2005 IMBA Annual Report

The ride keeps getting better!

By Hill Abell, IMBA President

Entering its eighteenth year, IMBA has grown into an incredibly diverse and successful organization. However, we still have ample room to improve. For instance, we sometimes get so focused on building trails and improving bicycle access that we forget to adequately share our accomplishments with our constituents, the people who have helped us get here. This issue of Trail News, the 2005 Annual Report, gives us the opportunity to crow about what we've achieved, and to glimpse what's ahead.

I'll begin by outlining our financial footing. In 2005, IMBA's revenue continued to rise, and we've reinvested that money in our full array of programs. Our financial report shows that IMBA has reached an all-time high in the money we spend on field programs, federal and state advocacy efforts and a host of stewardship efforts, many implemented in conjunction with our local affiliates. Entering 2006, our finances are in good order. Even so, more work needs to be done to build our reserves.

In addition to sharing IMBA's accomplishments with individual and corporate supporters, it's vitally important to communicate our achievements with our federal partners. On page 6 you'll see a summary of our 2005 Federal Partnerships Report, a 24-page publication that summarizes the results of IMBA's partnerships with U.S. federal agencies. The high-water mark for 2005 was our breakthrough agreement with the National Park Service (NPS), which will bring new mountain biking opportunities to some of America's most scenic public lands. Turn to page 4 for details on the NPS agreement, and 10 other things IMBA did for mountain biking in 2005.

2005 was also the ninth year of IMBA's flagship program, the Subaru-sponsored IMBA Trail Care Crews. Last year, the Crews reached over 4,600 volunteers and land managers and worked on more than 300 miles of trail. It's impossible to overstate the goodwill that Nat and Rachel Lopes (Western Crew) and Chris Bernhardt and Jill Van Winkle (Eastern Crew) generated for IMBA last year. In 2006, we welcome a new tandem - Ryan Schutz and Kristin Butcher - into the program.

For 2006, IMBA's goals include enhancing our international leadership; convening the 6th biannual IMBA Summit and World Mountain Bike Conference in Whistler, BC, June 20-23; redesigning and enhancing our affiliate support and membership program; and publishing our next book, Mountain Bike Management.

Thank you all for the individual and corporate contributions that made 2005 another banner year for IMBA. Our association has never been stronger. Our opportunities are plentiful and our challenges are evident. We're in a good position to make 2006 our most successful year ever.

Thanks for reading,
Hill Abell, IMBA President

11 Things IMBA Did for Mountain Biking in 2005

Thanks to the of the support of our 32,000 individual members and 650 affiliated bike clubs, IMBA accomplished a tremendous amount for mountain biking in 2005. We hope you will continue to participate in our crusade for more and better trails in 2006.

1. Signed a Partnership with the NPS: IMBA signed a formal Memorandum of Assistance with the last major federal land agency not already working with IMBA, the National Park Service (NPS). IMBA will work to expand mountain bike opportunities at appropriate parks and visit 12 NPS units in 2006. We'll also continue to work with the 40 national parks that already support mountain biking on dirt trails and roads.

2. Undertook 23 Trail Solutions Projects: IMBA's fee-based Trail Solutions program undertook 23 projects in 2005, spreading the trail love to 15 U.S. states, as well as Israel and Australia. These projects resulted in more than 75 miles of new singletrack. Our trail specialists built a jump park in Park City, Utah; downhill trails for Idaho's Tamarack Resort; and the largest freeride park on U.S. public land at the Santos trails, near Ocala, Florida (see pages 8-9 for more on the Santos trails).

3. Led 78 IMBA Trailbuilding Schools: The Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crews consulted with 72 affiliated clubs and trained 4,600 people in 2005. In the ninth year of IMBA's signature program, we trained dozens of land managers and volunteer trail workers on sustainable trail design and construction. To top it all off, the program received the Lifetime Achievement award from the Professional Trailbuilders Association.

