Recreation

A Different Track for Pinehurst

volunteers whip new bike park amenities into shape

Zack Katz, photos by Andrea Paulseth |

BREAK/HANG TIME. Cody Curry shreds a dirt ramp at Pinehurst Park in between stints of trail grooming.
BREAK/HANG TIME. Cody Curry shreds a dirt ramp at Pinehurst Park in between stints of trail grooming.

As if the Chippewa Valley wasn’t already an all-you-can-bike buffet, a team of cycling enthusiasts is steadily developing a new dimension in hopes of broadening the region’s pedaling palate.

Our existing riverside bike pathways (the Chippewa River and Old Abe trails in particular) already traverse bridges, sprawling farmland, and arching forests resembling something out of the lost world – right here in our backyard. Even with all that bikable beauty, a portion of the biking demographic have gone underrepresented until the Pinehurst Project recently began.

The project will deliver a heart-racing answer for dirt riders yearning for something more vertical and BMXer tangled in an awkward compromise with the boarders of Lakeshore Skatepark. And, here’s the kicker: The whole mission is being conducted on an entirely volunteer basis by a group who deserve to be rooted for like some kind of recreational underdogs. That’s right: No contracted professionals are in on this ambitious dirt sculpting endeavor, just shovel-wielding locals and their collective elbow grease.

“Nobody’s getting paid to be out here, that’s for sure. And it’s all
locally designed so we’ve avoided spending hundreds of thousands (of dollars). ... Thankfully we have the talent around here to do without.”
Chris Peterson, on his fellow Pinehurst Project volunteers

The project, which is under construction at Pinehurst Bike and Snow Park off Delbert Road on Eau Claire’s north side,  is headed on two different fronts. Leading the dirt jump section of the build is special education teacher and jump veteran Cody Curry. On the trail end of the operation is local mountain biking familiar Craig Mathe. With this pair leading the pack, consistent helping hand Chris Peterson said a given day of work out at Pinehurst means as many as 30 enthusiastic helpers are on scene grinding.

“Nobody’s getting paid to be out here, that’s for sure,” Peterson said. “And it’s all locally designed so we’ve avoided spending hundreds of thousands (of dollars). ... Thankfully we have the talent around here to do without.”

Although the finished product won’t be around for another three years, trail riders have plenty to be excited about with the parts open for shredding thus far. As of now, Peterson said that includes a multitude of jumps, a flow trail that will be fully operational in the fall, and remnants of a zippy hillside gravity trail which can be traversed in a couple of minutes without any pedaling.

“Right now we’re really concentrating on the flow trail from the top of the hill, and the small, medium, and large dirt jumps,” Peterson said. “Next year we’ll kind of finish up those flow trails and work on incorporating a pump track.”

Thankfully, the park is being designed with all types of riders in mind. For greener dirt cyclists looking to just dip their toes before making a splash, the course includes “b-line” sections to supplement the more advanced “a-line” spots.

It all sounds nice in theory, but Pinehurst also raises the question of what bikes will hold up to the action. According to Peterson, chances are there’s something out there for you and old faithful to enjoy right now. “There are specialty bikes for the dirt jumps. You have your typical 20-inch BMX bike, or what we call dirt jump bikes with 26-inch wheels with more of a BMX frame,” Peterson said. “When you’re on dirt jumps it’s ideal to have a bike like that, but for the flow trails you can really use any kind of bike.”

Given this is Eau Claire’s third wettest year on record with 19 inches of rain and sleet, it’s easy to see how weather-related wear and tear has made maintenance more demanding. Freshly laid jumps are susceptible to water lines after heavy rains, but Peterson said once the dirt solidifies precipitation will be a non-issue, especially given the healthy forest coverage.

The forest coverage is a helpful factor in keeping construction on track through the inclement weather, given the builders are unable to cover the publicly-owned trails when not in use.

There are plenty of exciting ways to get involved, whether you’re using businesses like Eau Claire’s Dairy Queen, which is lending is support to the project, joining the Pinehurst Project’s already healthy Facebook following, or even picking up a shovel and checking out the action for yourself.

Maybe the best part of all for those looking to check out the build crew’s wonderful progress: Pinehurst is accessible via the existing bike trail. Biking to your bike ride? Right on.