Newsletter

MTBco Newsletter for April, 2011

Welcome back to a new season of dirty fun!  Here are a few updates on MTBco changes, events coming up for the month of April, and what you missed at our AGM in March.

Going Back to our Roots

MTBco is going back to our roots starting with the new 2011 season.  At our annual general meeting held in March, we told everyone that we are adopting 2 new club values moving ahead: Consistency & Transparency.

What does this mean for you?  You can expect our annual financial statements published on our site; monthly newsletters sent at the beginning of each month; and timely updates to our Facebook group about events, trail conditions, etc.  With a newly elected and enthusiastic executive, our wheels will be spinning hard to bring you favourite events like the Toonie Race series, Trail Maintenance Days, and new beginnings!

Check our site regularly for event info, races, trail days, our online Google-esque trail maps, and trail conditions.

NEW this year:

• Laminated MTBco membership cards
• Shop-neutral Trail Days with build clinics (MTBco Trail Days held separate from bike shop events)
• Chainsaw certification course – email jsmoke@mtbco.ca to sign up
• MTBco trail maintenance equipment available for members’ use! Contact Trail Director amcintosh@mtbco.ca for more info
• MTBco members now get 10% off lift passes at Silver Star & 10% off their top 2 rental packages
• MTBco members get 10% off at our sponsored bike shops
• Goat Style is coming to Silver Star this Aug 11-13 – volunteers needed.  Sign up on our forum.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Sunday, April 17^th – 12 noon
Union Cycle’s 3^rd Annual Pig Roast + Chainless DH @ Postill “Addiction”
This is your opportunity to take part in a Kelowna classic.  The 3rd Annual Postil Pig Roast & Chainless DH.  Challenge your true riding skills and time yourself down ‘Addiction’ using only your ‘pump’.  Then, reward yourself by filling your belly with some pit roasted pork.  We look forward to seeing you there.
***Must be an up to date MTBco Member to participate. This event is NOT a Trail Day this year.

Warm up laps 12PM-2PM
Chainless DH 3PM
Pig Roast 5PM
$10 Entry

Click http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=201978796502927 to attend.

Saturday, April 30^th – 10 am

Bike Park maintenance

In preparation for the season’s official opening of the Bike Park on May 1^st, we will need volunteers to help get the bike park groomed & prepped the day before.  Please contact ERothwell@mtbco.ca to lend a hand.

Sunday, May 1^st – 12 noon

MTBco’s Bike Park Season Opener

For location, click “Bike Park” at www.mtbco.ca
Yes! The MTBco Bike Park is officially opening Sunday, May 1^st!  Come out and enjoy a BBQ, beverages, music, and hit the jumps with your friends.  Get a chance to meet MTBco and the Bike Park Director, learn the guidelines of bike park maintenance, and meet new dirtbag friends.

Chainsaw Certification Course

Thinking about building a trail this year?  Want to borrow MTBco trail maintenance equipment?  You will need to be certified.  This 2 day instructional course will be available on a first come, first served basis – only 15 spots available.  Course will cover safety basics, proper use, and maintenance of equipment..

Trail Ambassador Program

Is there someone in your club who always goes the ‘extra mile’? Someone who does more for advocacy and trail maintenance than everyone else combined? That is the sort of person we are looking for! Renegade Cycle Solutions is teaming up with IMBA Canada to reward your unsung hero, your trail maestro, your volunteer extraordinaire with an X-Fusion Velvet RL fork. In fact RCS will be dishing out TWO awards, one to the best of Eastern Canada and one for the West. Nominate your club member by July 31st, 2011 and tell us why your nominee should be an X-Fusion Trail Ambassador. Winners will be announced in September and featured in IMBA Canada’s Trail News newsletter!

Submissions

• Current IMBA Canada members are eligible to make a nomination for the award.
• Write 250-300 words on why your trail maestro deserves the title of X-Fusion Trail Ambassador!
• Login to the website, and submit your story here.
• Post photos to accompany your story in IMBA Canada’s facebook album “X-Fusion Trail Ambassador Nominations”, or email them to rachael.raven[at]imba.com.

Please send any questions about the program or application process to rachael.raven@imba.com . Contact: Rachael Raven IMBA Canada Communications Coordinator (613)301.8098 rachael.raven@imba.com www.imbacanada.com

Silver Star Early Bird Passes on SALE

 Don’t forget to buy your Silver Star early bird season’s passes!  Save $40 by buying yours before May 31^st!  Check out http://www.skisilverstar.com/home_showSection_ID_550.html for more details.

Just let me take a moment after what has to be one of the shortest summers ever to say “Welcome Back!”  One thing for sure, all this wet weather we’ve had has resulted in some of the best riding conditions in a decade.  I almost miss the dust, but not really.

Toonie Rides

The Toonie series at Smith Creek has been very successful, to say the least.  Too bad that we’re winding the season down with the final event this coming Wednesday, September 29th.  With dusk coming earlier every day, this is the last chance we have for a mid-week Toonie.  Where else can you have a great evening complete with food and bevvies for only $2?  Come out and make this last event a good one.  Oh, and for you freehuckers, it’s a shorter course too.  We’ll be there at 5:30 to sign people on, the ride starts at 6.  Smith Creek trails in Westbank. Just follow Eliott Rd to Smith Ck Rd and look for the lycra.

