FALL 2011 IMBA TRAIL NEWS by IMBA

FALL 2011

TRAI

L NE

Model Trails:

Epics, Ride Centers and more announced in this issue

Bronze-level ride center Copper Harbor. Photo by Hansi Johnson

ANTI-EPIC THE TRAIL IS ONLY THE BEGINNING

I’ve encountered grizzlies in the backcountry of British Columbia, ridden in areas where the only contact with the outside world was through a satellite radio and pushed myself to the limit trying to make it out of the woods before dark. But when I think of epic adventures, only one experience comes to my mind — an extraordinary ride on an ordinary trail. The best ride of my life wasn’t on a trail you’d ever read about in a magazine and it certainly wouldn’t appear in anyone’s top-ten list. As far as I know, no one has ever used words like “epic,” or “model” or “pleasant-smelling” to describe this five-mile loop scratched between highways and long-term storage units. The ride began as just another jaunt on my backyard trails. For some reason, my best biking buddy was riding like a complete spaz. Having accompanied me on almost all of the near-daily rides I’d taken on this wooded singletrack, I felt comfortable laughing when he toppled while trying to clear a three-inch log. After about 10 more uncharacteristic crashes I became slightly annoyed that what should have been a routine spin was turning into a never-ending trek. When he finally bumbled into our favorite sitting rock, put down his bike and grabbed a hidden bottle of champagne and the engagement ring that accompanied it, the ride officially turned epic. There are even more opinions about what defines an epic than what constitutes appropriate venues for wearing Spandex (Grocery store? Maybe. Post office? Definitely!) Engineer-types attempt to define the word with rigid parameters, complete with minimum mileage, elevation gain and near-death experiences.

Some people scoff at the use of the word to describe something they could accomplish without breaking a sweat. I’d argue that nearly everyone experiences their first epic on their inaugural mountain bike ride, which often happens on chewed up trails, on shoddy suspension better suited to a catapult than a mountain bike and under direction by well-meaning friends to hit any obstacle with lots of speed. Lists of epic rides are as deficient as the definition of the word itself. I know that. You know that. And everyone at IMBA certainly knows it. Some experiences aren’t the world’s to share. They’re yours alone, and are often defined less by the dirt beneath your wheels than by the people you’re with and the dumb luck encountered along the way. Every trail, be it a backyard snoozer or a backcountry slog, carries with it the potential to become the story you tell your grandkids. It only takes a bad break in weather or an unforeseen mechanical to instill a Homeric quality. If IMBA’s list of epic trails were complete, it wouldn’t be a list of trails at all, but of the adventures along the way. The epic trails and other model riding facilities you’ll find in this issue of IMBA’s Trail News offer an incredible breadth of experiences. You’ll find flow-sauce, technical suffer-fests, all-day rides that leave you yearning for more and even bike parks where all the metrics that typically define epics come second to the immeasurable enjoyment experienced by the riders. As good as these trails, parks and rides are, they are epic in name only. In the end, each trail is nothing more than a blank canvas until you write the story. — Kristin Butcher

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kristin Butcher (AKA “The Butcher”) contributes regularly to IMBA Trail News and to a host of other publications. She is an alumnae of the Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew program.

IMBA Trail News Fall 2011, Volume 24, Number 3

IMBA creates, preserves and enhances great mountain biking experiences BOARD OF DIRECTORS Hill Abell, Austin, TX Elayna Caldwell, Santa Cruz, CA Blair Clark, Ketchum, ID Chris Conroy, Golden, CO Howard Fischer, Westchester, NY Jay Franklin, Powder Springs, GA James Grover, Matthews, NC Alden Philbrick, Alexandria, VA David Treinis, Alta, WY Robert Winston, Carlsbad, CA David Zimberoff, Chicago, IL STAFF Tiffanie Beal, Membership Services Coordinator, tiffanie.beal@imba.com Jason Bertolacci, Marketing/Database Manager, jason.bertolacci@imba.com Chris Bernhardt, Director of Consulting Services, chris.bernhardt@imba.com Tony Boone, Trail Specialist, tony.boone@imba.com Terry Breheny, Events Manager, terry.breheny@imba.com Richard Cook, Development Director, rich.cook@imba.com Jenn Dice, Government Affairs Director, jenn@imba.com Tammy Donahugh, Trail Specialist, tammy@imba.com Rich Edwards, Trail Solutions Manager, rich@imba.com Mark Eller, Communications Director, markeller@imba.com Jeremy Fancher, Attorney, jeremy.fancher@imba.com Katherine Fuller, Communications Specialist, katherine.fuller@imba.com Sallie Hoefer, Member and Constituent Rep, sallie.hoefer@imba.com Dan Hudson, Trail Specialist, dan.hudson@imba.com David Janowiec, Team IMBA Manager, david.janowiec@imba.com Hansi Johnson, Midwest Regional Director, hansi.johnson@imba.com Rod Judd, Membership Manager, rod.judd@imba.com Chris Kehmeier, Trail Specialist, chris.kehmeier@imba.com Leslie Kehmeier, Trail Specialist, leslie.kehmeier@imba.com Wendy Kerr, Development Manager, wendy.kerr@imba.com Kristy Kibler, Government Affairs Coordinator, kristy@imba.com Joey Klein, Trail Specialist, joey@imba.com Ashley Korenblat, PLI Director, ashley.korenblat@imba.com Anna Laxague, Pacific Regional Director, anna.laxague@imba.com Chris Leman, Trail Specialist, chris.leman@imba.com Frank Maguire, Mid-Atlantic Regional Director, frank.maguire@imba.com Stephen Mullins, Trail Specialist, stephen.mullins@imba.com Tim Peck, Finance Director, tim.peck@imba.com Rachael Raven, Canada Communications/Trail Care Crew, rachael.raven@imba.com Kerri Salazar, Operations Manager, kerri.salazar@imba.com Tom Sauret, Southeast/SORBARegional Director, tom.sauret@imba.com Ryan Schutz, Affiliate Programs/Rocky Mountain Region, ryan.schutz@imba.com Randy Spangler, Trail Specialist, randy.spangler@imba.com Mike Van Abel, Executive Director, mike@imba.com Tom Ward, IMBA CA Policy Advisor, tom@imba.com Jason Wells, Trail Specialist, jason.wells@imba.com Shane Wilson, Trail Specialist, shane.wilson@imba.com Lora Woolner, Canada Director, lora@imba.com SUBARU/IMBA TRAIL CARE CREWS Jake Carsten and Jenny Abraham, jakeandjenny@imba.com Morgan and Steve Lommele, steveandmorgan@imba.com Designed by Sugar Design, Inc. Images and stories available for re-use by permission only.

