The kids are finally smiling. After a long awaited, debated, and deliberated time frame, we have a mountain Bike Park in Fernie. The last four days have been hectic for the Fernie Mountain Bike Club with the construction of the Park happening, hosting professional Bike Park builder Jay Hoots.

Thursday and Friday passed with long hours of bobcat, mini hoe, and loader time giving way to hand tools to prepare for Saturday’s Community Build Day. On Saturday morning around 8am, I started to prepare for what I thought would be complete entertaining chaos.
The Community Build day was a chance to engage the community (all ages) by getting their hands dirty to build their Park. The opportunity was too good for most mountain bikers to pass up, with an attendance of over 80 people helping volunteer their time, the park became manicured perfection. Saturday’s attendees included everybody from young kids who couldn’t even ride bikes yet, to the oldest of over sixty, there were Dads pulling Chariots behind them on the Pump track, and young bucks everywhere raking, shoveling and getting air with the utmost tender loving care, smiling the whole time. The BBQ never stopped, until the last of the veggies dogs and diet coke were reluctantly inhaled.
It was truly an energizing day to have interacted with that many people volunteering all at once, again Fernie is relentless with local spirit to make our town better for all those that live here.
Saturday ended with our excavator operator working well past dark to get the start ramp complete for Sunday’s task of rock garden and drop zone wooden structures installed. Long passionate hours for all those involved, worth every second. Sunday was a little shorter of a day, basically polishing things up before the grand opening on Sunday afternoon.

I cannot say enough about the community support we received on this project, especially in the last few weeks, thank you if you helped us out. In short time we will do a full press release to acknowledge those who deserve it.

The past four days may have physically built the Park, but this new Bike Park project was started (revisited) almost two years ago when Ryland Nelson, Tyler MacKay and I joined the board of directors for the club. Today’s current directors have been able to pull this project together and make it become a reality. Each director being distinctly different to be the perfect part of the puzzle, it’s a pleasure working beside these amazing community volunteers. The Bike Park was originally dreamt up by Gerry George, long time founding bike club member.

Go see the new Fernie Mountain Bike Park, bring a bike, helmet and enjoy, you’ll be amazed.
Kurt
FMBC