The Alex Kaiser Legacy trail

Gazlar

Hi Guys

Just had the following email from Lisa at Cognation regarding our request to name part of a trail after Kaise...

cognation wrote:

Hi Gaz,

Thank you for your e-mail, we were sad to hear the news about Alex and our thoughts are with his friends, family and all that knew him.

I have spoken to a colleague in Forestry Commission Wales regarding your request below and he thinks that there is the potential of naming a section of one of the new trails in memory of Alex. There are a number of options about naming a trail section and I wanted to ask you what you thought would be most appropriate. These are the new trails opening over the next year and a half:

adults skills area in Afan Forest Park
downhill trail – Cwmcarn
cross country trail – Cwmcarn
Redevelopment of the Penhydd trail – Afan Forest Park

If you could let me know what would be most suitable then we can discuss it further and let you know the timescales for the chosen trail.

Kind Regards
Lisa

So there we have it, positive news, I put it to discussion with you for the next couple of days which woiuld be most appropriate, at which point I'll take the idea back to Cognation with what we think. Also perhaps we could have some ideas of what we could do to help the project such as volunteering or having a collection to pay for a sign or piece of trail art maybe,

Anyway with regards to the location, i'll open a poll up now...... Cheers guys for supporting this

By the way, I shall leave the poll running until Monday morning at which point i'll be getting back to cognation

Edit - Both Afan options removed as already they are lagging way behind

Thewaylander

he spent a fair amount of time DHing at Cwm in the last few months of his time, so i think that is fairly fitting so see how we go here

cooldad

I said Redevelopment of the Penhydd trail simply because it is likely to happen sooner. But whatever riding he preferred really.

nicklouse

Also perhaps we could have some ideas of what we could do to help the project such as volunteering

Crudfest.

and we do trail building and camp on site? (which ever site is chosen).

all with the guidence and approval of the powers that be.

Gazlar

Personally for what its worth, my leaning is towards Cwmcarn also as its closer to his home in Bristol and he did ride there a lot. My thoughts though are that the xc trail would be a better choice as its accessible to more people, even the mos hardcore downhillers ride the trails and appreciate an epic downhill section of it, but not all trail riders can ride downhill. I do also see the logic behind the downhill trail.

Nicklouse, I was thinking exactly the same thing, if theres any reason to not worry about the riding, come together and raise a can to the guy as a group, surely this would be it

Also at this point I shall take the idea to Alex's family to see if they think it appropriate.

cat_with_no_tail

Downhill Trail gets my vote. He'd just bought his DH bike with the insurance money from the Edison and was loving the DH.

Clank

I went for XC at Cc, because that's my thing, but honestly I'd pitch into any of the above. Loving the Nicklouse's idea.

Fantastic news, either way. Well played, Gazlar.

mak3m

Went for the dh at CC as that was his bag

Nice one Gazlar top work chap

Gazlar

Just another update, I've had a lovely message from Alex's Dad, who thinks that the idea is a beffiting tribute and had given it his and the family's blessing. I've promised to keep him up to date with things as they move forward.

123oldman

I opted for XC at CC, more riders are likely to use the trail including a fair few DH riders! Tbf any option will be a good thing, lets make the section something special!

Thewaylander

I just hope it's not a motorway style, blue section Kaiser will come back and kick us all... hard lol.

lostboysaint

Thewaylander wrote:

I just hope it's not a motorway style, blue section Kaiser will come back and kick us all... hard lol.

I voted for the XC 'cos he was so full the craic for everyone on here that it would be fitting if more people recognised that by riding a trail named in his memory. Having said that I wholeheartedly agree with the above comment, it really needs to be a proper, fun, singletrack heavy, trail. Not some whacked type 1 double-track/fireroad mostrosity.

Thewaylander

lostboysaint wrote:

Thewaylander wrote:

I just hope it's not a motorway style, blue section Kaiser will come back and kick us all... hard lol.

I voted for the XC 'cos he was so full the craic for everyone on here that it would be fitting if more people recognised that by riding a trail named in his memory. Having said that I wholeheartedly agree with the above comment, it really needs to be a proper, fun, singletrack heavy, trail. Not some whacked type 1 double-track/fireroad mostrosity.