KIDS DAY SUCCESSFUL 8TH EDITION OF ANNUAL YOUTH RIDE aturday, Oct. 1, marked the eighth celebration of Take A Kid Mountain Biking Day. Recognized across the globe, more than 230 event organizers registered — including rides in Australia, Canada, Italy (see photo), Malaysia, Mexico and South Africa. This year’s edition was dedicated to the White House “Let’s Move Outside!” initiative; IMBA encouraged participating riders of all ages to take the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA) pledge. Another new feature in 2011 saw participants posting photos and videos to IMBA’s Facebook page (facebook.com/IMBAonFB), qualifying them to win great prizes. Grand prizewinners Adele Kofler (VA) and Steph Dorney (PA) received new Specialized kids bikes. Specialized and Trek Bicycle dealers also supported the event by encouraging local bike retailers to host events, joining the traditional ranks of IMBAaffiliated chapters and clubs, as well as Trips for Kids chapters and Boy Scouts of America troops. IMBA enjoyed event support from diverse partners, including the National Park Service (NPS). NPS units hosting rides this year included Golden Gate, Delaware Water Gap, Great Smoky Mountains, Mammoth Cave and Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. The bicycle industry provided event sponsorship from CLIF Kid, Shimano, Specialized and Trek. Other partners included Outdoors Alliance for Kids (OAK), and the Children and Nature Network.

IMBA

PO Box 711 Boulder, CO 80306 USA ph 303-545-9011 fax 303-545-9026 info@imba.com

SANTA FE TO HOST 2012 IMBA WORLD MOUNTAIN BIKING SUMMIT

Santa Fe, New Mexico, will host the 2012 IMBA World Summit. The gathering will be held Oct. 10-13, with pre-conference activities on 10-8 and 10-9. “We’re thrilled to hold our next world summit in Santa Fe,” said IMBA Executive Director Mike Van Abel. “The city offers vibrant culture, top-shelf food and more. But more importantly to our crowd there’s also a fantastic array of mountain bike trails in and around the city. We’re holding the event in prime riding season, and our very successful local IMBA Chapter, the Santa Fe Fat Tire Society, will do a fantastic job helping us prepare for the event.” IMBA’s World Summits draw hundreds of

enthusiasts, advocates, and leaders of local and regional mountain bike organizations from throughout the world. IMBA topics will include strategies for building top-shelf bicycling facilities, balancing recreation and land conservation, developing mountain bike tourism and attracting youth and other new riders to IMBA’s global network of more than 600 chapters, clubs and bike patrols. Sponsorship inquires should be directed to Development Director Rich Cook: rich.cook@imba.com. CONSERVATION ALLIANCE AWARDS $20K GRANT TO IMBA

The Conservation Alliance recently awarded a $20,000 grant to help IMBA permanently protect

high-quality lands in Colorado’s White River National Forest through federal designations that are companions to Wilderness protections, and to use the protocol developed to create this legislation to protect additional acreage surrounding Wilderness areas throughout the country. “We’re very appreciative of the Conservation Alliance’s investment — IMBA is committed to finding bikefriendly solutions that will expand the amount of public lands that receive enduring protection,” said Mike Van Abel, IMBA’s executive director. Peter Metcalf is the CEO and president of Black Diamond Equipment, and a longtime leader of the Conservation Alliance. According to Metcalf, the grant sends, “A powerful message to the mountain bikers and conservationists everywhere to say that there is nothing inimical about those two designations. For that matter they should go hand and hand.” “I couldn’t agree more with Peter’s sentiment,” said Van Abel. “IMBA members highly value land conservation, clean water and clean air. Our activity brings us closer to nature and fosters a desire to protect the places we ride. That’s why IMBA continually looks for partnership

opportunities, like our continuing work with the Outdoor Alliance that helps us connect with like-minded groups.” IMBA ON HAND AS SECRETARY SALAZAR VISITS MOAB

The mountain bike Mecca of Moab, Utah, recently hosted U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar who stopped to speak to a diverse crowd about outdoor recreation, conservation and energy development. Members of IMBA’s Government Affairs team attended the public meeting, held at the Moab Adventure Center. Salazar answered questions from the crowd after making a few opening statements. During the discussion he emphasized the economic value of outdoor recreation, noting that the sector remains a bright spot in an otherwise tough economy. He went on to say that the current administration sees a great opportunity for job development in areas that embrace outdoor recreation. Recent IMBA projects — including large-scale trail builds at Minnesota’s Cuyuna Lakes and Pennsylvania’s Raystown Lake — provide strong examples of mountain biking’s positive impacts on local economies.

