Dear Mr. Prado

I am responding to your article titled “Rogue trails, vandalism vex county park officials as plan is considered,” specifically to the focus of the story, the jump course near Mill Valley. I feel that another side of this story should be given, as the way you have applied sensationalist terms like “vandalism” and “rogue” give the reader the impression that the jumps were constructed with reckless disregard to the environment they are in. The article may also be misleading to readers in that it alternates between unrelated reports of trail building, such as the one where trees are mentioned being cut down for a trail in San Geronimo Valley, directly under a photo of the Mill Valley jumps. It is not mentioned, however, that no trees were felled for the jump course, or that it has been a part of the community for 16 years.

The story of the Mill Valley Jumps

I first came upon the location of these jumps in the winter of 1998. It was on a small plateau of land between a row of houses and a dry creek gully. The field on top of the plateau was comprised of sparse grasses, weeds, and several bushes. There was also garbage everywhere, and back in the treeline, what looked like a homeless camp made of tarps. In the middle of the field there were already two small jumps no more than a foot high each, and a couple of kids on BMX bikes who looked to be around 10 to 12 years old. I asked them if they built the jumps and they said yes. I then asked them If they would mind if I also built jumps there, as is the custom all around the world among jump builders. I assured them I would build beginner jumps that would be easy and safe for them to learn on until they developed the skill to move on to intermediate size jumps. They agreed and the next day we met back at the small field, along with two friends of mine who were BMX riders and brothers. I brought garbage bags with me and handed them out to everyone. We cleaned up all the trash and dismantled the homeless camp, back in the trees amongst the wood rat nests.

The plan for the location was to build the jumps in three “lines” down the length of the slightly downhill field, with the largest line of jumps being in the middle. The intermediate jump line would be to the right of the advanced line and the beginner jumps to the left, with all three lines ending up in a berm at the bottom that sends the riders back up the return trail to the top of the field. Most of the dirt for the larger, advanced jumps would be moved from the intermediate line, forming the space between the intermediate jumps. This would result in a terraced formation with the highest area being in the middle of the field, allowing water to sheet away over broad areas and preventing the formation of puddles and eroded drainage paths.

The construction began on a modest scale. Only a few of us out there, a couple days a week, slowly moving dirt with shovels and carefully sculpting the radius each take-off, and the angle of each landing. By the end of that first winter we had four sets of jumps that were only about three feet high each. With no more rain, we had to wait until fall to build more, and improve what we already had.

Spring and Summer were all about riding and enjoying the jumps, and we had a great time. Word about the place got out, as more riders from Larkspur, San Rafael, Fairfax, and Novato started showing up. Every winter we would gradually imrove the jumps, making some a little bigger, adjusting the angles of takeoff and landing, and adding smaller jumps and rollers for beginners, and for warming up. After a few years, riders who were on tour were showing up from all over the country, and even Canada and Europe. Professional riders were coming to film for their DVD segments. One day I showed up and mountain bike legend Gary Fisher was there with a photography team and a Pro rider doing backflips over him!

I retired from maintaining the jumps almost three years ago, but in the 13 years I was regularly out there I never met anyone who had anything negative to say about what we were doing. I met Sheriffs, police, and yes, even Marin County Parks and Open Space rangers out there at one time or another. All of which had positive things to say about the design, upkeep, and healthy community atmosphere of the project. Parents bring their kids there learn on the beginner jumps, or often just to watch the advanced riders. I’ve seen kids progress from barely being able to clear the smallest jumps, to far surpassing my own abilities. Kids have grown up riding the MIll Valley Jumps, and some still ride and maintain them as adults.