Alice Lake Provincial Park has added another adaptive mountain biking trail to their ever-growing network.
The one-kilometre beginner friendly trail named the South Coaster Adaptive Trail provides a wide and smooth terrain to support adaptive mountain bike users.
The South Coaster Adaptive Trail was officially opened on April 15 and saw a number of mountain bike riders head to the park to test it out.
Squamish Adaptive Mountain Biking Association
President of the Squamish Adaptive Mountain Biking Association, Sierra McCann, is part of a team that “works to support people with disabilities to get out mountain biking.”
The group attended the grand opening of the South Coaster Adaptive Trait and McCann told The Squamish Chief that she was surprised to see how many riders turned up.
“We had a lot of adaptive riders, some from the island and some from Squamish, that came to ride the trail for the first time,” McCann said.
“So it was a really fun day of people getting to see the adaptive bikes on the trail, meet some of the local riders, and then also, kind of meet the team at BC Parks who had worked on making it happen.”
The South Coaster Adaptive Trail was created thanks to a $180,000 investment from the Government of B.C., in partnership with the Squamish Off-Road Cycling Association (SORCA).
McCann said the trail filled a gap in the adaptive trail network for beginner riders.
“I think we're really lucky to have some really great, accessible trails in Squamish already, from green to blue to black, that are integrated into our trail network. But Squamish is notoriously not beginner-friendly. So it's nice to see some thoughtfully designed trails that allow people to get outside or even start their biking journey,” she said.
Other trails within the Alice Lake trail network include Cardrona, Miki’s Magic and Rob’s and Cliff’s Corners.
The South Coaster Adaptive Trail, Miki’s Magic and Cardrona trails combined create a nine-kilometre adaptive trail loop for riders.
What is adaptive mountain bike riding?
McCann explains that the term ‘adaptive mountain biking’ is very broad.
“It describes anyone who needs a modification to a bike to be able to get outside and ride. That includes two-wheeled bikes, three-wheeled bikes, e-assist, hand-cycles and bucket seats,” she said.
“This [new trail] is a really great opportunity for all types of riders to to see that adaptive mountain biking is is gaining a lot of momentum and becoming a part of our mountain bike community, and hopefully as they move forward in planning and developing outdoor spaces they'll always consider all types of bodies and all types of abilities.”
Whistler Adaptive Sports Program Society
The Whistler Adaptive Sports Program is an all-year-round organization that offers recreation programs along the Sea to Sky Corridor—in Pemberton, Whistler and Squamish—to individuals with any type of disability.
Communications lead and adaptive sports coach, Jennifer Brown, told The Squamish Chief that the new trail was “such an asset” to have in Squamish.
Brown took to the trail on Tuesday and was left with an excited feeling after completing it.
“In terms of the Whistler Adaptive Sports Program [offered in] Squamish, we …support a lot of kids and young adults. So I guess when I was riding it, I was thinking, how are they going to be on this hill or how will they get on through that trail?” she said.
“I think it's going to be a challenge still, which is great and something to work towards, but it certainly adds an awful lot to Alice Lake as a destination for biking.”
Brown noted that the biggest difference between a standard mountain biking trail and an adaptive trail is its width.
“What's so amazing with this trail is that you can fit two Bowhead adaptive bikes on this wooden bridge that they've built—that's pretty unique, I haven't seen that before, which is really cool,” she said.
But the message both Brown and McCann believe this new trail says is that “everybody is welcome.”
“There's one thing saying those words, and then the other having something that absolutely backs it up, and means that it's genuinely user-friendly,” Brown said.
“Going now to Alice Lake means that you can take your adaptive mountain bike and have a really good day out there. And the more trails that are built with a wide kind of variety of disabilities considered— whether it's a physical disability like a spinal cord injury or a visual impairment—then that is what inclusive sport looks like and feels like.”
SORCA executive director said their group has been working closely with BC Parks for almost six years to bring the South Coaster Adaptive Trail to fruition.
"Initially, the focus of the trail was to provide a significantly improved experience for less-experienced riders,” Lowe said in a press release.
“However, BC Parks amplified SORCA's original vision by making this an adaptive mountain-bike friendly trail, which will be enjoyed by a wide spectrum of riders and user groups,"
The South Coaster Adaptive trailhead is located near the parking lots and campground north-west of Alice Lake.
For more information on the local mountain biking trails in Squamish, visit the SORCA website.
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