4. Visited Our Partners in Australia: IMBA's Joey Klein spent six weeks in Australia in 2005 and visited seven out of eight states/territories. He met with more than 500 land managers, rode with 20 local bike clubs, gave 26 presentations and inspected 28 mountain bike sites. Australian mountain bike clubs are pioneering multiple riding areas where mountain-cross, freeride, downhill and traditional cross country offerings are accessible from a single trailhead, and often in a very small area of land.

5. Enlisted 1,000 Canadian Members: IMBA Canada signed up almost 1,000 members, as well as 70 clubs and 72 bike shops, and has been busy helping land managers from coast to coast build trails. IMBA Canada is working closely with Parks Canada (Canadian National Parks) on promoting mountain biking, an already popular and widely accepted sport. See page 13 for much more on IMBA Canada.

6. Patrolled Trails Worldwide: The National Mountain Bike Patrol has grown to 600 active patrollers in 60 affiliated patrol groups volunteering for trail users and land managers on public lands around the globe. The Patrol re-introduced training conferences, including a highly successful conference in Georgia where patrol leaders from several southern states attended seminars, networked and conducted field exercises.

7. Secured $370 Million for Trails: IMBA was part of a coalition that lobbied for an increase in federal funding for the Recreational Trails Program (RTP), the largest U.S. federal program funding dirt trails. We are excited to report that $370 million ($144 million more than previous allotment) will be available over the next five years. IMBA members wrote thousands of letters and made hundreds of phone calls, and IMBA advocates attended almost 100 meetings on Capitol Hill to ask for the increase in RTP funding - and it worked.

8. Lobbied in Washington, DC: IMBA held its second lobby day, the 24 Hours of Washington, DC, and pushed for mountain bike access issues. Advocates met with 80 congressional offices and helped bolster IMBA's image with key federal decision makers. Also, for the second year in a row, IMBA testified in front of Congress on Wilderness land protection legislation.

9. Took a Stand on Wilderness: IMBA is working on the state and federal level to champion land protection legislation that protects both the land and access for bikes. Because formal Wilderness designations prohibit mountain bicycles, pro-Wilderness campaigns in 23 states have mountain bikers nervous. In Oregon, Colorado and Virginia, IMBA advocates have been working to craft land protection bills mountain bikers can support.

10. Added More Than 500 Web Pages: IMBA is constantly updating our website - imba.com - to make it easier for mountain bike advocates to open trails and build new ones. More than 250,000 unique visitors peruse our site every month. Have a question about mountain biking? The answer is probably at imba.com.

11. Put Kids on Bikes: For The second year in a row Congress passed a resolution recognizing IMBA's National Take A Kid Mountain Biking Day. More than 80 clubs participated around the country getting hundreds of kids on bikes. Save the date of Oct. 7, 2006 for this year's celebration!

IMBA Financials

After an excellent 2004, IMBA's financial growth continued in 2005 - we achieved our financial goals and generated more than $2 million in revenue. The charts on this page demonstrate that the money IMBA spends on programs mirrors the increases we've seen in donations. Eighty cents of every dollar donated supports program services. With your help, we aim to build upon these positive trends in 2006 and make it our best year ever. (Financial data for 2005 had yet to be audited as of press time.)

- Erik Esborg, Finance Director

Ties With U.S. Federal Agencies Strengthen

Highlights Include NPS Agreement, Renewed Partnership with USFS

While IMBA's watershed agreement with the National Park Service (NPS) grabbed most of the headlines in 2005, our working relationships with U.S. federal agencies are strong across the board. Early in 2006, IMBA published a 24-page review of the past year's results with federal partners. To download the entire 2005 Federal Report (in pdf format), visit imba.com/report/

Bureau of Land Management (BLM): The Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crews conducted five Trailbuilding Schools in conjunction with the BLM. Results included 18 miles of new trail assessed in Vernal, Utah; a signage program for Moab, Utah; and over 100 volunteers and BLM staff trained in sustainable trailbuilding techniques. Trail Solutions - IMBA's fee-based trail design and construction service - partnered with the BLM on two projects. In California's spectacular King Range, Trail Solutions designed and began construction on the 30-mile Paradise Ridge trail system (trailbuilding will continue in 2006). In St. George, Utah, Trail Solutions worked with BLM staff to develop a new, bike-friendly zone management plan, including a 15-mile trail system.