Indeed,no issues what we build as long as it's banging good, and not like say the FOD verderers peice of poo, the man was a biker and what ever is built should hopefully reflect that

Gazlar

Yeah, I think what ideally I'd like to be able to do is once details have been ironed out, perhaps be able to go with a couple of other crudders and see what and where and get involved in the plans, maybe set up a face to face meeting with the trailbuilders. The main thing is whatever is created is fun and memorable for the right reasons.

Anonymous

cooldad wrote:

I said Redevelopment of the Penhydd trail simply because it is likely to happen sooner.

I thought hell was more likely to freeze over before Penhydd ever reopens!

Not sure what I can vote on as didn't really know him and what he liked to ride, but will be a great tribute whatever anyway.

welshkev

i chose the xc at CC simply because more people will see it. i know he was mainly a DH head so either at CC wolod be good

great work btw gazlar 8)

Stevo_666

I voted Cwm DH because it was his sort of trail (and I like it as well).

[Edit: good going Gaz]

andyrm

I voted Cwmcarn DH too. Was lucky enough to know Alex in real life through BMBC and know just how much he loved the DH course there. And loved ragging the Blue Pig down there, mostly whipping guys on much bigger, meaner full sus DH rigs. I think it's the perfect tribute.

thekickingmule

I've voted for the XC as I think it better more people can ride the trail and pay tribute. However, it would be good to check the site out first before committing to it, as if it's a rubbish blue trail, I'd go for the DH as that's what he would have preferred I think.

The Northern Monkey

Downhill CC... He was at a DH event when he passed so would seem most fitting to me.

Plus, he was all over twitter the months before, absolutely buzzing about his new DH bike.

angry_bird

Yeah, I've gone for CC DH. CC as the location for sure, but as for XC or DH it's a tough one, while the XC would be more accessible to the most Kaiser really was going nutty about DH.

On top of this I'd just think it'd be appreciated more a little more. I mean when it comes down to it if you think about riding a trail centre sure you vaguely remember the whole thing, but it's only the really great sections that stand out afterwards. I think it'd be a shame if the section didn't do this and just didn't do Kaiser justice like it should. Whereas I don't think you really have to worry about that with a DH trail as at the end of the day it's all about having great fun on the descent and they're generally pretty good fun all the way down.

Just my thoughts though.

Thewaylander

Cor this one is sooo close lol

I'm sweaty palmed in anticipation and it's not just from watching the girlies walking past my window!

MountainMonster

Wait, what happened to Kaise?

Chunkers1980

MountainMonster wrote:

Wait, what happened to Kaise?

Not good, have a search.

MountainMonster

Oh jesus, just found the other thread, it somehow had not come up on my radar at all recently. Truely terrible news, but this trail sounds like an amazing tribute, and good on you for getting something going!

projectsome

If Cymcarn trail gets the go ahead, we can have the opening coincide with a monthly rides. Probably get a few of the BMBC members too.

Thewaylander

I keep thinking GoGo DH..

But i do understand the XC of course too. I just can't help myself hehe

Gazlar

I think what I will do is drop the two options for Afan as they are lagging way behind already and then go back to cognation with the brief of "one of the Cwmcarn options" to see exactly what they have in mind for both of the options, as in fairness its pretty neck and neck, unless of course we have a runaway winner by Monday. That way we can see what best fits, I mean a really good xc downhill would be preferable to the Alex Kaiser start gate I should imagine.

Gazlar

Sorry didn't realise because I changed it to the two options its reset the poll, so can you vote again please

Stevo_666

Done, c'mon CC DH

lawman

Whilst I see the reasoning behind the DH route, as Kaise was such a top bloke, yes he would love the DH, I mean he really was banging on about his demo and he loved what he was doing. I think an XC trail, admittedly if we get design input to an extent and make a gnarly xc route rather than just work on a blue, then he would love for everyone on here to enjoy it and have a hand in it, because as many downhillers or guys willing to have a pop at a full on DH route are on here and willing to help, I just feel that it may put others off who aren't really into that scene and this being frankly a fantastic community on this part of the forum, it would be a shame for people give their help to this and not be able to enjoy the fruits of their labour. I reckon if we could make a pretty damn gnarly black/red XC route then the people who put the work on this can enjoy the fruits of their labour, and as such it would be there for all to enjoy, and without wanting to insult or offend anyone, I think it's what he'd want.