issue1/dec13
: k r a P l l e b p m a C t s e B s ’ i a h w a g n a M t e r c e S t Kep
Tree Adventures Launches New Safety System Mobile Rock Wall: The Perfect Addition to your Next Gala Day Keen Mountain Bikers: Big foot takes a close look at the new 65 0b wheel Bigfoot strikes Excelle nce: Outdoor Organisation of the Year
contents 5
6 8
10
MEET THE TEAM: Meet Rob Storey
CAMP PROFILE: Campbell Park Camp — Mangawhai’s best kept secret
BIGFOOT ACTIVITIES IN ACTION: Photo Gallery
12
PROVIDER PROFILE: Tree Adventures launches new safety system
14
BIGFOOT ACTIVITY PROFILE: The Mobile Rock Wall — the perfect addition to your next Gala Day
GEAR REVIEW: Keen Mountain Bikers — Bigfoot takes a close look at the new 650b wheel
IN THE NEWS: Bigfoot strikes excellence — Outdoor organisation of the year
s
About Bigfoot Adventures new e-mag showcases how we help you to have the time of your life, and introduces you to some great facilities, activities, cool new outdoor equipment and relevant industry news. Editorial Content: Francesca Marcellino Contact Francesca on 0800 Bigfoot or (09) 444 1446 or email francesca@bigfootadventures.co.nz Address: Bigfoot Adventures Ltd Private Box 302 265, North Harbour, Auckland, NZ www.bigfootadventures.co.nz Art Director: Jodi Olsson Publisher: Espire Media Po Box 137162, Parnell, Auckland 1151 Enquiries: Phone Richard on (09) 522 7257 or email richardl@espiremedia.com Cover photo: Kids enjoying Campbell Park Christian Camp This is a GREEN MAG, created and distributed without the use of paper so it's environmentally friendly. Please think before you print. Thank you!
HAVE YOU SUBSCRIBED TO
Bigfoot Magazine? It’s free!
from theeditorM w
Welcome to our first issue of our Bigfoot Emag, I hope you find it informative and get some great ideas for your next activity, camp or your own adventures. We have great relationships with a number of providers and we aim to show case some of the facilities and activities of these awesome organisations in each issue of our magazine. In this issue we catch up with Jimmy from Tree Adventures at Woodhill Forest, and Dave and Robyn from Campbell Park Christian Camp in Mangawhai. It is nearly time for us to give back our ‘Outdoor Excellence Award’ for Organisation of the Year 2012–2013 from
Outdoors New Zealand. It was a great privilege to be awarded this and I am still amazed and very humbled that we were awarded such a prestigious award. I’d like to thank our amazing team again for their hard work and effort over the last 13 years, this award is really a tribute to you guys so thank you and let’s see if we can be the first organisation to win it twice. I recently organised a trip on the Heaphy Track for a group of friends and work mates to mountain bike the track over two days. We had an amazing time surrounded by beautiful scenery and ever changing rock terrain, it was just magic! DOC opened the track up to
mountain bikers a few years ago on a trial and it looks set to continue so if you get the opportunity jump at it! Feel free to contact me if you want any ideas or suggestions on organising a trip. I can hardly believe that we are counting down to Christmas already and am amazed at how fast this year has gone. If you are still looking for some end of year activities for your students we still have a few spots left and equally if you are planning for Term One please get in touch soon as the days are booking up fast. Thanks for taking the time to read our new Emag, I hope you enjoy it. Have a great summer!
Kris Bartley 4
www.bigfootadventures.co.nz
MEET the team
i
“Heels down
chin up” -Rob Storey
ROBstorey by Bella Silva
In February this year we welcomed Rob Storey to the team at Bigfoot Adventures. Bella managed to steal a few moments of his time and here’s what she found out about our latest recruit: HOMETOWN Rob was born in a suburb of London called Richmond. He ran out of “the big smoke” at the age of 18 and travelled to Wales, England, Corsica and Slovenia gaining an intriguing and unidentified accent.
“don’t eat
Yellow snow
-Rob Storey
CAREER Rob started riding his bike delivering packages in London at the age of 20. Later he worked in New York and Dublin winning five medals in the “cycle messenger” world championships. The reason for moving to Dublin was uncertain until he found out about the Outdoor Adventure Management course. On completing this course he achieved instructorship in sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, mountain biking and tramping. Rob excelled in this course, and it was here that he realised his heart was in the outdoors industry. He has trained young adults to be instructors, and also dealt with special needs groups, prisoners and international sporting teams.
