Gary Vernon, the Director of Investments in Outdoor Recreation/Trail Innovation with the Walton Family Foundation from Bentonville, Arkansas (the world mountain bike capital) will tell the story of how 100’s of km’s of mountain bike trails have helped connect communities, support local businesses, and helped encourage young people to stay in a rural area, and many professionals to relocate there. (Fort William and Tweed Valley)
Hannah Barnes (FW), Manon Carpenter (TV) and Fanie Kok, Specialized Soil Searching and Tommy Wilkinson of DWA.Co will discuss this industry led approach to inspiring and rewarding the heroes of mountain biking: the trail builders. Featuring amazing videos and some of the most informative, enthused and motivating speakers in the world of mountain biking. There will also be the chance to win a Limited Edition Specialized Soil Searching Stumpjumper Evo(Fort William and Tweed Valley) (Buy your raffle ticket now!)
Alex Rafferty, SRAM, will talk about his excitement of a new project and how he hopes it will support Trails Associations across the UK to secure and sustain our trail network. (Fort William and Tweed Valley)
Cairngorms Trail Feathers, is an amazing innovative project that is working with the Badenoch & Strathspey Trails Association (BASTA), environmental protection groups, the UK largest national park authority, and DMBinS to create a new approach to mountain bike trails that meets the needs of local and visiting mountain bikers whilst enhancing the survival chances of one of Scotland’s most iconic species, the Capercaillie. (Fort William only)
Ronan Taylor, of Raylor's Trail Design and Tuition, will present on his trail projects across the Highlands and Perthshire including his redesign of the MTB World Cup track at Nevis Range, the new trails at Cairngorm Mountain, and how he is working with his local Highland community to build trails for the local scene. (Fort William only)
Peebles High School, Tweed Valley Trails Association/DMBinS, Forestry and Land Scotland, and young people will share their experience of running a pilot project where the local Peebles High School worked with the land manager (FLS) and the local trails association (TVTA) to work on trails in local forests and the world champs course itself. (Tweed Valley only)