April 2012 Update
April 25, 2012
The days are getting longer, the sun is warmer and the snow is melting
quickly! Biking days are finally amongst us, and with that we wanted to give
a quick update on Trails and Trail Etiquette.
Good news is that the Bluff is good to go, with the exception of some
closures:
• Lower Uptrack (below Q1) is closed. Above P is open, but please watch
for downed trees and snow patches.
• Auntie Flo is closed.
• Broken Axe is more suitable for skis at the moment.
• Smoothie, Shining, Apocalypse and Penetralia are all open and in good
condition.
All XC trails remain closed until further notice, but we are hoping to open
at least parts of them soon.
We ask that when you are out on the trails that you respect some simple
trail etiquette. If there is a sign across the trail that says “Trail
Closed”, this means the trail is closed for a reason so please do not ride
your bike through, push your bike through or drag your bike through. Please
be mindful of wet or muddy sections and also be careful of fallen trees or
shrubbery. If you notice something please let one of the SMBA Executive
members know so we can deal with it accordingly. Remember, trail closures
are for a reason and usually that reason is its too wet and riding on wet
trails can do serious damage and can prevent trails from being opened,
period. Following these simple rules will help keep our trails in prime
condition for years to come!
COB Critical Mass Bike Ride:
On another note don’t forget about the COB Bike Shop Critical Mass Bike
Ride happening this Saturday, April 28th at 1:30pm. 1:30pm meet at the Roi
Theatre for a little movie viewing, 2:30pm 5th Annual Critical Mass Bike
Ride, 3:00pm BBQ and bike events. So dust off your bike helmets and get
ready to ride!! All donations will go toward the SMBA.
Sponsorship Reminder:
The SMBA has put together a sponsorship package to raise funds for
the
maintenance of existing trails, which costs approximately $10,000 per
year.
Attached is information on an exclusive advertising package we are
selling!
We are looking for ten sponsors to commit to three years, costing
$1000 per
year, per sponsor. The packages will be sold on a first come
first serve
basis. We are looking for a wide range of businesses to
represent the
funding for the trail maintenance. Please look at the
following attachment
and respond to Jessica Hall at
jess_kymberly@hotmail.com.
Memberships:
In need of a new pair of riding socks to start off the season on the right
(or left) foot? Get your 2012 membership at either of the bike shops!
Thanks and see you out there!
SMBA Executive
Test 2012 news item
April 23, 2012
Content here
SMBA in the Interior News
September 12, 2011
The Smithers Mountain Bike Association was in the news again last week. Here's what the Interior News had to say about us! The story is online at the following address: http://www.bclocalnews.com/bc_north/interior-news/sports/129277443.html
Mountain bike association close to final agreement
By Jon Muldoon - Smithers Interior News
Published: September 05, 2011 7:00 PM
Updated: September 05, 2011 7:14 PM
The Smithers Mountain Bike Association is working towards finalizing their agreement with the province, through Recreation Sites and Trails B.C., to maintain three separate networks of trails in the area. As part of that process, a draft Management Plan has been posted online for review by members of the SMBA and the public.
Over the past couple years, the association has been working hard with grant money from the provincial and federal governments, rerouting, upgrading and building from scratch a number of mountain bike trails in three distinct areas, known as the Bluff, the Ptarmigan trails, and the Piper Down trails; all three are now official Recreation Sites.
“The purpose of the plan is to describe how we as the SMBA are going to manage our trails under the partnership agreement we have with the province,” said A.J. Downie, Vice President of the SMBA. “We’re maturing a bit as an association, and we’re trying to shift in the direction of formalizing everything.”
Although most of their funding has been used up with trail building over the past two years, the SMBA has been working with funding from the Wetzin’Kwa Community Forest Corporation to put the finishing touches on the trails. Everything has been built up with drainage and reinforcement to prevent erosion and environmental damage.
“A big focus for us has just been on ensuring that everything we built last year was built well. It was a wet spring and a late spring, followed by a wet summer, so that was a real test for our trails, and we were able to see how they held up under the worst types of conditions,” said Downie.
He said the finishing touches, including some trailhead and safety signage, as well as maps at the information kiosks at the trailheads, should be up this fall.
He also pointed out that much of the work done this year wouldn’t have been possible without the Telkwa Rangers forest fire crew, who spent days working on the trails with the contractor hired by the SMBA.
He said the association is working on getting mountain bikers more involved. He’s hoping people will get in touch through the SMBA website.
