MTB: Support club's trailblazing efforts

CLUB INVOLVEMENT: Lisa Horlor is one of two newer committee members. PHOTO/MEAD NORTON

Diary this: Rotorua Mountain Bike Club AGM, 6pm, Wednesday, July 30.

The venue is upstairs at the Pig and Whistle on Tutanekai St. It's a great opportunity to hear about the club's work over the last year and the exciting developments planned for the future.

Everyone is welcome. However, to stand for a committee position or vote, you need to be a member (which is very easy: rotorua.mtbclub.org.nz).

Two of the newer committee members are Lisa Horlor and Mark Woods (aka Budgie). They are typical of all the committees, past and present. They are giving up their own time to make a top mountain bike destination even better.

Lisa is from Kawerau and started riding 16 years ago. She raced in US and Canada in national and World Cup races. Ten years ago she changed to BMX and raced in Japan, China, Australia and Europe.

Now, she works as a mountain bike guide and skills teacher in Rotorua (www.mtbskillsclinics.co.nz) and also coaches young BMX riders.

"I love the smile I get when I ride and the people I get to hang with," says Lisa.

"Rotorua is epic, it's like every single person that lives here, rides - and if they don't, then they should try it."

Lisa's top tip for a novice rider: "Take it easy, trust yourself and your bike, and tell yourself, over and over, how good you are - and your brain will follow that direction. And if you need some help, come see me."

Budgie's originally from Auckland's North Shore and runs Peak Safety (peaksafety.co.nz) with business partner, Henry Worsp. The company provides safety solutions for the adventure, film and event industries and runs related courses in first aid, pre-hospital care and explosives.

Budgie was working as Safety Services Manager at Ruapehu in 1996, when the mountain erupted and the idea for Peak Safety was born.

"With the ongoing eruptions it was clear there wouldn't be a constant source of revenue for the ski area and therefore, for me," he says.

"So, I sat down with a bit of paper, drew a mind map of the skillset I'd gained on the mountain and created Peak Safety."

Budgie bought his first mountain bike in 1986, "but I don't feel like I really started riding till I moved to Rotorua, nine years ago.

"I enjoy the easy access to the trails and, more importantly, the great mountain bike community, here, with people who are so positive."

Budgie laughs when I suggest the role he's taken on with the club is a bit of a hospital pass.

"Fundraising is super-important," he replies.

"It's what makes new trails happen and keeps existing trails maintained. They don't just appear. They cost money or heaps of volunteer labour."

There's an opportunity for everyone to get involved with a new trail being built and part-funded by Southstar Trails.

"The club is raising the other half via the internet," adds Budgie. "People should be a part of that, if they enjoy the buzz of Rotorua's awesome trails. Give a little and often."

He's absolutely right. For the cost of a few coffees you can "own" a metre of the new trail at www.givealittle.co.nz/cause/newtrail.

Support your club - like they support you.