Bikers of all ages enjoyed trying out upgrades at the Boitanio Bike Park last Sunday afternoon.
The Williams Lake Cycling Club has been working with local professional mountain biker James Doerfling, under the guidance of lakecity mountain biking pioneer Mark Savard, and with the city’s support, to overhaul the bike park in an effort to make it more interesting and accessible to all levels of riders.
“The turnout’s fantastic,” said Shawn Lewis, the cycling club’s president as he set up boxes of free pizza, provided by Red Tomato Pies for people at the park to enjoy. “There’s been some amazing work to the park, that’s what we are here to celebrate.”
Doerfling seized the opportunity to get some riding in as well and said everyone seemed to be enjoying the upgrades.
“All the jumps are working well,” Doerfling said. “I think everyone’s pretty pleased.”
He’s also been busy making machine-built trails at the Desous Mountain Network and at ?Esdilagh First Nation (Alexandria) building pump tracks for youth in the community, he added.
“I’ll be out at Toosey as well,” he said, noting it’s all about getting Aboriginal youth involved in biking and getting them some single tracks made for them to ride on and have fun.
He got his first “real” mountain bike when he was 14, but said he’s been riding bikes his whole life.
“I grew up riding in the ditches outside my mom’s house,” he added.