IMBA BOARD ADDS THREE NEW MEMBERS

IMBA’s Board of Directors recently added three new members. With Hill Abel, Jay Franklin and Chris Kegel stepping off the board — each having served for many years — the group now numbers nine. “Hill, Jay and Chris lent vast experience and wisdom,” says chairman Robert Winston. “They will be sorely missed, but we’re lucky to have some excellent new leaders arriving at the same time.” The recent additions are Howard Fischer (Westchester, NY), Jim Grover (Matthews, NC) and Alden Philbrick (Alexandria, VA). Brief biographies for all of IMBA’s board members can be found at imba.com/about.

NEW SUBARU/IMBA TRAIL CARE CREW HITS THE ROAD

The sixteenth couple to roam the nation with the Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew program has begun a twoyear tour. Hailing from Austin, Texas, Jake Carsten and Jenny Abraham will live out of a Subaru Outback while leading trail work sessions, meeting with land managers and working with IMBAaffiliated chapters and clubs. The Trail Care Crew program, supported by Subaru since its inception in 1997, remains one of IMBA’s most popular and successful initiatives. Jake and Jenny replaced Chris and Leslie Kehmeier, both of whom have joined IMBA’s Trail Solutions team. Jake and Jenny both bring extensive training and mountain biking backgrounds to the crew. They love educating and empowering mountain bikers,

from teaching sustainable trailbuilding and advocacy techniques to improving riding skills. Together they founded the company Dirt Dojo to leverage their individual level-two instructor certifications from IMIC (International Mountainbike Instructor Certification). The couple also has extensive experience as small business owners, master trainers and project managers. Jake is a board member to Project LOOP, a non-profit enterprise focused on providing educational and career experience opportunities to high school kids. Follow their adventures at imba.com/blog.

MORE THAN 60 IMBA AFFILIATES MOVE TO CHAPTER STATUS, STAFF POSITION ADDED

IMBA’s Chapter Program was recently bolstered by the addition of a new staff position. Tiffanie Beal now serves as the Chapter and Services

Coordinator, helping provide top-rate service to IMBA’s members. Beal joins a Chapter services team that includes Interactive Marketing and Database Manager Manager Jason Bertolacci, Membership Manager Rod Judd and Member and Constituent Coordinator Sallie Hoefer. Additionally, chapters receive graphic design services from Sugar Design. “It’s gratifying to see the demand for Chapter services grow so rapidly,” said Mike Van Abel, IMBA’s executive director. “This new staff position will help our grassroots clubs as they convert to Chapter status, strengthening our affiliate network.” Benefits for IMBA

Chapters include membership processing, database management, graphic design/communications support and constituent relationship manager (CRM) tools. The Chapter Program Service Coordinator works directly with local clubs who are transitioning into the IMBA Chapter program by assisting them with their integration into the IMBA database and providing training sessions on the use of the CRM tools. Chapters enjoy a strong presence on IMBA’s website, including listings for volunteer workdays and other events in the Teaming for Trails web pages (imba. com/teaming). Other benefits from this program include incentives from CLIF Bar, Wilderness Trail Bikes and CST Tires, plus special pricing on outdoor gear from Promotive.com. Currently 58 IMBA Chapters operate in the United States, and several IMBA clubs are preparing to enter the program. Recent additions to the Chapter Program include: • Capitol Off Road Pathfinders • Chequamegon Area Mountain Bike Association • Clinton River Area Mountain Bike Association • Cyclists of Gitchee Gumee Shores • Greensboro Fat Tire Society • Hoosier Mountain Bike Association • Los Alamos Singletrack

Association • Mid-Michigan Mountain Bike Association • Mount Wilson Bicycling Association • Nantahala Area SORBA • Northern Michigan Mountain Bike Association • Potawatomi Mountain Bike Association • Rogue Valley Mountain Bike Association • Santa Barbara Mountain Bike Trail Volunteers • Southeast Georgia SORBA • Southern Nevada Mountain Bike Association • West Michigan Mountain Bike Association • Wood River Bicycle Coalition Chapter development is coordinated by IMBA’s Regional Directors. These IMBA staffers operate in distinct territories — currently the Pacific Northwest, Rocky Mountain, Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions. Additionally, volunteerled Regional Leadership Advisory Councils coordinate regional efforts and expand IMBA’s reach by working closely with the Regional Directors. Learn more by visiting imba.com/chapter-program. LEGISLATION ESTABLISHES MOUNTAIN BIKING AT SKI AREAS

Many ski resorts in the U.S. operate under permits issued by the USDA Forest Service. The law authorizing those permits only references snow sports, which has

long complicated the status of summer activities, including mountain biking. Not anymore: This fall the Senate followed the House in passing the Ski Area Recreational Opportunity Enhancement Act. Sponsored in the Senate by Mark Udall (D-CO), the bill will add mountain biking to the list of activities that are permissible under a ski area permit. “IMBA has consistently offered testimony in support of this legislation,” said IMBA Executive Director Mike Van Abel. “Once the president signs it into law we expect ski areas will feel better equipped to propose new trails and mountain bike facilities to the Forest Service.” In related news, IMBA recently entered a partnership agreement with the National Ski Area Association to help create more and better mountain bike experiences at resorts.

