Trail Solutions Visits the Blue Pacific

IMBA Trail News
Volume 20, Number 1
Spring 2007

Looking forward to your next international mountain bike dream trip? In the near future you'll want to add southeast Asia and Australia to your list. IMBA Trail Solutions and corporate supporter Arrowhead Trails have been busy working with movers and shakers in Australia, the Philippines and Singapore to lay the framework for incredible mountain bike parks in the Pacific.

"Eco-tourism opportunities, including mountain biking, are absolutely the hot ticket in this corner of the world," says IMBA Trail Specialist Joey Klein. "One of the best aspects is that experiences for all types and skill levels of riders are being planned into these venues right from the start. They've got beginner cross country, epic long rides, downhill, freeride and jumping. It's all right there, and usually in a relatively compact area."

Tony Boone of Arrowhead Trails concurs, adding, "It's absolutely mind boggling how much of an economic boost these projects provide for developing countries. It's a huge impact for a relatively small investment, and the fact that it can be done in a 'green' manner makes it even more rewarding to be involved."

Imagine having boat-only access to a pristine coastline of the Philippines, or exploring Singapore's national park treasures on a mountain bike. Boone and Klein are building state-of-the-art trails, ones developed for the expressed purpose of riding with no roads or cars in sight. Picture a dormant, rainforest volcano with 6,000 feet of vertical, spiced with 12 shuttle-accessed downhill runs. Or a full-service resort boasting 20 carpenters and trailbuilders working full-time to develop one of the world's best bike parks. The wheels for these projects are already in motion.

"It's the regional leadership being demonstrated by Mountain Bike Australia [MTBA] that is helping drive this trend," says IMBA's Pete Webber. "When Tony Scott invited Joey Klein and myself down a few years back, MTBA knew they wanted to get out in front, deal with the issues that we've had in the States before they cropped up in their region, and set the standard for mountain biking as a mainstream activity."