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,