THE JOY OF WAIVERS MEET IMBA LEGAL INTERN SARA ARFMANN

ara Arfmann — a second-year law student at the University of the Pacific in California specializing in sports law — spent her summer working at IMBA as an intern. Under the tutelage of IMBA in-house council Jeremy Fancher, Sara combed through academic literature concerning recreational event waivers across the U.S. and created a guiding document for IMBA clubs and Chapters (available at imba.com/resources/waivers). The differences in the law of each state means it’s critical to get advice from an attorney licensed in the state where an event will be held before relying on a waiver for legal protection. The guidance in this story comes from a law student — clearly, that’s no substitute for reliable legal advice from a professional! Nonetheless, IMBA is thrilled with the work Arfmann performed this summer — and we’re pretty sure she managed to have a bit of fun here, too. Q: What do waivers have to do with mountain biking? A: Many IMBA Chapters and clubs use — or are considering using — these contracts to lessen the risk of lawsuits. Waivers can establish an agreement between an event participant and the event organizer stating that the participant releases the organizer from any fault or liability for injuries resulting from participation in the event or the negligence of the organizer and their employees. Q: Yawn. Why should we care? A: I hope people care because it took a lot of time to research this stuff! Good waivers could really help mitigate legal risks for IMBA’s Chapters and clubs. I’ve read a lot of cases about people suing for crazy reasons and many times a waiver could have helped protect the party being sued. Q: Are there any real-world examples? A: IMBA’s insurance agency of record, RJF Agencies, recently published the details of an Illinois case where a lawsuit by a volunteer was dismissed based on the basis of a waiver. You often hear people saying that waivers aren’t binding, but there are plenty of examples in case law that disprove that idea.

Q: What are you doing now and how did the experience at IMBA help? A: I’m in my second year of law school and it’s like they say: In the first year they scare you to death, in the second year they work you to death and in the third year they bore you to death. I’m a staff writer for both journals for the McGeorge Law Review and on the executive board for my school’s Sports Law Society. Interning at IMBA gave me a new perspective on how sports law can be a career path. Q: What kind of bike are you riding most often right now? A: I am proudly riding my cruiser that the whole IMBA staff put together for me before I left Colorado. With everything going on with school I don’t have much free time, but I try to work in a ride at least once a week just to relax and escape reading cases. Q: What did you learn about the intersection of the law and mountain biking? A: I’ll admit that I had no idea how much regulatory law exists to control where bicycles are and are not allowed. It’s obviously an area that Jeremy Fancher, IMBA’s in-house attorney, knows a lot about. On the fun side, I really enjoyed visiting the new Valmont bike park in Boulder. My version of mountain biking had been really tame trail riding, but Valmont really got me interested in pushing my comfort zone and trying some gravityoriented stuff. Q: What surprised you about meeting the IMBA staff? A: Coming off the stress of first-year exams, I was very happy to find a friendly and laid-back atmosphere. IMBA’s staff works hard, but they also take time to chat with a lowly intern and get out for lunchtime rides. Q: Since you probably didn’t get a big stipend, did you at least score any good IMBA gear? A: You guys gave me awesome socks, which I have proudly been showing off at school. I really appreciated the help putting my bike together — and the goingaway cake party was a nice touch. Thanks!

POSSIBLE DREAMS IMBA’S MODEL TRAILS PROGRAM SPOTLIGHTS REAL-WORLD SUCCESS STORIES

ardly anybody wants to tackle long, challenging rides in the backcountry these days. Expert-level trails with big drops and technical features can’t be built sustainably. Dirt roads and vanilla bike paths make the best beginner trails. And it would be impossible to create destinations with appeal for every skill level and riding style. None of these statements are true, but you’ve probably heard similar claims. The best way to refute these wrongheaded ideas is to showcase real-world examples that defy the doubters. That’s why IMBA offers a Model Trails program. It’s our way of spotlighting places that exemplify what mountain biking looks like when it’s done right. We hope you’ll find inspiration — and a sense of what can be accomplished when you know what to aim for — as you examine the current crop of Model Trails.

The Ride Center® designation represents IMBA’s recognition for large-scale mountain bike facilities that offer something for every rider. Bring your full arsenal of bikes to these destination-worthy areas. From backcountry adventures to shuttle-served gravity trails, and from expertonly to family-friendly, you’ll encounter the best the sport has to offer. IMBA staff selects candidates for Ride Centers recognition on an invitation-only basis.

top-shelf bike parks. Of course, Park City offers all the lodging and dining options you’d expect from a world-class resort. At the heart of it all, the Mountain Trails Foundation pulls riders into a true mountain bike community and keeps them energized with new projects. It all works together at Park City and that’s what’s pushed them to the gold standard. Oakridge Area | Oakridge/Westfir, OR | Silver Level

Park City | Park City, UT | Gold Level A few years ago, IMBA was on the lookout for an ideal location to host our World Summit mountain bike gathering — we settled on Park City because it offered a successful local mountain bike community, diverse riding opportunities and jaw-dropping natural beauty. That was 2008, and since then Park City has continued expanding and improving its facilities, so much that IMBA enthusiastically awards our highest designation to this amazing destination. How did Park City become a gold-level Ride Center? “It all stems from a commitment to master planning,” says IMBA Regional Director Ryan Schutz. “The sheer miles of trails are fantastic, but what’s really important is that they function as a cohesive network, with signage and trail connections that create a model riding area.” No location better exemplifies the Ride Center ideal of offering great options for any level of rider and any style of riding. From standout beginner-to-intermediate trails; like the Round Valley Trail System and Lost Prospector, to technical challenge and expert-only terrain on Dead Tree and Sweeny’s, the options are expansive. You’ll also find lift-served downhill runs and

The Oakridge Area Ride Center embodies the notion that the whole can be more than the sum of its parts. “It’s an incredible place to ride — not just because of the gorgeous trails but because the entire community strives for excellence,”says Anna Laxague, IMBA’s Regional Director. Visitors get a palpable sense of the love that Oakridge and Westfir have poured into creating a successful mountain bike destination, with amenities like easily accessible trail maps and smartly designed parking areas contributing to the rider-friendly feel. Of course, none of this happened by accident. “The Oakridge-area communities consciously decided to change from being driven by the timber industry to a recreation economy,” says Laxague. They enlisted the support of political leaders like Congressman Peter Defazio and Senator Ron Wyden — both of whom have been spotted enjoying the trails. Beyond the inspiring backstory, the riding ranges from adventurous trail rides to close-totown loops, as well as the Diamond Park dirt jumps and pumptrack. “With the addition of more purpose-built trails and stronger options for freeriding, I’m betting they’ll be ready for gold status in short order,” says Laxague.

