Maybe it's just me but I think this is the most depressing thread I've ever read on here.
With this level of aggression towards each other how long is it going to be before I see a fight on the trails? This sounds like arsehole surfers fighting over a wave.
I don't see how you can prohibit people from riding trails built on public land. Nor can you can't just close the trapdoor, pull up the ladder and say "sorry, this sport is full, no more beginners". People become better riders by riding more difficult trails - they'll screw it up at first but then learn.
One of the things that got me into riding in the first place was that it was that it was a friendly sport. This thread seems to reinforce the feeling I've had out at trail centres recently - that the sport has now succumbed to a lot of macho bullshit one upmanship.
The last time someone did some research around the Surrey Hills didn't something like 90% of people on bikes classify themselves as 'Freeriders'
Without sounding like a complete hippie - can we go back to being nice to each other and riding our bikes?