National Park Service (NPS): The IMBA/NPS relationship is moving ahead at full steam. Twelve NPS units have scheduled visits with the Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crews in 2006, and three of those participating units have granted pilot status to their mountain bicycling projects, with the goal of establishing models for future riding opportunities in NPS units.

United States Forest Service (USFS): IMBA's relationship with the USFS has never been stronger. In 2005, we renewed our partnership agreement (now valid until 2010) and conducted 10 productive joint programs. In total, IMBA and the USFS hosted over 180 volunteers, designed and built nearly 50 miles of new trail, and trained dozens of land managers in sustainable trailbuilding techniques during 2005. In 2006, our USFS projects will be bolstered by a grant from the National Forest Foundation.

National Park Service: Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance (RTCA): In 2005, IMBA's partnership with RTCA resulted in eight visits from the Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crews. Five visits have been scheduled for 2006. Early in 2006, the RTCA budget was threatened with a potential $500,000 cut. IMBA reacted by issuing an nationwide Action Alert to call on U.S. Senators and Representative to maintain funding for the RTCA.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE): The Corps' primary mission is flood control, but it also administers more than 4,000 recreation sites. In 2005, the Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crews conducted Trailbuilding Schools for four USACE parcels, resulting in 2,000 feet of new trail, and assessing or repairing 55,000 feet of trail.

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA): The FHWA administers the Recreational Trails Program (RTP), one of the largest sources of funding for trails in the U.S. In 2005, IMBA's annual "24 Hours of D.C." lobbying effort focused on RTP funding. The campaign was rewarded when Congress voted to raise RTP by $144 million from the previous allotment. This is great news for mountain bike clubs nationwide, as RTP grants will be an excellent source of funding for singletrack projects.

