WHAKA WEEKLY š²27 August 2026
- 1 hour ago
- 4 min read
Kia ora whÄnau!!
feels like summer snuck in early, the sun is out, the trails are firm and fast, and the forest is just buzzing with incredible energy.
unfortunately......the weekend is looking a bit gnarly. ahhh well we love it anyway š§ļø
ā ļø WEATHER HEADS UP
the forecast for this weekend is wind and rain incoming and in a forest full of trees ā well lets just say if you are heading out this weekend, make the first lap a cautious one. keep your eyes and ears open. and if the wind is really howling ā consider whether today is the day. the trails will still be there when it clears.
stay safe out there. report any trees down via Trailforks so the crew can get onto them fast š
š TRAILS WORTHY OF A LAP RIGHT NOW
in case the memo got missed ā here is the definitive list of trails that have had serious love lately and are absolutely firing:
Grade 3 ā flowing and fun š¢
Challenge Roadside
New Exit
TÄ«tokorangi
Pig Track
Grade 4 ā where it gets interesting šµ
Te Mounga
Underbilly
G Rock
Old Exit
Taura
Grade 5 ā send it (carefully) ā«
Maiden Voyage
Corridor Jumps
Te Rua
every single one of these trails has had recent professional maintenance, community working bee love, or dedicated adopter mahi poured into it. they are in some of the best condition they have ever been in. get out there this week while the weather is still playing nice š¤
š THE COMMUNITY MAKING IT ALL HAPPEN
this week we want to take to shout out every single person, group, and business that is making this forest the world class place it is. because it really does take a village. (if we forgot you on the list, please forgive us, we are silly humans who sometimes miss things, no intentional shade intended š
š§ THE BRAINS TRUST
out on No Brains and Maiden Voyage, week after week, doing the kind of skilled volunteer work that transforms trails. the Brains Trust are a huge part of why these trails ride the way they do. legends, all of them š
š THE MUD MAIDENS
teaming up with the Brains Trust on Maiden Voyage and bringing incredible energy, skill, and a genuinely infectious love for trail building. the results speak for themselves ā go ride Maiden Voyage and feel it š
šµ DESCEND ROTORUA (ROTORUA MTB CLUB)
hard at work on the DH trails ā this is a work in progress and we cannot wait to show you what is coming. the club has been putting in serious time and the trails are going to reflect that. watch this space šoh an do not "go for a look" the trails are not finished, jumps are untested, and riding them is both rude and dangerous. Respect the trail closure signs.
š“ THE ROTORUA RINKLY RIDERS
out on Te Poaka and Hemo Gorge, setting the standard for what giving back to the forest looks like. if riding these trails and they feel immaculate ā tip the hat to the Rinkly Riders. they have earned every bit of it. young riders ā take note. this is the bar š«”
š THE SOLO TRAIL ADOPTERS
you know who you are. out there quietly, consistently, without any fuss, week after week, looking after the trail you love like it's your first born. you are the backbone of this whole operation and the forest would not be the same without you. thank you. genuinely š
š¢ THE BUSINESSES INVESTING IN THE TRAILS
these incredible businesses have stepped up to sponsor trails and make professional maintenance and rebuilds possible. they are investing in the trails we all ride for free:
š² Pablos Bike Shop š ļø Bradleys š“ Sleep Lab šļø Build Co šØ Aura Accommodation š§ 100% Plumbing & Gas ā½ Stihl Shop Lakelands š“ Northern Grit Cycle Works šæ Outset š Urbo Homes
these are not just businesses. they are community members who looked at this forest and decided to put their money where their values are. that means everything. support them š
šø THE DONORS ā $3,000 IN A MONTH. THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS.
we are going to let that sit for a second.
three thousand dollars raised in the past month alone from people who love this forest and decided to do something about it. people from all over the country ā and beyond ā just reaching into their pockets because they wanted to give back to something that has given them so much.
and then there are the 75 people who have set up monthly recurring donations ā collectively contributing $1,600 every single month. nothing made them do it. no one was standing over them. they just decided that the trails they love were worth a regular contribution and they set it up. bam.
that is one of the most genuinely moving things we can report in this newsletter and we want you to know that every single dollar of it goes directly back into the forest. into the trails. into the maintenance. into the rebuilds. into keeping this place world class and free for everyone.
thank you. from every rider who will ever ride these trails. from every walker who will ever wander through this forest. from every kid who will ever learn to ride a bike here. from all of us. thank you. š
if you haven't set up a monthly contribution yet ā š www.rotoruatrailstrust.co.nz ā 3 clicks. any amount. real impact.
š· AND FINALLY ā A POEM FROM THE PIG TRACK ADOPTER
we will not add anything. it speaks for itself entirely.
What a treat when someone's already blown the track! Thank you from my rake and thank you from my back. Plenty still to do on drains and veg, And chatting to bikers and walkers, maybe one was called Regā¦
chur Reg. chur adopter. chur everyone š²
enjoy the sunshine today. be careful this weekend. and remember ā this place is a gift. look after it and each other.
aroha nui, ā the crew at rotorua trails trust š²
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