News Briefs

IMBA Trail News
Volume 18, Number 2
Summer 2005

Second North Shore Conference a Success

More than 175 heroes of dirt gathered in North Vancouver, BC, in June for the second-annual North Shore World Mountain Bike Conference. Attendees journeyed from all over Canada and the U.S. - and as far as Israel and Scotland - to explore issues related to sustainable mountain biking. Highlights included in-depth discussions on risk management, mountain biking tourism and trailbuilding innovations.

Attendees visited the storied trails of Mt. Fromme and Mt. Seymour and were treated to a behind-the-scenes tour of Whistler's bike park. Leading presenters included Welsh trailbuilder Daffyd Davis, Fruita pioneer Troy Rarick, IMBA board member and professional trail contractor Woody Keen and several IMBA staffers, including IMBA Canada's Lora Woolner and Mark Schmidt. IMBA was well represented by eight staff members and IMBA Canada was an associate sponsor.

ORMBA Releases Plan to Protect Mount Hood Trails

In June, the Oregon Mountain Bike Alliance (ORMBA) and IMBA released an innovative management plan designed to keep hundreds of miles of trails in the Mount Hood region open for riding. The ORMBA/IMBA plan includes a detailed map covering all the lands in the "Lewis and Clark Mount Hood Wilderness Act," proposed in 2004 by U.S. Senator Ron Wyden.

While endorsing some lands for new Wilderness designations, the IMBA plan is designed to conserve the forest's roadless areas with designations other than simple Wilderness, which outlaws bicycles. The four alternative designations IMBA suggests in place of Wilderness would afford significant protections to the land, but allow recreation groups to continue enjoying Mount Hood's spectacular terrain.

"Bicyclists want to ride in roadless, pristine lands. Like hikers, we relish the opportunity to visit these places. Our proposal demonstrates that Wilderness is not the only way to protect public lands," said IMBA representative Paul Thomasberg, a leader of the Bend-based Central Oregon Trail Alliance.

IMBA and Air Force Base Sign Agreement

IMBA and the Airman Leadership School at Minot Air Force Base are teaming to build community trails in North Dakota. Thanks to a partnership agreement signed in June, Air Force personnel and area residents will get to mountain bike on new and improved trails.

North Dakota IBMA representative Ron Luethe commented, "We're teaching service men and women how to build fun, sustainable trails and they just love it - plus, they take orders really well." The agreement encourages joint trail development through the Airman Leadership School program, and community outreach. It's also designed to encourage other Air Force bases to build trails and host IMBA Trailbuilding Schools.

"We hope this will be the first of several Air Force agreements. Other bases have approached IMBA in the past about building and designing trails," said IMBA Executive Director Mike Van Abel.

Virginia Partners with IMBA

Virginia's Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with IMBA to promote the sport of mountain bicycling and to cooperate in the construction of new mountain bike trails.

According to Rich Edwards, an IMBA Trail Specialist based in Harrisonburg, Virginia, the agreement is a clear signal that opportunities for mountain biking on Virginia's public lands are increasing. "The agreement formalizes the strong relationship that IMBA and our affiliate clubs have built with the agencies that manage recreational resources in Virginia, particularly the State Parks managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation," says Edwards. The MOU was signed May 2, in Richmond, during the

Governor's Conference on Greenways, Blueways and Trails. It states that the DCR and IMBA share, "objectives of improving and increasing recreational opportunities in Virginia related to mountain biking and supporting the operations of the state park system."

Congress Hears IMBA's Call for Singletrack Funding

Mountain bikers met with 80 congressional offices in April to bolster funding for the Recreational Trials Program. As part of IMBA's 24 Hours of DC lobby day, cyclists urged Congress to preserve and expand this important program that builds trails and trail-related facilities.

In early June, more than 1,500 IMBA members wrote their members of Congress to support the $503 million House level of funding for the program. IMBA's government affairs team has worked hard on this front - although the issue has not been resolved as of press time, expectations are high that the higher-funded House version of the program will prevail.

