Big Happening's at the Ranch (Iguana Ranch that is)
posted on request...NEW WORLD DISORDER 6: Saturday October the 15th!
That's right kids, its that time of year again where New World Disorder comes
to town! October 15th... this time at the Iguana
Ranch in Cowichan Valley.
The FUN starts at 12 noon with cheap BBQ grub available. Bring your
bikes for jumping, skinnies and drops. ALL AGES are welcome for FUN and THE
MOVIE!
NEW WORLD DISORDER 6
- UNCHAINED will be shown RAIN or SHINE, starts at dusk and is ONLY
$10 at the door. Not too bad for a day of riding and a night at the
movies eh?! See the teaser here.
If you want to stay over, beds are available for $25 person which will
include breakfast or you can tent for $25 for two which also includes breakfast.
If you have not yet ridden here, come and see for yourself what the Cowichan Valley
has to offer!
This is considered a fundraiser as all money collected (and then some) will
be put back into jumps and stunts on the property.
Directions and more info see below...
Ride Guide TV (OLN) Oct 6th and 7th @ Iguana Ranch!
I WANT TO BE IN PICTURES... Ride Guide TV
is coming to the Iguana Ranch on October
6th and 7th to do some filming of the area. Bring your bikes and come on up
to be a Super World Famous mountain bike star. If you have not had
the pleasure of riding here, come and see for yourself what the Cowichan Valley
has to offer!
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT, SEE YUZ THERE!
Pop/water/snacks are always available.
More information available by calling 1-250-709-9010 or emailing iguanaranch@shaw.ca
Directions
Download Waivers for the DJ Park here
Click on the links below to download the waivers needed for the jump park.
These will enable you to not only work on the park, but to ride it as well.
Remember, not on the friends of the DJ Park list, no waiver, no building or
riding jumps!
Waiver Guardian: For parents to sign for their kids. Click here
Waiver No Guardian: For ALL of us to sign for ourselves. Click here
For more info contact George Matthews at george.m@telus.net
NS DJ Park Update: Aug 11, 2005
Taken from the e-mail sent out Wed August the 10th 2005 re: the NS DJ Park:
Friends of North Saanich Dirt Jump Park
Please attend this meeting!
Please post this on as many websites as possible and tell all of your dirt jumping friends to be at the meeting.
Hi all,
Fist of all I would like to thank you for your emails, phone calls and words
of support. If you received this email it is because you responded asking
to be added to the list of friends. Things are looking up for the park. We
are once again moving forward and we need your help. I just spoke with our
staff contact at the District of North Saanich and on Monday August
15th at 7:00 pm at 1620 Mills Road there will be a Council Meeting.
We need your support in the room to show that there is still an interest in
getting this jump park completed. Let's make a point of being noticed. Come
along and bring a helmet so they can see how many bikers are in the room.
If we can show this is a sport that lots of people engage in, there's a better
chance we can help councilors to see the value in investing in this park.
North Saanich staff and council are working hard to see this project succeed.
We need the support of riders to move us to the next phase.
I have included the DRAFT
staff submission that will be going to council so you will have a sense
of history of the process and were we are going and the proposed solution.
Like I said, things are looking up!
Cheers
George Matthews
NS DJ Park continued....
This is a copy of an e-mail sent to me, as well as to possibly many of you already. It is from George and Mark Matthews, the driving force behind the North Saanich DJ Park. Please read on and click on the e-mail link below to sign your name to the "Friends of NS DJ Park" list!
Good day,
Well its been a few weeks since we have sent out an update on the DJ Park and its time to get something to you. We have had conversations with councilors and staff in North Saanich. We are all aware of general insurance issues but there is a sincere wish by all parties see this park completed. We need to see it up and running for riders of all ages and abilities.
It looks as though we have a potential solution to the insurance problem that may satisfy the district and participants. There are no guarantees at this point but we are moving in the right direction. If you would like to see the park completed and you are interested in participating then we need you. We are creating a group to be known as "Friends of NS DJ Park". At this point, what we are asking is that you reply to this email to become a "Friend". We also ask that you get as many other interested parties as you can to reply to this email. We will work with NS to arrange insurance for each member of the "Friends" for this project. This way we can continue with construction and opening the park.
Let's get the word out!
Thanks for your help, we look forward to hearing from you.
Cheers
George Matthews
Mark Matthews
Please click on this link to send an e-mail (from your default e-mail prog) to sign yourself up as a friend of the NS DJ Park!
Insurance issues in Ontario Continued...
Insurance Woes Cancel Ontario Cup
(Globe and Mail.com)
By JAMES CHRISTIE
Friday, June 10, 2005
Insurance concerns have caused the cancellation of the Ontario Cup downhill mountain bike scheduled for Blue Mountain Resort in July, and provincial sport administrators say more events are in jeopardy and across Canada because organizers and insurers are afraid of potential lawsuits.