“Our focus for the past two years has been mostly on building our network of trails. We’ve been able to capitalize on some great funding opportunities and build quite a lot of trail. Now the focus is shifting towards building the club and the community,” he said.
To view the draft version of the SMBA Trail Management Plan, visit the website at www.smithersmountainbike.ca.
Draft Management Plan - Posted for Comment until Sept 15
August 28, 2011
As we move forward with solidifying our trail management partnership with the B.C. Recreation Sites and Trails Branch, we have produced the first draft of a Management Plan. The purpose of the Plan is to guide the management of mountain biking activities in three trail networks on Hudson Bay Mountain: The Bluff Recreation Site, the Ptarmigan Road Recreation Trails and the Piper Recreation Site. The Management Plan has been created based on direction included in the provincial government’s working draft policy called “Authorizing Recreational Mountain Bike Trails on Provincial Crown Land”.
Click here to download a copy of the Plan. (Note, as of Oct 1 the draft has now been replaced with the final version)
This first version of our Management Plan will be posted for member (and other stakeholder) comment until Thursday, September 15th. Now is your chance to provide feedback on how we intend to manage our trails into the future. To submit comments, please email vp@smithersmountainbike.ca with the subject line “SMBA Plan Comments”.
Big Pig Mountain Bike Festival - Burns Lake
August 18, 2011
Looking for something different to do this weekend? Why not head over to Burns Lake to take in some events at their mountain bike festival - The Big Pig!
The festival runs from Friday August 19 to Sunday August 21. Click here for more info and a schedule of events.
Pump Daddy Opening Postponed
July 20, 2011
Sodden lovers of trail:
We really don’t seem to be able to get a break with the weather this year. The snow stayed deep and low well into spring, which made opening trails and dealing with the associated drainage issues a real challenge. If a late to recede snow line wasn’t enough to make some of you consider taking up a different sport the recent trend of daytime highs rarely cracking the low teens mixed with heavy rains every few days likely is. The trail crew has done a very good job this spring, and those of us who haven’t taken up paddling or some other water-based pastime have been fortunate to be able to ride trails that for the most part have been in very good condition all things considered.
Unfortunately, none of this helps with the matter at hand. The buzz around town for the last few days has been that Pump Daddy is finally going to open. Tomorrow is supposed to be the day. We hate to be the bearers of horrendous news, but it is not to be. Today’s deluge leaves us with no choice but to postpone the opening. To shred the trail now will lead to the destruction of a lot of hard work, so we are opting to let the trail dry out for a few days before we open the gate. We are as unhappy about this as anyone, but try as we might we cannot control the weather.
Deluges aside, all is not lost. The trail is holding up really well to the wet, and is 99.9% ready to go. We have installed the required signage, built the required ride around and received the green light from the Province, so we are very close. We simply need a few days with no rain to dry out the ride around. This section was built quite recently so it got completely saturated during Sunday’s torrent. This ride around is a required element of the trail, so we cannot move forward until it is ready to ride.
We also need to be mindful of the Woodcreek Main Road. The Wetzin’kwa Community Forest and Dean Daly have been very supportive of our trails and have thus far been agreeable to riders using their road. To impact the road while it is wet would definitely jeopardize the relationship that we have built, and none of us can afford that! Pedal laps of Huckin’ are OK, but it’s pretty nice to have the option to shuttle when the legs aren’t feelin’ the spin.
We will be monitoring the trail very closely in the coming days, and as soon as it is ready we will pull the closed sign down and send out a notification via email and our website that the trail is open and ready to ride. We are still planning on having an opening event at some point, but for now we will monitor the trail and open it as soon as we can. Stay tuned, and thank you for your ongoing understanding.
Aspen Partnership
July 19, 2011
Looking for a place to refuel after a good hard ride? Or a sunny patio to enjoy a cold beverage and take in the stunning view of Hudson Bay Mountain?
The SMBA is excited to announce that we have formed a partnership with the Riverside Restaurant and Lounge at the Aspen Inn on Highway 16 in Smithers. SMBA members who show their membership card in the restaurant or lounge will recieve 10% off food purchases! Be sure to stop in for a visit post-ride.
Exciting News - New Trails Opening!
July 16, 2011
Finally what you’ve all been waiting for!
We are thrilled to announce that PUMP DADDY will be opening for members on Thursday, July 21st at 6:30pm - WEATHER PERMITTING. This trail is the culmination of a year and half of hard work, dedicated volunteer time and upwards of $50,000. We are ecstatic that the wait will soon be over!
