Mountain biking: Magic biking pictures solve gift dilemma

Gary Sullivan from NZO on Boulder Dash. PHOTO/GRAEME MURRAY

A week until Christmas - the panic sets in about what presents to buy. There's an easy solution this year: a Graeme Murray MTB calendar.

Murray has documented mountain biking in Rotorua, since the mid-1990s. More than that, he has created images that have a magic quality. Iconic is a word that is over-used, but in his case it's convenient shorthand for what he does.

As a TV director, I have a decent enough eye for composition. But I'm lucky to work with some extraordinary visionaries, like Murray, who have something more - a different way of looking at the world. I've tried to articulate what that is, without success.

A couple of weeks ago I finally figured it out when Murray showed me the calendar's cover photograph. It was taken at sunset from the top of Tokorangi looking west to Mount Ngongotaha. Where most of us see a view, he saw something else in that view - a rider in flight. It's a sense of spatial awareness that is a gift.

Too often we see a photo in isolation - even a great one. It's easy to forget the work on either side of that one frame. In the case of Flight it was more than just test shots and multiple takes to get it right on the day. There were weeks of planning, getting permission and building the jump ramp and landing. A lot of people think they can take good photos and they're often right.

It's another step to create art.

The calendar is available at Bike Culture (where there is also a wall-sized print of Flight), Cyclezone, Avanti Plus, Zippy Central, Mountain Bike Rotorua at Waipa and the Redwoods Information Centre on Long Mile. You can also find them under "accessories" on www.nzoactive.com.

Murray is a sponsor of the Rotorua Bike Festival, supplying the media and marketing team with more powerful images.

The ones we are using for mountain biking have a unique Rotorua flavour and that's another point of difference with his work. They couldn't have been shot anywhere else.

The festival is looking great with events for just about everyone: www.rotoruabikefestival.com,

With the summer holidays just days away, there will be even more people riding in the forest. Considering the numbers who do ride and the risk factor, the casualty rate is actually very low.

However, when it does go pear-shaped, getting medical attention fast is always a very good thing. Last year, Wendy Ardern and the Rotorua Mountain Bike Club ran a successful fundraiser to pay for first aid gear for Mountain Bike Rotorua to have on hand at Waipa.

Almost all of the MBR staff are trained in first aid and most hold the higher level Pre-Hospital Emergency Care qualification. They are the best option for emergency response in conjunction with the St John Ambulance service.

"I hope that none of you have had to use the gear, but if you did I'm glad it was available," says Ardern. "I'm on the fund-raising path again for money for replacement items to top up the gear already available."

Email Ardern on mtb1stresponse@gmail.com and she'll give you the details of the club's bank account to make a donation.

Have a great Christmas break and best wishes for a successful 2014.