For Immediate Release:
September 15, 2014
Aspen Snowmass awarded IMBA Ride Center Designation – Bronze Level!
Once a year, the International Mountain Bicycling Association recognizes outstanding mountain bike trails and locations with the IMBA Model Trail awards. The goal of this program—which encompasses Ride Centers, Epics, Flow Trails and, new this year, Community Bike Parks—is to inspire and inform so that we can all have more great places to ride.
The Aspen Snowmass area was recognized as a Bronze Level Ride Center on August 21st at the 2014 IMBA World Summit. The Roaring Fork Mountain Bike Association (RFMBA) led the effort to achieve this designation as part of a multi-year plan to achieve the best possible mountain bike trail system and experiences in the Roaring Fork valley. With this designation in hand, the path towards Silver and Gold designations has become clear for both Aspen Snowmass as well as an eventual Roaring Fork regional Ride Center designation. RFMBA will be increasing partnership efforts with many entities over coming months and years to achieve the high level designations worthy of our world class communities and destinations.
The awarding of this Bronze Ride Center designation reflects the great work already accomplished and the investments made possible by the City of Aspen Parks Trails & Open Space, Town of Snowmass Village Parks Recreations & Trails, Pitkin County Open Space & Trails, Aspen Skiing Company, Aspen Chamber Resort Association, Town of Snowmass Marketing & Tourism, the White River National Forest, Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers and many others. Through coordinated efforts, these entities will help us to build upon today’s success.
This year, IMBA announced ten new Ride Centers, six Epics, four Flow Trails and two Community Bike Parks, in locations ranging from Australia to Canada, and from Arkansas to Wyoming. IMBA received a record number of applications, all of which were painstakingly evaluated by the IMBA Trail Solutions team and IMBA’s region directors. The Ride Center designation represents IMBA’s recognition of large-scale mountain bike destinations that offer a wide range of great trails for every riding style. Ride Centers not only invite you to plan a multi-day trip with your full quiver of mountain bikes and the whole family, they take care of you both on and off the trail by being places where mountain bikers are welcomed.
RFMBA submitted the Aspen Snowmass area for Ride Center Designation as part of a multi-year plan to achieve the best possible mountain bike trail system and experiences. With unparalleled surroundings renowned for rugged, glacier-carved valleys yielding to the incredible high alpine views of the Elk Mountains range, the palette for an incredible Ride Center is set. Aspen Snowmass offers challenging classics like the Government and Sunnyside Trails, modern bike-specific flow trails including Airline and Deadline, an expanding lift-assisted gravity trail system at Snowmass Bike Park, and miles of traditional singletrack and interconnected bike paths. Premier events and activities make the area a world-class destination for nature, culture and trail lovers. Trail system improvements are continually opening up opportunities for new riders to experience the incredible forests and mountain views.
RFMBA encourages local riders as well as business owners to get involved in supporting efforts to achieve higher level designations in future years. The Upper Roaring Fork Trails Plan will soon be providing a critical opportunity for public feedback in developing the best possible trail system over coming years. Please stay tuned for details on draft proposal maps and future public meetings.
Contact Information:
Roaring Fork Mountain Bike Association, a Chapter of IMBA
PO Box 2635, Aspen, CO 81612
Thanks to KSNO for talking to RFMBA all about this Ride Center status! You can listen to the interview at this link.
Follow