July 20/12 15:12 pm - IMBA Ontario Gears Up for the 2012 Trailblazing Festival

Posted by Editoress on 07/20/12
 

Second annual mountain bike festival to take place August 18 and 19  at Hardwood Ski and Bike

With summer in full-swing, one of the best ways to enjoy the outdoors and Ontario’s scenic beauty is from the seat of a mountain bike.  This August, get ready to hit the dirt and navigate the trails at the International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA) Ontario’s second annual Trailblazing Festival.  Taking place at Hardwood Ski and Bike near Barrie on August 18 and 19, the Festival is a two-day celebration of mountain biking in Ontario and will feature rides for all ages and abilities, skills training, competitions, bike demos, IMBA’s Trail Care Crew, and plenty of food and entertainment.

“We’re incredibly excited to bring this year’s Trailblazing Festival to Hardwood Ski and Bike, which features some of the most beautiful trails in the province,” says Igor Hoogendoorn, IMBA Canada’s Ontario Coordinator. “What’s especially great about the festival is that there’s something for everyone – beginners, advanced, adults and children. We want people to bring their bikes, enthusiasm and spend a fun–filled August weekend in the great outdoors.”

From family group rides, skill sessions, bike demos and fun competitions on Saturday, to the notorious IMBA Epic Ride on Sunday, the Trailblazing Festival will feature an abundance of activities and events for all:

Family and beginners:

• Group rides for all abilities and family-specific rides
• Supervised mini-skills area for kids
• Social competitions including an exciting kids race
• Women’s-specific guided rides
• Mountain bike rentals

Experienced enthusiasts:

• Skill clinics for intermediate and advanced riders
• Skills park with skinnies, jumps, drops and teeter totters
• IMBA Epic ride – Test your mettle on this 50km ride from Hardwood to Horseshoe and beyond

Everyone

• Performances by  mountain bike riding experts
• 2012 bicycle and product demonstrations
• IMBA Trail Building School – Learn about sustainable trail building with the IMBA Canada Trail Care Crew
• Contests, prizes, and entertainment
• Food, beverage and merchandise vendors

The IMBA Ontario Trailblazing festival is pleased to offer onsite camping near Hardwood Ski and Bike and overnight accommodation at Horseshoe Resort.  Festival tickets are currently available and can be purchased in advance at www.imbacanada.com, or at the festival.

The 2nd annual festival is presented by IMBA Ontario, a program run by the Canadian office of the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA Canada).  Established in the spring of 2012, IMBA Ontario was born from the transfer of provincial organization Mountain Bike Ontario into IMBA Canada's national structure. 

Says Hoogendoorn, “There is a tremendous opportunity to grow awareness and support for mountain biking in the province. Trailblazing is an initiative to bring the mountain bike community together and to celebrate all that Ontario has to offer.”

About IMBA

The International Mountain Bicycling Association is the largest mountain bike advocacy organization in the world. Established in 1988, IMBA has been bringing out the best in mountain biking by encouraging low-impact riding, volunteer trailwork participation, and co-operation among different trail user groups, grassroots advocacy, and innovative trail management solutions.

IMBA's worldwide network includes 35,000 individual members, more than 750 affiliated chapters and clubs, 170 corporate partners, and about 600 retailer shops. Nationally, IMBA Canada represents over 10,000 mountain bikers in all provinces and territories