The Field of Dreams

It’s a Forty Five minute drive from our house, ten pounds for three hours on the weekend with morning or afternoon slots, or on Wednesday nights during the summer you get at least four and half for the same amount. It’s a place where all ages and abilities can have an absolute ball, progression is guaranteed and the odd scary moment or crash is always on the cards, depending if you’re pushing the boundaries. This is the ‘Field of Dreams’, it’s dirt jump heaven, an arena with multiple lines of all shapes and sizes and it’s been there for years, and year after year it gets better.  It’s worth every penny and every bit of my time getting there. 

The Track at Portreath can allow you to feel like a champ when you achieve your goals, humbled if you get things a little sideways, and if it’s a little too windy, can be pretty sketchy when you're in the air, which is what this place is all about 'Air Time'. 

Watching the really good guys do a full run, top to bottom on the big line can be pretty special, or a rider do the biggest transfer from one line to another,  shifting effortlessly sideways through the air, with the greatest of steez (style) never gets old. Watching the young an fearless kids developing their skills from total beginner to those just getting rad on the big line.  

For a rider like me who lacks a bit of jumping confidence and consistency, I walk away with a massive smile and always full of stoke. Since I was young, (Me and Bikes Part 1 & 2) jumping has been part of riding bikes, and I bet everyone who likes to jump will always find a little ramp up a lane, or an embankment to pop a little air. I’ve always loved to watch people riding trails and in my mind, simplicity on the trails is the best action, just watch riders like Brian Foster, Kris Fox, or Olly Wilkins.  Modern day slopestyle competitions are amazing but so far beyond the average rider with multiple spins and flips are way beyond being relatable for many. When watching a rider who can jump with style and grace, floating above the jump and dropping the nose into the landing, this is my absolute favourite thing to watch,  and this can be an achievable goal for so many the Track is full of riders trying just that.

In the middle of the arena you have aspiring riders, setting out on their little BMX bikes, sometimes parents in tow, conquering the small line of table tops, moving up to the small gaps, and so on until they have matured to hitting the Big Line; a big set of gaps and it's inspiring to watch. 

The Track is by definition a Cornish Theme Park for adrenaline fuelled kids, and when I say kids, I also mean kids who don’t want to, nor should have to grow up, and that’ll be me and all the other parents you see riding with their kids each week. There’s coaching available for all abilities, and it doesn’t matter how old you are, how good you are, what bike you're riding; it’s just about the riding.  If you’re travelling here on holiday, or it’s the first time visiting, please don't feel intimidated, this isn’t surfing and there are no egos. 

The owners, Steve Tonkin and his wife Fiona are super welcoming and work so hard to make this place the best, working all winter, maintaining the site, and grooming the jumps ready for opening in the Spring. Fiona also runs and coaches at the on-site Hydro Pool. Steve is a great rider too; always on hand for advice,  and on a chance break from the check-in or cafe,  you’ll see him grab his bike and do a few runs down the main line. 

There is space for everyone and if you are trying to get your wheels off the ground for the first time, or hitting a bigger line and get through clean,  you’ll likely get a shout out from someone.  There’s also an area for parents with picnics, or a cafe if you need a cold drink or a bowl of chips, and the coffee is pretty bloody nice too. You can probably guess by now I can’t praise this place enough. But just one thing to finish on. If you've heard that it’s expensive, it’s not. You can ride solidly for three hours, or more on a summer Wednesday evening,  have as many runs as you physically can, laugh with mates, boost your confidence and self belief whe you and get back in your car, you'll have a massive smile on your face, and say “that was ten quid well spent”.

What is expensive is going to the pub and spending the same on two pints, and you can do that after, you'll need it. 

​https://the-track.co.uk/