If you're a member of the Quesnel family, afternoons at Grandma's house certainly aren't spent making small talk over tea and cookies.
The long-time local clan does spend a lot of time at Grandma's place, but most of it is in the backyard on a quarter-acre dirt jump bike park complete with ramps, lips, and a pump track.
"This is our third year as a dirt jump park, it actually progressed from a small park to something much larger," said Ray Quesnel, a veteran biker whose sons Kyle, 15, and Jeremy, 11, handle the massive jumps with ease. "Even pros come down here to time themselves."
While the park is not open to the public, family friends and the boys' school chums take advantage of its training potential, but only after signing a liability waver. By giving local kids access to the varied terrain, Quesnel thinks the eager riders build stamina, technical skills, and confidence. The kids just think it's a blast.
"It is awesome practice and lots of fun," said a red-cheeked Kyle after performing a no-foot can, a trick that involves both feet coming off the pedals in mid-air. The athletic teen holds the record for the youngest rider to complete all three of the Test of Metal races.
By allowing the kids to take on challenging topography, Ray hopes they'll develop to the best of their ability, whether it is to go professional, teach, or just have a ball on two wheels.
"This is a really great group of riders who started riding at a young age," he said. "There are a lot of pros in this town that inspire them and it's pretty cool to see how good they're getting and how hard they practice. It keeps them out of trouble."
While Kyle, Jeremy and friend Dixon Black fly around the park like their bikes have wings, five-year-old Layton Pears rips up the pump track, hitting little jumps and even navigating a narrow ramp with the help of Quesnel.
Layton's father Lonnie said his son took to the sport like a fish to water.
"I always liked biking, and he showed an affinity for it right away, so I thought 'why not?'" he said. "He really looks up to these guys and it's a really healthy environment."
While Quesnel doesn't know what the biking future holds for the kids that spend their time at grandma's place, he's sure the quality time and focused work out will benefit them no matter what.
"It's neat to see them work on their goals, and by the time it gets dark they're so tired they just flop into bed after dinner," he said. "There isn't a better way to see your kids grow up."
