An army of volunteers and students from Capilano University's mountain bike operations program have been out in force the past week getting two areas ready for the upcoming cycling season.
On Saturday, Cap U students turned their eyes on Connor Park in Halfmoon Bay for the inaugural Day in the Dirt.
Coast Creative Trail Solutions in association with Capilano University, Sunshine Coast Cycling, Halfmoon Bay fire department, local sponsors and the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) revealed the newly rebuilt Connor Park mountain bike skills area.
After a short ceremony to celebrate the opening, members of the bike operations program, who have recently completed their coaching and guiding level one and two, held four small skills sessions on jumps, corners and other basic riding techniques. The focus was put on safety, respecting other riders and the importance of looking after your local park.
The day wrapped up with a demonstration from local riders Dylan Dunkerton and Curtis Robinson and a select few riders from the bike program.
Cap U students were hard at work again on Tuesday, this time in West Sechelt, where they held the West Sechelt Scrub - a trail clean-up day.
Expressing their concern about illegal dumping, students from the program decided to host a trail clean-up day in the West Sechelt area with their goal to clean up a portion of trail with the help of volunteers, the SCRD and the District of Sechelt.
According to the Cap U students, a lot of garbage is present in this area such as tires, asphalt and even an old washing machine and a car in the middle of a pond.
"We're aiming to rid this area of illegal dumping and restore it to its original state," said Scrub project co-ordinator Ruben Salzgeber. "We want our event to have a positive impact on the community that has so graciously hosted us throughout the year."
