IMBA in Canada - A 2003 Status Report

For Immediate Release
04-01-03
Contact: Pete Webber, membership and communications director

303-545-9011

March, 2003

Founded in California in 1988, the International Mountain Bicycling Association has been working to enhance the sport of mountain biking in Canada for more than a dozen years. While Canada is less densely populated than the U.S., many of the issues that shape trail access for mountain bikers are the same.

IMBA's work in Canada has focused on developing and preserving first-rate trail opportunities near cities like Toronto, Ottawa and Vancouver. We've also helped inspire mountain bike tourism in appropriate locations coast to coast.

The Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew, IMBA's flagship field program, has been paying regular visits to Canada for the last seven years. The Trail Care Crew has worked in Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. In many cases, the advice and experience of IMBA's Trail Care Crew leaders has been instrumental in creating new trails for Canadian mountain bikers or crucial in the process of keeping trails open. This year the Trail Care Crews will visit Ontario, Saskatchewan and British Columbia. (View the complete schedule.)

A variety of other IMBA programs are being implemented in Canada, including:

IMBA-supported National Mountain Bike Patrols. Two especially effective Ontario patrol groups are centered at Hardwood Hills and in suburban Toronto.

IMBA Sprockids programs are getting kids on mountain bikes at 30 locations coast to coast, and in cooperation with the Canadian Cycling Association at several national cycling centers.

IMBA Trailbuilding Schools, which present cutting-edge trail construction and maintenance, are held in conjunction with Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew visits.

IMBA Canada

While there is little doubt about the value of a high-profile, effective Canadian national access and advocacy group that is well connected to IMBA, the consistent interest, funding and clear strategic plan for such a group remains elusive.

Meanwhile, many outstanding regional and local mountain bike groups continue to thrive throughout Canada. These efforts have benefited primarily from local support but also from guidance and grants provided by IMBA. IMBA currently has 33 affiliated Canadian clubs.

2003 Plans & Events

IMBA continues to recognize and promote Canada's varied, outstanding riding. This year we have designated our second Canadian Epic: the Mansfield Outdoor Center Epic in Alliston, Ontario. We'll celebrate this pick with a two-day trailwork/riding event, June 14-15, co-promoted by the MAMBO Kings mountain bike club. The public is invited (register here).
IMBA is working to complete our network of Canadian representatives this year by designating a lead volunteer rep in each province. These reps provide leadership and advice to clubs, individual riders and land agencies and serve as liaisons with IMBA's staff.
IMBA will accept Canadian membership payments at par this year, allowing Canadian mountain bikers to save 30 percent or more on the annual cost of IMBA membership.
IMBA is working to increase tangible Canadian membership benefits. We will continue to award cash grants to Canadian clubs and trail projects. Many Canadian clubs take advantage of the liability insurance that is offered to IMBA affiliated clubs.
IMBA will continue to report on key Canadian access issues and trail projects in IMBA Trail News and on our website.
IMBA will be represented at selected, major Canadian cycling events.

What's Next?

IMBA is currently establishing IMBA-UK using a model that could be adapted to create a similar group for Canada. IMBA-UK is benefiting from the formation of a steering committee, the development of a strategic plan, the emergence of a variety of sponsors and a short list of tangible projects that, when accomplished, will provide significant new riding opportunities.

Yes, this UK model could be replicated in Canada...but only when key elements come together to make such an effort possible. Meanwhile, IMBA continues to maintain a consistent involvement in Canadian access and advocacy issues. IMBA staff - based at the organization's headquarters in Colorado and in the field - continue to assist Canadian mountain bike clubs, land managers, ski resorts and bicycle equipment manufacturers.

For more information on IMBA's work in Canada, please visit imba.com. A list of more than 100 articles about IMBA's work in Canada can be found by using the search feature on IMBA's homepage.

Help | Site Map | Copyright



	IMBA in Canada - A 2003 Status Report For Immediate Release 04-01-03 Contact: Pete Webber, membership and communications director 303-545-9011 March, 2003 Founded in California in 1988, the International Mountain Bicycling Association has been working to enhance the sport of mountain biking in Canada for more than a dozen years. While Canada is less densely populated than the U.S., many of the issues that shape trail access for mountain bikers are the same. IMBA's work in Canada has focused on developing and preserving first-rate trail opportunities near cities like Toronto, Ottawa and Vancouver. We've also helped inspire mountain bike tourism in appropriate locations coast to coast. The Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew, IMBA's flagship field program, has been paying regular visits to Canada for the last seven years. The Trail Care Crew has worked in Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. In many cases, the advice and experience of IMBA's Trail Care Crew leaders has been instrumental in creating new trails for Canadian mountain bikers or crucial in the process of keeping trails open. This year the Trail Care Crews will visit Ontario, Saskatchewan and British Columbia. (View the complete schedule.) A variety of other IMBA programs are being implemented in Canada, including: IMBA-supported National Mountain Bike Patrols. Two especially effective Ontario patrol groups are centered at Hardwood Hills and in suburban Toronto. IMBA Sprockids programs are getting kids on mountain bikes at 30 locations coast to coast, and in cooperation with the Canadian Cycling Association at several national cycling centers. IMBA Trailbuilding Schools, which present cutting-edge trail construction and maintenance, are held in conjunction with Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew visits. IMBA Canada While there is little doubt about the value of a high-profile, effective Canadian national access and advocacy group that is well connected to IMBA, the consistent interest, funding and clear strategic plan for such a group remains elusive. Meanwhile, many outstanding regional and local mountain bike groups continue to thrive throughout Canada. These efforts have benefited primarily from local support but also from guidance and grants provided by IMBA. IMBA currently has 33 affiliated Canadian clubs. 2003 Plans & Events IMBA continues to recognize and promote Canada's varied, outstanding riding. This year we have designated our second Canadian Epic: the Mansfield Outdoor Center Epic in Alliston, Ontario. We'll celebrate this pick with a two-day trailwork/riding event, June 14-15, co-promoted by the MAMBO Kings mountain bike club. The public is invited (register here). IMBA is working to complete our network of Canadian representatives this year by designating a lead volunteer rep in each province. These reps provide leadership and advice to clubs, individual riders and land agencies and serve as liaisons with IMBA's staff. IMBA will accept Canadian membership payments at par this year, allowing Canadian mountain bikers to save 30 percent or more on the annual cost of IMBA membership. IMBA is working to increase tangible Canadian membership benefits. We will continue to award cash grants to Canadian clubs and trail projects. Many Canadian clubs take advantage of the liability insurance that is offered to IMBA affiliated clubs. IMBA will continue to report on key Canadian access issues and trail projects in IMBA Trail News and on our website. IMBA will be represented at selected, major Canadian cycling events. What's Next? IMBA is currently establishing IMBA-UK using a model that could be adapted to create a similar group for Canada. IMBA-UK is benefiting from the formation of a steering committee, the development of a strategic plan, the emergence of a variety of sponsors and a short list of tangible projects that, when accomplished, will provide significant new riding opportunities. Yes, this UK model could be replicated in Canada...but only when key elements come together to make such an effort possible. Meanwhile, IMBA continues to maintain a consistent involvement in Canadian access and advocacy issues. IMBA staff - based at the organization's headquarters in Colorado and in the field - continue to assist Canadian mountain bike clubs, land managers, ski resorts and bicycle equipment manufacturers. For more information on IMBA's work in Canada, please visit imba.com. A list of more than 100 articles about IMBA's work in Canada can be found by using the search feature on IMBA's homepage.


Help \| Site Map \| Copyright