With 1500 riders on 300km of trails , Tussock Buster is the biggest dirt bike event in the southern hemisphere . KR went to meet the Bike Army .
TUSSO
The old adage goes that there are two sides to every story , and in the case of the Southern Hemisphere ’ s largest dirt bike event it ’ s particularly true . How does a huge number of riders , over 1500 , get to have fun ripping through 300km of trails on NZ Army land ? Well , through the hard work of a small army of volunteers who give up their time so others can have fun .
54 KIWI RIDER
For those who who don ’ t know the Tussock Buster , and I admit that I knew the name but that was about all ; it ’ s an annual trail ride which takes place on NZ Army land set on the eastern side of the Desert Road , bordering the Tongariro National Park . Every time I ’ ve driven that road I ’ ve thought the hills rolling into the distance looked like a great place to ride . Trouble is , as it ’ s all part of the Army ’ s training ground and firing ranges ,