How Trail Building Turned Vero Sandler Into a Freeride Icon

Robert Wilson · 2026-09-15

Few riders blend creativity and freeriding like Vero Sandler. But her story 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 great riding begins long before the drop in. ### A Backyard That's More Bike Park Than Garden Tucked into the lush green landscape of North Wales, Vero's house looks pretty ordinary from the outside. Meadows, rolling hills, trees—that's the setting. But then you see what's just beyond the house: a backyard that would make most bike parks jealous. Huge jumps, perfectly sculpted berms, and a shipping container that doubles as storage and a start drop. The ratio of living space to playground is completely ridiculous, and that's exactly the point. It feels like mountain biking didn't just find a place in her life—it became the foundation everything else is built on. Even on a random evening, life revolves around that backyard, which has hosted several Backyard Battles. Immaculate jumps, perfectly shaped berms, and a vibe that's all about good times on two wheels. ### Not Your Average Jump Session Vero isn't riding alone tonight. Her partner Sam Hodgson is here, along with Kade Edwards and Kaos Seagrave. It doesn't feel like a staged lineup of stars—just an ordinary evening in Vero's world, where the freeride elite drop by for a jump session. Sandler moves through it all with ease. She's warm, open, always smiling, and constantly looking out for everyone around her. It quickly becomes clear: Vero doesn't just want to ride herself. She wants everyone to ride. She wants everyone to have fun and feel welcome. That atmosphere is what makes the place work. For all the spectacular lines, it doesn't feel like an exclusive training ground. It feels like somewhere friends come together. Everyone is welcome, everyone digs, and that's what gives it energy. ### From World Cup Dreams to Finding Home The idea that Wales would become that place for Veronique Sandler was never part of the plan. As a teenager, the Kiwi had one goal: race the Downhill World Cup. After being selected for the Junior World Championships, she dropped out of university and threw herself into racing. For three years, she followed the World Cup circuit, racing around the world before returning to New Zealand each winter. After the 2016 season, she couldn't afford the flight home, so she stayed in Wales for the winter and found a job. What began as a practical decision became the turning point in her career. She stopped riding against the clock and discovered a completely different side to mountain biking. "Everything just fell into place without me really planning anything, which is extremely lucky," she says. ### Riding Comes First, But Building Is the Foundation Our visit to Vero is part of our test of the new Santa Cruz Nomad. A bike called Nomad—a name that suggests constant movement—meets a rider whose defining story is about staying put. Vero didn't drift from spot to spot. She stayed in Wales and built something. That build has become a defining part of who she is. > "Riding is for sure more fun. I build so that I can ride. It's all in the name of biking." – Vero on whether she enjoys building or riding more For Vero, riding always comes first. Even so, almost everything that defines her riding today can be traced back to trail building. She built her first trails as a teenager, and that hands-on approach still shapes her style. Building teaches you how jumps work, how to shape a berm, how to read terrain. It's no wonder her riding looks so effortless—she's been studying the craft from the ground up. ### Why Trail Building Matters for Freeriding Trail building isn't just a hobby for Vero. It's the backbone of her freeriding. When you build your own lines, you understand every inch of the dirt. You know what it takes to make a jump flow, how to pack a landing, and how to create something that's fun for everyone. That knowledge translates directly into how she rides. - It builds community: Everyone digs, everyone rides, everyone feels welcome. - It fosters creativity: You're not just following a trail—you're inventing it. - It builds skills: Shaping jumps and berms teaches you how to ride them better. - It creates ownership: When you build a spot, you care for it and the people who ride there. Vero's backyard is proof that you don't need a massive budget or a resort to create something special. You just need vision, hard work, and a crew that's down to dig. And that's exactly what she's built in North Wales. So next time you're out on the trail, think about the hands that shaped it. For Vero Sandler, trail building wasn't a detour—it was the path to becoming one of the most creative freeriders out there.