2008 marked an amazing season for the trails and riding community out at Moose Mountain.

For those not in the know, Moose Mountain plays host to the fat tires and ear-to-ear grins of riders from and surrounding Calgary Alberta and includes a good mix of XC and DH, on an extensive trail network of close to 80km of single track.

Highlights included a season kickoff riding party, the addition of several new trails, 2 successfully organized trail days, Moose Mtn’s 1st ever DH race, and a realization from many riders and builders that with organization and collective direction of resources we can be an Alberta Mountain Bike Mecca.

The season started in desperation. With record rains and substantial flooding, many a trail was feeling the wrath of Mother Nature and her dirt eating, flow washing, root exposing torrents of water.

Rain and drainage issues in early season

Frustration was rampant after seeing the buffness that we put to bed at the end of the previous season – get washed away in its sleep. As mountain bikers we are a stubborn breed that constantly get thrown into the ring to fight the likes of injuries, committed lines, hours of sweaty digging toil and of course -the elements. We took a step back, talked it over, sized everything up and pinned it towards getting smart and building more sustainable trails. Our opponent could attack again and we best be ready.

The early spring re-routes began. Diggers of Race of Spades initiated the attack with a well thought out flowy re-route of their troubled ravine. Work began on building a whole new lower section of Toothless and talks were building on a 1 km reroute option for the gully on Tdub. These tasks progressed slowly… one sweaty swing of the pick at a time but the season was progressing faster than a grom with a personal stash of dj’s. We started our initial community event, with all superstitions aside, on Friday the 13th of June; with a kickass riding party, sponsored By Team Pilsner http://www.oldstylepilsner.com/ , followed by the first of the season’s trail days for the 14th. Friday the 13th, saw no gore or bad luck, but laps a plenty with a great crew of rippers followed by a BBQ, fire and some entertaining snering of good times One ripper even showcased his testament to our trail network with a smiley baptism in the chilly spring thaw of Canyon Creek.

Luckily, this creek typically only runs for a couple of weeks per year but this snap sure does showcase the amount of water we were dealing with. Our first trail day of the year saw over 50 people out and brought heaps of flow and sustainability to our mountain. In one afternoon, it was a smack down of buffness and berms, to trails like JG on the rocks, SLF and Toothless. Sustainability issues were resolved on the likes of Toothless and a new shuttle situation initiated in the form of “hot laps”. Community digging is always a good time and a big thanks to all who gave back and made it out. I couldn’t in any way quantify the flow potential if all the riders of Moose made the same decision as these 50 plus. At least the mountain isn’t going anywhere… so this could be your year to add more than just your fat drifty rubber to the Moose mtn dirt. Steel is the new wheel – grab a shovel and get diggy with it!

To showcase the sustainability attack and reroute of Toothless we decided to host a 2knee race on this gem of a trail later in the fall (October). This was to be the first ever-organized DH race on Moose Mountain. Let’s say DH race with a twist or should I say chug. Big thanks to Team Pilsner for hosting and organizing this Double Down 2Knee excitement and a massive hat tip to all the super awesome wicked volunteers.

Also, sending shout outs to Calgary Cycle for all the cool prizes and to the ADHRA for all their assistance and for sponsoring the post race BBQ. Not only was this race on one of the gnarlier trails of the mountain, but it was a 2 stage(Double Down) race, with the clock still running after you crossed the finished line, until you downed your bevy. Chugging a Pilsner, or Barks Root beer for the underage shredders, after 4 plus minutes of extreme DH proved to be much more of a task than anyone imagined.

We are Canadian and we are veterans to such situations. So, unless you plan on coming out to this year’s race then no mockery of the chugging times is permitted. Full race results can be found here:

This race was an experience to remember… from the nervous humour shared by many a racer at the top, to the hilarious antics of the out of breath freeriders chugging beers in front of a boisterous and heckling audience at the bottom. Good times Yo!

Check out the following vid of the Toothless race section that you best have a dental plan for:

The following day marked the premier event of the weekend in the form of a season closing trail day. Keeping with the ground breaking season, this trail day marked the first time that both the XC and DH riders joined forces to collectively build better trails. The trail day was a huge success with close to 60 riders dedicating their day to enhance future days at Moose for all of us.

On the DH side of things, it was yet again an organized assault from the bottom up on the likes of JG, SLF and Toothless. The dedicated builders of Race of Spades went on a sustainability/berm mission, with a special task force of super Newfies, to anti up the digging artillery and give them some past due assistance. Our berm meter was in Chinook mode and the combined rider effort in one day brought more buffness than a team of steroid injecting bodybuilders. Riders raked, dug, and picked their way to more than a pocket full of trail karma.

The following is a brief intro written by the leader of this charge on what started on this day and continued steadfastly for many more days into the fall:

“There was a need for true, “rider-built” XC/AM trails in Calgary’s backyard. It was time for a trail to test a rider’s skill going down AND up but not leave the rider feeling like they are going to puke out a lung. It was time for a trail that would be fun to climb and would not be climb-able by a compact car… (dramatic pause) It was time for “pneuma”…
Enough with the drama!
Through the hard work of many volunteers (thank you to all of you), about 5 kms. of pneuma became a reality. It exceeded anyone’s expectations in terms of the how fast it came together and the size of grins on rider’s faces when they rode up or down it. Pneuma went from concept to ride-able trail from mid-September to the end of November. Even in it’s infancy, many rider’s were able to enjoy some delicious singletrack while avoiding sucking dust and exhaust from the gravel road for a decent portion of the climb. By the end of next spring, We’d like to see rider’s be able to avoid the gravel road altogether. Expect some opportunities to come out and finish building the trail with all the finishing touches this spring… See ya when the snow melts.”

Here in Calgary, a unified brotherhood representing all lovers of 2 wheels on dirt will be a force to reckon with.

A big thanks to everyone who came out for the trail day and to Bikebros and Uriedog bikes for supplying the swag and prizes handed out during the barbecue. Witnessing the grin of progress on dedicated builder’s faces. Sensing how charged up all these riders of dirt were after a day for the trails, was more than evidence that the timing is right for a collective rider organization for Moose Mountain.

With the Epic fall conditions of ’08 digging developments easily continued right up until the end of November. The momentum from the season trickled down and it was common sight to see many riders showing up with picks and shovels in the back of their trucks.

2009 promises to be even better! Winter is still here but big developments have been occurring behind the scenes. Keep your ears to the ground for an up and coming announcement, about a new association for Moose and an opportunity to team up and join in on all the progress and fun

Get stoked and get involved!