Calgary Mountain Bike Alliance - 2002 IMBA Advocacy Summit

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2002 IMBA Mountain Bike Advocacy Summit

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International Mountain
Bicycling Association
at IMBA.com

IMBA Summit Mobilizes Mountain Bike Advocates

The 2002 IMBA Mountain Bike Advocacy Summit attracted 170 leaders to the Utah desert April 18-21 for four days of strategic planning, networking and information exchange. This unprecedented event will help create and preserve riding opportunities for mountain bikers worldwide. The summit was presented by REI, with support from the Federal Highway Administration, Grand County (Utah), Quality Bicycle Products and the Bureau of Land Management.

IMBA Summit Participants included nearly all of IMBA's state and international reps, key federal land managers from the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, BLM and Army Corps of Engineers, journalists, key IMBA sponsors, and leaders of other cycling and conservation groups.

"This was far and away IMBA's best event ever," said executive director Tim Blumenthal. "Everyone left Moab with new energy, new ideas and a stronger commitment to work for the future of our sport. IMBA's network is more talented and motivated than ever. We've got unprecedented momentum."

Several new IMBA initiatives and partnerships were announced:

A memorandum of understanding was signed to promote cooperation between the Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) branch of the National Park Service and IMBA.
A renewed partnership between IMBA and BLM was confirmed by a new Assistance Agreement that will remain in force until 2007. Following the BLM's 2001 commitment to manage mountain biking separate from motorized use, BLM leaders attended the Summit to gather feedback that will be used to develop the agency's new mountain bike strategy.
A formal partnership between IMBA and the UK Forestry Commission was presented that will focus on improving mountain bike opportunities in the forests of Great Britain.
A developing partnership between the Army Corps of Engineers and IMBA was announced to encourage new trail development on Corps land. The Corps manages more than 2,800 recreation areas coast to coast.

One of the Summit's hottest topics was freeriding and technical trails. A working group is developing strategies to help land managers and IMBA clubs provide highly technical riding opportunities.

The Summit was held at the brand-new Red Cliffs Adventure Lodge, in Moab's majestic Castle Valley near Arches National Park. The program blended keynote speeches, panel discussions, workshops and brainstorming. Participants rode on the famous Slickrock and Top of the World trails.

More information about the Summit, including workshop summaries and new strategies, will be posted later this spring on imba.com.

Presenting sponsor REI is a renowned international supplier of specialty outdoor gear. REI has been an Above-and-Beyond IMBA Corporate Supporter since 1993.

Additional support for the Summit was provided by Lake Cycling, New Belgium Brewery, Giro, Bell, Sock Guy, Clif Bar Inc., Timbuk2 Designs, Dirt Rag, Salsa Cycles, Zeal Optics, Surly, Moots Cycles and Subaru of America.