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	2005 IMBA Annual Report The ride keeps getting better! By Hill Abell, IMBA President Entering its eighteenth year, IMBA has grown into an incredibly diverse and successful organization. However, we still have ample room to improve. For instance, we sometimes get so focused on building trails and improving bicycle access that we forget to adequately share our accomplishments with our constituents, the people who have helped us get here. This issue of Trail News, the 2005 Annual Report, gives us the opportunity to crow about what we've achieved, and to glimpse what's ahead. I'll begin by outlining our financial footing. In 2005, IMBA's revenue continued to rise, and we've reinvested that money in our full array of programs. Our financial report shows that IMBA has reached an all-time high in the money we spend on field programs, federal and state advocacy efforts and a host of stewardship efforts, many implemented in conjunction with our local affiliates. Entering 2006, our finances are in good order. Even so, more work needs to be done to build our reserves. In addition to sharing IMBA's accomplishments with individual and corporate supporters, it's vitally important to communicate our achievements with our federal partners. On page 6 you'll see a summary of our 2005 Federal Partnerships Report, a 24-page publication that summarizes the results of IMBA's partnerships with U.S. federal agencies. The high-water mark for 2005 was our breakthrough agreement with the National Park Service (NPS), which will bring new mountain biking opportunities to some of America's most scenic public lands. Turn to page 4 for details on the NPS agreement, and 10 other things IMBA did for mountain biking in 2005. 2005 was also the ninth year of IMBA's flagship program, the Subaru-sponsored IMBA Trail Care Crews. Last year, the Crews reached over 4,600 volunteers and land managers and worked on more than 300 miles of trail. It's impossible to overstate the goodwill that Nat and Rachel Lopes (Western Crew) and Chris Bernhardt and Jill Van Winkle (Eastern Crew) generated for IMBA last year. In 2006, we welcome a new tandem - Ryan Schutz and Kristin Butcher - into the program. For 2006, IMBA's goals include enhancing our international leadership; convening the 6th biannual IMBA Summit and World Mountain Bike Conference in Whistler, BC, June 20-23; redesigning and enhancing our affiliate support and membership program; and publishing our next book, Mountain Bike Management. Thank you all for the individual and corporate contributions that made 2005 another banner year for IMBA. Our association has never been stronger. Our opportunities are plentiful and our challenges are evident. We're in a good position to make 2006 our most successful year ever. Thanks for reading, Hill Abell, IMBA President 11 Things IMBA Did for Mountain Biking in 2005 Thanks to the of the support of our 32,000 individual members and 650 affiliated bike clubs, IMBA accomplished a tremendous amount for mountain biking in 2005. We hope you will continue to participate in our crusade for more and better trails in 2006. 1. Signed a Partnership with the NPS: IMBA signed a formal Memorandum of Assistance with the last major federal land agency not already working with IMBA, the National Park Service (NPS). IMBA will work to expand mountain bike opportunities at appropriate parks and visit 12 NPS units in 2006. We'll also continue to work with the 40 national parks that already support mountain biking on dirt trails and roads. 2. Undertook 23 Trail Solutions Projects: IMBA's fee-based Trail Solutions program undertook 23 projects in 2005, spreading the trail love to 15 U.S. states, as well as Israel and Australia. These projects resulted in more than 75 miles of new singletrack. Our trail specialists built a jump park in Park City, Utah; downhill trails for Idaho's Tamarack Resort; and the largest freeride park on U.S. public land at the Santos trails, near Ocala, Florida (see pages 8-9 for more on the Santos trails). 3. Led 78 IMBA Trailbuilding Schools: The Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crews consulted with 72 affiliated clubs and trained 4,600 people in 2005. In the ninth year of IMBA's signature program, we trained dozens of land managers and volunteer trail workers on sustainable trail design and construction. To top it all off, the program received the Lifetime Achievement award from the Professional Trailbuilders Association. 4. Visited Our Partners in Australia: IMBA's Joey Klein spent six weeks in Australia in 2005 and visited seven out of eight states/territories. He met with more than 500 land managers, rode with 20 local bike clubs, gave 26 presentations and inspected 28 mountain bike sites. Australian mountain bike clubs are pioneering multiple riding areas where mountain-cross, freeride, downhill and traditional cross country offerings are accessible from a single trailhead, and often in a very small area of land. 5. Enlisted 1,000 Canadian Members: IMBA Canada signed up almost 1,000 members, as well as 70 clubs and 72 bike shops, and has been busy helping land managers from coast to coast build trails. IMBA Canada is working closely with Parks Canada (Canadian National Parks) on promoting mountain biking, an already popular and widely accepted sport. See page 13 for much more on IMBA Canada. 6. Patrolled Trails Worldwide: The National Mountain Bike Patrol has grown to 600 active patrollers in 60 affiliated patrol groups volunteering for trail users and land managers on public lands around the globe. The Patrol re-introduced training conferences, including a highly successful conference in Georgia where patrol leaders from several southern states attended seminars, networked and conducted field exercises. 