About 75 people lined up along Trail Avenue March 21 for the official opening of a pump track at the newly created Proctor Bike Park in Sechelt.
Spearheaded by Capilano Uni-versity's mountain bike operations (MBO) program, the pump track was hailed as a joint effort involving students, community volunteers, businesses and local government.
Pump tracks are closed circuits with berms, rollers and mounds designed to allow riders to generate speed without pedaling.
The new track includes beginner, intermediate and advanced rings, said course instructor Caroline Dépatie. Most of the construction work was done in two days, she said.
Among those thanked at the opening was Aaron Joe of Salish Soils, who donated 80 truckloads of dirt for the project.
In total, materials and labour worth an estimated $45,000 were donated, with other sponsors including Off the Edge Adventure Sports, District of Sechelt, Hemstreet Contracting, Sechelt Indian Band, Sechelt Volunteer Fire Department, Home Building Centre and the International Mountain Bike Association.
The park, located on the east side of Trail at Neptune Street, was named to honour Brad and Loraine Proctor's contributions to mountain biking on the Sunshine Coast.
The park opening was one of four projects on the Coast undertaken during the month by the MBO students. They also unveiled the new Kinnikinnick Trail on March 13, hosted a St. Paddy's Trail Day in Connor Park in Halfmoon Bay on March 16 and held a Sprockids Dig 'n' Ride Day in Gibsons on March 24.
"I'm super proud of the students and what they accomplished," Dépatie said.
The 20 MBO students chose community projects that would leave lasting legacies, she said, calling them "an amazing group."
Their enthusiasm and dedication, she added, was matched by the support they received from the community.
"The community has really embraced the students, and that makes a huge difference," she said.
The students will spend the month of April carving out new trails in Sprockids Park as part of their trail-building course.