ROLE AT BIGFOOT Rob has become a crucial staff member at Bigfoot Adventures. He is our warehouse guru (Manager) and a key mountain bike, kayak and team games instructor. INTERESTS Sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, mountain biking and tramping are some of the pursuits he loves and instructs, but Rob has a passion for reading novels. But most of all coffee takes the number one priority in his life. He loves jumping off high things particularly onto rocky surfaces and into shallow waters.
FAVOURITE MEAL Struggling to answer my question, he decided to put Asian food at the top of the list. Since being in NZ, he has explored Asian food and is a regular customer of the Glenfield Mall Sunday evening markets.
“Never miss Friday after work
DRINKS
-Rob Storey
From a young age, Rob has gained battle scars to prove his dedication to numerous Jackass stunts.
www.bigfootadventures.co.nz
5
campprofile
CAMPBELLPARKCAMP:
mangawhai’s
BESTkept
6
Secret
www.bigfootadventures.co.nz
camp
s
Situated in the centre of Mangawhai Heads village, and only a stones’ throw away from the picturesque Managwhai estuary, is the Campbell Park Christian Camp. Managed by Dave and Robyn Osborne for the past four years, this camp is your ideal school camp venue. The camp offers beds for up to 76 people with a combination of bunk rooms, single bedrooms and one cabin has a combination of both. Every bunk room has its own en-suite facilities. There is also plenty of room to pitch tents and park caravans. The commercial kitchen provides all you need for on site cooking, plus there is a communal dining area, two lounges and a hall. Bigfoot Adventures has been running activities here for a few years with various school groups. Ideal activities for the camp include mountain biking on our portable skills course and around the camps grounds, kayaking and raft survivor in the estuary, survivor challenge, rock climbing on our mobile wall, archery, orienteering, The Pancake Race, and Top Team events. Combine this with some of the on site activities on offer
like the flying fox, table tennis and the waterslide, and the result is a fun, action packed, activity filled school camp guaranteed to put a smile on your student’s faces. Particularly for Auckland schools, this camp is far enough away from Auckland that participants feel like they are really away on camp, but it’s only an easy 1.5 hour drive from Auckland city. In addition to all that Mangawhai has to offer, Te Arai Pt, Langs Beach and Waipu are only 20-30 minutes drive away. This opens up opportunities for Bigfoot to take your students walking along the Coastal walkway from Langs to Waipu Cove, caving, abseiling
and climbing in the Waipu Caves and surf lifesaving and swimming at any one of the many local beaches. Have I inspired you to look them up yet? It will be well worth the phone call. Even better, give Bigfoot a call and let them do the booking and coordination for you. Bigfoot
can arrange everything from start to finish including activities, instruction, transport, catering, safety documentation and other paperwork. So what are you waiting for? Come and enjoy Mangawhai’s best kept secret. To find out more, visit www.campbellpark.org.nz
www.bigfootadventures.co.nz
7
Bigfoot Holiday Programmes are crazy fun
bigfoot activities
IN ACTION underground beauty room makeup
Beautiful evening
BUGGER
8
www.bigfootadventures.co.nz
White water rafting on the Tongariro
FREEZE! The hills are alive‌
tree adventures fun Bumper boats
PHOTO ETITION COMP Send us your activity photos - the winner for the best action photo will receive
a $100 Bigfoot voucher. Competition entry closes on Friday 28th Feb 2014, and the winner will be announced in our next issue.
Winter Holiday
Programmes
Mountain BIkingmadness We also run Winter trips
www.bigfootadventures.co.nz
9
providerprofile
tree ADVEN TURES t launches NEW safety system Tree Adventures
by Hayley Dorward
10
www.bigfootadventures.co.nz
This morning I travelled 40 km west of Auckland and found Jimmy, the Director of Tree Adventures. Set amidst the beautiful Woodhill Forest, Jimmy describes Tree Adventures as “an adventure wonderland waiting to be conquered.” So what is this wonderland all about?
Established in 2004, Tree Adventures is New Zealand’s largest forest adventure park high wire challenge course. With 10 different courses ranging from 3 to 14 metres above the ground, there’s something for everyone. Each course has a series of fun and challenging activities including high wire challenges, obstacles, balance bridges and suspended nets that wind their way through the treetops, ending with an exhilarating
flying fox ride to bring you swiftly back down to earth. Tree Adventures caters for anyone aged five and above but is ideal for Intermediate and Secondary school children or family groups. There are height and age recommendations for each course available. A minimum height of 1.1m is required to participate. Bigfoot Adventures has been taking groups through Tree Adventures for the past nine years and feedback from teachers, parents and Principals has been outstanding. As the accounts person for the company, I am normally found behind my desk, so visiting the park was a new experience for me. As a parent and staff member, I was particularly interested in the changes at the park since the unfortunate tragedy that occurred back in March this year.