Cuyuna Lakes | Crosby, MN | Bronze Level When Cuyuna Lakes held a grand opening this summer, mountain bike legend Hans Rey sampled the trails. “They’re among the best I have ridden — super flowy and fun,” reported Rey. “It’s good to see Cuyuna Lakes spearheading this evolution of the sport. I loved the trails and riding; and I’m sure it will do wonders for the local community and beyond,” he said. We couldn’t agree more. In fact, the parking lots at Cuyuna have been jammed every weekend since the opening — business owners in nearby communities are thrilled. With purpose-built trails for beginners, intermediates and experts, riders from across the region are making the pilgrimage to a new Midwest Mecca. “There’s still room to improve,” notes Hansi Johnson, IMBA’s Regional Director. “Plans are already forming to increase the options for gravity-fed trails and advanced technical features — once people got a taste of rides like Bobsled, Screamer and Sand Hog they realized that there’s more we can offer for the long-fork, high-speed crowd.” Copper Harbor | Keweenaw Peninsula, MI | Bronze Level Copper Harbor is a true destination area — it’s even more “upper” than Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Unexpectedly, this remote tourism-based town has become home base for an energetic freeride community. The result is a fantastic area that defies stereotypes about Midwest biking. You might think you’d have to travel to the Rockies or the Alps to find a highbermed, jump-laden line that takes 15 minutes for an expert downhiller to descend, but check out “The Flow” and you’ll see things differently. “There’s so much potential for gravitybased riding,” says IMBA Regional Director Hansi Johnson. “Fortunately, outstanding builders like Aaron Rogers have taken on the challenge of sculpting trails not just for themselves but for beginner and intermediate skill sets too.” Not sure if gravityassisted riding is your thing? Take a run on Woopidy Woo and try to peel the smile off your face. Shuttles are available during the peak season but if you prefer to earn your turns you can link trails together and pedal back to the top until your legs turn to jelly. Plus, you’ll find a small but welcoming downtown with more than enough bars, eateries and lodging options. Rockburn Ranch

Sandy Ridge

MORE MODEL TRAIL STYLES FLOW TRAIL: SANDY RIDGE

Flow Trails take mountain bikers on a terraininduced roller coaster ride with an emphasis on trail features and little need for braking. These Model Trails offer high-banked turns, rolling terrain, copious launch pads and consistent surfaces. Conspicuously absent are abrupt corners or obstacles — as a rider carves back and forth she develops a rhythm, a flow and a gigantic grin. Located within striking distance of Portland, Oregon, the Sandy Ridge trails offer a flow-based, purposebuilt network that offers a variety of fun choices: black-diamond jump lines, rooty-and-rocky trails that challenge skills without killing momentum and gravitybased singletrack spiced with berms and rollers. With more than 2,500 user passes per month, the Sandy Ridge Trail System is quickly becoming Oregon’s most popular mountain bicycle trail network.

GATEWAY TRAIL: ROCKBURN BRANCH PARK

Gateway Trails position standout facilities in places where lots of people can experience the joy of mountain biking. IMBA Trail Solutions, working with the Mid-Atlantic Off Road Enthusiasts (MORE), recently designed a new bike skills park in Maryland that exemplifies the category. Rockburn Branch offers progressive flow-based trails for beginners, intermediate and advanced riders — all located in the seventh-largest metropolitan area in the U.S. The design features a 5,000-square-foot pump track, made possible by CLIF Bar’s Meet The Moment program. Special thanks go to CLIF athletes Jeff Lenosky and Marla Streb who joined the October opening festivities and shared their skills with a strong turnout of local riders.

Harrisonburg Trails | Harrisonburg, VA | Bronze Level Anyone who has spent time riding in the southeast knows that the “secret stash” mentality can be hard to overcome. Not in Harrisonburg, where a strong community of riders has long dedicated itself to moving beyond the “You need to know somebody to ride here” ethos. Want to take a novice rider for a spin in the center of town? Head for the Rocktown Trails at Hillendale Park and follow the green loops. Step things up with the blue- and red-blazed trails and you’ll find more gnar than you’d expect in a city park; it’s the embodiment of IMBA’s “stacked loop” approach to providing progressive levels of challenge in a small area. Continue exploring in and around town and you’ll access everything from two full-on Epic trails (the Southern Traverse and Spruce Knob) to jumps and flow trails at Massanutten Resort. Not interested in buying a resort pass? If you’re willing to join the Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition and log 8 or more hours of volunteer trail building time, you can ride for free. “The leaders in the SVBC and the Shenandoah Bicycle Company have done an excellent job of making friends in high places,” says Frank Maguire, IMBA’s Regional Director. “It’s their political savvy, even more than their trail building skills, that have made Harrisonburg a stand-out location.” Santos | Ocala, FL | Bronze Level Santos moves from the Epic category of Model Trails to bronze-level Ride Center recognition. Located about an hour northwest of Orlando, Santos lies within the boundaries of Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway. Once a hotspot for unauthorized stunts and unapproved trails, it’s grown into an expansive trail system, with flowing singletrack, bombproof structures and a bike skills park with progressive challenges — including opportunities for huge

air at the Vortex freeride area. In addition to drawing the top riders in the region, Santos is the perfect place for beginner or intermediate riders to hone their technical skills. Progressive features let you try the small stuff before moving to the next skill set. All this, plus copious trail riding and convenient camping, bike stores and other amenities make for a great experience.

