The world famous Ranchstyle slope course built in part by James Flatten.
This is our first Trail Digger Interview with a digger who does it for a living. James Flatten spends his days digging bike parks, trails, slope courses and even MTB trails with a company called Singletrack Trails. James was behind one of the riders favorite courses in Slopestyle history at the Ranch in Grand Junction, Colorado. Ranchstyle was an epic contest with a killer course. While posted up somewhere at night while out building more trails James answered a few questions for us. Check out his answers below…(if you know a trail digger who deserves some credit and should be interviewed send us an email with their contact info) …
What’s the name of the main spot you work on? All over merica, but best known for the Ranch , Moab Bikepark ,and Lunchloop Bikepark
Where is it located? Merica
Is it public or private? Both
How did you get involved digging? I’ve been building jumps since I was a wee lad. Started in the canyons of San Diego. I was a lil dude trying to ride with these older guys, their jumps were huge so I had to shovel, that started when I was about 12 I guess.
Whats your favorite type of feature to build? Big bike step downs
What is the key ingredient(s) to successful trails? People that know what’s up doin work.
What challenges do you have at your spot? The public parks it’s always lack of maint. and clown shoes climbing the sculptures like jungle gyms.. Up at the Ranch it was always water, we had to time digging with rain or springtime. We never had a water source for Ranchstyle, had to haul it all in buckets.
Digging is an art form, Where do you draw your inspiration from? I just try to build stuff I think the homies and I would like to ride and get stoked on. And anything worth doin is worth doin right, so make er purdy!
Do you build lines more for flow or tricks? Flow for the ol guys, and if the youth wants to throw some shit go git er! Haha
Kyle Rosencrans enjoying some of James trail work at Lunch Loop Bike Park…pics by Tim DaCosta
What tips do you have for working on Trails? Water is your best friend, ride em wet!
What trail rules or etiquette do you enforce at your spot? Fix yer divots!
Do you enforce “No Dig No Ride?” If so how? I do if people know how to dig, If they don’t I don’t want them messing stuff up. Haha I’m a picky asshole.
What’s your advice for someone showing up at a trail spot for the first time? No one wants to hear how cool you think you are, offer to water, work, and fix your power cases!
What is the Funniest thing you have seen at your spot? I shouldn’t release those times to the public. Haha it’s a long list
Do you feel the trail scene is dying, growing or staying flat? Seems to come and go depending where your at. I feel like public parks are Killing the old school trail scene. But it’s good to get a broader range of people on bikes and in the parks.
How can we grow the trail scene? We need a park in every town so I keep getting paid to shape! So talk to your town folk and get the ball rollin.
Do you think Trailbuilders get the respect they deserve? Why? I think as a whole diggers are pretty selfless and don’t care much. But that said I think that 75% of riders give credit where it’s due. Always feels good to get some props from someone who had a great time and hands ya a beer.
What Bike do you ride at the trails? Depends on the trail. Haha
Any shout outs and thank you’s? Thanks to everyone who has ever trusted me to shape up good times. Matt at Grassroots Cycles, my boss hole Greg Mazu at SingleTrack Trails, the Chili Pepper bikes ladies. And the boys that have stacked and slapped with me for countless hours. My main man Jeff Erickson. Anyone who trusted me enough to huck their carcass of something i stacked in the way. The list is long with some great people on it, thanks y’all!
Ranchstyle as an event ended its run last year. Many of us were bummed the event did not continue into this year. But as a tribute we put together this little retrospective…
