Tasmania's allure as a world-class mountain biking destination will be cemented when the Heemskirk network of trails near Zeehan on the state's West Coast opens in December.
Early next year, that reputation will be further sealed when the state's Derby and Maydena networks each host a leg of the prestigious Enduro World Series — deemed "the ultimate combination of racing and adventure, where riders encounter the most physically and technically challenging mountain bike trails in the world".
With more than 30 kilometres of trails, the new West Coast network will build on the existing Oonah Hill descent.
The highlight is a 33km loop for intermediate to advanced riders up to a 750-metre summit in the Heemskirk Range — and then back down of course, along rocky ridge lines.
The new network is the second significant step in the West Coast Council's plan to better exploit the adventure travel potential of the region and diversify an economy traditionally over-dependent on mining.
Welcome to Silver City
The trails are carrying the working title of Silver City Trails, a reference to Zeehan's early mining glory days.
Next Level Mountain Bike has had a team of 12 trail builders on the Mt Heemskirk Regional Reserve since January, accessing most of it on foot, or by bike and motorbike.
"We were here three years ago to build the Oonah Hill trail for Parks and Wildlife. It finishes almost back in Zeehan," says Marcelo Cardona.
"It was an amazing experience for us, building one of the longest flow trails on the island. Now the council is extending it to an amazing network."
Mr Cardona and his team have been working on the trails since January through some harsh weather conditions.
"We got some climate-controlled diggers for the worst of the winter. We knew what to expect here," he said.
"You see incredible things and the early light on the mountains here is extra special — some of the nicest mornings I have ever experienced."
The council's coordinator of projects and infrastructure, Aaron Stewart, says the hope is to have the trails open before Christmas, with a likely launch date of December 10.
Long-term 'bikification' strategy
Mr Stewart said the Heemskirk network was a long time in the making, but added that the West Coast's mountain bike (MTB) strategy was aimed at long-term outcomes.
"Council first talked about diversifying its economy with mountain biking trails and other new ways to experience the region back in 2014," he said.
"We've been through a few different iterations, refining the concept to get where we are now with a network of trails on Mt Owen and now here in the Heemskirk.
"Zeehan was originally identified as the potential hub for the MTB experience over here and you can ride straight out of the main street to begin an experience of these trails, as you can in Queenstown.
"Mt Owen is more rugged, a bit more advanced. Heemskirk will be more adventure riding but each is like nowhere else you've ever been."
In 2020, then West Coast mayor Phil Vickers said the MTB strategy was about diversifying the region's economic base, which has historically been heavily dependent on mining.
Tourism has seen huge growth since the days of the Franklin Dam blockade but MTB and other adventure tourism have more recently been identified as potential growth areas.
As it happened, the excitement around the launch of the Mt Owen trails was somewhat dampened by COVID.
Nonetheless, the two years since the opening of the spectacular trails above Queenstown have seen the opening of cafes, a wine bar, smaller accommodation businesses, rider shuttle services and a bike shop.
The Mt Owen network was included last summer in the Tasmanian Gravity Enduro Series, bringing a large number of riders and families to Queenstown.
"We also staged a leg of the first five-day Trans-Tasmania event, a concept that sees similar five-day events run in Canada and New Zealand," Mr Stewart said.
"These are races aimed squarely at advance riders and a double black diamond trail on Mt Owen, named Natural Selection, was voted the favourite trail of the Tasmanian event."
The nearly completed Heemskirk Trails are arguably the most isolated to be built in Tasmania so far and have required Mr Cardona's team of trail builders to work pretty hard just to get to work.
"It's around a 12km-trip on single trail to get to the two diggers working over the summit," Mr Cardona said.
"So you have to walk! More often we ride our bikes and we also have a few motorbikes, or trail bikes, to get to those sites which are up around 750m elevation.
"We've worked right through winter and we learned from our last time here that when the weather hits here it can be harsh. The two climate-controlled diggers work furthest away."
Bikers make good builders
The idea of trail building — and the remote location work — could well appeal to many people but for Mr Cardona, the experience he most wants to see on a resume is experience on a bike.
"Being remote, it mostly works for the younger riders to work here. And they have to be riders. Some people come to me and ask for work with good civil construction experience," he said.
"But I'd rather have a mountain biker. It's easier to teach trail-building to someone who knows what they want to ride.
"They know the shapes of the track, they know the speeds, the supports you need for a bike. There's a lot of personal input.
"At the end of the day, we often ride, have adventures. It's an amazing place here."