The SMBA will be providing shuttles for a group ride on Pump Daddy or Huckin'Eh between 6:30pm and 8:30pm, by donation. After a few hours of riding we will head to the Aspen for dinner and drinks (remember to bring your membership card to get your 10% food discount). Meet us in the Ptarmigan parking lot at 6:00pm for a de-brief on the trail, and the first shuttle will leave at 6:30pm. Please note that due to insurance purposes we require you to be an SMBA member to participate. We will be selling memberships, so if you have yet to become a 2011 SMBA member, please have cheque or cash on hand.
Pump Daddy is unique trail, unlike any other trail in the valley. It is an advanced level, black-diamond trail with lots of table-top jumps, berms and some steep sections. We remind you to ride with caution your first ride, taking the time to scope out the technical features and familiarize yourself with the trail before givin' er.
In other news, we are also pleased to announce the opening of BACK IN BLACK--a technical, black diamond cross-country trail connecting Meanstreak to Soul Stripper. Find the entrance near to the top of Meanstreak, before the upper loop. Be sure to check it out--it'll be sure to make you sweat!
Finally, we would like to give a HUGE thank-you to C.O.B. for their recent cash contribution to the SMBA following Piper Fest. We appreciate all the support they have given us over the past few years! Thanks again.
SMBA Newsletter, July 2011
July 8, 2011
Piper and Pay Dirt Now Open
June 26, 2011
First off, a HUGE thanks to everyone who came out to the trail maintenance day! Despite some fierce battles with vicious Mozzies and Devils Club, everything got some attention: the Bluff, Huckin'Eh and Piper and Pay Dirt which are NOW OPEN!!!
On Piper and Pay Dirt, we shoveled some snow and cut out all the trees we could with the saw we had. There are two that require a chain saw later this week: one at the bottom of Piper Cross after the rock slab, and one on the final jump line. The wall ride has been inspected and is good to ride. There are a few wet spots on both trails, but most everything is in really good shape. Please ride with care your first few laps.
Please note that Fuzzy Monkey is closed to the parking lot as there was a HUGE grizzly with THREE wee cubs in the parking lot when we arrived. She was none too stoked to see us, so please be aware she is around. Please use the alternate access route to the road.
Enjoy the high mountain riding this long weekend!
Kevin Eskelin Wins Premier’s Award
June 25, 2011
Smithers Mountain Biking is in the news again!
Our local District Recreation Officer with Recreation Sites and Trails BC, Kevin Eskelin, recently won a Premier’s Award in the innovation category for the work he has done with the SMBA and the Burns Lake Mountain Bike Association (BLMBA). This means that Kevin’s efforts in working with us to legitimize our mountain bike trail network have received provincial recognition. We’re extremely lucky to have such an enthusiastic champion for our cause in the Provincial Government, and we’re looking forward to continuing our work with Kevin in the coming months and years. Smithers truly is becoming a mountain bike destination, and the future is looking bright!
For a great write-up on Kevin and his role with the SMBA and BLMBA, check out this news story which was posted on pinkbike this week.
What’s Up With All The Ribbons?
June 8, 2011
Now that the sun’s shining, many of you are making time to get out on the trails and that’s great to see! You’ve probably noticed that the late snowpack and recent rains have left their mark on our trails. However – we are determined not to be outdone by the weather. We’ve decided to use some of our hard-earned cash to hire a skeleton crew of trail workers to finish up what we started last year, and to ensure that our trail networks are built to withstand whatever mother nature sends our way. This means that we’ve had to shut down some trails and trail sections – hence the pinkribbons and closed signs. What some people fail to realize, however, is that pink ribbons and closed signs are a polite request for riders and hikers alike to respect the hard work of the SMBA and our trail crews, and choose a different route.
For those of you who’ve heeded to our requests and stayed off the trails that are under construction or need some time to heal – a huge thanks! For the rest of you – and you know who you are – we have to admit it’s a little frustrating to see footprints and tire tracks behind the pink ribbons where we’ve just spent some of YOUR club’s funds to fix up a wet spot or install some proper drainage. Our work crews have already reported having to go back and re-do some of their work this year, and rarely a day goes by where they don’t see people out on the closed trails.
So – this email is a desperate plea for you to do the right thing. And also for you to encourage others to do the right thing too. When short sections of trail are ribboned off – please hop off your bike and WALK AROUND the wet spots. As far as trails that are completely closed - we want to open them just as badly as you do, and we are constantly monitoring trail conditions to determine what’s ready to open. We now have the ability to update our website ourselves, so the Trail Conditions page is almost always up-to-date. We recommend that you get in the habit of checking it before you ride.
