Jun 4, 2018 | Industry, Partners
An evening gathering of mountain bike stakeholders was held on June 1st, 2018 in Whistler at the Whistler Museum. The meeting was organized to seek support and stakeholder feedback for IMBA Canada’s BC Council as the province’s lead organization for mountain bike advocacy. The council was originally formed in 2016 with representation from each region of the province and has been actively addressing issues faced by clubs in many parts of the province. The next steps include registering the IMBA Canada BC Council as a non-profit society and to implement a funding model to support an operational budget for the council. Link: Summary notes from the June 1st meeting. For more information about the BC Council please contact AJ Strawson, Executive Director, IMBA Canada aj.strawson@imbacanada.com or Jay Darbyshire, Chair, BC Council...
Apr 10, 2017 | Industry, MBTA Initiatives, Partners
Revelstoke, BC April 10, 2017 – What do mountain bikers look for in a destination? Great trails, mountain scenery, friendly towns with a passion for outdoor adventure…sounds like Revelstoke! This September 13th to 15th, Revelstoke will host the fourth bi-annual Mountain Bike Tourism Symposium attracting mountain bikers and industry professionals from across the province and beyond. Revelstoke is one of Canada’s most up and coming mountain resort communities, appealing to keen outdoor enthusiasts and extreme sport seekers. Surrounded by the Selkirk and Monashee mountain ranges, getting out of doors here is mandatory and extremely convenient. “Revelstoke is a great central location in BC, less than 6 hours away from just about anywhere in the province. We are seeing huge growth in our mountain biking sector, and we are beyond thrilled to host the symposium here this year.” – Meghan Tabor, Tourism Revelstoke With recent upgrades to the alpine classic, Frisby Ridge trail, and the brand new jump trail on Boulder, “The Rooster,” delegates will be thrilled with what the community has to offer. Aside from enjoying the incredible riding opportunities, delegates will learn and share their experiences on a variety of issues impacting the mountain bike tourism sector. The main theme for this year’s event is “stewardship”. With the growth of mountain biking in past decade and the anticipated increase in mountain biking visitors to BC in the foreseeable future, the mountain bike sector recognizes the challenges that local trail advocates face in caring for the trails. Finding effective ways to support trail maintenance efforts and increase local capacity is crucial to long term sustainability and success. Tourism Revelstoke,...
Apr 4, 2017 | Industry, MBTA Initiatives, Partners, Trends
VANCOUVER – April 4, 2017 A new study supported by the District of Squamish finds that mountain bike trails in Squamish attracted $9.9 million in visitor spending in 2016. Mountain biking is a significant outdoor activity in the District of Squamish, with 25,180 riders taking over 202,000 rides in 2016. Of note, more than 20,000 riders and 99,000 rides were made by visitors from outside of the community, providing a significant boost to the local economy. For the avid mountain biker it is no surprise that Squamish has become a sought after destination. With over 150 kilometers of maintained mountain bike trails surrounded by stunning mountain and coastal scenery it’s no wonder that it has been featured in many published articles and videos, played host to numerous events and media crews, and is now home to a number of professional riders, bike and adventure related businesses and tourism companies. The District of Squamish’s tag line sums it up perfectly, “Hard wired for Adventure.” The results of the 2016 study illustrate the significant growth in mountain bike tourism for Squamish over the past decade. In 2006 a similar study was conducted which determined that mountain bike visitors spent $2.3 million in the community. This quadrupling of tourism spending over the past 10 years can be attributed to many factors. A major one has been the provincial policy introduced in 2008 to allow approved mountain bike trails on Crown Land under the Forest and Range Practices Act. Once trails are approved communities can then begin to promote them for local recreation and tourism. Mountain bike tourism is likely to continue to...
