MTB Optimized Trails - Jump Line - Advanced

The Trail Construction Industry has rapidly advanced mountain biking over the past 25 years. From the humble beginnings of riding fire lines and gravel roads on Mt. Tam in California to the extreme jump lines of Redbull Rampage, trail construction now includes very specialized techniques and equipment.


In this class we will examine sustainable MTB-Optimized trails with their special features and construction techniques.


Join Trase Sowell of Geosculpt Trail Designs as he shares his method of trail design, layout, machine build and hand finishing on features including: filter features, rollers, berms, racer tables, step-down, step-up and A-B lines. You’ll examine trail flow and trail speed as it applies to designing and building trails that can be ridden by both beginner and expert riders.


This is a hands-on class for trail builders, maintainers and land managers. The instructor will operate a mini-excavator while demonstrating and explaining machine techniques (This is not a machine class. Students will not operate heavy equipment.) Students will be instructed in all aspects of design, build, finish and will be participating in hand finishing of the trail including: feature shaping, back slope shaping, slap packing, root removal, trail tread packing, drain shaping/water management.


Three days will begin with a classroom overview of these concepts and will then proceed to the field for hands-on work. Mountain bikers should bring their bikes for test riding features as this is an essential part of the process of building trails for mountain bikes.

The class will be held on private land in Old Fort, NC. This is an actual trail build as part of a Mountain Bike Park currently under construction.

Instructor: Trase Sowell, Geosculpt Trail Designs

Assistant: Jeremy Poore, McDowell Tech Trail School

Location: 655 Catawba River Road Foothills Watershed, Old Fort, NC





Day 1

8am – 5pm: Day 1 will consist of approximately 2 hours in classroom and the remaining time in the field

Day 2 and 3

8am – 5pm: Days 2 and 3 will be held in the field

Tools and Equipment:

A variety of tools will be used in this course including: rake, shovel, pulaski, mcloed, rogue hoe, lopper, hand clipper, hand saw, plate compactor and more. Tools will be provided for the class. If you have a favorite hand tool (Rogue Hoe, mcloed, shovel, rake, etc) feel free to bring it along.

Safety:

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for this class includes: gloves, eye protection, long pants and long sleeve shirts, boots, helmets (up to 8 helmets are available for use).

Location:

Days 1-3 will take place on private land in Old Fort, NC. Participants will need to bring sufficient water (3 liters minimum), lunch and snacks as well as clothing to deal with changing temperature and weather conditions. Actual build site is not easily accessible from parking area, so plan on being at trail site all day. Instructor has current First Aid/CPR and first aid kit.

Scholarships:

Available to those who cannot afford this class courtesy of McDowell Trails Association. Please reach out to [email protected] for application.

Tuition Cost: $71.30

Click link below to register:

https://mcdowelltechconed.com/registration.php

Location

655 Catawba River Road
Old Fort, North Carolina 28752

Trail Core Competencies

• Trail Construction
• • Construction Specifications
• • Hand-Built Trail Construction
• • Mechanized Trail Construction
• • Trail Finishwork
• • Water Management/Drainage Features
• • Tread Hardening

• Project Planning and Design
• • Design
• • Trail Plans
• • Interpretation

• Project & Crew Management
• • Jobsite Safety
• • Jobsite Risk Management

Relevant Trail Types

• Mountain Biking Trails