It’s hard to remember that many of our trails are less than a year old…..but we believe that a little patience and some attention this spring will go a long way to ensuring that the trails are good to go in the future. If you see something that looks like it should be open – send us an email or add a posting to the forum and we’ll attend to it right away. Got any other questions or comments – we’d love to hear them on the forum.
2011 Riding Season
May 12, 2011
Well, seems as though spring has finally sprung, and with it the long awaited start of another riding season. Although we might not be, the Bluff is in great shape and it’s been great to see so many enthused riders out
there already.
As you can tell, our webpage is up and running once again, and we hope that it will become your main source of information for trail updates, events, and the latest news. Please refer to the TRAILS page for general trail updates. The page will be updated on an ongoing basis as trail conditions improve. Our forum is also up and
running, so become a member and start providing input, selling gear, and contributing to random banter. Please also refer to the forum for more detailed information on trail conditions. Don't hesitate to contribute your own two bits!
As for our current trail conditions, both the trails in the Ptarmigan Recreation Area (Huckin’Eh and Pump
Daddy) and the trails in the Piper Recreation Area remain closed. The Bluff is open and in great shape, but please respect some voluntary trail closures. As always, please ride with care, look out for downed trees, snow patches and wet spots. Please remove branches etc. if possible, and stay tuned for more information about our
first trail maintenance day, tentatively scheduled for early June.
Perhaps the most exciting news so far this season is our fresh-off-the-press maps, which can be purchased at either C.O.B. or McBike for $7. While you’re at it, but sure to purchase your 2011 SMBA membership. For a $35 annual membership fee, or $25 for youth, you receive a pair of socks and sticker, and will help cover insurance and administrative expenses. Most importantly, your membership demonstrates your commitment to ensuring mountain biking remains a permanent part of the Bulkley Valley landscape and culture.
As always, thanks for your ongoing support and we look forward to seeing you out on the trails!
2010 season wrap-up
November 25, 2010
Mark your calendars: celebrate a great riding season on November 25th
Well folks, the cold weather and pending snow marks the end of a great riding season. The 2010 season gave us our first full season riding Pay Dirt, we had some dry conditions which gave us the best Backdoor riding in many years, we also witnessed the creation of an awesome cross-country trail network to add to our repertoire of trails, and we also have a new trail built next to the beloved Huckin Eh. Pretty outstanding!
In order to celebrate this season in style, the SMBA and the Alpenhorn are hosting the 2010 Season Wrap-Up on Thursday November 25 starting at 6 pm. Space will be reserved in the family section, so all ages are encouraged to join us!
Come on out and have dinner or share some prawns at the Alpenhorn's Thursday Prawn Night. Jugs of Sleeman's Honey Brown and Okanagan Springs Black Lager will be on special for SMBA members and families for $12.50.
We will be showing a medley of mountain bike videos for your viewing pleasure. If any of you have some home-made mountain biking videos of your own, bring them out to show off some of our local talent and up-and-coming riders (on dvd, cd or USB drive).
McBike & Sport and COB Bike Shop are sponsoring this event by providing draw prizes. So make sure to get your name in the hat to be the lucky winners!
Hope to see you all out there!
SMBA Executive
November 2010 News from SMBA
November 16, 2010
Mark your calendars: celebrate a great riding season on November 25th
Well folks, the cold weather and pending snow marks the end of a great riding season. The 2010 season gave us our first full season riding Pay Dirt, we had some dry conditions which gave us the best Backdoor riding in many years, we also witnessed the creation of an awesome cross-country trail network to add to our repertoire of trails, and we also have a new trail built next to the beloved Huckin Eh. Pretty outstanding!
In order to celebrate this season in style, the SMBA and the Alpenhorn are hosting the 2010 Season Wrap-Up on Thursday November 25 starting at 6 pm. Space will be reserved in the family section, so all ages are encouraged to join us!
Come on out and have dinner or share some prawns at the Alpenhorn’s Thursday Prawn Night. Jugs of Sleeman’s Honey Brown and Okanagan Springs Black Lager will be on special for SMBA members and families for $12.50.
We will be showing a medley of mountain bike videos for your viewing pleasure. If any of you have some home-made mountain biking videos of your own, bring them out to show off some of our local talent and up-and-coming riders (on dvd, cd or USB drive).
McBike & Sport and COB Bike Shop are sponsoring this event by providing draw prizes. So make sure to get your name in the hat to be the lucky winners!
