Apr 4, 2017 | Industry, MBTA Initiatives, Partners, Trends
VANCOUVER – April 4, 2017 A new study supported by the District of Squamish finds that mountain bike trails in Squamish attracted $9.9 million in visitor spending in 2016. Mountain biking is a significant outdoor activity in the District of Squamish, with 25,180 riders taking over 202,000 rides in 2016. Of note, more than 20,000 riders and 99,000 rides were made by visitors from outside of the community, providing a significant boost to the local economy. For the avid mountain biker it is no surprise that Squamish has become a sought after destination. With over 150 kilometers of maintained mountain bike trails surrounded by stunning mountain and coastal scenery it’s no wonder that it has been featured in many published articles and videos, played host to numerous events and media crews, and is now home to a number of professional riders, bike and adventure related businesses and tourism companies. The District of Squamish’s tag line sums it up perfectly, “Hard wired for Adventure.” The results of the 2016 study illustrate the significant growth in mountain bike tourism for Squamish over the past decade. In 2006 a similar study was conducted which determined that mountain bike visitors spent $2.3 million in the community. This quadrupling of tourism spending over the past 10 years can be attributed to many factors. A major one has been the provincial policy introduced in 2008 to allow approved mountain bike trails on Crown Land under the Forest and Range Practices Act. Once trails are approved communities can then begin to promote them for local recreation and tourism. Mountain bike tourism is likely to continue to...
Sep 1, 2015 | Industry, MBTA Initiatives
September 1, 2015 SIMPCW (Chu Chua) – people from throughout the McBride to Barriere Corridor will have an opportunity to learn how to build world-class single-track trails for hiking and mountain biking. The workshop will take place on Saturday and Sunday September 12 & 13 at the Simpcw Nation community Hall (500 Dunn Lake Rd, Barriere, BC) from 9am to 4pm. The workshop is open to any group or individual interested. There are no fees to attend. The Simpcw First Nation received $45,000 from the BC government to identify how Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities can collaborate and pursue new opportunities in the region’s growing mountain bike and tourism industry. Other communities such as the Thompson Nicola Regional District and the Simpcw Nation have contributed to the project. The trail building workshop is also being supported by MNP and Recreation Sites & Trails BC. The trail building workshop will allow Simpcw members, as well as representatives from communities and community organizations from throughout the area, to learn about sustainable trail building and maintenance techniques and practises. The workshop will provide the skills and capacity for local communities to build trails throughout the McBride to Barriere Corridor. The workshop will be facilitated by Mark Wood from the Arc’teryx NSMBA North Shore Trail Builders Academy. The Academy is a program operated by the North Shore Mountain Bike Association providing training in modern trail building techniques to assess, build and maintain trails focused on long-term sustainability and a positive user experience. Labour Market Partnerships are a component of the Employment Program of BC’s Community and Employer Partnerships fund for projects that share labour...
Feb 26, 2015 | Industry, MBTA Initiatives, Uncategorized
Williams Lake, B.C. Feb. 26, 2015 – Williams Lake will have an incredible opportunity to showcase its trails as the city welcomes hundreds of mountain bikers and industry professionals from across British Columbia to the Provincial Mountain Bike Tourism Symposium this fall. From Oct. 2nd to 4th, the city will host a diverse group of industry professionals including media, destination marketers, commercial operators, land managers, government and industry representatives, professional riders, and mountain bike advocates. The City of Williams Lake and the Cariboo Regional District have a long history of supporting mountain biking, and recognize the positive economic impact mountain bike tourism has on our region. A partnership between local governments and the Cariboo Mountain Bike Consortium and the Williams Lake Cycling Club continues to develop mountain biking infrastructure and promotion in the Cariboo. This partnership, coupled with world class single track, a dedicated local riding community, continued trail maintenance, and a strong relationship with Recreation Sites and Trails BC, helped create the winning bid to host the Provincial Mountain Bike Tourism Symposium in Williams Lake this fall. Eleven communities from throughout BC submitted proposals but unique Cariboo qualities helped Williams Lake win the bid. Hosting this event will have multiple benefits to the community of Williams Lake and the Cariboo Region through heightened media attention, positive economic impact, and opportunity to showcase the continued hard work and support that has built Williams Lake into a world class mountain bike destination. In addition to the conference itself, the weekend will include guided rides, a social evening, and a film screening. Mayor Walt Cobb is pleased to have Williams Lake...
