State of the MTB Sector Webinar – Zoom Recording Available

For anyone that missed the State of the MTB Sector Webinar on November 3rd, you can view the Zoom video recording here. The MBTA would like to thank all the presenters for their excellent presentations. Crankworx Events Darren Kinnaird darren@crankworx.com Whistler Mountain Bike Park Wendy Robinson Wrobinson@vailresorts.com IMBA Canada Justin Darbyshire justin@imbacanada.com Indigenous Youth Mountain Bike Program Patrick Lucas plucas.catalyst@gmail.com Colour the Trails Judy Kasiama judith.kasiama@gmail.com Kootenay Adaptive Sports Association Mike Riediger riedigerm@gmail.com Revelstoke Cycling Association Meghan Tabor meghan.tabor@seerevelstoke.com If you have any follow-up questions about the information presented, please contact the presenter directly or Martin Littlejohn at martin@mbta.ca. If you enjoyed this webinar and would like to see other topics in the future, please take a moment to fill out our webinar topic survey. ...

New MTB Tourism Industry Webinar Series

The MBTA is hosting an mtb tourism industry webinar series over the next few months. The first webinar is titled “State of the MTB Sector” and will be held Wednesday, November 3rd, 2021 from 1:00-2:30pm PST. The State of the MTB Sector Webinar will feature a variety of mountain bike focused organizations that are working hard to shape what mountain biking means to BC.  Hear how they have overcome many of the challenges from the pandemic and wildfires as well as what they anticipate or have planned for 2022 and beyond.  Presenting organizations include Crankworx Events, Canadian Enduro Series, Whistler Mountain Bike Park, IMBA Canada, Indigenous Youth Mountain Bike Program, Colour the Trails, Kootenay Adaptive, Revelstoke Cycling Association, and others. Click here to register for the State of the MTB Sector webinar on November 3rd @ 1pm PST What topics would you like to hear about or discuss in future webinars?  Click here to take our brief...

COVID-19 Updates: Information for businesses, employees and consumers

With so much information about the COVID-19 crisis, it can be very confusing.  Most if not all businesses in the tourism industry are feeling the impacts from the unprecedented quarantine measures imposed by governments around the world to deal with the crisis.  How businesses will recover is anyone’s guess, but aid and stimulus packages are being announced at both the provincial and federal levels. Here are a few useful links for businesses looking for help as well as support for staff whose jobs may be affected. Federal programs and updates: Help for businesses Help for individuals Provincial programs and updates: BC Government Support and Information BC Centre for Disease Control Updates All BC tourism industry stakeholders should also refer to the latest updates from the Tourism Industry Association of BC (TIABC) and Destination BC. TIABC COVID-19 Updates Destination BC’s COVID 19 Updates Health authorities have been clear to avoid all non-essential travel and to practice social distancing and elevated personal hygiene when in the presence of other people.  This message should be applied consistently by all members of the tourism industry.  Businesses can refer their customers to the following link Hello BC - What You Need to Know If we all work together, we will get through this and demonstrate the resilience of the tourism...

New Publication: Working in a Good Way

The Outdoor Recreation Council of BC has released a publication for recreation groups that wish to work cooperatively with Indigenous communities in BC.  Authored by Patrick Lucas, founder of the Aboriginal Youth Mountain Bike Program, the guide offers insights into building healthy relationships through mutual understanding.  View the...

2019 MBTA AGM announced – June 18 at 11am

Notice of an Annual General Meeting for Western Canada Mountain Bike Tourism Association (MBTA) Tuesday, June 18th, 2019 at 11am PST - via conference call Call in details will be provided to members and partners one week prior to the AGM The AGM is being held for the following purposes: To receive the report of the directors and the accounts for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019 To re-elect board members who under the bylaws of the association and, being eligible, are offering themselves for re-election as directors To elect new directors to the association who wish to be nominated – nomination form – nominees must be current partners/members or may also be recognized stakeholders in the mountain biking sector To consider and, if thought fit, pass any resolutions which may be proposed as a special resolution – special resolutions will be advised in advance of the AGM A reminder including the agenda, board vacancies, and further details will be sent to all members approximately one week prior to the meeting date. For more information, please contact Martin Littlejohn at...

Mountain Bike Tourism Creates Jobs and Significant Contributions to Local Economies

Regional economic impact study shows major growth of mountain bike tourism in Sea to Sky Corridor. Vancouver, BC – June 21, 2018 – Whistler, Pemberton, Squamish, and North Vancouver receive a significant share of the estimated 9.2 million overnight visitors that come to the Vancouver, Coast and Mountains tourism region each year according to Destination BC’s Regional Tourism Profile.  An increasing number of visitors are coming specifically for mountain biking from other parts of BC, Alberta, the US and Overseas.  BC has gained legendary status as a mountain biking destination from being featured in countless videos, photographs, and media articles in print and online publications over the past two decades.  Mountain biking has transitioned from being a fringe sport into a mainstream recreational activity, following a similar growth pattern as skiing and snowboarding.  Mountain biking is being embraced by communities throughout the province who see its value both as a local recreation asset as well as a tourism generator. The Mountain Bike Tourism Association (MBTA), in cooperation with community partners and Destination British Columbia, has released the overall results from the 2016 Sea to Sky Mountain Biking Economic Impact Study.  The overall results include a comparison with the previous study completed in 2006 using the same methodology. The results show: Mountain biking visitor expenditures in the Corridor has increased by nearly 100% since the 2006 study, rising from $31.7 million in 2006 to $70.6 million in 2016. The number of jobs supported by mountain bike tourism has grown from 309 in 2006 to an estimated 687 jobs in 2016 with wages totaling $35.9 million. Taxes generated by mountain bike...