Winners of Kona Freeride Grants Announced

Thanks to Kona Bicycle Company's generous support, seven IMBA clubs will receive $1,000 cash grants to help create new freeriding, downhilling and dirt jumping opportunities. IMBA received more than 30 applications, many featuring detailed maps and budgets, and evidence of good relationships with local land managers. Funding for the program comes from Kona and the Kona/IMBA Bowling Party, an annual Las Vegas fundraiser held during Interbike, the bicycle industry trade show. The program's goal is to support the development of freeriding opportunities on public land. The 2005 winners:

Gunnison Valley Freeride Association, SORBA Freeride Alliance, Blue Ridge Bike Club, Mississauga Urban Trails Club, Whatcom Independent Mountain Pedalers, Kingdom Trails Association, New Orleans Metro Area Mountain Biking Organization.

Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day is Oct. 1

Open your calendar and clear a few hours on Saturday, Oct. 1, for Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day. We need your help to get kids on their bikes and into the woods. It's pretty simple: find a kid, get them a bike and helmet, select a route and go for a ride! The key is to make it fun, and to help kids form a lasting involvement in the sport.

Trail Solutions Book a Best Seller

IMBA reached a milestone this spring when the 5,000th copy of the popular book Trail Solutions: IMBA's Guide to Building Sweet Singletrack rolled off the shelf.

Published just one year ago, the book has quickly become a hot seller among both mountain bikers and land managers. Trail Solutions has been a hit outside the U.S. as well, with sales in more than 30 countries. A second printing is underway and plans are forming to create a companion book devoted to further aspects of managing mountain bikes.

Meanwhile, IMBA is excited to offer a new trailbuilding book written by trail expert Troy Scott Parker. Titled Natural Surface Trails by Design, this 78-page resource explores trail design from a theoretical perspective. A perfect companion to Trail Solutions, this book focuses on the "why" of trails rather than the "how." Now available at imba.com for $30.

