June 7/06 12:18 pm - IMBA Summit/World Mountain Bike Conference Update

Posted by Editoress on 06/7/06
 

IMBA Summit/World Mountain Bike Conference

Guest Speakers From Around The Globe Gather To Present At The IMBA Summit/World Mountain Bike Conference In Whistler, B.C.

From June 20 to 23, 2006, guest speakers from around the world will be gathering in Whistler, British Columbia to present to a global gathering of mountain bike advocates, trail builders, land managers, tourism professionals, ski resort managers, and members of the mountain bike industry. The unique three-day IMBA Summit/World Mountain Bike Conference will include seminars on mountain bike tourism, trail design, and other topics related to the rapidly evolving sport of mountain biking.

Coming from as far away as Wales, Israel and the Netherlands, presenters will touch on the conference's major themes including Communication, Collaboration and Clubs - raising the level of communication among trail users, government officials, and land managers for the benefit of local trails; Planning Successful Trail Communities - to promote healthy, active and outdoor lifestyles; Managing Risks and Trails - innovative trail management solutions; and Where do we Ride from Here? - from family free-ride parks to women's clinics, what will be the emerging trends of the sport.

The conference will feature the following four internationally renowned speakers amongst others:

Darco Cazin, Allegra Tourismus GmbH, Switzerland, “Successful Ski Resorts”
Allegra Tourismus is a resort development and consulting company with a focus on mountain biking. Allegra Tourismus has consulted on the 2005 MTB World Championships, the exclusive Bike Gourmet Tour, the Alta Rezia Freeride with Hans Rey and Thomas Frischknecht, and the launch of the new Mottolino bikepark in Livigno. With a background in business and economics, paired with a passion for riding, Cazin will be presenting a session on how ski resorts can make mountain biking an economically viable option.

Eitan Hevroni, Samson Riders Bicycle Club, Israel “Mountain Bike Centres: A Regional Approach”
Hevroni is a founding member and manager of the Samson Riders Bicycle Club whose goal is to make the Beit-Shemesh and Judea District the bicycle capital of Israel and an internationally recognized bike destination for cycle-tourists from Israel and abroad. Hevroni will be talking about how regional mountain biking centres are a testament to the power of big-picture planning and a proven model for promoting large-scale mountain bike tourism.

Patrick Jansen, Probos Foundation, Netherlands, “Building Trails in Urban Ecosystems”
Jansen is a professional forestry engineer, an elite cross-country racer and a mountain bike trail advocate. As a professional forestry engineer, Janson has conducted comprehensive research on the physical and social impacts of mountain biking. As an advocate, he has worked with Dutch forest managers to dispel myths, prejudices and stereotypes about mountain biking. While minimal open space, disturbed ecosystems, and densely populated areas create a challenging environment to build trails, Jansen will share with delegates how innovation is the key to working in urban areas.

Dafydd C. Davis, IMBA UK, Wales, “Managing Trails in Sensitive Ecosystems”
Davis is a true mountain biking pioneer who has played a huge and vital role in the birth and recent expansion of purpose-built mountain bike trails in Wales and other parts of the UK. For his efforts in planning, designing and developing over 200 kilometers of technical trails, Davis was awarded an MBE by Her Royal Majesty, the Queen of England. Davis will be discussing how great trail systems strikes a balance between offering a memorable riding experience and the need to conserve natural features.
The IMBA Summit/World Mountain Bike Conference is an annual event jointly hosted by the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, and North Vancouver's Shore Events.

For more information about the conference or for registration details, visit www.worldmountainbikeconference.com