How Trail Building Turned Vero Sandler Into a Freeride Icon

James Moore · 2026-09-15

Few riders capture the spirit of modern freeriding quite like Vero Sandler. But her journey didn't start on a podium. It started with a shovel in her hands. We visited her home in North Wales to talk trail building, community, and why the best rides begin long before the drop in. ### A Backyard That's More Bike Park Than Garden Tucked into the green hills of North Wales, Vero's house looks ordinary enough. But step out back and you're standing in a full-blown bike park. Massive jumps, perfectly sculpted berms, and a shipping container that doubles as a start drop. The place has hosted several Backyard Battles, and it's easy to see why. When we arrive, the evening session is already rolling. Her partner Sam Hodgson is here, along with Kade Edwards and Kaos Seagrave. It's not a staged photo op. It's just a normal night in Vero's world, where the freeride elite swing by for a jump session. ### The Heart of the Operation What strikes you first isn't the size of the jumps. It's how Vero moves through it all. She's warm, open, always smiling, but never focused on herself. While everyone else is sending it, she's checking in, laughing, keeping an eye on her dogs. She doesn't just want to ride. She wants everyone to ride. She wants everyone to have fun. That vibe is what makes the place work. For all the wild lines, it never feels like an exclusive training ground. It feels like a spot where friends gather. Everyone is welcome, everyone digs, and that's what gives it energy. > "Riding is for sure more fun. I build so that I can ride. It's all in the name of biking." – Vero Sandler ### From World Cup Dreams to a Life Built in Wales The idea that Wales would become home was never part of the plan. As a teenager, Vero had one goal: race the Downhill World Cup. She made the Junior World Championships, dropped out of university, and spent three years chasing the circuit. Summers were spent racing around the world, winters back in New Zealand. Then came 2016. After the season ended, she couldn't afford the flight home. So she stayed in Wales for the winter and found a job. That practical decision became the turning point. She stopped racing the clock and discovered a whole different side of mountain biking. "Everything just fell into place without me really planning anything," she says. "Which is extremely lucky." ### Why Building Trails Builds Riders For Vero, riding always comes first. But almost everything that defines her riding today traces back to trail building. She built her first trails as a teenager, and that hands-on time shaped how she sees lines, flow, and what makes a trail fun. Here's what trail building teaches you: - **Line choice:** You learn how a trail is meant to ride because you shaped it yourself. - **Flow:** Building berms and jumps teaches you how to carry speed and link features. - **Community:** Digging with friends builds trust and shared stoke that carries onto the bike. - **Patience:** Good trails take time. That patience translates to progression. Our visit came as part of testing the new Santa Cruz Nomad. A bike named for constant movement meets a rider whose story is all about staying put. Vero didn't drift from spot to spot. She stayed in Wales, built something, and that build became part of who she is. So next time you're dreaming of a big ride, remember: the best days often start with a shovel, not a shuttle. Build your spot. Invite your friends. Ride it together. That's the Vero way.