Marlborough Magazine May 19 | Page 35

sports track per year, the couple has already built five new tracks, with imminent plans to build two more. Thanks to the support of local businesses WK Advisors and Accountants, T&D Construction and GJ Gardner Homes, two of the tracks have been kept free of charge for riders to use. Justin provides a full range of coaching services at Jentree, beginning with the basics like bike set up and body positioning, through to tackling rocky tracks and advanced downhill riding. Coaching is provided in groups of up to five riders, as well on one-on-one sessions tailored to the individual rider. Jentree has been embraced by locals since reopening as a more advanced riding option than others in the region, and more recently has played host to two international events. In March it was one of six courses around the world to host German company YT Industries on their search for junior riders for the next world cup circuit. As the Oceania venue, 20 riders from the area came to Jentree to put their best foot forward for selection, of which eight will be selected to ride in Spain, where two will be selected as the YT Industries junior riders for 2020. Just prior to that, they hosted the third of three days of the Santa Cruz NZ Enduro. “The NZ Enduro is a huge mountain bike race in the area, and they usually ride Whites Bay, Nidia Bay and the Wakamarina. On the last day they get dropped at the top of Wakamarina by helicopter to bike down but the weather was so cloudy that the helicopters couldn’t fly. “We got the call at 7am on the Sunday morning saying that we had 150 riders coming our way,” Victoria says. Such events bring home the scale of what the couple has achieved in just two short years. “It was so cool to see that many people here enjoying what we have created.” “Justin is only two years from retiring from the world cup circuit and I think it works really well and makes retirement easier for him,” Victoria says. Jentree is a registered Adventure Activity Operator and offers a shuttle service for riders. They welcome riders to use the park, but ask them to get in touch first - jentreemtb.com 35