Each year, IMBA collects online nominations (visit imba. com/epics) for a new crop of Epics®. This year, we’ve returned our focus to challenging backcountry excursions that most people associate with Epic riding. “For many years, the term ‘Epic’ was the only honorific IMBA used, so we started applying it beyond backcountry trails,” explains IMBA Communications Director Mark Eller. “Today, the variety of Model Trail categories provides more options, so it’s a good moment to go back to the original idea of an Epic ride.” Brown County State Park | Brown County, ID 30 miles/5 hours This is flowing singletrack at its best, built in one of the largest contiguous hardwood forests east of the Mississippi River. The trail designers used every bit of the 600 feet of elevation change available to create five independent loops and three connector trails. Difficulty ranges from a beginner-friendly loop to black diamond fare. Expect to drop into valleys and creek crossings before climbing to overlooks with vistas of the surrounding hills. The hardy clay soil allows for sculpted turns and features — get ready to carve, climb and do it again.

Park City

Cuyuna Lakes

Brown County

Mountain Hero

Kerr Scott Trails | Wilkesboro, NC 35 miles/6 hours The Kerr Scott trails offer lots of options, all of them good. Dark Mountain features more sustained climbs and longer descents than the other trails. The OVT provides a long ribbon of singletrack with little elevation change. Warrior Creek combines sections of rugged trail with long stretches of fast, flowing singletrack. Also at Warrior Creek, the River Trail follows the Yadkin River and allows for a mellow, meandering ride. The Headwaters Loop (still in development) will be the most technically challenging area with copious rock gardens and steep drops. Rattling Creek Singletrack | Lykens, PA 24 miles/4 hours Flowy trails punctuated with rock gardens create classic East Coast riding that rewards bike handling as much as fitness. Trails don’t get more sustainable than the Rocks Ridge section — a 3/4-mile boulder field that’s featured on the IMBA website under the heading “Toughen Your Trail With Rocks.” Unforgiving, yes. But it’s rideable if you’ve got the chops, and even if you have to walk a few spots you’ll enjoy the mature hardwood forests and scenic stream valleys. Constant rollers offer fun descents and snappy climbs, with more total elevation change than you’d expect.

Mountain Hero | Carcross, Yukon 20 miles/5 hours

Rattling Creek

Ride from the historic town of Carcross, home to the Carcross-Tagish First Nation who builds and maintains the Montana Mountain trail network. A strenuous climb on old mining roads quickly pays off with stunning alpine views, glimpses of historic mining artifacts and a chance to watch caribou and other wildlife. From the remains of the namesake Mountain Hero mine, hand-built singletrack weaves through the alpine, linking into a century-old pack trail that plunges down to the shores of Nares Lake. Most have a vehicle waiting, but the strongest ride back to Carcross, past the shores of Nares Lake on the scenic Klondike Highway. W2 Trail | Afan Forest Park, Wales 27 miles/6 hours The amenities created for mountain bikers on this demanding ride include several cafes, parking lots equipped with bike washes, restrooms with showers and a well-stocked bike shop. The singletrack, however, is the real draw of this Epic, with narrow, twisty trails that open into well-crafted jump lines. Great flow and grippy rocks abound, and the trails hold up well to the soaking Welsh climate. 11

THE WAY TO SANTA FE TCC VISITS LEAD TO IMBA’S WORLD SUMMIT

he 2012 IMBA World Summit is slated for Santa Fe, New Mexico — a place with beautiful art, hot chilies and a dedicated group of passionate mountain biking advocates. But one year before the Santa Fe Fat Tire Society applied to host IMBA’s international gathering, the organization didn’t even exist. Early in July 2010, Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew leaders Steve and Morgan Lommele showed up in New Mexico at the request of the Trails Alliance of Santa Fe, a volunteer organization that builds and maintains non-motorized trails. On Thursday evening of that weekend, Steve and Morgan shared IMBA’s Club Care presentation at the Santa Fe REI store with a large audience of diverse trail users. Bob Ward, the store manager and an avid cyclist from California, decided to attend. “It was perfect timing,” he said. “A week before they showed up, a hiker and a mountain biker got into a fight on a local trail.” The crew’s professional presence and emphasis on shared-use trails helped to ease tensions that were beginning to boil. Ward was so inspired that he e-mailed all the mountain bikers he knew and invited them to a follow-up meeting. “I thought we’d have maybe 15 to 20 people, so I set up the chairs in a little circle,” said Ward. “As the meeting time approached, the circle kept getting bigger. Eventually, more than 50 people showed up.” In just a matter of months, the Santa Fe Fat Tire Society solidified, joined IMBA and began working with its government affairs team on local access issues. They have since emerged as a politically savvy group, helping shape a proposed expansion of the Pecos Wilderness so high-country mountain bike trails won’t be closed. As an organized club, the Fat Tire Society became formally involved with La Tierra, a park within city limits that includes singletrack, freeriding and a BMX area. In January of 2011, a handful of members of the club went to a public hearing regarding the La Tierra master plan. A local trail building contractor presented plans for several small connector trails, each one with a substantial price tag. Club leaders approached the city and offered to construct one of the segments for free with volunteer labor, beginning with another IMBA visit. “I politely 12

