Front Lines MTB

Franz Plangger of the Outdoor Council of Canada (OCC) joins us and shares what their organization is all about. We discuss their certification program, and their advocacy work. If you’re interested in getting the OCC Field Leader Certification then follow the link in the show notes for the May 31/June 1 program I’ll be hosting … Continue reading "Ep 98 – Franz Plangger w/ O...

Siobhan Fox is the Executive Director and Founder of Recovery Rides, a brand new non-profit getting folks in recovery outside through mountain biking. We talk about the program and how it was created and where it plans to go. We also get into addiction, housing and the opioid crisis that faces the world. https://podcasts-2.feedpress.com/16677/Ep%2097%20-%20FINAL%20MIX.mp3 Show … Continue rea...

Tyler Greenwood is a Technologies Teacher at his local high school: Howe Sound Secondary in Squamish, BC. This year he’s offering a new program for students that’s focused on bike maintenance. Tyler shares how the program began and how others could start something similar at their school.   https://podcasts-2.feedpress.com/16677/Ep%2096%20-%20FINAL%20MIX.mp3 Show Notes & Links...

Patrick Lucas and Thomas Schoen come back to the podcast to update us on what they’ve been working on. If you’ve been listening to the show since the beginning you’ll already be familiar with the Indigenous Youth Mountain Bike Program. If you’re not familiar with the program, you’re in for a real treat, enjoy!   … Continue reading "Ep 95 – Patrick Luc...

A second episode with a New Zealand organization takes us to Queenstown where we’ll hear from Fraser Gordon, President of the Queenstown Mountain Bike Club. Fraser shares how he got involved with advocacy and tells us what makes Queenstown unique, including public trails serviced by a private gondola service. Don’t forget to check out this … Continue reading "Ep 94 – Fraser...

Matt Ball is the Chairperson of the Nelson Mountain Bike Club in Nelson, NZ. He originally got his start in advocacy in Canada with the North Okanagan Cycling Society in Vernon, BC. Matt brings a unique perspective of seeing advocacy in different communities and in different countries. We discuss trail building vs. trail maintenance, and … Continue reading "Ep 93 – Matt Ball of the Nel...

Dr. Kelsey Johansen, Chair of The Trail Research Hub share what the her organization does: including research, education, and outreach initiatives. They are currently work on an economic impact study with the Hydrocut Trails and Brent Ellis, Chair of the Waterloo Cycling Club Trail Committee shares what that means to them, as well as the … Continue reading "Ep 92 – The Trail Research H...

Michael Anzalone, Executive Director of the California Mountain Biking Coalition (CAMTB) shares the story of how the organization began and where they are now. We discuss Michael’s time with CAMTB, why the organization is a 501c4, what trail organizations are members, how they engage youth in their advocacy work and how they’re getting the Month … Continue reading "Ep 91 –...

We hear from Amanda Carey, the President of the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA). Amanda joins us from Victor, Idaho. NICA is a youth cycling program that has teams and leagues all over the United States.  We hear about how they are not only getting youth outside on bikes but also giving back to the … Continue reading "Ep 90 – Amanda Carey, President of the National...

Is our obsession with gear contributing the destruction of the places we love to use that gear in? How can a circular economy address this? And which companies are out there, in the outdoor sector and beyond, already tapping into it? Miguel Santos is a Sustainability Professional and the Founder and CEO of Wonderflux, a … Continue reading "Ep 89 – Circular Economy with Miguel Santos of...

Dave Ternier shares details of his new project Single Track Communications. We also discuss the future of the podcast and realistic landscape of relying on volunteers as a trail association. Remember that the podcast is supported by listeners like you. Donate HERE!   https://podcasts-2.feedpress.com/16677/Ep%2088%20-%20FINAL%20MIX.mp3 Show Notes & Links https://singletrackcomms.com/subscr...

