COFTON Holidays has officially opened a brand new, state-of-the-art scooter, BMX and skateboard pump track to help promote health, fitness and fun among visitors to the Dawlish Warren park, year-round.
Designed and officially opened by Devon-based Kye Forte, former European King of the Dirt title holder, the new figure-of-eight asphalt pump track consists of a continuous loop of banked turns, rollers and jumps that enables users to generate speed with little or no pedalling.
Kye, noted for his whips, flips, 360s and for getting huge air - entering the record books in 2012 for the highest BMX jump in history at 6.38m - joined visitors to Cofton to show off the track’s many features, performing a series of jaw-dropping jumps and stunts to the delight of onlookers. He also took time out to make a film about the track and how to ride it, providing tips on how to get the most out of its features. Sponsored by Red Bull and Oakley, Kye rides for UK brand United.
Commenting on the track, Kye said: ‘As a kid, I would have loved to have gone on a family holiday to a country park with a pump track. Having designed this track specifically with young kids in mind, I know it has all the features to make for a thrilling, yet safe riding experience. As a Dad that still rides with my kids, that was really important to me.”
The pump track is the latest thrill-seekers’ facility to be unveiled at Cofton Holidays, and follows on from the opening of the Tree Top Adventure High Ropes Course, last summer. Now, guests can hit the pump track before scaling the heights of the high ropes course, featuring 16 different stations elevated eight metres above the ground.
Chris Jeffery, Director at Cofton Holidays, said: ‘Following the Olympics, where Bethany Shrievers and Kye Whyte won gold and silver respectively, BMX racing really grasped the imagination of kids and teenagers across the UK. My 10 year-old son Teddy talked about it all the time, so we thought, why not build a track of our own for our guests? With the help of Kye, who designs tracks internationally, we set about creating a fun and challenging course, that could just be the foundation for a future gold medallist from Devon.’