Pro Property Build with Cam Zink

Backyard Build is a series featuring some of your favorite riders and the unbelievable builds they have on their personal properties. We chatted with Cam Zink, a man who has solidified his name in the freeride history books. Cam's backyard playground is an absolute marvel and we got a bit more insight into the build and the process of terraforming your backyard for fun. Hard work, dedication, and making dreams a reality are commonplace at Cam's Ranch.

Athlete name, property location, property nickname?

Cameron Zink, Reno, NV - The Property, Rock Ridge, Cam’s Ranch or Compound

How did you find your property? Were you looking for land that you could build on or did that idea come later?

I was asked by a moto friend to go in on a 169-acre property for our own place to build and ride whatever we want. It came with an artesian well, propane tank and generator already installed.

Who came up with the design for your property’s build and/or did you have help with the construction?

I am always looking to work with the land to build unique jumps, trails, and features. With this landscape being very steep (nearly 1000 ft of elevation) and rolling hills, it provides a lot of adversity and broken machines while building, but the results are incredible. Doing our best to form the lips and landings out of the existing hills is what we do. We've learned a lot from carving out world-record jumps going through a canyon and building the landing out of a hill.

What was the most challenging part of the build?

The most challenging part of the builds is money. Even maintaining the jumps and machines, mass amounts of weed killer, etc, gets really expensive, let alone renting a dozer or larger excavator... I own a skid steer, and now Sensus RAD Trails has an excavator, which is stored on the property while not building trails elsewhere, so we have some. Luckily we have an incredible community of avid riders and aspiring pros that want a place to ride, so we get a lot of help until people age out and focus on their day jobs. So, thanks to everyone who has ever helped out!

Are there any stories from construction that you want to share?

We built a road to the top of the property in two days… It’s absolutely insane. We borrowed a dozer, and the pressure plates went out at the top, so Mike Power, the operator, had to back the dozer down the entire road with the blade to keep him from going off the cliff.

What’s been a highlight / the best part of having the build on your property?

On any given day, the feelings and emotions you get after a good day out there are priceless, especially when guest riders are totally spent after a day of riding but are still smiling from ear to ear.

Do you have a favorite feature or section?

The hip road gap line. Up until last year, I was the only one to ride until Asa Howe rode it with me. This year, Hayden Zablotney rode it, too, and it was super rad to enjoy it with them.

Are there any other questions you wish I’d asked, or is there anything else you want to add?

It takes a village, so thank you to everyone who has ever contributed out there and helped make it all it can be!

Is there anything you’re looking forward to with regard to your property build (jams, films, expansions, etc.)?

Working on Sandbox 2.0 for the rest of this year! Check out the original .