🌟🚵WHAKA WEEKLY 🚵🌟 29 January 2026
- Tony Knauf
- Jan 29
- 6 min read
It's race week!! Woop! Really looking forward to the weekend and if you are racing, supporting, or just cruising, the trails are looking absolutely mint right now – that perfect combo of tacky dirt and no dust!
Yeah we have that awesome gold dirt, but also the best adopters and trail crew in the country! Here's a break down of what we have all been preparing for you the enjoy this weekend:
🦸 VOLUNTEER & ADOPTER LEGENDS
🟡 Yellow Brick Road
Two hours of vegetation work from the trail adopter on keeping the yellow brick road clear so you can follow it all the way home! (See what we did there? 😄)
🏠 Homeward Bound
On your way home, check out Homeward Bound! The trail adopter has been in there hard out giving it a nice clean up for worry free riding. Whether you have sparkly ruby red slippers or not, you'll love this trail home! Enjoy!
🦘 Katore Jumps
The great mahi from the trail adopter continues! Now working on the lower jumps, the adopter has almost got this trail running the best it has every been from the top to the bottom. If you haven't sessioned Katore lately, now's the time!
🧠 No Brains
SIX hours from volunteers on Sunday! Two hours each on tree clearing, vegetation, and surface repairs! The No Brains crew just never stops showing up! After all those working bees, Christmas Eve sessions, and consistent weekend work – they're STILL out there keeping it mint! Legend status forever! 🙌
🌹 Rosebank
it was a family affair as the adopter had the young ones out giving them a hand on Rosebank. Such good vibes have gone into Rosebank and you can really tell. You might even say, they've done some blooming good work. 🌹
🆕 New Exit
OH. MY. DAYS.
Yeah, no need to say any more. Just go do some laps. It's running mad good.
🔧 RTT CREW GETTING RACE READY!
The RTT crew has been CRUSHING IT this week with one mission in mind: getting trails absolutely DIALLED for race day! Over 120 hours of work prepping the enduro stages!
🏁 RACE PREP FOCUS
Here's what went down – we've been laser-focused on making sure riders can nail their race runs! That means:
✅ Clear sight lines around corners – so you can pick your lines way before you get there
✅ Visible braking points – no surprises, just confidence
✅ Clean, clear trails – vegetation trimmed back so you can SEE what's coming
We didn't add or change any features! If you were up practicing last weekend, don't worry – the trails will still ride the same, just FASTER! Same jumps, same berms, same lines – just cleaner and clearer!
🔫 Gunna Gotta
Got hit with blowing, drains, vegetation clearance, AND surface repairs!
We widened the track just a tad so you don't clip your pedals on ruts = no more sketchy pedal strikes mid-stage! The line's still the same, but now you've got that little bit of extra breathing room to really commit!
If you've been practicing Gunna Gotta, it'll feel like the same trail, just with that extra confidence knowing your pedals have clearance!
🆕 New Exit
Clear sight lines, visible braking points, and vegetation trimmed back so you can see your line options way in advance! New Exit is ready to deliver some FAST times!
🏛️ Old Exit
Clean and clear, blowing and vegetation nailed back, Old Exit is ready for race pace!
🐦 Box of Birds
We heard ya on Trailforks: the adopter has done an amzing job on the trail, but you wanted better lines of sight. You got it! Clear corners, visible lines, ready to fly!
BTW....
Writing this Thursday morning too, so by the weekend all the rest of the trails will be mint too!
🎫 Tickler
Not in the race, but a vital link trail. It got blowing, drains, and vegetation ready for a nice cruise across the forest.
⛰️ K2
Not much needed here cos the adopter has been so onto it, just a quick blow and vege run.
🚶 Walking/Horse Trails Getting Love
We didn't forget our walking whānau! The crew hit:
Radio Hut Lookout Trail - Tree clearing
Tokorangi Pā Walking Track - Six hours blowing and vegetation!