Hope to see you all out there!
SMBA Executive
SMBA Newsletter, October 2010
October 20, 2010
Smithers is featured in new video…
September 15, 2010
What's new? Well…considering the last update was about 4 months ago, a lot is new! It has been a fantastic summer and has kept us all busy. There have been many successful events, new trail development, and much behind the scenes work to secure access to trails and develop signage and maps.
In terms of trails, the new jump trail, Pay Dirt, has proven to be a revolutionary addition to the Piper trail network, and the new Bluff cross-country trails are proving to be the missing element everyone was waiting for. Our trails are getting attention. Smithers had a visit from some Pink Bike folk over the summer. Check out the link below to watch the rad video they shot!
Smithers rides from Lee Lau on Vimeo.
Read Sharon and Lee's article on Pinkbike...
We also launched our forum this summer--be sure to check it out for the latest news and trail updates. Join dicussion and let other riders know where you've been riding and how the trails are.
Let's hope this fall is a good one…see you out there!
August 2009 update from SMBA
August 25, 2010
15/08/09 --RIDE GUIDE IS COMING TO SMITHERS!-- Canada's premier mountain bike TV series plans to do a tour of the north this September and has Smithers short listed as one of its stops. Ride Guide is aired in 60 million homes in 60 countries world wide. Throughout Canada Ride Guide airs on OLN, Rush HD, Shaw VOD, Rogers VOD and Men TV. Ride Guide can be seen in 20 million homes in the US on the Ski Channel. It broadcasts in 55 countries across Europe and has 1 million viewers in Australia on Fuel TV. It also distributes to top websites such as dose.ca, bikemag.ca and norco.com.
Stay tuned to the SMBA News page for updates on Ride Guide's visit!
01/08/09 -- TRAIL DEVELOPMENT IS TAKING OFF WITH $400,000! -- The mountain biking scene in the Bulkley Valley is about to get a whole lot better as we begin to make huge investments in new and existing mountain bike trails starting right now!
In July 2009, the SMBA was awarded a grant of $196,695 by the provincial Job Opportunities Program for mountain bike trail development on Hudson Bay Mountain this year. On top of that, it was announced on August 11, 2009 that the SMBA was successful in our application for a further $196,695 from the federal Community Adjustment Fund (see press release). This funding will be spent over the next two seasons ($28,000 this year, and the remainder next year) to augment the provincial dollars that are already in the bank. When combined with local cash donations from the Bulkley Valley Foundation, the Bulkley Valley Kinsmen and the Bulkley Valley Credit Union, the SMBA now has over $400,000 earmarked for trail development in Smithers over the next 2 years!
A large portion of the funding will be used to create a new intermediate, shuttle-access, machine-built trail near the ski resort. You'll also see some improvements to both the Piper Down and Piper Cross trails on Upper Hudson Bay Mountain, as well as upgrades and expansions to many of your favourite trails in the Bluff Trail Network. These badly needed upgrades include re-building aging structures to ensure that they meet safety requirements, and re-routing of poorly-designed trail sections to improve flow. The SMBA is also planning to tackle a complete rebuild of the "Boardwalk Trail" (which connects the Duthie Trailhead to the Bluff Trail Network) this fall. As of July 29, 2009 a crew of 6 workers hit the trails to start work on the Piper Trail Network, and we anticipate hiring more over the coming weeks/months.
Next summer, the federal funding will also be used to initiate the development of a cross-country trail network in the Community Forest. There's still a lot of work to do before we break ground on this part of our project, and we'll be looking to our members for help with ideas and plans as we get ready over the winter months.
SMBA Newsletter, June - July 2010
July 21, 2010
SMBA Searching for Volunteers for Upcoming Events
May 25, 2010
With the 2010 season fully underway, SMBA has a number of events coming up. In order to pull these events off seamlessly and continue them year after year we need your help. Please contact our Events Director, Matt Kilback if you are interested in volunteering for any of the following events.
Mc Bike Tour De Smithers (May 29-30)
- 5 more SMBA members required
- 2 members for Saturday's XC race
- 3 members for Sunday's Tour de Smithers Race
C.O.B. Up Chuck Race (June 6)
- 4 more SMBA members required
Thanks for your support! Hope to see you there.
SMBA Newsletter, April 2010
April 14, 2010
Trail Building-Request for Quotes
April 13, 2010
The Smithers Mountain Bike Association is seeking quotes for the provision of Trail Construction Services for mountain bike trails within the Smithers Area. These services will be required on an "as and when" basis with a maximum contract values of $150,000.
