WellyMTB ❤️ Welly Trail Community

Well last Sunday and Monday really lived up to the warnings, with the southerly winds and rain completely smashing trails all over the city (and wider region). From branches and leaves all over the trails (the green pow was strong) to massive trees felled over trails (some of them ripping out the trail surface).

But if there’s one thing that we love about the Welly MTB community it’s the passion and never-ending energy of the trail teams all over the city. As soon as the wind stopped, people were out on the trails, surveying damage, clearing treefall and remaking trail surfaces.

From Mākara Peak Supporters (and long-time stallwart Don MacLeod, the patron saint of Deliverance) to BTB (who cleared two large treefall on Transient and Highbury Fling on Wednesday, and were back clearing T16 on Thursday), the Wainui Trail Project team out checking and clearing the trails for the Wainui Enduro this weekend to the kids from WORD who rather than doing a race team session on Tuesday spent a couple of hours clearing branches off the trails of Mt Victoria (which is just over a week away from the Get Lost Mt Vic Break In’Duro). And this is just skimming the surface.

This is the great strength of Wellington as a place to live and ride. There’s so many people who love the trails, and bring a sense of responsibility and ownership and kaitiakitanga. It’s a great example of Ikigai - a Japanese concept translating to "a reason for being" or "a reason to jump out of bed in the morning". It represents the intersection of four core elements: what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for.

So have a think about joining your local group. Trail work is fun, a good workout, and rewarding. And if you’re not able to find the time, Mākara Peak has a donation kiosk at the carpark, and the club can take donations for your favourite trail area here.