Mountain Biking - How to build a skills course?

Does anyone have any good info about building a skills course (w/ bridges, teeters, jumps, etc)? I'm planning on building one in the woods behind my house. Any info on it is greatly appreciated.

make the pivot point off-center on the teeter

Get the land owners permission before you do anything!

Get the land owners permission before you do anything!

I should have specified it'll be in my backyard so it's on my own land.

Plan ahead. Lots! Make a plan before you start digging a hole for dirt or before you start cutting wood. Other than that just be creative and have fun.

take an atv and just tear through the woods... lol... then go through and dig it up


j/k by the way

You can create instant ruts/berms by spinning the back tire of a dirtbike, then build up the outer edges. As a matter of fact dirtbikes tear up the ground pretty quick, that would work well for a quick layout.

I'd definetly rent a little earthmover or a tractor with a bucket in front for dumping dirt piles. Here's a weird idea, call PG&E and find out what they do with those old telephone poles, you could cut 'em up for different obstacles or bridge building. Maybe find a sturdy old picnic table you can anchor to the ground for tabletop stuff.

Have fun, plan the layout, test ride it (your buddies too for their valuable input) and beg, beg, beg for your friends for free labor!

Construction sites are great resources for building materials..

Construction sites are great resources for building materials..

Yup and it works best to go at night ;)

I'd be careful about what you imply guys, about the construction sites. A few buddies and i built some shore type stuff at his house, and we didn't evem have to steal the stuff, we just went up and asked their scraps/offcuts/old pallets. They were more than happy to give them to us.

I was one of the office gals for a local general contractor years ago, and we had jobsite thefts, now I know who you are... all crazy mtnbikers building sheet...!

Oh, yeah.. I meant ask for scrap wood.. not stealing.

I was one of the office gals for a local general contractor years ago, and we had jobsite thefts, now I know who you are... all crazy mtnbikers building sheet...!

And I was joking. Thought I have gone and asked if I could take some lumber out of their dumpster

, and we didn't evem have to steal the stuff, we just went up and asked their scraps/offcuts/old pallets. They were more than happy to give them to us.

Thats because they dont have to pay to have them shipped out and disposed LOL!
its cheaper and easier for them, and you get what you want.
its a win-win lol


Look into renting something like a bob cat or something.
There fairly easy to drive once you get the hang of it... just the whole pedal/joystick coordination thing takes a bit lol.
(yes ive operated them before)

You can create instant ruts/berms by spinning the back tire of a dirtbike, then build up the outer edges. As a matter of fact dirtbikes tear up the ground pretty quick, that would work well for a quick layout.

I'd definetly rent a little earthmover or a tractor with a bucket in front for dumping dirt piles. Here's a weird idea, call PG&E and find out what they do with those old telephone poles, you could cut 'em up for different obstacles or bridge building. Maybe find a sturdy old picnic table you can anchor to the ground for tabletop stuff.

Have fun, plan the layout, test ride it (your buddies too for their valuable input) and beg, beg, beg for your friends for free labor!

I have forged many of trail with my dirt bike. Then mountain bikers claim it as there own and get all pissed when i meet them on the trail. Dam tree huggers.;)

build a pump track....and ^^^wtf