In order to submit a bid for this contract, applicants must meet a set of pre-screening criteria. The deadline for pre-screening is Friday April 23, 2010.
For more details on this opportunity and the pre-screening criteria, please review the project details attached below.
Happy New Year from the SMBA!
January 25, 2010
It's hard to believe, but season one is a wrap. Thank-you to all of our members, sponsors, and community supporters for your tremendous support in our first season. It was a huge success!
Highlights from our rookie year include growing our membership to more than 160, securing over $400,000 in funding and in-kind contributions, creating approximately 35 person months of local
employment and building and/or maintaining over 25km of trails.
Season two is rapidly approaching, and plans are well underway to make it even better than the first. Learn more about our plans and help shape our path forward at the inaugural
SMBA Annual General Meeting.
When? Friday, March 19 at 7pm
Where? Old Church (1st Ave and King St.)
Who? Anyone who is interested in the future of mountain biking in the Smithers area
See you there!
For all you artists out there, we are holding a design contest for SMBA's next t-shirt. If you think you have the design that should grace the back of next year's shirt we want to see it!
What we’re looking for: the design for the back of next year’s member t-shirts
When we need it by: you need to submit your design by Friday, February 12, 2010. Please submit by e-mail to SMBA
What you’ll get out of it: if your design is chosen, you will go down in SMBA history! We’ll also throw in a 2010 Annual Membership and a SMBA Hoody
Who chooses the design: members will be given 1 week to vote on their favourite design, which will be revealed at our AGM on Friday, March 19, 2010
Other details:
Design must be submitted digitally, as a pdf or other electronic file
Design must be possible to silk-screen on t-shirts in 1-2 colours
Design will be full size on the back of next year’s T-shirts
Good luck and let's see those designs!
SMBA Newsletter October 2009
October 14, 2009
SMBA Update, September 2009
September 24, 2009
September 2009
25/09/09: The Smithers Mountain Bike Association is seeking quotes from contractors interested in providing trail design, mapping and supervision services.
18/09/09--NEW DOWNHILL TRAIL GETS AIR TIME ON NSMB FORUM: Click here to check out photos and comments posted on NSMB's forum page.
11/09/09--JOB OPPORTUNITIES TRAIL WORK UPDATE: The trail crew has been hard at work since our last update. Much of the steep, rocky chunder formerly known as upper Piper Down has been transformed into smooth, flowy ribbons of dirt that riders of all abilities will enjoy. Please take it easy on your first lap through the new sections, as there may still be some hazards that haven't been removed from our never-ending "to do" list. Also, please stay off of the Piper trails if they are wet. The crew has spent countless hours swinging Pulaskis to get the trails in top shape so let's keep them that way. 
The yet-to-be-named machine-built trail on Hudson Bay Mountain is starting to look a lot like something you would see in a place where you have to pay to play. It's getting smooth, the tabletops are getting dialled in and the berms are starting to firm up. The only things missing are a chairlift and the crowds. We are hoping to have the trail complete and rideable by the end of September/early October. Stay tuned for more updates and information as we get closer to completion.
The Bulkley Valley will soon have a beginner "Green Circle" style mountain bike trail! The new trail will link the bottom of Piper Down/Piper Cross/New Trail to a shared use parking area just off of the ski hill road up and across from the gravel pit. This section of trail will have zero steeps, no gnar and believe it or not, no airtime unless you know how to bunnyhop. Tame and lame? Nope. Think Star Wars on two wheels and you should get an idea of what we're shooting for.
October will see us focusing our efforts on the Bluff. Expect to see major improvements/overhauls to all of your favourite trails and stunts in the near future. Some of the proposed highlights include a new uptrack that is rideable for people with resting heart rates above 23, a rebuilt and vastly improved access trail from the Duthie trailhead (locally known as the boardwalk trail) and some new sections of trail that are still top secret. Stay tuned for more information, and if you're riding the bluff during work hours, please ride with care and keep your eyes and ears open for the trail crew.
Last but definitely not least, the SMBA is proud to report that with the help of provincial and federal grants and local support, we've now invested in excess of $75,000 into mountain biking in Smithers, supporting the local economy, and creating 7 jobs!
If you see any of our hard working trail crew on the street, or better yet, in the pub, say hello and buy them a refreshing beverage. They are: Jake Young, Kevin Whitecotton, Robbie Dennis, Mark Meyer, Wayne Julseth, Keith Barendregt and Jeremy Roscoe.
Until next time, ride hard, have fun and keep the rubber side