In a nutshell, a pumptrack is a playground for your bike, but with far more utility. You become a better rider the more you hop on a pumptrack. It’s a fun assortment of berms and rollers that leaves you with a grin on your face no matter your skill level.

A pumptrack is a spot in the community where people of all ages and skill levels can gather, ride bikes, and watch their bike skills improve rapidly. 

Here in the Santa Cruz area, we are lucky to have more than one outstanding pumptrack for our community. We can assuredly give pumptracks credit for helping our bike scene thrive! 

Read on for five reasons why you should welcome pumptracks in our community and where to find them!

1. You’ll Boost Your Bike Skills Quickly

Hands down, the number one reason you benefit from living near a pumptrack is skill improvement. The more you ride it, the better your bike riding gets overall. Pumptracks build fundamental skills such as cornering, pumping, keeping speed, and eventually, jumping. All of which naturally transfer to trail riding. 

2. PumpTracks Are Fun for All Ages and Skill Levels

But let’s say you’ve got these fundamental skills down. You’ve graduated from the pump track, right? Wrong! 

Pumptracks facilitate fun and challenge for all skill levels. Try lapping without a pedal stroke. Beat your fastest lap time. Double or triple some rollers. Manual through rollers. The list of skill development is endless! In fact, professional riders that compete at events such as Crankworx attribute pumptrack as having helped dial in their incredible bike handling skills. 

Conversely, take your kids to the pumptrack and watch them glide up and down, whether they are still sporting a Strider bike or 20” wheels. It’s a safe spot for them to enjoy cruising on a bike without having to worry about cars on the street. And it might be the birthplace of the next generation of talented riders. 

3. Pumptracks are a Full-Body Workout

People rave over the killer workout high-intensity interval training (HIIT) provides. But why not burn fat and build muscle while riding your bike? Pumptrack workouts can be as brutal as you can handle! The motion of pumping engages your arms and shoulders while also activating your legs, core, and glutes! 

If you commit to riding the pumptrack a few times per week, guarantee you will see significant gains in your physical fitness. And you didn’t have to pay for a gym membership!

4. They are a Great Place to Stop While Traveling

Most of us can easily recall those long car rides where your back is stiff, your butt went to sleep an hour ago, and you just want to get out of the car NOW. Arrange your travel route strategically. Plan to stop at a pumptrack along the way to your destination. Get your workout in, give your legs a stretch, and wear out your kids before they get back in the car. 

FWIW ;-) … there’s a high correlation between communities with pumptracks also having a rad mountain bike scene and microbreweries as well. 

5. Pumptracks Facilitate Community Involvement

When you grow up riding pumptracks or watch your kids ride pumptracks, they become near and dear to your heart. You recall the memories, successes, and the occasional wipeouts that made you love biking. Maybe you met a few riding buddies and expanded your social circle along the way. 

Why not give back to the spots that enhanced your happiness? Whether it’s by participating in a trail building party or donating to a fundraiser, let’s ensure we have fun, free, and accessible outdoor recreation opportunities in our community for all to enjoy.

Where to Locate Pumptracks in the Santa Cruz Area

Westside Pumptrack

Santa Cruz, CA

The Westside pumptrack celebrated its grand re-opening August 8, 2021. It boasts 28 fresh obstacles and features, safe for all skill levels. The track is paved, which increases its longevity and consistency.

Additionally, it’s a gorgeous spot to hang out and ride with native plant landscaping, benches, and picnic tables.

Epicenter Cycling is proud to have partnered with Trek and Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship (SCMTS) to help rebuild the Westside Pumptrack by donating three Trek kids’ bikes to a recent fundraising raffle.

Ramsay Park 

Watsonville, CA 

Touted to be the largest pumptrack in the county currently, you can enjoy 200,000 square feet of paved rollers and berms. Located at the Ramsay Park Family Center, there’s something fun for every family member if pumptracks aren’t their thing. But YOU can enjoy a well-built, well-designed track for hours.

Harvey West Pumptrack

Santa Cruz, CA

A BMX track raved to be “a bike paradise” leaves visitors blown away. It’s always well-maintained with excellent dirt, thanks to SCMTS!

Chanticleer Park 

Santa Cruz, CA

Considered a favorite by families that have little shredders, the Chanticleer Park Pumptrack is perfect for beginners on tiny wheels. A beautiful, shaded, and relaxing atmosphere is what you will find here. If you’ve got a four-legged family member, don’t forget to bring them to this pumptrack; there is a dog park as well!

Grant Park 

Santa Cruz, CA 

A unique pumptrack appropriate for all skill levels in this lovely neighborhood park. The pump track at Grant Park looks a bit like a roller coaster and is all-weather proof! If you have family members that don’t love bikes as much as you do, Grant Park provides plenty of other activities such as: 

Basketball

Baseball 

A playground

A fenced dog area

Barbecue pits

A picnic area

Bocce Ball courts

Scotts Valley PumpTrack 

Scotts Valley, CA

This dirt pumptrack has fans of all ages and skill levels. Praised for its design, but not so much for size. Ride it on a not-so-crowded day, and you’ll be glad you stopped here! Popularity is always a good indicator of fun. 

McGregor PumpTrack and Skateboard Park 

Capitola, CA

This pumptrack is a treat for those that love to rip around a well-built pump track at warp speed. This park is excellent for the whole family as the designers thought of entertainment for everyone: a skatepark, a kid’s play area, a dog park, benches, and ample parking! 

Punch one of these pumptrack locations into your GPS and enjoy the ride!