My job: Life of fun forging forest trails

Haydn Shore's 'outdoor office' is nestled among Woodhill Forest, where he oversees mountain biking trails. Photo / Ted Baghurst

Name: Haydn Shore
Occupation: Operations manager, Woodhill Mountain Bike Park
Employer: Bikeparks
Age: 35
Working hours: Varies week to week; always more than 50
Pay scale: Comparable to many middle-management roles
Qualifications: Tourism Diploma, Pre Hospital Emergency Care

Describe your job.

My role is varied like no other job I know. Some days I can be found in my office, eyes pinned to the computer, redesigning the website, designing new signs/brochures, keeping up to date with new products for the on-site shop, planning events, organising staff or simply getting through the multitude of other "essentials" that go with any job that has "manager" in the title.

But then there are the good days ... which means I am in office number two (my outside office). My outside office is nestled amongst the Woodhill Forest, the site of the Woodhill Mountain Bike Park. If that's not lucky enough, flexibility and variety are two key things I have been able to shape into my role over six years.

I head the trail-development crew so can be seen building and maintaining our extensive trail network. Machinery is a luxury so much of this is done by hand with a share of about 40km under my belt now.

I also run the Emergency Response Crew. We have more than 5000 riders each week so - by law of averages, someone is going to get hurt, hence the need for our medical response unit. This includes a four-wheel-drive kitted out with anything we may need for a rescue. I am responsible for a great team of 14 staff.

I also prepare several annual events and squeeze in time for a couple of extra projects through the year.

Tell us about the park?

Woodhill is New Zealand's longest-running purpose-built mountain biking destination. As well as the huge trail network, in the last 10 years we have set up a fun, safe (the risk is up to the individual), recreational destination for riders of all ages and abilities.

What is your background?

When I took on the role, the directors needed a manager who mountain biked as opposed to a mountain biker who was trying to manage.

My background was hospitality and adventure tourism. My lucky break came when I returned from overseas looking for casual work and I was offered the manager's role.

Tell us about designing tracks?

There is a process involving planning and organisation long before the tools come out. Over time, the trails have gone from simple raked lines that took forever to settle in and have become bermed, self-draining and rideable in all conditions.

I have also been a key part in the development of the dirt jump area, a specialist area that has become a prominent feature in New Zealand's dirt jump fraternity. This skill can be learned only with hundreds of hours on the end of a spade.

We have been lucky to find Carl Sorenson, a bobcat driver/SuperX builder with the skills to pull off some of our unique designs efficiently enough for us to warrant getting in machinery. But for our single tracks, we still have to hand-build the trails.

Rider numbers to the park have risen from 1000 a week to 5000.

How have you managed that growth?

Anyone can build a trail but not everyone knows how to cater for 5000 riders per week - some as young as 5 and some who have been riding for 20 years - and keep them all happy.

I am proud to say that we have done that now for a long time.

I am fortunate to have worked alongside two clever company directors to keep up with the growth of the park. We have gone from a small rickety shed in the middle of the forest run by a couple of people to a big area with a pro shop and cafe and 14 staff.

There was only about 6km of trail when we took over - now there is more than 100km.

How do you minimise risk factors?

We can never stop accidents happening but we minimise the chance of accidents. We check all the trail networks and the facilities far more regularly than we are required to do. That's one of the best parts of the job ... riding around making sure that we have made it the safest we possibly can without taking the fun and perceived risk out of it. It's not all riding, though - much less than people think.

What plans do you have for the park this year?

Lots of new goodies, new carpark upgrade and the best dirt jump open ever.

Do you work just for the park?

I am a volunteer for St John and part of the Muriwai First Response Team.

What are the main challenges of your job?

Dealing with Muppets - it's shame we all can't be given common sense at birth.

The best part of your job?

Variety, flexibility, 12 minutes from home, never any traffic delays, being outdoors, loving what I do and getting lots of "hook ups" for my bike addiction.

What do you want to be doing in five years?

Hopefully still doing this - after all, this is where I want to be.

Advice to those interested in a similar role?

Travel first, see the world, do everything you can - then worry about settling down later in life.

February is Bike Wise month. Events throughout the month are listed at www.bikewise.co.nz.