told them I wasn’t going to accept no for an answer,” said Ward. “I met with another council member and explained who we were. I described the power of IMBA and the Trail Care Crew and explained what we could do together, at no cost to the city.” The council member decided the opportunity was too good to pass up — the contractor’s estimate for the work was $15,000. Chris and Leslie Kehmeier of the Trail Care Crew program flagged 1,500 feet of trail the day before conducting another IMBA Trail Building School. Ward expected the club to build the section over the course of three weekends. Instead, under the Kehmeier’s guidance, 35 volunteers finished all 1,500 feet in just 3 hours. “Our group hadn’t done many trail builds before the Trail Care Crew came back,” said Ward. “We requested a second visit to keep our momentum going and Chris and Leslie got us really excited about building new trail.” In June, the Santa Fe Fat Tire Society became an IMBA Chapter. In September, Santa Fe was awarded the IMBA World Summit. “It’s not a stretch to say that the IMBA Trail Care Crews spawned our club and helped us snag the world summit bid,” said Ward.

SUBARU REWARDS IMBA MEMBERS WITH HASSLEFREE VIP PURCHASES Subaru’s VIP Program allows IMBA individual/family members and IMBA member clubs to purchase or lease any new Subaru saving $1,300$3,000 off the manufacturer’s suggested retail price, without haggling. Visit imba.com/tcc for details.

SUBARU/IMBA TRAIL CARE CREW SPONSORS

IMBA Store and Member Benefits GEAR, GIFTS AND PERKS FOR OUR SUPPORTERS IMBA gear, like the turning leaves, adds color and enjoyment to the fall riding season. Better yet, wearing our stuff enhances trails everywhere — store proceeds fuel our work and help bring you more places to ride.

NEXT TIME YOU VISIT THE IMBA ONLINE STORE YOU’LL BE GREETED BY A HOST OF NEW PRODUCT CATEGORIES.

FIND US AT IMBA.COM/CATALOG!

Hot New Stuff

The latest IMBA gear for those of you who like to be first to the party. • IMBA premium long-sleeved wool jersey • Western shirts with snap-button style • Skull caps, beanies and trail-running hats by Headsweats

Holiday Hits & Great Gifts

Seasonal items and great gift items for your loved ones. • Funkalicious bike bell • Baby onesie reading “Save the Trails For Me!” • Stainless steel travel mug

Chick Picks

Products women will love, including women-specific designs and styles. • “Trail Love” corduroy cap • Topo-line jerseys in red or teal • Superhigh superfly socks

Clearance Rack

Discounted items from seasonal sales to closeouts. • 2010 men’s and women’s jerseys • Stainless steel water bottle • Patch baseball cap

KNOW YOUR MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

• Every new and renewing IMBA member receives a membership card, stickers, trail etiquette tips, coupons … and now IMBA’s Dirty Video DVD. Check out mountain bike movies and a juicy soundtrack to download and take along on your next ride. • IMBA works with dozens of affiliated event promoters, and many of them offer special deals for IMBA members. These promoters support responsible use and maintenance of the trails we race and ride. Check out the event calendar at imba.com or facebook.com/IMBAonFB and watch for the IMBA logo at your next local event.

• Buy local and support IMBA. There are hundreds of member bike stores doing great things in their local mountain bike communities. Is your local bike shop supporting your local trails? Visit imba.com/nearyou for our Retailer Member directory and go buy some sweet new gear for fall riding. • Did you know that IMBA members hardly ever get flat tires? IMBA membership brings good karma, so you can leave the patch kit and spare tubes at home. Spread the good vibes by encouraging a friend to go to imba.com/join.

CORPORATE, DESTINATION AND FOUNDATION MEMBERS THESE CORPORATE MEMBERS PROVIDE ESSENTIAL FUNDING TO FUEL IMBA’S WORK For information about how you or your organization can support IMBA please contact Rich Cook, IMBA Development Director, by calling 303-545-9011 x104, or by sending a message to rich.cook@imba.com.

ABOVE AND BEYOND SUPPORTERS

A special thanks to our Above and Beyond supporters for significant contributions beyond their annual dues.

Bicycle Sport Shop Bikes Belong Coalition CamelBak CLIF Bar CST FOX Racing Shox HucknRoll.com Interbike Life Time Fitness Moots Cycles Niner Bikes Primal Wear Quality Bicycle Products Recreational Equipment Inc. Shimano American Corporation Specialized Bicycles SRAM Corporation Subaru of America The North Face Trek Bicycle Corporation Western Spirit Cycling Yakima

IMBA U.S. CORPORATE MEMBERS A-Z

imba.com/membership

3Point5-Promotive Adventure Advocates Adventure Travel Trade Association Airborne Bicycles Alchemist Threadworks Alchemy Goods Alpine Indoor, LLC A’me Grips Anadarko Petroleum Corporation Anthem Branding Arbutus Images Arrowhead Trails Avid4 Adventure, Inc. Backcountry.com Bellfree Contractors Inc. Bent Creek Lodge Bentonville Convention & Visitors Bureau Bicycle Colorado Bicycle Sport Shop Bicycle Technologies International - BTI Bicycling / Mountain Bike Magazine Big Agnes Big Bear Cabins for Rent Big Bear Lake Camplands Bike Magazine Bikeflights.com Bikes Belong Coalition Black Diamond Equipment, Ltd.

