Staying on track for world event | Rotorua Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Rotorua

Time flies when you're having fun and for Rotorua's Jeff Carter 2004 has been a busy year.

The former competitive mountainbiker turned course designer is in the thick of completing work on the most conspicuous of the four courses for the 2006 UCI Mountain Bike and Trials World Championships - the four cross which is taking shape on the slopes of Mt Ngongotaha.

It is spectacular and dramatic and has involved some major earthworks.

For the thousands of predicted national and international visitors expected to descend upon the Sulphur City in August 2006, Carter reckons they should get a real feel for what Rotorua is like.

"There is a million dollar view from up there and it should showcase Rotorua in its best possible light," he said.

Carter, who has a mechanical engineering degree, has spent months working closely with professional surveying and planning company Canmap Hawley Ltd, Environment Bay of Plenty and Ngati Whakaue, whose land the course is built on.

"We've surveyed the land and have used that data to create a 3D model. The course utilises the natural features in the landscape to hold the track," he said.

After stage one design work was complete, major earthworks began on the four cross course in October. Since then, 2000 cubic metres of earth has been moved and about 120hrs each of machine time and labour rolling and tending has been put into the course.

Working within a budget of $20,000, Carter expects the four cross course to be fully rideable by late January. As with the three other courses - the downhill, cross country and trials - the four cross will be raced on for the first time at the 2005 Community Trust Mountainbike National Championships from February 25-27.

Following this it will be rigorously analysed and crucial rider feedback gained to ensure it is up to par for the 2006 Oceania Championships in March and the World Championships in August.



Despite a few setbacks, Carter is focussed on ensuring the track is mechanically sound and "looking pretty" ahead of February's nationals.

All your questions about the track and more answered in today's Daily Post