"This is tremendously upsetting," said Steve Merker, executive director of the Ontario Cycling Association, who received notification of the cancellation of the July 2 and 3 event from a risk-management official at Blue Mountain, an Intrawest resort located 90 minutes north of Toronto.
Alvin Weatherall, director of risk management at Blue Mountain and corporate risk manager for a dozen Intrawest facilities across the country, said the company is the target of a $1.1-million lawsuit after a 28-year-old racer suffered a broken neck in last year's event.
"We were strictly the venue, not the race organizer or promoter, but there's someone with a permanent injury and a claim has been filed against Blue Mountain," Weatherall said. "I feel bad this young man is wrecked up for life. It drives me crazy that young guys want to participate in a risky sport and don't foresee and accept the consequences." He said the incident will have a spinoff effect on Intrawest's other resorts.
"I talked this week with Whistler Blackcomb [where downhill biking is also practiced]. We'll have to keep a close eye on what events we'll accept," Weatherall said. "We don't want to kill the sport. In fact, we want to preserve mountain biking as one of the core activities we have. But we can't put a sport many people do on the line for 50 or 60 racers who come here once a year."
Merker said the Ontario Cup was to be the first big provincial downhill race of the year, with record numbers of participants. But the rejection was not the first time a facility has shut out bikers. Ontario's Dagmar Ski Resort and Pleasure Valley have shut their gates to recreational and competitive cyclists within the past two years, he said.
"Insurance is becoming a bigger and bigger issue. Trails on both public and private land are being closed down and we fear cyclists won't have anywhere to ride," Merker said.
He said sports using public facilities, such as schools, had run up against similar problems. Recreational basketball participation dropped due to the increasing costs of gym space in schools, some of the hike due to insurance. Though the province has set up a fund to reduce those costs, not all school boards are taking part in the plan.
Ilene Watt, executive director of Basketball Ontario, led the provincial sport organizations' movement to get back affordable access to the school gyms. She said sport in general had a perception problem in the eyes of insurance companies.
"We have very few insurers willing to take on the risk that they think sports are. Cycling is down to down to one carrier, as is snowmobiling," she said.
While the provincial basketball body is paying $50,000 a year in insurance premiums, cycling is paying $250,000, Watt said. This in spite of stiffening safety regulations about helmets and other safety equipment.
"Sport organizations in general are perceived as being bad risks, and that's just not true. Cycling, for instance has made sure it has [safety] measures in place. But whenever there's a big [lawsuit], it 'proves' to insurance companies what they want to believe -- that it's a big risk," she said.
"One of the problems is we've become a fairly litigious society. Lawyers can now take a case with a contingency fee, so people are willing to sue anyone they can," Watt said. "And companies are willing to settle with a claimant [who is] willing to go to court, thinking they can get off with one-tenth of what it might costs them in a judgment."
For the story from the Globe and Mail hit this link...
Is your vehicle safe parking at Hartland?
Continued from front page:
"Hi Greg,
My name is Nelson Ko. I see the forum is down (SIMBS.com Forum), but I was
wondering if it's possible somewhere else to ask the mtb community for help.
I sort of need it quickly, if it's available.
I was riding at the dump tonight (Friday May 27th) and my Jeep Gr Cherokee
was smashed pretty bad. Whoever did it just rammed into it straight on from
their own parked position right in front of the washrooms. There were alot
of people up there drinking tonight, and I presume it was one of them. The
security guard saw a brown toyota pickup leave the scene, and that's the paint
I have left on my totalled rear door. The Security guard said it happend at
7:30pm (we started at 7, and got back at 8:30). It says something that my
car was left untouched by the remainder of the riding community that night
for an hour (I had some things of value in the back... anyone could have easily
reached into the smashed rear window and pulled things out). My friends and
I were just shocked that whomever hit my car didnt have that same sense of
fraternity.
Anyway, both the police and ICBC are interested in finding this guy. I meet
with them next week regarding this incident. If there's anyway to put this
request up, I would appreciate your help.
Thanks, Nelson"
If anyone has info on this incident please contact me via e-mail
or post in this forum. I will be sure to get the info to Nelson ASAP! Thanks
CRD Cracks Down on Trail Building in Sooke Hills (Harbourview Road)
"The Capital Regional District has shut down freelance trail-building efforts in a CRD park reserve in the Sooke Hills and the mountain-biking community is mad about the move. "The trail builders are doing quality work, spending long hours getting stuff in there for everybody to use," said Lorien Arnold, owner of Sooke Cycle and a past president of South Island Mountain Bike Society. "Mountain bikers have been working hard to make sustainable trails," he said, adding that they built bridges to go over sensitive wetlands on the slopes. He criticized CRD parks for being heavy handed in cracking down on trail-builders. CRD staff tore down structures and took their tools on Friday, he said."
"CRD parks general manager Lloyd Rushton said there had been tree-cutting on the slopes of Mount Manuel Quimper and that taking trees down in a CRD park or undeveloped park reserve is illegal. He added that it won't be tolerated. Rushton said only a chainsaw and some hand tools were seized in Friday's action. Arnold said he and SIMBS weren't part of the trail-building and added "my feeling is there was a lot of standing deadfalls" cut down for safety, but no live trees."