What I encountered was an owner/operator, Jimmy, who was passionate about what Tree Adventures has to offer, but equally passionate about making sure safety standards at the park are top notch and adhered to at all times. Under their own steam, Tree Adventures have adopted a new safety system. It is a “smart belay” system developed in France called “Clic-it”. It means that at any given time on your journey through the trees you cannot disconnect both carabiners at the same time. If the system registers that one carabiner has unclipped, it will lock down the other until the unclipped carabiner is reconnected. Jimmy says “Clic-it allows Tree Adventures to improve the safety of climbers further by safeguarding against accidental disconnection from the safety lines at all times. These ‘smart’ carabiners guarantee your complete safety so you can make the most of your time in the treetops.” Prior to your climb, Tree Adventures staff set up the courses that you intend to climb. A daily safety inspection is made before any of the courses are opened to the public. You will be given a safety briefing by a Tree Adventures instructor and personally fitted for a harness. While you move your way through the treetops on their many challenges, you can rest assured there will be Tree Adventures Instructors on the ground to assist you with your climb. In the event you decide you want to stop and get down, rescue instructors will lower you to the ground at any point
in the course. In addition to this great new technology and their thorough daily protocols Tree Adventures have strong safety management plans that identify hazards, and do intensive staff training with regular competency reassessment. They ensure equipment is kept in top condition with regular inspections and well maintained structures that have been designed to ergonomically suit various ages and abilities. Safety within the park is in line with international best practice. There is an annual inspection of the course and integral safety cables by a third party along with an annual tree health and safety inspection. So what are you waiting for? Personally I have been left in no doubt that Tree Adventures offers an exciting, challenging, rewarding and SAFE opportunity for our kids, students, families and friends. Seize the day and book your students a Tree Adventures experience, or incorporate it into your Bigfoot Adventures EOTC program. It’s a great program that compliments the other activities that Woodhill Forest has to offer. Bigfoot Adventures regularly takes groups on a half day mountain biking combined with a half day at Tree Adventures trip. We have incorporated rock climbing on our mobile wall, orienteering, outdoor first aid, bush craft, archery and disc golf as other options in the forest for your EOTC programs. For more information visit the Tree Adventures website www.treeadventures.co.nzor our own Bigfoot Adventures website www.bigfootadventures.co.nz. You won’t regret it!
bigfootactivityprofile
the
Mobile ROCK WALL The perfect addition to your next Gala Day
12
www.bigfootadventures.co.nz
o
Our mobile rock wall is a
It operates on a manual
As an example of how we
hugely popular option for
belay system, which means
can run the Rock Wall, we
an on site activity day, gala,
parents and teachers can
often combine it with 2-3
school fair or as part of your
be assistants on the activity.
other activities on site such
school camp trip.
Standing 7.2 metres high, it
as mountain biking on our
can challenge even the most
portable
confident students.
orienteering and team games.
Suitable for Primary age
kids right through to adults,
course,
archery,
it provides a challenging and
Feedback from numerous
We can put your students into
rewarding climbing experience,
gala days makes mention that
groups of 10-12 and have them
with climbs ranging from easy
the Rock Wall was the hit of
rotate around the activities
through to difficult.
the day, and with three climbs
with each session running for
The beauty of it being
available, it can be run with
1-1.5 hours, depending on
mobile is that we can bring
many participants with minimal
the student numbers and the
our Rock Wall to almost any
queues. To make things very
number of days the activities
location, and it can be setup
easy for your school or group,
are to run.
on any flat surface such as
Bigfoot Adventures will drop
This type of activity day
grass, concrete and tar seal. In
off, setup and pack down the
is often set up on the school
order to get our truck on site
Rock Wall. We will provide
field and in and around the
and to allocate a climbing safe
instruction
related
school grounds, meaning you
zone, we require an area of
equipment, so all you need to
have reduced transport costs
approximately 10m by 25m to
do is provide the flat surface
and the students still get a
run this activity.
and the keen climbers.
rewarding day of activities.
and
Feedback from numerous gala days makes mention that the Rock Wall was the hit of the day, and with three climbs available,
it can be run with many participants with
minimal queues.
www.bigfootadventures.co.nz
13
GEAR review Johnny Moncur rates the equipment
thegamechanger
t
650b Mountain Bike Wheel
This truly seems like the next
big thing in mountain biking. The 650b (27.5 inch) mountain bike wheel has emerged as a big player in the mountain bike market this season and has big plans to take over the knobbly tyre world
thelowdown
What the heck are we talking about? The term 650b originates from French tyre sizing. To put it simply the wheel has a 27.5 inch
thoughts
So what do people think?
