Expert builders Chad and Deanne Lazaruk are helping to give riders more pedaling options at the Pidherny trails.
The Lazaruks, from Victoria, represent the International Mountain Biking Association and travel all over North America, crafting suitable and sustainable trails for clubs. Here in Prince George, they got started on Thursday with a site inspection at Pidherny and some brainstorming with members of the Prince George Cycling Club. On Friday, the group did some trail marking. Today, one of the main projects that will be completed is a 200-metre addition to the popular Ditch Pig trail.
"It's going to really add some interesting aspects to one of our favourite trails here already," said PGCC spokesperson Josh Staub. "It kind of intertwines with the existing trail. It's really neat.
"It's all going to be new construction, and the idea is that (A), we get something nice and new out of it and (B), it's a good opportunity for them to show us exactly how things are made -- how to properly build something so it doesn't erode over time."
The Ditch Pig upgrade isn't the only item on the 'to-do' list today.
"Last year [IMBA representatives] were here and we started a whole new section from the parking lot, up, and we're going to get the bones of it [today]," Staub said. "We're doing trail [building] nights here as a club every Tuesday night so we're going to be completing that as the season progresses."
The Pidherny trail network, approved as an official recreation site, starts at the Foothills landfill and ends at Pidherny Rd. in the North Nechako area of the city. Trails range from moderate to difficult.
"Hopefully sometime real soon we'll have something shaping up into a real tourist kind of destination here," Staub said.
The club's website is www.pgcyclingclub.ca.