BOB Trailers Boulder Bike Tours Boulder Business Products - BBP Camelbak Campagnolo Cane Creek Cycling Components Cascade Huts Catalyst Communication, Inc. Cateye Center For Outdoor Experience Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival Citizen Pictures City of Leavenworth Club Ride CLIF Bar Cog Wild Mountain Bike Tours Colorado Backcountry Biker Competitive Cyclist Country Inn Deerwood Crank Brothers Crested Butte Mountain Resort Crested Butte/Mt. Crested Butte Chamber of Commerce CST Tires CycleTherapy Cycling Sports Group Cygolite DeFeet International Desert Sports Deuter USA Diamondback Bicycles/Raleigh USA Dirt Rag Magazine Downeast Bicycle Specialists DT Swiss, Inc Eastern Mountain Sports Easton Bell Sports, Inc. (Easton, Bell, Giro, Blackburn) Epic Rides, Inc. Ergon USA Excel Sports Boulder Fat Tire Guides, LLC Finish Line Technologies Focus Bicycles USA FOX Racing Shox Fuji America-Advanced Sports International Fulcrum N.A. LLC Gates Carbon Drive Giant Bicycles Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce Gone Riding, Inc. Green Guru Gear GU Energy Labs Hans Johnsen Company Hawley Company Hayes Bicycle Group Hidden Hollow Cabins Hilride Honey Stinger Howell At The Moon Productions iBert, Inc. Idaho Resort Rentals LLC Interbike IT-Clips, LLC Hutchinson Industries J&B Importers Jamis Bicycles/G.Joannou Cycle Jarvso Bergscykel Park-Sweden Jenson USA Kenda USA Keystone Resort Kinetic Koffee Company Kirkwood Mountain Resort Kona Mountain Bikes Life Time Fitness Lifeboat Solutions Long Cane Trails, LLC MapMyFitness Marin Mountain Bikes, Inc. Maverick Maxxis International MechaWear.com Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop

Michelin North America Midwest Cycling Moots Cycles Mountain Flyer Mountain Khakis MountainBikeSkills.com Mt. Borah Designs Mulberry Gap Mountain Bike Get-A-Way MyPOV360.com National Bicycle Dealers Assn National Parks Service RTCA National Ski Areas Association Native Eyewear Nema International New Belgium Brewery Niner Bikes Oregon Adventures Osprey Packs, Inc Outdoor Industry Association Paceline Products Inc. Paradigm Cycles Park Tool Pedal America Pedal Nation Events Performance, Inc. Planet Bike Primal Wear Professional Trailbuilders Association Proforma Bishop Graphics ProGold Lubricants Quality Bicycle Products Recreational Equipment Inc. Red Agave Resort Red Cloud Productions, LLC RedHouseMedia Reineke Construction Resource Revival Ritchey Design Inc. S&S Trails Services San Juan Hut System Santa Cruz Bicycles SBS-Seattle Bike Supply Scott USA Second Ascent Shenandoah Mountain Touring Shimano American Corporation SIDI America Single Track LLC Singletrack.com Singletracks.com Smith Optics Sock Guy Spadout.com Specialized Bicycles SRAM Corporation Strider Sports International, Inc. Subaru of America Sustainable Travel International-STI Sutter Equipment Company Swobo Teton Mountain Bike Tours Teva Deckers Outdoor Corporation Texas Mountain Bike Racing Association The Canyons Resort The Clymb The North Face Thudbuster Seatposts Thule Timberland, Inc. Trail Dynamics TrailArts TrailFu.com Travel Oregon Trek Bicycle Corporation Trek Dirt Series Trek Travel Triumph Books Two Knobby Tires USA Cycling, Inc. Velonews Voler Team Apparel Western Spirit Cycling

Wheel & Sprocket White Pine Touring Wilderness Trail Bikes (WTB) Winter Park Resort World Bicycle Relief Yakima Yeti Cycles Zeal Optics Zoic Clothing

IMBA DESTINATIONS

Thanks to our growing cadre of IMBA Destination Members who are leading the way in MTB tourism. Learn more at imba.com/destinations Adventure Travel Trade Association Alpine Indoor Avid4 Adventure, Inc. Bentonville Convention & Visitors Bureau Big Bear Cabins for Rent Big Bear Lake Camplands Bikeflights.com Boulder Bike Tours Cascade Huts Center for Outdoor Experience Cog Wild Mountain Bike Tours Colorado Backcountry Biker Country Inn Deerwood Crested Butte Mountain Resort Crested Butte/Mt. Crested Butte Chamber Desert Sports Dirt Series Mountain Bike Camps Ltd. Fat Tire Guides Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce Hidden Hollow Cabins Idaho Resort Rentals Jarvso Bergscykel Park Joyride 150 Keystone Resort KonaWorld Travels MountainBikeSkills.com Mulberry Gap Mt. Bike Get-a-way National Ski Areas Association Oregon Adventures Red Agave Resort San Juan Hut Systems Shenandoah Mountain Touring Singletracks.com Sustainable Travel International Teton Mountain Bike Tours The Canyons Resort Transrockies Inc. Travel Oregon Trek Travel Western Spirit Cycling Winter Park Resort

FOUNDATION SUPPORTERS

Ruth H. Brown Foundation CLIF Bar Family Foundation Conservation Alliance Ron and Stacey Gutfleish Foundation Hellman Family Oreg Foundation Mark Reynolds Memorial Bike Fund Michael And Eleanor Pinkert Foundation Richard E. And Nancy P. Marriott Foundation Cynthia and George P. Mitchell Foundation Betsy Mitchell Family Foundation Walton Family Foundation

NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID DENVER, CO PERMIT NO. 631

PO Box 711 Boulder, Colorado 80306 USA

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