History

Threatened by trail closures throughout California, five mountain bike clubs joined to form IMBA in 1988. Since then, IMBA's worldwide network of more than 32,000 individuals and 450 clubs has been bringing out the best in mountain biking by encouraging low impact riding, volunteer trailwork participation, cooperation among different trail user groups, and innovative trail management solutions.

Though focused on U.S. issues, IMBA has also provided steady Canadian support. In 2002, IMBA hired Ontario, Canada natives Mark Schmidt and Lora Woolner as leaders of the award-winning Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew program. Widely respected for their trailbuilding and advocacy knowledge, Schmidt and Woolner spent three years enhancing their expertise during far-ranging travels as Trail Care Crew.

In the summer of 2004, Schmidt and Woolner returned to Canada to open the first-ever Canadian IMBA office. Today, the office, headed by Lora Woolner, is located in Kitchener, Ontario. With the support of IMBA headquarters Woolner will enhance IMBA's presence in Canada by:

• Continuing to offer trail management assistance to Canadian land managers and cycling clubs;
• Improving communication among Canadian mountain bike groups;
• Leading the effort to develop political influence for mountain bikers at provincial and national levels;
• Providing professional trail design, education, and consulting services under the auspices of the fee-based IMBA Trail Solutions program.