Different just-for-fun races, session spots on different features on the hill, there was plenty of chance to get involved and try things out.
Just a couple of rain showers across the whole weekend, the Havok Bike Park dig crew struck it lucky for their Weekender event.
Kona Bikes, Static Bikes, Melon Optics, Monster Energy and Shack Wrap were on site, providing goodies and Christmas list ideas to the many groms who were riding. Food doesn’t get more local, with catering provided by Porcus, whose pigs roam free on the fields across the valley, right next door to the old Havok site. The new site leaves behind the darkness of the trees, and with a whole empty field to work with there are loads more tracks to try out.
A pair of jump lines up the top of the hill make use of a hollow to offer up a touch of wind protection, while the two lines shadow each other with a slight increase in difficulty between the two. Learn one feature, then move a few feet left to start progressing.
Kids bikes provided a mini-bike race, but you’ll want something more appropriate if you’re going to tackle the trails. Everything from budget hardtails to full suspension enduro rigs was in evidence, plus plenty of e-bikes. With the steep track up to the top, e-bikes are popular for those getting laps in. Under 18s are asked to wear a full face helmet.
The stoke at the weekender was definitely high. A really fun vibe with a great mix of advanced riders encouraging progression among others. Particularly noticeable was the number of kids/teenagers, some with all the gear and all the skills, some just getting out there, and some with all the skills and some very hard worked gear. It was really great to see, and a very different atmosphere from the race scene.
There were races, but just for kicks. Or, losing them. This young ‘un came down having already lost one shoe on the dual slalom, but was still racing. Catching the centre line and taking a tumble, he lost the other shoe. He got back up and tried to get back on his bike as quickly as possible, then paused as his second shoe was thrown down the hillside towards him. In a moment of inspired good-sport-ness, his dual slalom co-competitor (and Havok crew member, Huey Walker) pulled up short of the finish line and told the youngster ‘you can still win!’. Nice work.
It’s so good to see people showing each other the lines, appreciating their tricks, and hearing the whoops of delight (or relief) when a move works out.
Props to everyone riding, but this kid on the Trek hardtail deserves a special mention for a huge effort sessioning the big drop and step up. We’re not sure that quite fits within the ‘use case’ of that particular model! We saw this kid ride lap after lap, long after most people had dropped down to the bottom for snacks and refuelling.
It wasn’t just kids there – there was a good crop of older riders, many on e-bikes. Chatting to Sam Peel, Chief of the Diggers, he says it’s a whole new crop of riders – many don’t even know there was a Havok Mk1 across the valley.
With a mix of hand cut and machine dug trails, plus perfectly shaped jumps, the Havok dig crew has carved out a great new spot. The Weekender events hit just the right mix of ‘organised’ with ‘chilled’. Follow them on social media if you want to make a future event, or just plan a weekend visit. Open 10-5 every weekend. Don’t be that rider who rolls through on a cheeky mid-week ride – there’s a lot of effort in those trails. Without it, there’s a good chance the kids you see here would have been at home, staring at screens.
