Bikers get their kicks in Carrbridge
YOUNGSTERS in Carrbridge have got on their bikes and put their community on the map with a brand-new purpose-built all-terrain park.
The new facility has been designed by local cyclist Kerr McWilliam (22), using his experience of similar bike parks in New Zealand, with help from his 15-year-old brother, Lewis, and other locals.
Kerr, of Mannfield Place, is an alpine ski race coach at Cardrona, around 60km from Queenstown, in South Island.
He told the 'Strathy': "My dad, Ranald, was the real driving force for the project, with support from the village's community council and Carrbridge Ahead Ltd, along with local Carrbridge biking enthusiasts Dominic Sermanni, Gemma Powell and Lisa McInnes.
"It's great that we finally have our bike park, and it's going down a storm with kids from pre-school age to high school, and even a few adults!"
The wheels were set in motion with initial funding from the village's local development company, with a further £17,000 from the Scottish Government's 'Shovel Ready' funding accessed by the Cairngorms National Park Authority.
The cash was secured in February, and Scottish Environment Minister Paul Wheelhouse came to see the project get underway for himself in April.
The bike park – located in the centre of the village, adjacent to the bowling green – has just opened, but is already proving extremely popular.
Further development of the facility is set for later in the year, to give users of all ages more options to develop their skills.
Kerr added: "We had a local contractor, Donald Powell, carry out all the ground works for us, and then Lewis and I shaped all the jumps.
"It really is a great place to improve bike skills, confidence and general fitness with jumps, berms and a skills area.
"The park is open to everyone and is being run on a membership scheme basis, with forms available via schools and local bike shops."
