Eastern Ski Resort Representatives Gather for Mountain Biking Conference

Vermont Governor Jim Douglas tries out a Kona mountain bike. IMBA's Pete Webber (left) and Joey Klein (right) recently presented strategies for ski resorts interested in expanding their mountain bike facilities.

For Immediate Release
05-14-07
Contact: Mark Eller, IMBA Communications Director
markeller@imba.com
303-545-9011

The key to successful mountain biking at ski resorts is the investment in purpose-built mountain bike trails and bicycle-friendly facilities.

This was the take-home message delivered at the first-ever seminar presented in the eastern U.S. on developing resort-based mountain biking. Ski resort representatives from across New England and Quebec gathered in Vermont for the two-day conference.

Held at Stowe Mountain Resort, the event was hosted by the Vermont Mountain Bike Association, the International Mountain Bicycling Association, the Stowe Mountain Bike Club and Kona Bike Parks.

Vermont Governor Jim Douglas addressed the conference, emphasizing the importance of bicycling to Vermont. The Governor pledged the State's support for mountain biking and touted the activity's benefits to health, tourism, economic development and kids.

Conference participants learned how to build fun and sustainable mountain biking trails, create a biking revenue stream, manage risk and safety, and avoid some of the past mistakes made in resort-based mountain bike development. Lead instructors included Pete Webber and Joey Klein from Trail Solutions, IMBA's professional trail consulting program. Other speakers included Kelly Steelman from Kona Bike Parks, Patrick Kell from the Vermont Mountain Bike Association, and local experts.

Plans are underway to repeat the event next year.

To learn about IMBA's fee-based consulting services, visit IMBA's Trail Solutions website.