Bikers' dirty little secret

Look a few years down the track and the teenagers building secret dirt jump sites for BMX riders could become park planners.

But right now what they're doing is illegal, despite the innovation and hard work involved.

Young bike riders such as 17-year-old Rutherford College student Cameron Baker sneak to the hidden sites to ride, but Cameron wants to change the need for secrecy and get onside with Auckland Council. He has met with representatives to tell them of the need for a free, accessible dirt jump park in the city. He says youths are making the secret parks because there is nowhere central to ride. There are approved dirt jumps at Woodhill Forest, 40 minutes north of downtown Auckland, and Birkenhead, but Cameron says these are too far away for young people without cars.

He also believes many are risking injury. "A lot of injuries are from people learning to ride and the [secret] jumps are too advanced.

"If you don't jump far enough, you break ankles, go over the handle bars, you break wrists; or if don't fully commit to a harder jump, you can come on down on your head or neck."

He says some of the more advanced tricks being attempted are usually learned in a foam pit.

Dirt jumping is similar to free-style motocross but on a push bike. It is a fairly new sport which Cameron says is growing rapidly.

"You can pick up a decent second-hand bike for $400. Then you just need a helmet and you're good to go."

Cameron has been riding BMX bikes for most of his life and started dirt jumping seriously a year ago. He knows of four secret jump sites in Auckland but says there are probably a lot more. "People spend most of winter and autumn building the jumps so they are ready to ride in summer. There's a lot of maintenance involved."

The Aucklander met Cameron at Birdwood Winery Estate BMX track in Ranui. Nearby is a once-secret jump park.

It was too wet to visit the site, which council became aware of some time ago, but Cameron explains it requires climbing hills, crossing a creek and trekking through mud to get there. "You wouldn't be able to find it if you didn't know where you were going," he says.

Cameron understands council is working to legalise and develop jumps at the Ranui site but some will have to be "toned down".

Sharon Rimmer, Auckland Council's manager for Recreation Partnerships, Funding and Programmes, explains council is working with BMX, Mountain and Road Cycling and Dirt Jump clubs in the area to develop a "bike hub".

Cameron has now been put in contact with the those clubs, who are already developing concept plans for a park that includes a dirt jump.

Meanwhile, Cameron has begun an online petition to push the cause for a central city dirt jump.

Created on August 13, the petition has more than 400 signatures.

Daniel Bubb comments: "Love the sport: will be so dope [cool] if council allows a public dirt jump park in Auckland. It will go off, so many people will ride it!"

Mark Tomlinson posts: "A jump park such as this would attract hundreds if not thousands of riders."

Cameron says Red Bull supports his central park idea and told him it would consider sponsoring events or competitions. ABD Bikes, which sponsors Olympic BMX gold medallist Sarah Walker, wrote Cameron a letter of support which he showed council.

He says he was told most city land was being developed into sports grounds, but Cameron believes Arch Hill Scenic Reserve in Grey Lynn, which already has a number of mountain biking tracks, would be a good location.

Underground Trailblazers founder Peter Stoneham is responsible for the tracks built at Arch Hill in 2007, after a stand-off with council over the need for city trails, and says he would support the addition of a dirt jump park.

"Youth especially need an outlet," he says. "They're creating the secret parks because there is a demand. In some respects it is very enterprising."

Mr Stoneham, a member of the Auckland Mountain Bike Club, says they would like to work with Cameron.

Auckland Council has agreed to take Cameron's proposal to other council teams to see if there are opportunities to incorporate it into existing projects or plans.

Ms Rimmer says with the dirt jump club now an incorporated society the group can be part of the bike hub project and be represented in an "overarching bike governance group".

"The dirt jumps are one aspect of the bike hub which also includes redevelopment of the existing BMX track, learn to ride facilities, skills area, pump track and a bridge access across the Momatu Stream to develop mountain bike tracks."

She says planning and fundraising for the bike hub project is underway.

What do you think? Would you like a dirt jump track constructed somewhere more central? Comment below or head to our Facebook page.