Ep 79 – How Can We Safely Run Trail Days in a COVID-19 World?

To answer the question of what Trail Days could look like this summer, I’m joined by three guests. First, Bill Hoyne, Safety Lead with the Greater Bragg Creek Trails Association in Alberta, Canada. Second, Tony Ferlisi, Executive Director of Mountain Bike the Tetons in Driggs, Idaho. And finally, Will Taygan, President of the Chugach Mountain Bike Riders from the Chugiak-Eagle River community in Alaska.

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Ep 78 – The Value of the Outdoors for Youth and the Impacts of Isolation

We’re joined by three guests, all of them experts in Youth in the Outdoors. Returning to the show is Melissa Werkman, she’s now the Executive Director of the Children’s Advocacy ‘Center’ of Kent County in West Michigan. Mike Greer joins us again as the Executive Director of Elevation Outdoors which works with underprivileged youth in the Kelowna, BC area. And joining us for the first time, is Nevin Harper, Associate Professor with School of Child and Youth Care at the University of Victoria on Vancouver Island.

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Ep 77 – A Panel Discussion for Looking at What Comes Next

Looking at what lies ahead, after COVID-19 for Trail Associations, Advocacy and Trails and Outdoor spaces in general. We’re joined by: Susie Murphy, Executive Director of the San Diego Mountain Biking Association, Patrick Lucas of the BC Aboriginal Youth Mountain Biking Project and Jay Darby, Fields Program Coordinator with IMBA Canada. Despite all the challenges this pandemic has created, it’s brought to light a lot of things, one of which is how valued our Outdoors Spaces actually are.

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Ep 72 – A Professional Trail Builders Panel Discussion

We hear from three Professional Trail Builders. First, Shane Wilson joins us from Hood River, OR, and is the Project Manager with the International Mountain Bicycling Association’s Trail Solutions. Pat Podolski is the Owner/Operator of Golden Dirt Trails in BC, Canada. And finally, Greg Mazu is in Fort Collins, CO and is the Chief Encouragement Officer at Singletrack Trails.

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Ep 66 – Mountain Biking Impact Review by the Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz

This episode we hear from the Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz out in California, they share their Mountain Biking Impact Review and the findings made by their Science Committee. We’re joined by Matt De Young, Executive Director and Emma Kelsey, Science Committee Chair. This also marks the final episode of the Season with the podcast slated to return in September. Have a great Summer!

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Ep 65 – Father’s Day Panel Discussion

We hear from four Mountain Bike Dads: Anthony Duncan, of the International Mountain Bicycling Association and father of 7yo son, Miles. Blake Rowsell, Capilano University Instructor, Board Member of the BC Mountain Bike Tourism Association and dad of Clark, who’s almost 3 and Roy, who is 16 months old. Ben Hall, AKA MTBBen, host of the New England Dirt Podcast, and recently launched the Backyard Boys podcast, father of 4yo son August, 12yo daughter Anika,  and oldest son, Aidan who is 16. And finally, Brice Shirbach, Pivot Ambassador, creator of Pinkbike’s Local Flavours series and Dad to two boys, Logan who just turned 4 and Henry who is a couple months shy of his 1st birthday.

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Ep 64 – Panel Discussion on Trail Association Paid Staff

As a follow up to last episode where all three guests were staff of their local organizations, we’re going to dive into the topic of Paid Employees. Sara Gress, Executive Director with the Wood River Trails Coalition and Ernest Saeger, Executive Director for the Vail Valley Mountain Trails Alliance join us for another episode. In addition, we’re joined by long time friend of the podcast, Susie Murphy, the Executive Director for the San Diego Mountain Biking Association and Cory Sutela, the current President for the Medicine Wheel Trail Advocates in Colorado Springs; the later organization is currently looking at hiring their first paid employee.

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Ep 63 – Panel Discussion on Rebranding into a Trail Organization

We hear from three Executive Directors from three different trail organizations: Christine Reid of the North Shore Mountain Bike Association in North Vancouver, BC, Ernest Saeger of the Vail Valley Mountain Trails Alliance is Colorado and Sara Gress of the Wood River Trails Coalition in Sun Valley Idaho. The later two groups have recently rebranded from Mountain Bike organizations into more all encompassing Trail Organizations. We discuss the reasons, advantages and possible disadvantages of the switch and most importantly, we talk about the conversation your group should be having.

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Ep 62 – Mother’s Day Panel Discussion

In celebration of the 2nd Annual Women’s Mountain Bike Day on May 4th and Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 12th we hear from three mountain bike moms. Skii Fleeton of the San Diego Bike Coalition, Jules Gujer: NICA Coach in the Minnesota League and Kim Bradley: President of the Southeastern Connecticut Chapter of the New England Mountain Bike Association: discuss motherhood, advocacy and mountain biking.

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Ep 61 – Panel Discussion with the Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association (SORBA)

This episode we hear from a panel of guests about the Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association, better known as SORBA. Guests include the SORBA Executive Director from Greenville, South Carolina: Tom Sauret, SORBA Executive Committee President and former President of the Northwest NC MTB Alliance Chapter, from Boone, South Carolina: Paul Stahlschmidt and finally, SORBA Associate Director for Elijay, Georgia: Terry Palmeri.

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