1999 IMBA Model Program Award winners

IMBA Trail News
Volume 12, Number 4
September 1999

Four IMBA-affiliated mountain bike clubs received IMBA Model Program awards on September 11 during the Interbike International Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada. The awards, which recognize mountain bike advocacy leadership and excellence, were presented during an evening reception hosted by IMBA and the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame.

One of IMBA's key functions is identifying and publicizing success stories of mountain bike advocacy and management. Our annual Model Program Awards are an important element of this process.

Since 1995, the Southern Off Road Bicycle Association (SORBA) of Georgia has applied for and received more than $300,000 in funding for trail construction and trailhead improvements. In '98 alone, the club secured $150,000 from the National Recreational Trails Fund. These grants have been used to create nearly 60 miles of single- and shared-use trails and construct trailhead information kiosks and visitor facilities.

The Summit Fat Tire Society (SFTS) in Summit County, Colorado, received an award for their exemplary work with the Dillon Ranger District of the White River National Forest. Through diligence, diplomacy and dedicated volunteerism, SFTS has played an active role in trail management, such as implementing voluntary seasonal trail closures and assisting with funding of youth crews..

The Bicycle Trails Council of Marin (California) (BTC-Marin), was honored for establishing a cooperative agreement with a private land owner that will provide eight new miles of singletrack at Camp Tamarancho in Fairfax, California. Located just north of San Francisco, this area has strong mountain biking roots but also a long history of trail access disputes. BTC-Marin's stellar trail building track record may be opening other
access doors in the area as Marin County considers allowing the club to construct new trails on Open Space land.

Since its formation six years ago, the Delaware Trail Spinners have opened more than 100 miles of trail in an urban area where green space can be tough to find. The club's success has three components: the exemplary relationships it has developed with land managers at both the local and state levels, the successful integration of the local racing community into club access efforts, and the strong partnerships created with environmental groups to accomplish common goals.

The awards ceremony took place at Interbike at the Sands Convention Center in conjunction with a Mountain Bike Hall of Fame presentation announcing the '99 inductees.