The MTBco AGM was last Wednesday, and in case you missed it we’ve decided to write up a quick memo to let you know what happened. So without further delay I’ll dive right into it.

Last year was a struggle for us, plain and simple. Our board was made up of almost entirely first timers, and we lost lots of great volunteers due to a lack of direction. No one is to blame; it just worked out that way. Some good did come out of last year however; all of the executives that survived it are sticking around for another year. So our executives look like this

President – Brian McClelland
Vice President – Geoff Jukema
Secretary – Jay Darby
Treasurer/Membership director – Andrew Mcintosh
Trail Development Director – Jeff Rempel
Bike Park Director – Eric Rosswell
Toonie Ride Director – Shelia Gariepy

We’ve also found some very keen volunteers who want to do everything from trail digging, to marketing and grant writing. These people are really going to help take some of the weight off our shoulders and help us get more done this year.

These people are:

Becky Olson
Mike Crown
Mike Whittaker
Brad and Ally Steele
Kristin Mckeown
Louis-Phillippe Lavoie
James Roffel
Jon Matlock

So a HUGE thanks to these fine folks for volunteering to help out too!

The meeting took over two hours, and there was lots of passionate discussion. We covered everything from Powers Creek, to Crawford and everything in between. Our inability to generate membership from riders came up, as well as the reasons for buying a membership. Personally I think membership is important and here is why.

By being a member you show your support for local trail networks, the MTBco’s initiatives, and you help us create a better mountain biking community. I’m not trying to brag however without our efforts there wouldn’t be a bike park, or a designated mountain bike only trail network in Knox Mountain, or any sort of organization to represent your local trails at countless strategic meetings with the District of West Kelowna, the City of Kelowna, or other various levels of government.

If that isn’t reason enough being a member gets you 10% at your local bike shops, a discount on beer at Tree Brewing, and access to other fun events (event list will be out soon)

Our lack of marketing came up as an issue for us as well. I can tell you this we have several volunteers who want to do some marketing for us! So that’s exciting because it was an area that we really lacked in last year. The more awareness we create the more successful we can be in the future.

I would like to personally thank everyone who made it out to the AGM, everyone was passionate and everyone wants us to do more. This should be a great year for us, and I’m looking forward to it. If you want to get involved email me (bmac@mtbco.ca) and if you want to buy a membership go to mtbco.ca. See you on the trails!

Sincerely,

Brian

The grand finale of the 2011 MTBCo Toonie Ride season will be this weekend, Sunday September 11^th.  The ride starts at 10am at Smith Creek, and will be followed by snacks, refreshing beverages from Tree Brewing, and a chilli feast.

We will be once again joined by our generous shop sponsors –  Bike Barn, Chainline Cycle, Cyclepath, Fresh Air Experience / Concept, Kelowna Cycle, Outbound Cycle, Sovereign Cycle, and Union Cycle – who kept our bellies fed and our thirst quenched throughout the season.  Thank you! We couldn’t have had such a successful season without you.

Thank you also to all the riders who continue to come out in increasing numbers.  We hope to carry the momentum into the 2012 season, so anyone new coming out for their first toonie ride this Sunday can ride for a loonie*.  If you’re a familiar face and you bring a new rider, you both ride for a toonie*.

 We hope to see you all there!

*For insurance purposes, all riders must be MTBCo members.  Memberships are $25 and can be purchased the day of the event.  All membership fees go directly towards trail maintenance and community events.

The descent is roughly 3km long, and while there are no stunts on the trail yet, JabbaRockey boasts some of the best rock gardens Kelowna has to offer.

The only split in the trail comes almost at the end, where there is an optional “easy-out” to the left, while the right hand option weaves riders through a rocky boulder field.

As this is a new trail, any help packing it in is much appreciated.  Think you’re up to the task?

Come join MTBco and our local bike shops to celebrate the official season opener.  Hit the newly buffed jump lines and take a spin on the pump track.  There will be a BBQ fundraiser for MTBco and the bike park, contests & games, and of course, SWAG GIVEAWAYS from our local bike shop sponsors!

Opening at 11am, BBQ at 12 noon, games & contests on at 2pm.

For more info on the skills park itself, visit the link on our website.

Picture taken at the Grand Opening of the Skills Park last year.

In case you missed it in the newsletter and on our FB page, the first Trail Day of the year is tomorrow April 24th at 10am.  Meet at the Gillard FSR parking lot with some rakes, shovels, and your buddies!

Coffee & snacks provided.  Great riding to be had after.

3rd annual Postill Pig Roast
Sunday, April 17^th- 12 noon

Spend the afternoon rippin’ the Postill trail system then reward yourself by filling your belly with some pit roasted pork.  We look forward to seeing you there.

$10 meal ticket

For more information, visit www.unioncycle.ca

*This is not a Trail Day this year.

We are holding our Annual General Meeting to reunite everyone and debrief on the past year’s mountain bike events, finances, and progress; elect directors; talk about the upcoming season’s plans and events; and receive input from our members.

If you have been considering getting involved before, now is the time.

Post-meeting beers & wing night at Boomers inside the Capital News Centre.

If you have your own hand tools (shovel, pick, rake, 4 gallon buckets), please bring them along with snacks and drinking water.

Meet at the base of the Postill trails, which are up Postill Lake Rd.  Take Old Vernon Rd. to Postill Drive, then turn left on Postill Lake Rd.  The trailhead is just after the bridge.

Just show up at the top of the Powers Creek trails at 10 am on Sunday, October 3rd.  Be ready to build and bring your bike so you can ride on the finished product.  We’ll have a BBQ in the afternoon, but you might want to bring some snacks and something to drink.  Trail building can be some thirsty work, eh?

If you have your own hand tools, like shovels, rakes, picks, and 4 gallon buckets, please bring those along too as we have only so many of our own tools to lend out.