IMBA

The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) was created by Congress in 1965 and is authorized to receive $900 million annually in federal revenues from oil and gas leasing. Unfortunately, most of these funds have been diverted, meaning the LWCF has received full funding only once in its multi-decade history. Current legislation could help restore full funding the LWCF. The bills, known as S. 2747 in the Senate (Sen. Bigaman and Baucus) and H.R. 334 in the House (Cong. Rahall) deserve your support.

Airborne® Bicycles recently announced a partnership with IMBA. To kick off the new relationship, Airborne is reaching out to IMBA members by giving them the first chance to become a part of its first-ever Flight Crew. Up to 10 enthusiastic riders will be selected for the Flight Crew and have the opportunity to test out new Airborne bikes, post videos of their adventures and represent Airborne® Bicycles at the upcoming Sea Otter Classic, April 15-19, in Monterey, CA.

IMBA recently conducted several meetings in Washington, D.C. with key congressional leaders and federal agency personnel. Productive discussions with Chairman Raul Grijlva (D-AZ), Congressmen Peter DeFazio (D-OR), and Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO), among other members of the House Natural Resources Committee, as well as meetings with Forest Service officials, provided IMBA with the opportunity to strengthen support for mountain bike access on public lands.

Mountain biking has been identified as one of the fastest growing outdoor recreation activities among youth (Outdoor Foundation, 2009). IMBA's trail development work in urban areas, including the Gateway Trails program, helps meet that demand. These trail systems also contribute to reducing the risk of obesity and inactivity facing today's families.

Working in locations across the United States, IMBA Trail Solutions staff is helping shape the next generation of trails. A variety of innovative projects, including the youth- and family-friendly trails systems IMBA calls "Gateway Trails," are scheduled for completion in 2010.

You belong with IMBA at two important gatherings in 2010. First, the National Bike Summit runs March 9-11 and will be held in Washington, DC. Just weeks later, the IMBA World Summit will be held May 5-8 in Augusta, Georgia. Registration is now available for both events.

Rebecca Rusch, three-time reining 24-Hour Solo Mountain Biking World Champion, will host a five-stop movie tour featuring Race Across The Sky, the new documentary film about one of the most intense endurance mountain bike races of all time, the Leadville Trail 100.

This inspirational film has been shown in larger cities, but has not yet been seen in the core cycling communities of the Mountain West. Rusch attended the film’s premiere in New York City. That screening was intended to be a one-time only event, but after sold-out showings and multiple requests from cyclists and friends, she decided to bring the film to a select group of mountain towns.

Congressman Raul Grijalva (D – AZ), Chairman of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands, is generating increased Congressional attention on protecting national forest lands that have been recommended for Wilderness designations.

Mountain bicycling is a traditional use in many national forests. Bicyclists value these special lands for the same reasons as hikers and equestrians -- the opportunity for a healthy, low-impact recreational experience. We seek the freedom, solitude, clean air, clean water and healthy forests that bring us closer to nature.

The National Park Service is looking for public input for a proposed trail network at New River Gorge, one of the premier recreational areas in the Mid Atlantic. The proposal includes the construction of two new stacked-looped mountain bike trail systems and the reclassification of certain existing trails to be open to bicycles. This has the potential of creating a network of over 100 miles of trails in the region.

IMBA is a proud sponsor of the League of American Bicyclist's National Bike Summit. IMBA's presence at the summit includes sessions and workshops designed to help the mountain bike advocate lobby for public lands funding, protection and access. Join other mountain bike leaders, youth group organizers, retailers, club leaders, trailbuilders, bicycle suppliers and other leading voices as we unite for three powerful days in Washington, D.C.

Mark Schmidt will leave his post as executive director of IMBA Canada in January and begin a new career with Parks Canada. With Schmidt's departure IMBA Canada will be led by Lora Woolner, who together with Schmidt started the IMBA Canada office in 2004. Woolner and Schmidt have been involved with IMBA since 2002, when they were hired on to a three year stint with IMBA's Trail Care Crew program in the US.

Wilderness Trail Bikes (WTB) and IMBA have worked in partnership to create a successful 'Sales for Trails' promotion to benefit mountain bikers across the United States.

We’re making a list, checking it twice …

It’s a tradition at IMBA to issue a list of 10 things we did for mountain bikers as the calendar year comes to a close. This time, we are also looking ahead to 10 more things we will do in the year ahead.

IMBA is proud to announce the hire of a new Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew team. Steve and Morgan Lommele will replace Kelly and Collins Bishop, who are leaving the road after two years of excellent service. Steve and Morgan have some very big work boots to fill, but their strong combination of work and mountain bike experience makes them a great fit for one of IMBA’s flagship field programs.

Congratulations to the 87 members of Team IMBA 2009, who together raised a total of $84,937 for mountain biking. Led by title sponsor GT Bicycles, the Team IMBA fundraising program allows mountain bikers to raise funds for local and national trailbuilding projects by doing what they love to do most -- riding their bikes.

After delaying its decision for more than a year, the U.S. Forest Service unveiled its approach to managing the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDNST) this fall. The plan states that mountain biking is an acceptable use of the trail, and emphasizes that forest service offices should formulate strategies appropriate for their districts.