7. Secured $370 Million for Trails: IMBA was part of a coalition that lobbied for an increase in federal funding for the Recreational Trails Program (RTP), the largest U.S. federal program funding dirt trails. We are excited to report that $370 million ($144 million more than previous allotment) will be available over the next five years. IMBA members wrote thousands of letters and made hundreds of phone calls, and IMBA advocates attended almost 100 meetings on Capitol Hill to ask for the increase in RTP funding - and it worked. 8. Lobbied in Washington, DC: IMBA held its second lobby day, the 24 Hours of Washington, DC, and pushed for mountain bike access issues. Advocates met with 80 congressional offices and helped bolster IMBA's image with key federal decision makers. Also, for the second year in a row, IMBA testified in front of Congress on Wilderness land protection legislation. 9. Took a Stand on Wilderness: IMBA is working on the state and federal level to champion land protection legislation that protects both the land and access for bikes. Because formal Wilderness designations prohibit mountain bicycles, pro-Wilderness campaigns in 23 states have mountain bikers nervous. In Oregon, Colorado and Virginia, IMBA advocates have been working to craft land protection bills mountain bikers can support. 10. Added More Than 500 Web Pages: IMBA is constantly updating our website - imba.com - to make it easier for mountain bike advocates to open trails and build new ones. More than 250,000 unique visitors peruse our site every month. Have a question about mountain biking? The answer is probably at imba.com. 11. Put Kids on Bikes: For The second year in a row Congress passed a resolution recognizing IMBA's National Take A Kid Mountain Biking Day. More than 80 clubs participated around the country getting hundreds of kids on bikes. Save the date of Oct. 7, 2006 for this year's celebration! IMBA Financials After an excellent 2004, IMBA's financial growth continued in 2005 - we achieved our financial goals and generated more than $2 million in revenue. The charts on this page demonstrate that the money IMBA spends on programs mirrors the increases we've seen in donations. Eighty cents of every dollar donated supports program services. With your help, we aim to build upon these positive trends in 2006 and make it our best year ever. (Financial data for 2005 had yet to be audited as of press time.) - Erik Esborg, Finance Director Ties With U.S. Federal Agencies Strengthen Highlights Include NPS Agreement, Renewed Partnership with USFS While IMBA's watershed agreement with the National Park Service (NPS) grabbed most of the headlines in 2005, our working relationships with U.S. federal agencies are strong across the board. Early in 2006, IMBA published a 24-page review of the past year's results with federal partners. To download the entire 2005 Federal Report (in pdf format), visit imba.com/report/ Bureau of Land Management (BLM): The Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crews conducted five Trailbuilding Schools in conjunction with the BLM. Results included 18 miles of new trail assessed in Vernal, Utah; a signage program for Moab, Utah; and over 100 volunteers and BLM staff trained in sustainable trailbuilding techniques. Trail Solutions - IMBA's fee-based trail design and construction service - partnered with the BLM on two projects. In California's spectacular King Range, Trail Solutions designed and began construction on the 30-mile Paradise Ridge trail system (trailbuilding will continue in 2006). In St. George, Utah, Trail Solutions worked with BLM staff to develop a new, bike-friendly zone management plan, including a 15-mile trail system. National Park Service (NPS): The IMBA/NPS relationship is moving ahead at full steam. Twelve NPS units have scheduled visits with the Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crews in 2006, and three of those participating units have granted pilot status to their mountain bicycling projects, with the goal of establishing models for future riding opportunities in NPS units. United States Forest Service (USFS): IMBA's relationship with the USFS has never been stronger. In 2005, we renewed our partnership agreement (now valid until 2010) and conducted 10 productive joint programs. In total, IMBA and the USFS hosted over 180 volunteers, designed and built nearly 50 miles of new trail, and trained dozens of land managers in sustainable trailbuilding techniques during 2005. In 2006, our USFS projects will be bolstered by a grant from the National Forest Foundation. National Park Service: Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance (RTCA): In 2005, IMBA's partnership with RTCA resulted in eight visits from the Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crews. Five visits have been scheduled for 2006. Early in 2006, the RTCA budget was threatened with a potential $500,000 cut. IMBA reacted by issuing an nationwide Action Alert to call on U.S. Senators and Representative to maintain funding for the RTCA. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE): The Corps' primary mission is flood control, but it also administers more than 4,000 recreation sites. In 2005, the Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crews conducted Trailbuilding Schools for four USACE parcels, resulting in 2,000 feet of new trail, and assessing or repairing 55,000 feet of trail. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA): The FHWA administers the Recreational Trails Program (RTP), one of the largest sources of funding for trails in the U.S. In 2005, IMBA's annual "24 Hours of D.C." lobbying effort focused on RTP funding. The campaign was rewarded when Congress voted to raise RTP by $144 million from the previous allotment. This is great news for mountain bike clubs nationwide, as RTP grants will be an excellent source of funding for singletrack projects.


Help \| Site Map \| Copyright