MAY 3 - Sorta Cutting Edge News

It's easy to understand why Kona would be involved in improving freeride trail access (they sell freeride bikes, after all). Some readers, however, are probably wondering why IMBA is involved with freeriding-the trail advocacy organization is viewed by many mountain bikers as a more traditional "cross-country" organization. That staid, conservative image is something that IMBA has been trying to shake for years. In fact, the organization is a strong supporter of building technically challenging trails--they're just asking that you get land manager approval and that you build those trails right (so that they don't fall apart or contribute to a trail-closing lawsuit).

IMBA Advocacy Director Pete Webber sums it up thusly: "Freeriding is still a very small segment of the bicycling world--but there is clearly a lot of energy and buzz in freeriding--and that is something you can't ignore. Also, it is important to understand that many more riders would like to get involved in freeriding, but they can't find fun places to do it. There aren't many challenge parks or freeride zones near the cities where most people live."

Hence the grants to help increase legal freeride trails.

Will other members of the bike industry follow Kona's lead by dedicating advocacy dollars to freeriding? Specialized Bicycles Marketing Manager Kevin Franks says his company is open to the idea: "Would we consider earmarking future funds specifically toward freeriding? Yeah, definitely. Freeriding is certainly one of the most important growth areas for our company right now, so it's very important for us and the industry as a whole that freeriding grows responsibly. We'd definitely support IMBA in making that happen."

At the moment, though, IMBA isn't holding its breath. "I don't envision many companies funding the development of authorized freeriding areas," Webber says. "I think there is lots of opportunity for sponsorship in this area and I hope some companies get more involved. Many companies will continue to support advocacy groups, including IMBA, and it will be up to these advocacy groups and individual riders to actually create new places to ride."

Kona's Peterson holds a similar view: "I think it's up to every company to decide for themselves. Some people have less resources, some people have more, and some people have a different passion for advocacy. I think there certainly needs to be more industry help for supporting this movement, but every company is free to determine whether or not it is right for them to get involved."

The 2004 Kona/IMBA freeride grants were awarded to the following groups:

- Friends of Breckenridge, Breckenridge, Colorado: The Friends of Breckenridge will use grant money to help create Four O'Clock Freeride Woods, a beginner and intermediate freeride trail and stunt area. For more info contact Danica Rice: danica@ci.breckenridge.co.us.

- Gorge Freeride Association, Hood River, Oregon: Grant money will be used by the Gorge Freeride Association to build a beginner trail with dropoffs in the Post Canyon freeride area. The trail will feature four progressively larger dropoffs with safe alternative routes. For more info visit www.gfra.org

- Ocala Mountain Bike Association, Tavares, Florida: The Ocala Mountain Bike Association plans to build wooden stunts, including an elevated bridge, two skinnies and a transition ramp, and a dirt-jumping area within the Santos Trail System located on the Cross Florida Greenway. For more info visit www.omba.org.

- South Island Mountain Bike Society, North Saanich, British Columbia: The South Island Mountain Bike Society will use funds to build the first dirt-jump park in the Victoria, British Columbia, area. The project was initiated in 2002 by two young dirt jumpers and has gained full support from the North Saanich city council. For more info visit www.simbs.com.

- Peoria Area Mountain Bikers, Peoria, Illinois: Kona grant money will be used by the Peoria Area Mountain Bikers to create a bicycle skills course with jumps and berms at the Farmdale Reservoir Recreation Area. The course is for riders to improve technical skills in a controlled, easily accessible area. For more info, visit www.pambamtb.org.

- The Whatcom Independent Mountain Pedalers (WHIMPs) of Bellingham, Washington, were chosen to receive a grant, but due to diligent fund-raising efforts, the WHIMPs secured funding from a private donor and opted to forgo the grant, making it available to another worthy club.

Other outstanding freeride projects were submitted by the Longwood University Cycling Club, the Colorado Plateau Mountain Bike Trail Association, the Keweenaw Trekkers and the Southwest Idaho Mountain Bicycling Association.

SKILL CAMPS FOR WOMEN CROSS THE BORDER
Four years ago, the Dirt Series began in British Columbia as an initiative to get more women involved in mountain biking. In a nutshell, the program helps riders improve their skills through a weekend of skill sessions, technical seminars, maintenance clinics and group rides. Over the years, the program has expanded across Canada and, this year, is crossing the border into the United States.

There will be two Dirt Camps in the U.S. this year. The first camp will take place in Sun Valley Idaho from May 29-30. This particular camp will also feature optional adventure-race-specific guest coaching from Rebecca Rusch, who is the captain of Team Montrail, Sports Illustrated's "2003 Adventure Race Team of the Year." For those interested in adventure-race-specific skills, Rebecca will lead a ride focusing on strategy, map reading and compass use on a bike.

The second U.S. Dirt Camp will take place from July 17-18 at Hood River, Oregon.

The Dirt Camps allow riders to work on the skills they most need brushing up on (whether that be hill climbing, wheelie dropping or anything in between) at each participant's own pace. The camp organizers also schedule plenty of time for social activities. At the Sun Valley camp, the normal Saturday night wine and cheese social will also include a slide show and lecture from Rebecca, whose racing has taken her from the wilds of Borneo and Kyrgyzstan to the streets of Chicago and New York City.

It costs $175 (plus a 7-percent tax) to attend either of the Dirt Camps in the United States. The fee goes to cover the costs of coaching, lunch, snacks and prizes. In short, it's a hell of a deal. Entry fees are kept at a minimum by the generous support of sponsors such as Sugoi Clothing, Rocky Mountain Bicycles, Powerbar, Nokian Tires, Deuter, Brave Soldier, Giro, Syncros and Kryptonite.

For more information on the Sugoi Dirt Series, including a complete schedule of 2004 camps, visit www.dirtseries.com or email info@dirtseries.com. You can also call them directly at 604-905-8876.