This column is dedicated to celebrating outdoor recreation in the Seymour area. Whether you are an adrenaline junkie or a Sunday afternoon ambler, there’s a slice of nature waiting for you to discover in Deep Cove. Every month we ask an outdoor recreation enthusiast east of Seymour to give us some advice on how to navigate nature in our backyard. For June, we learn more about mountain biking in the Deep Cove-Seymour area from Patrick Podolski, lead trail builder for North Shore Mountain Bike Association, who primarily works on trails in our neck of the woods.
What is your favourite Seymour area trail?
My favourite trail on Seymour is Boogieman. It’s a very challenging trail that has great flow with fun features and some very technical sections. It also includes a feature that I built on it called the “Drooler”.
How did you get into mountain biking?
I started riding BMX at a young age and I transitioned to riding mountain bikes because a friend on my street was really into it and convinced me to get one. I worked all summer and bought my first mountain bike at 13.
How many hours a week do you spend in the woods?
I spend roughly 100 hours a week in the woods between work, riding and hiking!
What’s your advice for someone who wants to try mountain biking this summer? Should they take a lesson? Which Seymour area trail should they try first, as a beginner?
My advice would be to start off riding easier trails like Bobsled and Circuit 8. Know your limit and let yourself progress slowly. It would be great to check out Endless Biking and take some lessons they have great programs. We have some great bike shops on the North Shore. My go-to shop is Lynn Valley Bikes. I would say start off with a couple loops of High School League and progress to Sticks and Stones.
What’s new mountain biking-wise in the Seymour area this summer?
The new hit on Seymour is a newer trail, John Deere, it’s a Blue Square trail and it is great flowy fun.
What’s your favourite post trail grub: Burger and beer or protein shake and salad?
I love a good smoothie and salad from the Local Lift in Parkgate shopping centre. Or a beer and burger from the Raven Pub in Deep Cove.
