Where we started
Mountainbike Tauranga (MTBTGA) was started in October of 2007 with the original purpose of forming a user-group that would build the mountain bike trails in the new TECT All Terrain Park.
The Club was formed by Steve Barker, who took the role of Club Secretary. He gathered together a number of local mountain-bikers to form the Club Executive.
We became Mountainbike Tauranga Incorporated on the 17th of July 2008. Membership had risen to just over 60 and we voted unanimously to become an incorporated society.
Then we took off
Our Club Register is still growing. We are members of the New Zealand Mountain Bike Association, and are also New Zealand’s first IMBA affiliated club. We signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Western Bay of Plenty District Council with regards to the TECT All Terrain Park. After a lot of grafting, Stage 1 of the park including the designated MTB Activity Zone was officially opened to the public on Saturday 11 December 2010. A number of trails are now open to ride including ‘Buffalo Girl’, ‘Lookout’, ‘Uno’ (Family Trail), ‘Mickey Mouse’ (Kids loop) and a pump track. There is a trail map posted next to the toilet block at the MTB Park carpark and we will post a copy on the website shortly. Further trails have been marked out and work will continue to develop and extend the trail network within the park. Keep an eye on the website for details on how to get involved with building New Zealand’s newest mountain bike park.
Since then
For the 2016/17 season we launched the Mountainbike Academy for Youth Development
A structured training programmes will be set up under the guidance of qualified coaches and is available to High School aged riders along side this a development programme for younger riders. More details to come.
Oropi Grove MTB Park came to the fore with rebuilding of tracks, erected new signs with marked trails, upgraded the car park with thanks to our local Councils and now planning is underway for our next trail improvements.
In May we had a family fun 3 hour race at Summerhill Recreational Park and with this success we will hold similar events in the future.
Some lucky ladies from our Club got to upskill their riding with a Ladies only skills clinic which was a throroughly enjoyed and we hope to repeat this again soon.
Where we’re going
Simple… onwards and upwards! We would like to continue expanding our membership base to include riders from every discipline in mountain biking to ensure that everyone has fair representation. MTBTGA will continue to plan and run events around Tauranga, and we will continue to form teams to go and compete in events put on by other clubs. With respect to the mountain biking areas in Tauranga, our efforts in the All Terrain Park will continue. We will also continue our support of Summerhill Recreational Farm Trails and Oropi Grove Mountainbike Park, helping to keep these areas open for everyone to use and enjoy.
The latest
In recent years most of the current news is on Facebook. Social Media has taken off and the Club is present on Instagram and Facebook with nearly 4000 followers combined.
Join MTB Tauranga
We welcome membership by anyone, membership is available as an individual or as a family.
We offer a social network of like-minded riders, regular organised rides both in Tauranga and around New Zealand, discounted entry to club events, discount at local bike shops and many other opportunities are also in the pipeline as the club continues to grow.