Jan 26, 2015 | Industry, MBTA Initiatives, Partners, Uncategorized
New collaborative effort will help create opportunities for communities along the Yellowhead Corridor Vancouver, BC – January 26, 2015 – The Western Canada Mountain Bike Tourism Association (MBTA) in partnership with the Northern BC Tourism Association and the Omineca Beetle Action Coalition is pleased to announce the release of a new strategy to support further development of mountain biking in the region. Northern BC is recognized for its vast wilderness and outdoor recreation opportunities and is increasingly gaining attention as a mountain biking destination. “Mountain biking represents a new opportunity to attract visitors to our region and collaboration among the key stakeholders will be critical”, said Clint Fraser, acting CEO of the Northern BC Tourism Association. Mountain biking advocates living in communities along the Yellowhead corridor have been building and maintaining trails for mountain biking for over a decade. “Valemount, Prince George, Burns Lake, Smithers, and Terrace have already created some amazing trail networks”, said Martin Littlejohn, Executive Director of the MBTA, “however, the capacity of the local mountain bike clubs and advocacy groups is limited by funding and volunteer support. We are recommending collaboration at a regional level among local governments, regional districts and other regional agencies to support mountain bike development for the social and economic benefits that it can provide.” Key recommendations include support for trail maintenance, entry level trails and skills parks for beginners and families, consistent signage, programming for youth, greater involvement with the tourism sector, and the creation of a regional brand. The Northern BC Mountain Bike Recreation and Tourism Strategy was supported by the following communities and organizations: Omineca Beetle Action Coalition...
Feb 13, 2013 | Industry, MBTA Initiatives, Uncategorized
News BC Mountain Bike Tourism Symposium welcomes industry leaders and stakeholders - A symposium to progress mountain bike tourism in the province – Vancouver, BC - February 13, 2013 - The Western Canada Mountain Bike Tourism Association (MBTA) in partnership with Recreation Sites and Trails BC, Tourism British Columbia, International Mountain Bicycling Association Canada, Royal Roads University, and District of Sooke is proud to present the BC Mountain Bike Tourism Symposium at the Best Western Premier - Prestige Oceanfront Resort in Sooke, BC, May 26-28, 2013. British Columbia has gained much attention worldwide for its significant role in mountain biking. The program of the Symposium is entitled “Progression”. It speaks to the opportunity for stakeholders and experts to gather and share insights and knowledge about how to progress toward a more sustainable and viable mountain bike tourism sector. The Symposium is geared towards community leaders, land managers, trail advocates, adventure tourism operators, and government and industry representatives and will present lessons learned from BC and other parts of the world. Key initiatives will be highlighted that represent new opportunities for communities throughout the province. Topics will cover marketing mountain biking experiences, land use and product development considerations, environmental and risk management issues, partnerships and funding, as well as developing bike friendly communities and services. Our goal is to unify the voice of the BC mountain bike tourism industry, and discuss the opportunities we have to drive more tourism to the province. The symposium offers: Knowledgeable speakers and interactive panels of experts discussing key issues. Networking opportunities with stakeholders from around the province, plus a variety of social events. Announcements...
Oct 19, 2011 | Industry, MBTA Initiatives, Uncategorized
October 19, 2011 Earlier this morning we released the official trailer for From The Inside Out – the premiere film from SecondBase, a joint production company owned by Anthill Films and the Coastal Crew. From the Inside Out will be available December 1st, 2011 in a special edition DVD+BluRay combo pack and on over twenty iTunes stores world-wide. The world premiere will take place October 27th in Whistler BC and currently over forty premiere tour events are currently scheduled to take place before December 1st. Written, directed and edit by the Coastal Crew and produced by Anthill Films, From the Inside Out was filmed entirely in British Columbia, the birthplace of freeride, and features some of the sport’s best riders, including: Brandon Semenuk, Steve Smith, Thomas Vanderham, Matt Hunter, Graham Agassiz, Mike Hopkins, Kenny Smith & The Coastal Crew. This is a film by riders, for riders. As the Coastal Crew puts it: “Many past films, riders, and locations have inspired us. Some of those locations are now our backyards, and some of those riders are now our friends. From the Inside Out is our adventure to the places we’ve always wanted to ride, and our expression of the lines and styles that have influenced us. This is freeride mountain biking. This film is from us – the riders.” Fans can support the filmmakers direct by pre-ordering the DVD+BluRay combo pack now. Visit www.secondbasefilms.com to find out more and to view current premiere tour dates. From the Inside Out is made possible by Mountain Biking BC, Rock Shox, Sombrio, Evoc, Chromag, Pink Bike and SCOTT Sports. Additional support for...