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	News Briefs IMBA Trail News Volume 18, Number 2 Summer 2005 Second North Shore Conference a Success More than 175 heroes of dirt gathered in North Vancouver, BC, in June for the second-annual North Shore World Mountain Bike Conference. Attendees journeyed from all over Canada and the U.S. - and as far as Israel and Scotland - to explore issues related to sustainable mountain biking. Highlights included in-depth discussions on risk management, mountain biking tourism and trailbuilding innovations. Attendees visited the storied trails of Mt. Fromme and Mt. Seymour and were treated to a behind-the-scenes tour of Whistler's bike park. Leading presenters included Welsh trailbuilder Daffyd Davis, Fruita pioneer Troy Rarick, IMBA board member and professional trail contractor Woody Keen and several IMBA staffers, including IMBA Canada's Lora Woolner and Mark Schmidt. IMBA was well represented by eight staff members and IMBA Canada was an associate sponsor. ORMBA Releases Plan to Protect Mount Hood Trails In June, the Oregon Mountain Bike Alliance (ORMBA) and IMBA released an innovative management plan designed to keep hundreds of miles of trails in the Mount Hood region open for riding. The ORMBA/IMBA plan includes a detailed map covering all the lands in the "Lewis and Clark Mount Hood Wilderness Act," proposed in 2004 by U.S. Senator Ron Wyden. While endorsing some lands for new Wilderness designations, the IMBA plan is designed to conserve the forest's roadless areas with designations other than simple Wilderness, which outlaws bicycles. The four alternative designations IMBA suggests in place of Wilderness would afford significant protections to the land, but allow recreation groups to continue enjoying Mount Hood's spectacular terrain. "Bicyclists want to ride in roadless, pristine lands. Like hikers, we relish the opportunity to visit these places. Our proposal demonstrates that Wilderness is not the only way to protect public lands," said IMBA representative Paul Thomasberg, a leader of the Bend-based Central Oregon Trail Alliance. IMBA and Air Force Base Sign Agreement IMBA and the Airman Leadership School at Minot Air Force Base are teaming to build community trails in North Dakota. Thanks to a partnership agreement signed in June, Air Force personnel and area residents will get to mountain bike on new and improved trails. North Dakota IBMA representative Ron Luethe commented, "We're teaching service men and women how to build fun, sustainable trails and they just love it - plus, they take orders really well." The agreement encourages joint trail development through the Airman Leadership School program, and community outreach. It's also designed to encourage other Air Force bases to build trails and host IMBA Trailbuilding Schools. "We hope this will be the first of several Air Force agreements. Other bases have approached IMBA in the past about building and designing trails," said IMBA Executive Director Mike Van Abel. Virginia Partners with IMBA Virginia's Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with IMBA to promote the sport of mountain bicycling and to cooperate in the construction of new mountain bike trails. According to Rich Edwards, an IMBA Trail Specialist based in Harrisonburg, Virginia, the agreement is a clear signal that opportunities for mountain biking on Virginia's public lands are increasing. "The agreement formalizes the strong relationship that IMBA and our affiliate clubs have built with the agencies that manage recreational resources in Virginia, particularly the State Parks managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation," says Edwards. The MOU was signed May 2, in Richmond, during the Governor's Conference on Greenways, Blueways and Trails. It states that the DCR and IMBA share, "objectives of improving and increasing recreational opportunities in Virginia related to mountain biking and supporting the operations of the state park system." Congress Hears IMBA's Call for Singletrack Funding Mountain bikers met with 80 congressional offices in April to bolster funding for the Recreational Trials Program. As part of IMBA's 24 Hours of DC lobby day, cyclists urged Congress to preserve and expand this important program that builds trails and trail-related facilities. In early June, more than 1,500 IMBA members wrote their members of Congress to support the $503 million House level of funding for the program. IMBA's government affairs team has worked hard on this front - although the issue has not been resolved as of press time, expectations are high that the higher-funded House version of the program will prevail. Winners of Kona Freeride Grants Announced Thanks to Kona Bicycle Company's generous support, seven IMBA clubs will receive $1,000 cash grants to help create new freeriding, downhilling and dirt jumping opportunities. IMBA received more than 30 applications, many featuring detailed maps and budgets, and evidence of good relationships with local land managers. Funding for the program comes from Kona and the Kona/IMBA Bowling Party, an annual Las Vegas fundraiser held during Interbike, the bicycle industry trade show. The program's goal is to support the development of freeriding opportunities on public land. The 2005 winners: Gunnison Valley Freeride Association, SORBA Freeride Alliance, Blue Ridge Bike Club, Mississauga Urban Trails Club, Whatcom Independent Mountain Pedalers, Kingdom Trails Association, New Orleans Metro Area Mountain Biking Organization. Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day is Oct. 1 Open your calendar and clear a few hours on Saturday, Oct. 1, for Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day. We need your help to get kids on their bikes and into the woods. It's pretty simple: find a kid, get them a bike and helmet, select a route and go for a ride! The key is to make it fun, and to help kids form a lasting involvement in the sport. Trail Solutions Book a Best Seller IMBA reached a milestone this spring when the 5,000th copy of the popular book Trail Solutions: IMBA's Guide to Building Sweet Singletrack rolled off the shelf. Published just one year ago, the book has quickly become a hot seller among both mountain bikers and land managers. Trail Solutions has been a hit outside the U.S. as well, with sales in more than 30 countries. A second printing is underway and plans are forming to create a companion book devoted to further aspects of managing mountain bikes. Meanwhile, IMBA is excited to offer a new trailbuilding book written by trail expert Troy Scott Parker. Titled Natural Surface Trails by Design, this 78-page resource explores trail design from a theoretical perspective. A perfect companion to Trail Solutions, this book focuses on the "why" of trails rather than the "how." Now available at imba.com for $30.


Help \| Site Map \| Copyright