January 21/04 6:09 am - Fly Gurlz 2004, IMBA Announces Kona/IMBA Freeriding Grants

Posted by Editoress on 01/21/04
 

Fly Gurlz Community 2004
courtesy Michelle Ward and Dave Solursh

Fly Gurlz has been in operation since 1998 and we are thrilled and excited to be heading into our 7th year of operation. The community mandate is to encourage and support women of all ages and ability levels in the sport of mountain bike riding and racing -"We are more than racing alone" says team owner Michelle Ward. "The team and club are very diverse in age and ability level which is key to the success of the the project. We really want to send out the message that mountain biking is for everyone and participation and getting fit can be fun".

This year the project will include an Ontario provincial trade team, a Ontario Provincial club, women learn to mountain bike clinics and new this year a women only mountain bike festival which will be held at Blue Mountain Resorts in Collingwood, Ontario on July 3/4! The two day festival will include downhill, freeride, cross country, adventure racing and 12/24 hour event training. Also included in the weekend will be bike repair clinics, race training clinics, nutritional seminars and tons of women specific information about cycling. Several Provincial and National cycling celebrities will be attendance - along with most of the Fly Gurlz team! The event will also include an exciting Saturday evening out at the Intrawest Village. "I am thrilled to be hosting such a new and exciting event right here where my family and I choose to live and play" says Ward.

The Fly Gurlz freeride club will be expanding in 2004 with active chapters in Ottawa, Toronto, Guelph and Collingwood. "I just had a baby so we will be adding a "Mum's Club" up in the Collingwood area for women who wish to cycle on bike path trails with their young ones along for the ride" "I am really looking forward to sharing my passion for cycling with my son Kale".

Most of the team sponsors from 2003 are back for another season which really helps to keep the dream alive. "Keeping McNeil Consumer Healthcare (Motrin*) as our title sponsor is fantastic ~ we were happy to sign with them last year and even more thrilled to continue the program for another year". Devinci, Blue Mountain Resorts, Louis Garneau, Smith, Blast Bars, Cytosport, American Apparel, Twist Multimedia and Running Tide Inc are all back as well. "It's great that so many of our sponsors have been working alongside us since the beginning - long term relationships are hard to come by and nurturing these sponsorships is key to the projects growth and success".

Our new website will be up and running by March 1, 2004. In the meantime if you wish information regarding the project you may contact Michelle Ward at bananaseatproductions@hotmail.com

2004 Women's learn to mountain bike clinics

May 29, 2004 - Blue Mountain Resorts, Collingwood Ontario - XC only
June 12, 2004 - Blue Mountain Resorts, Collingwood Ontario - XC only
July 3/4 2004 - Blue Mountain Resorts, Collingwood Ontario - XC - DH and Freeride

2004 Team Roster

Kathy Watkins
Heather Pardon
Sarah Hills
Tracy Ryder
Terri Gregotski
Marcia Blaschke
Anne Bock
Julie Ruest
Marianna Knights
Karley Cunningham
Jacquelyn Burton
Corrie Parton
Erin Curley
Tanya Fleming
Nancy Jenkins
Jennifer Woodcroft
Stephanie Carreau


IMBA Announces Kona/IMBA Freeriding Grants
Courtesy Kona

Mountain bike groups looking to develop technical riding will soon benefit from a new grant program focused on building challenging trails. In 2004, Kona and the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) will award five cash grants to fund the development of freeriding, downhilling, and dirt jumping projects.

IMBA affiliated clubs are invited to apply for five $500 awards. The application deadline is March 1, 2004, and the grants will be awarded in April.

Funding for the program comes from Kona and the Kona/IMBA Bowling Party, an annual Las Vegas fundraiser held during Interbike, the bicycle industry trade show.

The program's goal is to support the development of freeriding opportunities on public land. Grants will be used for a variety of purposes, including gaining land manager approval, addressing liability concerns, trail and stunt construction, trailhead kiosks and signage, and freeride organization building.

The Kona/IMBA Freeriding Grants program builds on Kona's traditional, outstanding support of mountain biking advocacy. Kona has been a leading IMBA corporate supporter since '94 and has developed several creative fundraising projects, including the Kona Buck-A-Bike program, the ongoing Kona Bro Deal program (which asks all bro deal purchasers to become IMBA members), and the highly successful bowling tourney, which recently celebrated its sixth edition.

For more information, or to apply please visit www.imba.com/resources/grants/