"Mountain bikers have been riding in that area up Harbourview Road, north of Saseenos, for at least a decade, said Arnold. Until now, there have been good relations between the biking community and the CRD, he said. An example was the hard work by SIMBS on a trail management plan at the Hartland mountain bike area. But that didn't happen in this case. "There's no consultation with SIMBS or the mountain bike community," he said Tuesday."
"The Sooke lands where the bike trails were built are part of the Sea to Sea Green Blue Belt CRD park reserve. The 1,380 hectares in the Sooke Hills were acquired in 2001 with help from The Land Conservancy, provincial and federal governments and the $10 annual CRD parks levy. Hikers and bikers are welcome to use trails in the reserve, including former routes used by four-by-fours now banned from the area, but the CRD can't allow cutting trees, Rushton said. "We certainly appreciate that there have been fewer and fewer places for mountain bikers," he said. A new area of mountain bike trails could be part of the Sea to Sea Blue/Green Belt, but setting aside that land has to wait until a management plan is developed for the huge new park. That work won't start until later this year."
"The Harbourview trail site and the CRD action in the hills have been discussed on a local mountain bike chat room at www.sooketrails.com. A writer using the name Sookie noted a similar controversy in North Vancouver where homemade trails were shut down over liability concerns. "Times are a'changin, no hiding in caves any more." Another rider said the CRD was "a fascist organization" and added that he'd found "a better place to build that won't get people so paranoid." A third post said the writer had no idea the area was owned by the CRD. "How far does there evil arm reach? I just want to cut out a long flowing downhill ripper from the top to bottom, no stunts. Still no good? Just inquiring as I don't want to bring attention to the area in a negative way." A mountain biker who uses the name Mikester described the Harbourview trails as "an excellent area and the only area close to town that really works for size and elevation."
Important Notice about SIMBS insurance woes!!
Very Important Notice - Simbs Insurance Renewal!! (Posted March 25th, 2005) As of March 26, 2005 12:01 AM the South Island Mountain Bike Society will not be in possession general liability insurance. Our insurance was included in an umbrella outdoor recreation policy underwritten by Lloyd's of London. A recent decision of the insurer has excluded all mountain bike organisations across Canada from renewing coverage. We are diligently working to resolve this situation as soon as possible with another insurer and will inform you when we are successful. In light of this development SIMBS would be in default of the license agreement with CRD Parks. Therefore, we have instructed our board of directors and members that SIMBS will not be capable of carrying out activities in Mount Work Hartland or any other area until we resolve our insurance dilemma. These activities include trail maintenance and group rides. We have also contacted future permit applicants and informed them they would need to submit their park use permits directly to CRD Parks for approval. Current permit holders of park use permits have also been instructed to reapply to CRD Parks if their activities should occur after March 26, 2005. CRD Parks will permit access to the park trails by the riding public however, the Technical Training Area (TTA) will be closed. Signage to this effect will be posted in the TTA, please respect the concerns of CRD and not ride in this area until further notice. SIMBS feels confident we will obtain insurance however, the premiums for such insurance may either be unattainable or would have to be reflected in our membership fees. Therefore, if there was ever a time in which we could use your help, it is now. Become a Supporting member of SIMBS with your paid membership. Visit our Join SIMBS link for details. Sincerely, James Brown President
Mount Tzouhalem Information session:
Spread the word! The Environment Department of Cowichan Tribes invites the members of SIMBS (and us I would think) to attend an information session we are hosting about Mount Tzouhalem. The session will take place on Thursday, March 17th between 3:30 and 8:30p.m. in the Board Room of the Cowichan Community Centre. There will be a discussion session from 7-7:30 p.m. As you know Mount Tzouhalem is a fantastic place for biking and hiking. In addition, the bluffs, in particular the spots that provide the views out over Cowichan Bay, tend to be the place where several rare species are located. In an effort to keep the area a great place to recreate and to maintain the populations of the species that are at risk we are wanting to get this information out to the public. I have attached a poster about our event. Pamela Williams Environment Department Cowichan Tribes (250) 748-3196
Attention Dirt Jumpers: Saanich DJ Park info and update!!
"Attention Dirt Jumpers We welcome everyone's help and participation in getting the Dirt jump Park in North Saanich up and running. As I am sure you are aware, we are getting closer to completion. At this time, the only opportunities for riding the park will be during build days. Once we have the park completed and opened it will be available daily from dawn to dusk. In the meantime we would appreciate if riders would refrain from using the park until it is officially open. This will help us to maintain a good relationship with the District of North Saanich. Thank you for your cooperation". George Matthews
Your Dirt Jump Park Advocate Team is: George Matthews:george@simbs.com, Matt Grossnickle: matt@simbs.com, Mark Matthews, and Patrick Henry.