn hadn't received his new team bike yet. No problem this year. He literally had a hard time staying on the ground, he was flying so fast.
Hammy track
© Sven Martin
George Brannigan is basing himself in QT this summer for his training. He is sticking to a strict regime and is looking supremely fit and focused. It didn't surprise me when he won the NZ DH Nationals the week after my visit.
Bernard Kerr, grundy track
© Sven Martin
There is lots on offer at Skyline and it’s easy to get lost or stuck trying to decide what trail combo to link together. Bernard has it all figured out already and knows where the lips and landing are, even on the more natural trails like this.
Supreme flow
© Sven Martin
Cruisy, fun and flowy. There are lots of little bonus lips and double, triple and quads you can create if you have the pop and speed on some of the easier trails that the beginners roll and pump.
Casey Brown scrubbing it
© Sven Martin
Casey Brown. Wow. We shot some pics of all the guys on this spot on World Cup track, then Casey joined us and shut the spot down with her powerful speedy scrubs. Down with form and function, truly a pleasure to watch.
Casey Brown cuts a sneaky line
© Sven Martin
A locals’ off-shoot trail, Casey pops off the rock behind then sets up for a quick gap off the rock over the roots and drop onto the dirt trail again. Perfect World Cup training for her while she lives in New Zealand. By the time you read this, she will be on her new Bergamont, her ride for 2014.
George Brannigan taming the Thunder Goat
© Sven Martin
Bernard Kerr quads it up
© Sven Martin
When you visit, (you will) look out for the double-double on Vertigo trail, right after the sneaky outside-of-the-tree jump. Then look at it again and try to imagine it as a huge quad. Believe me, this will be hard to do.
Bernard Kerr is known for his first try big gap hucks on World Cup tracks, so this came easy to him; he has a few more up his sleeve and right now he has just been joined by friend and team mate Eliot Jackson, so I can't wait to see what they have found by now.
George Brannigan drifts a berm
© Sven Martin
In surfing or snowboarding, this would be a power turn. In MTB, it is George Brannigan using force and traction to create speed.
Riaan Boe dropping in
© Sven Martin
Riaan Boe is another Queenstown local Pro. He is one of the best all-round Kiwi riders like Conor McFarlane and Kelly McGarry. Flips, whips and 360’s on the DJ bike and big drops and hucks on the DH bike. He races World Cups and Enduros and is just the nicest guy you may ever meet. First drop on Night Pirate.
Riaan Boe rides Night Pirate
© Sven Martin
Not all bike parks are smooth and machine made. Riaan Boe on Night Pirate.
Knut Lokas carrying speed on Night Pirate
© Sven Martin
The push up to Fern Hill
© Sven Martin
The days are long here in the Southern Hemi summer. After a full day of dirt jumping and DH, we switched bikes, caught the last lift then pushed up a lot further accessing into the Fern Hill loop from above with a big group of new and old friends.
One last run...
© Sven Martin
No better way to end your day of riding by starting three steep technical rooty descents one after the other, as the sun sets after 9:30pm. This is living, ending up in Wynyard then straight to Atlas bar for a big steak and cold beer.
