The conflict comes in when XC riders work hard to establish land access and build a sustainable trail .... THEN ... some free-riders come in and decide that they are going to elaborate on things. They cut in fall line trails and build wild obstacles without consulting either the land stewards (trail group) or the land owner.

This type of activity gets trails shut down. It also causes confusion as a proliferation of side-routes makes navigation impossible to those who do not know the trail by heart.

The stuff that free-riders do is really impressive. But in most places ... it's not sustainable. That is why the land stewards will spend a day taking down the stuff that you buid without permission. You didn't consult anyone about it. You didn't ask permission, and if it is not your land you need that permission. The trail group has permission and has been sanctioned by the land owner to manage things.

If you would like a freeride trail, you should perhaps try establishing your own area. Make sure you bring plans and sketches and video to show the land manager exactly what you intend on doing with the property. You will encounter a great deal of skepticism and a LOT of NO, NO, NO ... No I don't want uncontrolled erosion. No, I do not need the potential liability.

You do not have the right to build whatever you want wherever you want it. And you do not have the right to cut down trees, grass, foliage, shrubbery, etc... that do not belong to you.

Now let me clarify, I don't hate freeriders. But I help manage an XC park, and I (along with my trailmates) spend a LOT of time doing it. Probably too much time. We always ask for help and little comes. So when someone gets up one morning and decides to make a change to the trail layout without consulting the trail group or the park, I am none too pleased. When someone decides to manufacture a shortcut, I do not like it at all and I will set about immediately shutting these things down and ripping them apart (most of them are poorly constructed, so I can accomplish it with my gloved hands).

There are freeride parks out there that are VERY well constructed with durable obstacles on set courses and likely properly insured complete with the appropriate liability waivers. Not every park is like that and not every can be like that. The fact of the matter is that the vast majority of the parks MUST be traversable by hikers and runners. This rules out the tight rope Ewok village type stuff. If someone falls off of it, they can sue you and you'll be liable PLUS you will have your trail shut down.

If you are a "hardcore" freerider that doesn't believe in well built sustainable trails and you believe that you can take a McCleod to anything you like anywhere, I really dislike you. Feel free to ride our trails, but do not feel free to modify it. If you think it's too boring, you should go find someplace else to ride (hopefully with land manager approval) or develop your own property. I will aggressively dismantle anything that has not undergone approval of the land stewards. It does not make me an XC snob. It makes me responsible and in fact, the same land use agreement that permits a group to develop trails often contractually obligates them to tear down "extreme" stuff if it is found.

When you get trails shut down, you're not "helping" the MTB movement. You're hurting it. And if you go "do your own thing", you deserve to be *****slapped.

Regarding guys in team uniforms who are "training". They can go to hell. You should be courteous at all times on the trails. That means slowing down any time there is the potential for a collision. Your race is not more important then the safety of others. That goes for hardcore XC racers as well downhill buzz thrillers. There is not a park in the world that will EVER ban hikers. As soon as you get off your bike, you become one. It's simply not a possibility. But they CAN ban bikes. So be nice to the hikers and pass responsibly.