Jan 5, 2016 | Industry, Partners
January 5, 2016 Cumberland, BC – The United Riders of Cumberland (UROC), Village of Cumberland, TimberWest Forest Corp., and Hancock Forest Management are excited to announce that a land access agreement has been reached to formally allow non-motorized recreation on private managed forest lands adjacent to the Village of Cumberland. This progressive and multi-faceted agreement not only authorizes public recreation on private and public forest lands south of the Village, but gives the private landowners the opportunity to better communicate and manage risks associated with people recreating on their land. “This agreement represents the collective efforts of all parties involved and demonstrates what can be achieved through collaboration,” said Mike Manara, UROC President. “I am proud of the UROC board for their dedication to this project and the commitment to making mountain biking a legitimate industry in our community. We are stoked to put Cumberland and our amazing trails on the map! I would also like to thank the Village of Cumberland for their support in this endeavour, as well as all the volunteers that have contributed to our trail network over the years – you know who you are and we thank you!” “Completion of this project is a very positive step,” said Domenico Iannidinardo, Chief Forester and VP Sustainability for TimberWest. “Years in the making, this agreement provides for legitimate access to mountain bikers and recreationists to enjoy a series of trails over multiple ownerships. Much credit must go to UROC and the Village of Cumberland for their efforts in bringing this agreement together.” “Hancock Forest Management endeavors to give back to the communities that surround our managed forest...
May 29, 2015 | Industry, Partners, Uncategorized
Vancouver, BC – May 29, 2015 – The Planning Institute of British Columbia (PIBC) has awarded its 2015 Silver Award for Excellence in Policy Planning for Small Towns & Rural Areas to the Northern BC Mountain Bike Recreation & Tourism Development Strategy. The project conducted by the Western Canada Mountain Bike Tourism Association (MBTA) in association with David Nairne & Associates and in partnership with the Northern BC Tourism Association and the Omineca Beetle Action Coalition has laid the foundations for further development of mountain biking in the region. Northern BC is recognized for its vast wilderness and outdoor recreation opportunities and is increasingly gaining attention as a mountain biking destination. Mountain biking enthusiasts living in communities along the Yellowhead corridor have been building and maintaining trails for mountain biking for over a decade. The strategy offers a sustainable approach to development based on regional collaboration, support for ongoing trail improvements, and local capacity building that will encourage greater community participation and destination awareness. The Mountain Bike Development Strategy was only possible due to the support and enthusiastic participation of everyone from each of the communities involved in the project. “This project would never have come together if it hadn’t been for the support of the staff and leadership, the local community groups that hosted and coordinated meetings, the riders who took us out on the trails, the community members and club reps who took time out of your busy schedules to attend our meetings and review the reports and documents’, said Patrick Lucas, lead planner for the project. “Receiving this award shows that this project has established the...
Jan 26, 2015 | Industry, MBTA Initiatives, Partners, Uncategorized
New collaborative effort will help create opportunities for communities along the Yellowhead Corridor Vancouver, BC – January 26, 2015 – The Western Canada Mountain Bike Tourism Association (MBTA) in partnership with the Northern BC Tourism Association and the Omineca Beetle Action Coalition is pleased to announce the release of a new strategy to support further development of mountain biking in the region. Northern BC is recognized for its vast wilderness and outdoor recreation opportunities and is increasingly gaining attention as a mountain biking destination. “Mountain biking represents a new opportunity to attract visitors to our region and collaboration among the key stakeholders will be critical”, said Clint Fraser, acting CEO of the Northern BC Tourism Association. Mountain biking advocates living in communities along the Yellowhead corridor have been building and maintaining trails for mountain biking for over a decade. “Valemount, Prince George, Burns Lake, Smithers, and Terrace have already created some amazing trail networks”, said Martin Littlejohn, Executive Director of the MBTA, “however, the capacity of the local mountain bike clubs and advocacy groups is limited by funding and volunteer support. We are recommending collaboration at a regional level among local governments, regional districts and other regional agencies to support mountain bike development for the social and economic benefits that it can provide.” Key recommendations include support for trail maintenance, entry level trails and skills parks for beginners and families, consistent signage, programming for youth, greater involvement with the tourism sector, and the creation of a regional brand. The Northern BC Mountain Bike Recreation and Tourism Strategy was supported by the following communities and organizations: Omineca Beetle Action Coalition...
