January 25/12 22:42 pm - TransRockies Challenge Raises Over $17,000 for Local Trail Groups

Posted by Editoress on 01/25/12
 

TransRockies Challenge, North America’s original epic Mountain Bike stage race, celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2011. While featuring some of the best single-track trails in the Canadian Rockies, TransRockies also raised money to further improve the incredible mountain biking opportunities available in the region. Using an innovative fundraising method that built an Optional Trails Donation into rider entry fees, the 2011 event raised over $17,000 for five local non-profit groups. Riders were also able to opt out of the donation by pledging to complete a minimum volunteer commitment in their home region.  Either way, the riding community benefits from entries in this event and camaraderie grows among riders.

With the first three days of the 2011 event taking place in and around Fernie, British Columbia, over $9,000 went to three groups in the mountain community: the Fernie Trails Alliance, the Fernie Trails and Ski Touring Club and the Fernie Mountain Bike Club. These groups are all active in trail development and maintenance in the Elk Valley, and funds raised through TransRockies will go towards local trail maintenance in Fernie. The Fernie groups also contributed to the TransRockies event through assisting with route marking and marshaling during the event.

Once the event traveled east of the continental divide for the Alberta portion of the TransRockies, an additional $8,000 was raised for three groups: Moose Mountain Bike Trails Society, Calgary Mountain Bike Alliance, and Bow Valley Mountain Bike Alliance. The Moose Mountain Bike Trails Society will use the funding to put a trail crew on the Pnuema trail next summer. One of the trails used for TransRockies, Pnuema is a recently developed single-track climb route and will see further improvements in the coming season.

The Calgary Mountain Bike Alliance is involved in extensive trail development including several ongoing projects west of Calgary. One such trail is Ridgeback, which was used in the 2011 TransRockies. The Bow Valley Mountain Bike Alliance is active in trail development around the Town of Banff, in Banff National Park near the TransRockies finish line in Canmore.

TransRockies is a member of IMBA (International Mountain Bicycling Association) and IMBA Canada and is committed to supporting the responsible development of trails as well as trail access advocacy. The trail charities fundraising program will continue in 2012.

Registration for TransRockies 2012 is now open.  Register today at www.transrockies.com.

Press release