• Terrain evaluation

• Trail layout and conceptual mapping

• Geology, hydrology and soil assessment

• Trail user reviews

Machine built trail construction

• Machine built trails that respect their surroundings

• 80 cm width single track to 200 cm wide flow trails

• An emphasis on beginner and intermediate multi use trails as well as jump and berm trails

• Scheduled maintenance of high traffic trails

• Follow up reviews of new builds

• Recommendations based on current use figures

• Safety assessments

Trail: University Heights Pump Track
Client: District of Squamish
Location: Squamish, BC
Style: Asphalt pump track

Completed July 2023

• Lead the design, build and paving of public pump track for the District of Squamish

• Designed to accommodate a range of users with a  focus on young rider and beginners

Completed April 2023

• Machine built beginner intermediate flow trail with optional jumps and rollers

• Built to accommodate a wide range of rider ability including adaptive mountain bikes.

Trail: Where the Sun Don’t Shine
Client: Bridge River Valley Community Association
Location: Bralorne, BC
Style: Hand and machine built hybrid
Length: 3 km

Completed in August 2022

• The South Chilcotin’s first professionally built mountain bike trail

• Designed to be a high speed intermediate tech / flow trail with optional black features including progression jumps and steeper terrain

• Build was in collaboration with the local community volunteers and First Nation

Completed in March 2022

• Nicaragua’s first flow trail built as the centre piece of the country’s only dedicated MTB network

• Designed to be a safe progression trail for riders of all abilities with varying sizes of drop, jumps, rollers and corners

• Build included training of a local crew

Trail: Island Loop
Client: Private Client
Location: Victoria, BC
Style: Machine-built technical / flow
Length: 1.5 km

• Completed in November 2021

• A low impact machine built single track loop traversing through low angle glaciated terrain

• Designed to be a flowing xc trail enjoyable in both directions for beginner through advanced riders

Trail: Malahat Express Client: Private Client
Style: Hand-built technical
Location: Victoria, BC
Length: 1.4 km

• Completed in December 2021

• A combined climb and descent trail in the Malahat hills above Jade Lake

• Hand built

• A modern enduro style trail designed to be a technical climb followed by a natural yet flowing descent taking advantage of exposed rock formations a variable soil depth

Trail: Jade Lake Loop
Client: Private Client
Location: Victoria, BC
Style: Hand-built flow
Length: 900 m

• Completed in February 2021

• A multi-directional trail built through mixed terrain following the shoreline of a private lake

• Primarily hand built with short machine built sections to minimize footprint

• Trail design focused on a sustainable gradient to minimize erosion and allow for enjoyable travel in both directions for hikers and mountain bikers

Trail: Pamplemousse
Client: Trails & Rec Sites BC, Squamish Community
Location: Squamish, BC
Style: Hand-built flow
Length: 1.45 km

• Completed October 2019

• An instant classic with over 24,000 riders in the first 4 months

• Currently rated 2nd most popular trail in Squamish

• 6% avg. gradient single track designed to minimize required maintenance while enhancing user experience

Trail: The Donut
Client: Municipality of Squamish
Location: Squamish, BC
Style: Hand-built technical
Length: 440 m

• Completed April 2020

• Evaluated terrain, flagged and planned new intermediate descent adjacent to municipal boundaries

• Cleared corridor and built an all weather trail for a broad range of user groups

• Re-established vegetation along trail corridor

Trail: Quarantine Climb
Client: Municipality of Squamish
Location: Squamish, BC
Style: Hand-built technical
Length: 520 m

• Completed May 2020

• Established a 5% avg gradient intermediate climb trail to replace an eroded fall line route

• Incorporated second and third growth forests as well as varying slope aspects to offer panoramic views

• Deactivated historic route to allow vegetation to regenerate

Trail: Man Boobs
Client: Squamish Off Road Cycling Association
Location: Squamish, BC
Network: Alice Lake
Trail Length: 1.3 km

Trail: 50 Shades of Green
Client: Squamish Off Road Cycling Association
Location: Squamish, BC
Network: Alice Lake
Trail Length: 2.5 km

• Rerouted and re-alligned trail at section of heavy erosion and excessive gradient

• Improved drainage and armouring at problem areas

Trail: Bro Down
Client: Trails and Rec Sites BC
Location: Squamish, BC
Network: Diamond Head
Length: 900 m

• A major rehabilitation project of a historic trail

• Rebuilt as an intermediate single track machine built flow trail with optional jump features

• Trail design leverages frequent grade reversals to manage speed and drain the trail surface effectively

Trail: Hybrid
Client: Trails and Rec Sites BC
Location: Squamish, BC
Network: Diamond Head
Length: 800 m

• Rehabilitated a damaged trail lost to logging in 2014

• Realigned entrance, corners and designed drainage into the entire trail

• Trail now flows with less braking, better sight lines, more support and an intuitive feel

• Following this work, Hybrid quickly became a “go to” lap in Diamond Head

Trail: Rupert
Client: Trails and Rec Sites BC
Location: Squamish, BC
Network: Alice Lake
Length: 900 m

• A maintenance program on Squamish’s most popular trail

• Fortified trail surfaces to reduce future damage

• Enhanced features to improve flow

Trail: Credit Line
Client: Trails and Red Sites BC
Location: Squamish, BC
Network: Alice Lake
Length: 2 km

• Revitalized the decade old trail to meet modern building standards

• Opening up corners to linking trail segments more effectively

• Armoured steep sections and those subject to heavy braking

Trail: Swan
Client: Municipality of Squamish
Location: Squamish, BC
Network: Estuary Trails
Trail Length: 1.7 km

• Reviewed trail user demographics with Squamish Trail Society and decided to smooth the trail surface

• Established trail grade by installing pea gravel

• Improved drainage and installed culverts

Trail: Network wide review
Client: Rancho Santana
Project Type: Trail Masterplan and Training
Location: Popoyo, Nicaragua

• Created trail network master plan

• Reviewed all existing trails

• Established routes for connecting trails

• Trained trail crew

• Proposed business development strategy for mountain bike eco-tourism and resort branding

Trail: Network wide review
Client: Trails and Rec Sites BC
Project Type: Safety audit and bridge rebuilds
Location: Squamish BC
Network: Alice Lake and Diamond Head

• Conducted ongoing safety audits of unsafe and structurally unstable bridges across the network

• Replaced bridges according to Trails and Red Site BC’s building code

• Assed major crossings annual and reported conditions

Trail: Hoods In the Woods
Client: Trails and Red Sites BC Project Type: Environmental Assessment & Rebuild
Location: Squamish, BC
Network: Diamond Head
Trail Length: 1.6 km

• Evaluated terrain and flagged a line after the area was harvested for timber

• Conducted an environmental assessment to prevent creek displacement and sediment loading

• Completed hand work and culvert installation following machine trail construction

About James

Ride BC’s owner and lead builder is a lifelong cyclist and trail enthusiast. James’ commitment to a career in the forest fuels his perfection in trail building and design.

His background in geology and MTB coaching have provided him a unique and invaluable prospective in trail design.

His Qualifications

• Trail professional with 10 years of building experience across Canada

• A geologist in British Columbia with expertise in soil science and hydrology

• Holds an MSc. in geotechnical design

• Past Director of Trails for SORCA (Squamish Off-Road Cycling Association)

• A level 3 PMBIA mountain bike guide and instructor

Watch EWS Champion, Jesse Melamed break down Pamplemousse. A Ride BC built trail in Squamish, BC.