Most of us can remember when we started riding a bike. The first scraped knee. The first time on a two wheeler. And especially the first “sweet” jump we made out of a 2x4 and piece of plywood. I know I do. Becker Park is going to be officially open in a couple of days. This biking skills park is the result of many people’s passion and dedication towards seeing this sport we call biking keep going in a safe and fun way for generations to come. It is a testament to the importance of our city listening to the community and what it wants to see and accomplishing these tasks together.
I am of the age that my first bike was a banana bike. It had sissy bars, a wide tire in the back and skinny one in the front, chopper style, not really made for taking jumps, but that didn’t matter. I still wanted to hit every little bump and see if I could get a little air. With the introduction of mountain bikes in the eighties and the kid like attitude of the pioneers of this sport, bikes and their riders have taken riding and made it a profession. Mountain biking has become a sport with its athletes competing around the world at elite levels.
We are privileged to have some of the best riders with some pretty amazing resumes living right here in our own community! And who, if we ask, are always willing to help.Come and meet them at the Becker Park opening.
Of course most of us bike for the fitness and the fun ....or was it the fun and fitness ....or was it just for the fun! The planning for this park didn’t happen overnight. It took years of persistence by people who just would not let the project go. Road block after road bock would come up but a dedicated group of cyclists were determined to see this through.
They were instrumental in making sure this project wouldn’t be left on the shelf. This was a big part of how our cycling club got its roots.
I have been involved with the bike club in our community called the North Okanagan Cycling Society (NOCS) since it inception and I have seen how having a organized group of like minded folks can get things done. If it wasn’t for this group of bike riders and trail runners we wouldn’t have one of the best trail networks in the province and we wouldn’t have been able to work with the city to build this beautiful park.
As a business owner in the cycling industry, it has been a joy to witness kids coming into the shop, with their allowance saved up, ready to buy a new bike. It is so fun to watch these kids as they roll their new ride out the door, so proud and smiles that are completely contagious. And watching these same kids come back year after year is so satisfying.
Under the umbrella of the NOCS is a program that is close to my heart called the Trail Ninjas. It is focused on the next generation of riders. The program involves coaching and skill building for young riders. It also has produced young coaches that have gone through the program to teach the younger riders. On our weekly rides I always enjoy watching the new skills of the kids emerge. And after Trail Ninjas is over for the year, these kids leave with greater riding skills, confidence and always with a few new friends.
My son and I share the same passion for this sport and when he was getting into mountain biking there weren’t safe places to learn and there weren’t coaches to teach these vital skills.
Many times while I was working in the yard I would hear my son say “Hey dad watch this” as he proceeded to wheelie drop off of the picnic table on his bike, landing perfectly. I would try not to freak out and instead just say “Good job son”.
I have witnessed the results of learning the hard way with a “let’s hit this and see what happens” attitude. I have experienced it myself (many times while trying to keep up to the young guys )and still have the scars to prove it. This is why I am excited to see how this park will bring a whole new progression to riders young and old. It enables the coaches to bring the riders to a safe and controlled environment where they can hone their skills before hitting the trails.
Yes, there will be scrapes and bruises but that is part of the sport we love.
We live in one of the most beautiful places on earth and we get to enjoy the great outdoors right in our back yard. The building of this park and pump track are really a form of art. We are privileged to have artists such as the City Engineers, Jackson and Mark, our Trails Director, Jason, Contour Trails, Velo Solutions, and other contractors who can turn this dirt canvas into a beautiful biking skills park that will bring fun and learning for years to come!
To Quote my granddaughter. ”I Love it”
Michael D Giesbrecht
NOCS Youth Director
Co owner Skyride.