?? minnesota is building world-class mountain bike trails





explore minnesota | minnesota outdoors | mountain biking | redhead mountain bike park [ [link removed] ]




interview with john cox and marty caivana

Building a great mountain bike trail doesn’t just happen. It takes vision, strategy and a whole lot of love for the ride. That’s where the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) comes in. Since the late ‘80s, they’ve been helping communities create world-class trails and now their Trail Labs "Foundations" program is rolling into Minnesota. John, IMBA’s education manager and Marty, IMBA’s community engagement manager, share what makes a sweet trail, why good trails matter and how riders like you can help shape the future of mountain biking in your own community.






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a whole community can benefit from bike trails (not just bikers). they add to everyone's quality of life.
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Mountain Biking in Duluth [ [link removed] ]




how has trail development changed over the years?

"John:"  The Trail Labs "Foundations" program started in 2018 in Bentonville, Arkansas to showcase a modern trail community and help people learn how to make that happen in their own city.  

This educational program was mainly attended by passionate mountain bikers looking for ways to make more and better trails.

 

But we've seen that attendee audience shift over the years to become the key decision makers in a city, often who aren't mountain bikers. Now we might have a mayor, a city planner or someone who works in the tourism industry attend. They view trails as infrastructure and amenities for both their citizens and their community members, as well as an opportunity to draw folks for tourism.

 

Now, "Foundations" is a two-day intensive workshop, that has occurred in Bentonville, AR and Cedar City, UT. It’ll be happening in Winona, MN this spring and Duluth, MN in the fall. 






Trail Champions: The Bluffs Traverse | Winona, Minnesota [ [link removed] ]




*SEE THE EXPANSION OF BLUFFSIDE PARK* [ [link removed] ]











why minnesota for these educational trail programs? 

"John:" Bentonville, AR is an incredible place to visit and ride. However, a lot of communities can be overwhelmed by the options there. And that's not to say anything negative – it can be hard to translate Bentonville and envision what could realistically happen in your own community. That's why we like to have these educational programs in different locations.

 

We want to look at places that have been successful in a different way than Bentonville. *Winona* [ [link removed] ] has more of a small-town feel, whereas *Duluth [ [link removed] ]* is a big city, so attendees can find a place that is closely aligned with the dynamic in their own town.

 

"Marty:" We’ve seen a shift over the last few years and I think Minnesota, in particular, has even been a really good example of how broad of a community asset trails can be. The *Cuyuna area [ [link removed] ]* and what's going on in the Iron Range has been inspirational to a lot of folks. It really helps communicate the message that it's not just fringe groups that want trails. It shows how a whole community can benefit from them and how it adds to their quality of life. 






family mountain biking in Duluth [ [link removed] ]




why focus on both technical trail building and community engagement?

"Marty: "Community engagement is where everyone should begin. You have to find and unearth all the people who desire trails in your community. Not just mountain bikers, but also hikers, trail runners, equestrians, whoever has access, and begin to pull all those people together around a unified vision for what the trails could and should be in their community. That's a whole process in and of itself.  






mountain biking switchback in Duluth [ [link removed] ]




what does the future of trails look like to you?

"John:" I do see the number of users continuing to increase. I think there will be more infrastructure, but not just one type of bike infrastructure. It's going to be a variety, having the pump track, the skills area, the bike park and then some of the cross-country "little bit of a backcountry" flow trails.

 

E-bikes are a very hot topic. They can be a great thing for a trail, so long as it's a designated use. E-bikes are an opportunity for more people to be out on the trail and I can see more trails adopting to accommodate. For example, e-bikes can travel at a higher speed going uphill than maybe a typical bike rider, so trail developers are starting to consider sight-lines and definitely considering junctions. 

 

I think we're going to see a diversification with the amenities in places that have historically great trails. I think they're going to expand to include different types of infrastructure.  

 

We expect to see even more individuals come through the program and go on to develop trails within their own communities. 






other outdoor activities in duluth

* *Surf [ [link removed] ]* Lake Superior
* Hike part of the *Superior Hiking Trail [ [link removed] ]* or all of *Enger Park [ [link removed] ]*

 

other outdoor activities in winona

* *Ice climb [ [link removed] ] *at Winona Ice Park
* Hike up to *Garvin Heights Overlook [ [link removed] ]*
* Rent canoes, kayaks and *stand-up paddle boards* [ [link removed] ] at Lake Lodge Recreation Center










*FIND THE BEST MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAILS IN MN* [ [link removed] ]






related content

SHRED IN WINONA & DULUTH

 

?? *Explore the Duluth Traverse >> [ [link removed] ]*

 

?? *Where to go mountain biking in Duluth >>* [ [link removed] ]

 

?? *Things to do and see in Winona >>* [ [link removed] ]

 

?? *Listen to the full "Explore Minnesota More" podcast with John & Marty >> [ [link removed] ]*






"from top to bottom: Redhead Mountain Bike Park in Chisholm, photo by Minnesota Discovery Center  |  Duluth Traverse in Duluth, photo by Visit Duluth  |  Screenshot from """Trail Champions: The Bluffs Traverse | Winona, Minnesota" on Youtube, video by International Mountain Bicycling Association  |  "Duluth Traverse in Duluth, photo by Visit Duluth  |  ""Duluth Traverse in Duluth, photo by Hansi Johnson""






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