nsmbA AGM 2010

If you need to get up to speed on the nsmbA here’s a little primer.  The North Shore Mountain Bike Association was formed 12 years ago in reaction to opposition to mountain biking and the trails riders had created on the North Shore.   The nsmbA deals with advocacy and trail maintenance.  The nsmbA and nsmb.com have no official affiliation although we often work together.  nsmb.com is an online magazine and while we support and promote advocacy and trail days it’s not what we do as a business.

  This year’s meeting was well-attended, particularly when you consider how amicable things have been with local landowners over the past 12 months. Photo ~ Dan Barham

Every year the nsmbA have a meeting to let the membership know what happened during the past year and what’s on tap for the coming year.  There is often quite a lot of doom and gloom as directors discover how little they can actually accomplish on their own.  This year things were much more chipper and optimisitic.

  Mark Wood spreads the stoke about the nsmbA’s new Trail Adoption Plan. Photo ~ Dan Barham

Last year the only board member who continued on was the president – Mathew (that’s how he spells it) Bond.  Everyone else was freshly elected this time last year.  The good news is that they have all decided to carry on for another year.  Two more board members stepped up to join them as well.

  These are the organizations who have stepped up to the trail adoption plate first.  It’s a great start but more help is needed. Photo ~ Cam McRae

On top of these volunteers, Mark Wood worked part time as the association’s administrator.  He was paid $400 a month and one month he recorded 123 hours of work.  He’s a bargain to say the least.  On top of Mark’s stipend the nsmbA purchased a trailer and a BBQ.  it seems that, aside from the occasional business meeting at Brandi’s, the nsmbA has been well managed financially. (I kid)

  Matt Bond asked members of the audience to volunteer to help out in every area of the association – and many stepped forward. Photo ~ Dan Barham

Mark Wood told us the big news; mountain biking is finally becoming accepted by the local landowners.  The association has set up strategic partnerships with several of these groups and through these meetings they realized that something has to change.  There is a hunger for new trails here on the Shore but the landowners want to see more stewardship of the existing network.  In the past the nsmbA has done pretty much all they can do in terms of trail days and maintenance and it’s clearly not enough.  While some trails are in pretty good shape, others are rutted disasters.  Seymour in particular needs massive amounts of work.  This was when Mark told us “we have a plan.”  This was met with a snicker of skepticism by one rider in attendance.

   Here’s almost all of the board – with the exception of John Housser. Photo ~ Dan Barham

The big unveiling was the Trail Adoption Plan or TAP.  The idea is that companies, groups or organizations are being asked to step up and adopt a trail.  Seymour is the starting point with Boogey Man, Severed Dick, CBC, Pingu, Team Pangor, Bridle Path, Corkscrew as well as Empress and the Bypass to be the first trails adopted.

  Jeff Bryson (left) is on the board but he also represents John Henry Bikes.  Here he’s talking to Andrew Handford from Different Bikes (middle) and Eric Fremont. Other Bike shop people I saw were James Wilson from Obsession Bikes, Kim Steed from Steed Cycles, Matt Juhasz from North Shore Bike Shop and Rick Loader from Lynn Valley Bikes.  Great to see such a solid representation from the shops. Photo ~ Dan Barham

A commitment of $2500 per adopter is being asked for to pay the chief maintainer of each trail.  A minimum of four trail days are to be held during the 12 month period.  Thus far Race Face, Mountain Equipment Coop, Different Bikes, Rocky Mountain and nsmb.com partnered with Rock Shox have all signed up.  With Rock Shox on board our commitment will be doubled to $5000 so we’re hoping we can get Severed into bomber shape while keeping it challenging and fun.  If your organiztion would like to be one of the first adopters get in touch with them at [email protected]

   Volunteers are vital to the nsmbA.  Thanks to everyone who signed up. Photo ~ Dan Barham

In their State of the Shore address the board talked about the District of North Van’s big projects, including Bobsled as well as the rebuild of the Loutet dirt jumps which was the City of North Vancouver’s first foray into the world of mountain biking.  (North Vancouver is actually two municipalities – North Van District and North Van City.  Isn’t that silly).  Less rosy was the realization that in the past ten years the North Shore has fallen behind many other riding areas in the province where local government has been very supportive.  Places like Squamish, Rossland, Whistler, Pemberton and even Burns Lake have invested in their trail networks and improved the quantity and quality of trails significantly.  During that time the North Shore has made little if any progress.

  Photo ~ Dan Barham

The big news is that the nsmbA feels like we are at a turning point and that soon we’re going to have some real support and recognition from the landowners – but we’re going to need to first demonstrate that we can be effective stewards of the existing network.

The dream is ‘Trails for all, Trails Forever.’  This group at the helm seems bent on making that a reality and I’m really encouraged by their vision and the roadmap they have laid out.

Long live the North Shore!

---

Where you at the meeting?  Did you see it differently?  Report here…