Bridle Horse Trail - Four hours vegetation
Mokopuna, Moerangi Road, Tikitapu Road - Tree clearing
🏔️ Other Trail Work
Whāki Grade 3, Feeder G3, Forest Loop - Tangaroa-mihi, Minerals, Split Enz - Tree clearing keeping access open
Lion Trail, Be Rude Not To, Ball and Chain - Sign installations! Wayfinding improvements!
THE BOTTOM LINE: If you practiced the stages last weekend, they'll ride exactly the same on race day – same features, same lines, same challenges. Just cleaner, clearer, and FASTER! We've set you up for success – now go nail those race runs! 🏁
📊 BY THE NUMBERS
💪 143 hours of trail work this week
💰 $8,449 value delivered to the forest
🙌 8 hours from incredible volunteers
🌟 14 hours from dedicated trail adopters
👷 121 hours from the RTT crew
🎉 EVENTS COMING UP!
🏁 GIANT LEGENDS ENDURO SERIES - ROUND 3 - THIS SUNDAY!
IT'S HAPPENING! Sunday 1st February - Round 3 of the Giant Legends Enduro Series is ON!
CRUISE UP, RACE DOWN, YOUR PACE
This is enduro the way it should be – open race format, YOU choose your order, shuttled or non-shuttled, long or short course. It's YOUR day, YOUR way!
THE IMPORTANT BIT FOR TRAIL USERS:
Trails will remain OPEN during the event, but here's the deal – please be good eggs and give riders the right of way! 🙏
These legends have been training for AGES for this race! They're going to be hauling at race pace, fully committed, and giving it everything they've got! So when you see them coming:
Hook out of the way
Give them the line
CHEER THEM ON! 🎉 (or maybe just go ride another track for a bit?)
Be a good egg and help make their race day epic! The energy from spectators can make such a difference! Plus, watching people send it at race pace is pretty entertaining, its UNBELIEVABLE some of the lines these guys n girls take!
Think of it as free live entertainment while you're out for a cruise! 😄
It's not just a race, it's a PARTY! 🎊
🔗 Last-minute entries (if available): www.enduronz.com
🔨 FIRST RTT WORKING BEE OF 2026!
Alright team, time to get the hands dirty! We're kicking off 2026 with our first working bee and we want YOU there!
What: Low-key rebuild of a few meters of Dragon's Tail (just across the new skid sites), plus vegetation, drains, and blowing!
When: 8:45am Sunday 1st February 2026
Where: Planet Bike, No. 8 Waipa Bypass Rd
via Waipa State Mill Rd.
Who Can Come: All ages! (Kinda... Under 15s must have someone with them)
What to Bring:
BYO tool if you have a favorite!
Water and snacks
Good vibes and a can-do attitude
What NOT to Bring:
No powered devices
No blades like machetes (I can't be bothered explaining why you cut your finger off!)
This is going to be chill, fun, and social! Whether you're a seasoned working bee veteran or it's your first time – there's a job for everyone! Plus, there's something deeply satisfying about getting your hands dirty and seeing the immediate impact of your work!
Come hang out, meet other trail lovers, and give back to the forest you love! Working bees are where friendships are made and the trail family grows!
Oh and if all the isnt enough for ya, the legends at EASTWOOD are supplying the post bee snacks!!! Dream! Chur EASTWOOD!!
💰 KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING
January's donation wave (made with just a few clicks on www.rotoruatrailstrust.co.nz) has officially stalled 🙁 and on Hivepass, we now only have 2022 members, thats fewer members than we did at the end of last year. With 300,000+ visitors a year, this just dont make sense!
We are a looong way off our annual funding target to keep the forest in good condition. Remember, just cos it's free to access, doesn't mean it's free to maintain!
If you haven't already, consider setting up a recurring donation:
$10/month = half the price of Netflix and WAY better for you!
Every dollar goes directly into providing New Zealands Biggest and best free to ride, walk and play forest park.
🤝 Donate or become a member at: www.rotoruatrailstrust.co.nz
🙏 THANK YOU
Remember: 0800 WHAKA1 for any emergencies in the forest!
See you out there! 🚵♂️❤️
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