I cannot jump the distance, you'll have to toss me! . . . Don't tell the elf.

So Queenstown has a serious penchant for all things on two wheels, but like all great things, the things to do on a bike around here are more versatile than they first appear. With the surroundings dominated by huge hills and mountains, it would seem the best thing to do is take to them riding a

full suspension rig and get your thrills from clattering down the mountain side.

After going out with a few bikers the other evening it's obvious that any Q-towner worth their salt has a collection of bikes for all occasions, with some also owning a trails bike or a bmx. I had clocked the brilliant skate park in the park complete with huge purpose built kidney bowl (empty pool). But when I heard about a jump park out on Gorge Rd I wondered what it might be like, I've never been to one, I don't have the confidence to try such ballsy manoeuvres on a bike.

However the summer has just arrived and the park, after some post winter prep, had it's summer opening day on Saturday. So I went along to check it out, and found out just how some of the locals both young and old spend their summer weekends.

As soon as I arrived I couldn't help but imagine how my biking friends back home would react, and how they would just hang here all day and never want to leave. Steep jumps, one after another rise out of the ground like huge waves rolling into shore, the skies clear, the sun blazing. The folks at the mountain biking club have set up a PA system playing a good dose of decent music next to a large barbecue. Folks roll in either on their bikes or in cars as the park sits at the end of car park. I say at the "end" the jump park takes up just as much room as the large car park. People congregate in their groups with non bikers just sitting back and chilling away the day. The park itself has a great variance of jumps from the high steep angled jumps with large gaps on the left side down to rolling short jumps on the right. It's catered to those who know what they're doing but it has levels of progression that keep in mind those who may never have even taken air on a bike before . . . a breeding ground for air junkies. 

There's some great talent on show but no shred of elitism here, kids are trying first hand to jump the short gaps on the right side of the park whilst in the middle others get comfortable with tweaking in the air or taking bigger leaps of faith, and those hitting the left try to nail their trick of the day and push their abilities. There are of course occasional heart in mouth moments, and a couple of dudes take a tumble in their efforts to land some difficult jumps.The evidence is all around me of how dangerous this particular sport can be, several people have arm or leg casts, one kid has a full on metal scaffold round his head keeping everything from his shoulders up perfectly aligned. BMX's, trail bikes even a few full suspension bikes take to the park of all shapes and sizes. Those not riding hang either around the park, or around their cars, some in awesome low riding pick up trucks that seem to almost be a status symbol around here. The beer flows among the onlookers as the sun slowly descends through the afternoon as guy n gals step up to show their stuff. I don't stick around for long, I'm merely an onlooker, but it was a great way to spend some time. There are a bunch of great photos uploaded by the Queenstown Mountain Bike Club to view here. The hawk eyed among you may even spot me watching in one. 

The weekends here exclusively revolve around getting outdoors and using as many of the daylight hours available to have a good time whether its on a bike, a skateboard, kayaking or windsurfing on the lake or simply going for a walk. Then the night rolls in, and as I mentioned in my earlier post, the town comes alive with music and revellers. I met up with my friend Aimee's sister who lives here with her boyfriend, both keen riders, so we had plenty to talk about. I am now considering waiting a while to buy a bike, I know I want a good ride, and I know that once I fiiiinally start work I might be able to save for a month to get the bike I really want, rather than just a basic hard tail that I can afford right now. Needless to say I will be sticking to the mountain trails rather than the jump park, however I wouldn't mind trying the beginner jumps to see how I go. Right now I am still waiting patiently to start my new job, I try my best to enjoy my days at home but there's only so much you can do when you're watching the pennies. However its not difficult to admire where I am . . . I just have to look out of the window or drive down the road to an event like this . . .