Page 24 - AMB Freelist

fast track
ICONIC DESCENTS YOU CAN STILL RIDE
The Cannonball Run, Thredbo
While it’s always evolving, this beast of a downhill run is nearly as old as competitive downhill racing in Australia! It remains an Australian test piece, ridden by many and raced by the nation’s best.
Kuranda DH, Cairns
This trail is another that has continually evolved, but has not lost popularity. Some say it was the epicentre of the 2017 Downhill World Champs for the week before race day, with the world’s best shuttling this iconic trail.
Toowooomba DH, Toowoomba
This downhill course has hosted all sorts of events, and let some of the world’s best hone their skills. From dusty corners to the popular rock garden, the downhill track at Jubilee Park is likely to deliver the goods for years to come.
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN BLUE DERBY’S FORESTS NOW?
In 2021, we reported about the planned native forestry works in forests surrounding some of the popular trails in the Blue Derby trail network in Australia. Forestry has a long and ongoing role in Tasmania, but the growth of mountain biking has boosted the tourism industry. An industry that relies not just on the ribbons of dirt that we all ride on, but the forests that surround them as well.
The public outcry about losing trails was wide ranging, but no trails would be directly impacted given there would be narrow buffers between the forestry works and wildlife. However, concerns were raised about the impact to the forests, the need for biodiversity, destruction of habitat for threatened and endangered species, erosion and soil structure changes on the trails themselves, and fire risk. The impact on the remnant Gondwana forests would be severe, and an open letter was delivered to Tasmanian parliament with over 200 businesses signing it. These include Patagonia, Maydena Bike Park and DHaRCO amongst many more. Here’s an excerpt:
‘The vision for Tasmania is to be a carbon-neutral state, aligned with the Tasmanian Government Climate Action 21 agenda. There are measures we can introduce quickly to achieve this goal; immediate and practical action including removing the three Blue Derby Gondwana native forests of Krushka’s (CC105A and CC119A) and Atlas (CC120B) from logging and burning plans. Protecting the carbon dense forests of this iconic tourism destination area has the immediate impact of stopping the carbon emissions associated with logging and burning Gondwana native forests, protecting local biodiversity and will help safeguard the Blue Derby brand.’
‘The tourism industry in Tasmania is built upon the clean, green, and clever brand. This brand is being undermined by ongoing logging of our native forests that hold flagship tourism experiences such as the Blue Tier, Blue Derby, Ben Lomond, The Styx Valley of the Giants, Maydena, the Weld/Tahune forests and the takayna/Tarkine.’
Krushka’s forest is still due to be logged, and it may happen before summer is finished. If you want to add your voice to the tens of thousands already petitioning against the destruction of native forests around Blue Derby and elsewhere in Tasmania, head to change.org or follow @bluederbywild on Instagram for a direct link and updates.
MYSTIC MEMORIES
“It took me about 3 years to build but it felt well worthwhile when Sam Hill told me at a National Champs that it was a lot like Val di Sole in Italy.” – Local man Pete Varley, who built Mystic DH as we know it.
“For me the track had everything you could want. I walked it with Troy [Brosnan] and Sam [Hill] and remember them being excited and me just quietly shitting myself. I took a deep breath every time I entered ‘dark side.’” – DH racer, mechanic, and general legend Kye Hore on his 2013 National Champs experience.
“I remember back in 2015 my second race ever was on the Mystic DH, first time in clips and a lot of learning to be done. I struggled the whole way down the track on every run and was scared for my life. Fast forward 6 years - it is one of my all-time favourite tracks and a lot of fun. One of the few real DH tracks we have in Australia and it is sad to see it go.” – Sian A’Hern, who won her first DH National Title on this track in 2020.
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