Paul Perrault tells us the story of Bike Cochrane and how this Alberta organization is building community through mountain bike trail and active transportation advocacy. Paul tells us how Bike Cochrane figured out their town’s ‘bikeability’ and how the organization got started and came to be. https://podcasts-2.feedpress.com/16677/Ep%2087%20-%20FINAL%20MIX.mp3 Show Notes & Li...

Justin Martin, Executive Director of the Cyclists of Gitchee Gumee Shores (COGGS) in Duluth, MN shares how they renamed their Mission Creek trail network. The trails were renamed using traditional indigenous language of Ojibwe. Justin takes us through the entire project from consolation to activation. Next episode we’ll hear from Paul Perrault: Director of Operations … Continue reading...

We hear from Dave Ternier about how he got into advocacy and what is on his mind regarding the future of trails. Dave shares his experience in telling stories and lets us know about Valley Life Recreation, a group in Minnedosa, Manitoba. Join the conversation and take part in a future episode by contacting the … Continue reading "Ep 85 – Dave Ternier and Valley Life Recreation"

We’re back for Part 2 of our conversation with Richard Edwards of IMBA Trail Solutions. In the second part we discuss future and what Trail Solutions can do. We also continue our conversation on what increases in trail usage has meant and what we, as trail advocates and builders, can do to make our trail … Continue reading "Ep 84 – Richard Edwards of IMBA Trail Solutions Part 2"

We hear from Richard Edwards of IMBA Trail Solutions in what is Part 1 of our two part conversation. In this first part we discuss Richard’s history in advocacy, and how Trail Solutions began. We also begin the conversation on what increases in trail usage has meant and what we, as trail advocates and builders, … Continue reading "Ep 83 – Richard Edwards of IMBA Trail Solutions P...

This episode we check in with the Blue Ridge Off-Road Cyclists in Roanoke, Virginia. We hear from Trails Coordinator: Ian Bongard and President: Stuart Lamanna. We discuss politics and trails as well as the changing landscape of how people are working and what that means for where they choose to live. As the last episode … Continue reading "Ep 82 – Checking in with the Blue Ridge Off-R...

We check in with the Kickapoo Mountain Bike Club located near Champaign and Danville, Illinois. We hear from Vice-President: Troy Savalick and Executive Director: Anthony Maro. We discuss the recent trail expansion at the Kickapoo State Recreation Area, and how COVID-19 effected the roll-out. We also discuss personal life as we live and advocate during … Continue reading "Ep 81 – Check...

Starting off a new season of the podcast and coming off of what was the 4th Anniversary of the show this week, we look to the future. And not that fairy-dream world in which we all get a vaccine, but the real world, the uncertain one we’re all being forced to get used to. Are … Continue reading "Ep 80 – New Season Update: Where Do We Go from Here?"

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 … Continue reading "Ep 79 – How Can W...

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 … Continue reading "Ep 78 &#...

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 … Continue reading "Ep...

Ian Jones, President of the Southwest Montana Mountain Bike Association returns to the podcast to help us navigate the plethora of tech resources available online to help increase your organization’s productivity. We go through a list of a dozen or so tools, with the intention that you can pick and choose a few to look … Continue reading "Ep 76 – Taking Advantage of All the Inter...

We hear from the crew at the Lowelifes Respectable Citizens’ Club: Treasurer and previous guest Erik Hillard, President Matt Baffert and Secretary Rob Pettersen. We discuss starting a new organization, their ongoing project of restoring the Condor Peak Trail, the surrounding Wilderness and how they’re creating an Elite Group of Volunteers while trying to not … Continue reading "Ep 75 &...

We dive back into the old topic of eMTBs with a fresh perspective: Joe Vadeboncoeur, President of the Chequamegon Area Mountain Bike Association discusses his article: “eMTB Thoughts”. Prior to being Board President, Joe worked in the Bike Industry at Trek, and he shares what it was like going from there into the world of … Continue reading "Ep 74 – eMTB 5: A New Perspectiv...