durability
Some
and
faster
have
sworn
that
acceleration. This was the
650b wheels fell from the
founding
of
heavens as a gift from god
mountain biking and has been
(much like the introduction
around for donkeys years!
of 29 inch wheels a number
wheel
size
A 29” wheel offers better
of years ago).
rolling speed, momentum and
Others have claimed that
rolls over roots/bumps more
the 650b wheel is the “Jack
effectively. The 29er wheel
of all trades but master of
emerged a few years ago and
none.” Even stating that,
was all the rage during the first
it is nothing but a half-pie
couple of years on the market.
inbetweener wheel created
A 27.5” wheel equals the
for no reason other than to
best of both worlds! This
generate another wheel size
and 29 inch options already
could really be the wheel of
related sales spike. Ouch!
available. So what does each
choice for those wanting more
wheel size have to offer?
versatility from their bike.
diameter which is right smack in the middle of the 26 inch
14
thebenefits
A 26” wheel offers strength,
www.bigfootadventures.co.nz
Though it seems like this revolution has appeared out
The 650b is never going to match the
rolling speed of
the 29er or the strength of the 26er but to be honest it gets pretty darn close in both departments! of nowhere the 650b wheel has actually been around since the beginning of time. It has been the lack of compatible components like forks, frames & tyres that have kept its growth at bay. Take a look at the 2014 product line-up and you will struggle to find a major bike manufacturer who hasn’t jumped on the 650b band wagon. Quality components are already available through all the large bike component manufacturers so whether you like it or not the 650b wheel is here to stay.
toomuch?
Three’s a crowd? With three wheel sizes now readily available is it sustainable for companies to continue producing frames, forks, tyres and tubes for all three? Or is extinction looming for the crusty old 26 inch wheel, the originator of mountain biking as we know it? Don’t stress out you 26er warriors; I don’t think you’ll see 26ers wiped out by a catastrophic meteor event (much like the dinosaurs). There are far too many quality frames and components available. Not to mention there are millions of people out there
still riding 26 inch wheels who will demand replacement parts for years to come. However, watch out 29er lovers, cross country whippets far and wide are already making the move to 650b.
conclusion
A number of the Bigfoot Adventures crew are riding 650b and loving it! Some of us began riding 650b last season when some of the first models were released by major bike brand Scott. It’s great to see that the world has followed our lead, and now 650b models are emerging from major bike brands all over the
globe! In our opinion, it allows a longer travel bike (for all mountain riding) to be built with bigger wheels without compromising the geometry of the bike or the strength of the wheels. If you are a cross country racer through and through you may still go for the momentum carrying characteristics of the 29er. Alternatively if you are a downhill racer and strength is your bottom line then 26 may still be the one for you. In terms of a fantastic bike designed to do everything we would recommend the 650b. We’re all for it! Get out there and give one a go
in the
NEWS
Bigfoot Strikes Excellence OutdoorOrganisationoftheYear That’s us!
i
we
our achievement in gaining
were all pretty excited and
OutdoorsMark accreditation,
proud to hear that Bigfoot
our
Adventures had won the
record and our drive to be
Outdoors
Zealand
a leader in providing safe,
Organisation
fun and challenging outdoor
of the Year” award. This
experiences. We were very
significant award recognises
honoured to receive this
the
prestigious award.
In December 2012,
New
“Outdoors
continuous
and
passionate hard work being
impeccable
The
safety
2013
award
put in by the Bigfoot team
nominations are coming up
each and every year.
again, boy doesn’t a year
Currently we work with
pass in a flash these days?
around 150 schools within
Despite having already won
the Greater Auckland area
this award in the past, Bigfoot
including the Waikato and
Adventures
Whangarei regions.
strive to “do better” in all
We
offer
instruction,
facilitation and management of
adventure
for
these
programs
schools
and
continues
to
aspects of the business. We
are
constantly
upgrading our equipment, making adjustments to our
have also established a
policies
comprehensive cycle safety
tweaking existing programs
program funded through
and
Auckland
innovative outdoor programs
Transport
and
Hamilton City Councils.
and
procedures,
creating
new
and
for our customers.
In addition to schools we
We are confident we can
offer the same adventure
benefit your school, company
programs to corporate and
or social group and look
social groups, individuals and
forward to meeting you in
community groups.
the future.
The
award
recognises
16
www.bigfootadventures.co.nz
Kris Bartley with Garth Dawson,
CEO of Outdoors NZ
“
“
It is not
the mountain
we conquer. but
ourselves - Sir Edmund Hillary
HAVE YOU SUBSCRIBED TO
Bigfoot Magazine? It’s free! www.bigfootadventures.co.nz
17