Powers Creek Trailday

Dirty Dave has been very busy this year as well.  In addition to some major changes to Builders Only, he’s been working on a new line he calls “Master of Slag” that extends the Builders Only line by about 1km.  Come out on Sunday, October 3rd and help him finish this one off.  We’ll be meeting at the usual spot at the top of Powers Creek at 10 am.  Bring hand tools, buckets for moving dirt, and your bike to ride the finished goods.  We’re not making lunch, so bring some snacks, but there will be an afternoon BBQ courtesy of Outbound Cycle.

Other Events Nearby

Our partner clubs in the valley are also having some fall events worth checking into.

• NOCS is having their 6 hour Enduro, the Ellison Project on Saturday Sept 25th.
• Penticton is having their Fall Bike Festival with BMX and XC events this weekend.
• Oct 2nd and 3rd is the Full Boar Challenge in Kamloops
• Also on October 3rd is the Kaslo Suffer Fest, featuring a race up and down the legendary Monster.

Lots to keep you busy this fall.  Sorry for the double email, but I have these fat fingers that keep pushing ‘send’ before I’m ready.  One day I’ll get this figured out.

We’re still a long way from winter, and there’s plenty of riding to be done.  There’s still some more events on the horizon, and we’re always looking for more volunteers.

There’s a lot of things going on right now, and a lot stuff already in the books. Without further ado…

Bike Park Update

We’re nearly there.  After a great meeting with the City and the contractors, we have cleared the majority of the red tape regarding the Skills Park.  It’s now gong back tothe City for final signatures.  Watch for an official announcement about a Grand Opening in the next week or so.

K-Town Kamikaze

The Super-D is set for June 13th.  Will Mike succesfully defend his title?  Will Evan get tot he bottom without flatting?  Will the DH crew redeem themselves?  Show up and find out.  More details:  http://www.mtbco.ca/2010/05/20/k-town-kamikaze-june-13th

Toonie Rides

Yes, we have Toonie Rides starting up.  They’re not races, they’re rides.  Races are more expensive.  Every other Wednesday at Smith Creek, only $2.  You gotta be a member of an IMBA affiliated club like MTBco to participate, but that’s about all.

Oh, and a TREE told me that there might be some delicious prizes available.

Trail Days

So far we’ve had several really successful trail days put on by Union Cycle, Cyclepath, and Outbound Cycle.  The trails are looking awesome, expecially with the moist weather we’ve had.  Thanks to all of you for coming out and making that effort to buff up the neighborhood.  You’re making a difference.  Watch for the next trail day at Gillard in the next month.

Sasquatch Hunt

A smaller turnout led to a better chance at that frame this year.  40 riders braved some inclement weather to ride Powers and collect the best hand possible.   Good thing that chili was hot at the top, because it rained (I think it was trying to snow) a little.    Hey, we’re mountain bikers.  We can handle some weather, and really it hardly rained at all.  Another great day thanks to Dave and Glenn at Outbound.

Winter?  What winter?  It seems like El Nino has brought the cyclists of the valley an early spring this year.  Record warm temperatures means little to no snow on the lower mountain, and I know that many of you are not only riding, but working on the trails too.

After an incredibly busy and successful 2009, it’s now time to turn our attention towards 2010.  Without further ado, here’s what’s coming down the pipe with the MTBco.

Annual General Meeting

The A.G.M. is set for:

Tuesday, February 23rd
7:30PM to 9:30PM
Kinsmen Field House

That’s the usual place we have the annual meeting, and if you don’t know where it is, here’s a handy map for you.

We’re looking for some new blood to fill the ranks of the club executive this year.  Please consider joining us this year.  We are looking for people with accounting skills, grant writing experience, corporate fund raising, maybe an event co-ordinator, and some generally well organized and motivated people to help spread the load.

Membership

Just so you don’t forget, your annual membership expires on March 1st.  Luckily, we have an easy way for you to renew on our website.

Join Us

Of course, we’ll also be accepting membership dues at the AGM, so feel free to bring your chequebook along.

Mapping

One of our goals this year is to produce an updated and more accurate map of the trails. Taking inventory of the massive amount of trails in the area is a huge undertaking.  With the advent of inexpensive GPS technology, many more of you likely have data on the trails.  If you feel like sharing, feel free to email your tracks to:  jsmoke@mtbco.ca.

Thanks

Section 57 Application

What is a Section 57?  Well, it’s the part of the BC legal code that gives us rights to ride and maintain trails, and Justin has put a ton of work into getting our first application in to secure access to the Gillard area.  Not much to report, but we though this was a good time to let you all know that process has begun.  As soon as we know more about the status of the application, we’ll let you all know.

Bike Park

Not a lot to report here.  The park is still technically under construction.  Rob would like to remind you all that it’s currently a construction zone and that it’s off limits.  Besides, if you ride it when it’s wet it will just increase the work load in the spring.  As soon as we get word from the contractor about when work is resuming, we’ll forward the info to all of you so that we can finish the park off.