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NWTA Newsletter - June '11
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It's Summer- NWTA Turns Up the Heat!
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We're all familiar with the adage "time flies when you're having fun." Well, that saying has never been more true. June has gone by in a flash- and it wouldn't be the truth if we didn't admit this month has been HUGE on fun factor.
National Trails Day brought quite a few people out to one of our new favorites- Stub Stewart. NWTA and WTF had been logging the hours out at Stub and it was great for everyone to see what we've been up to. What an opportunity to show off what a we can do! Attendees were also treated to a showing of Pedal Driven. This flick is fast becoming the standard narrative for riders everywhere. Likewise moviegoers got their fix over at Hollywood Theater. Fat Tire Farm helped us put on the Portland Premiere of Clay Porter's 3 Minute Gaps. June also signaled the kick off to the Short Track Series out at PIR. The few times we weren't riding, we've been at our build days and work parties maintaining trails and creating some new ones with great success. All this activity just made a month of (mostly) sunny rides that much better. Who knew it could go by so fast.
The next month should prove just as great. We have the Mckenzie River Campout, a completed Eichler, Sunday Parkways, and a ton of refreshened trails to ride.
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Announcements
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New facebook Page Last month we announced our new facebook page. This time around we are asking you to 'suggest' the new page to five friends who you think would benefit from joining the NWTA family. We've all been a key part of the success to the recent burst of activity. It's the little things like this that help us make a big difference. NWTA New Member Drive Update Recent builds out at Stub, Sandy Ridge, Eichler, and more have created quite the buzz. As our activities gain momentum people have started to take notice. While our organization has enjoyed a share of the public's attention, NWTA has some work to do before we hit 1000 members, our goal for the end of 2011. So if you are looking for a new way to get involved with the Northwest Trail Alliance, join us as we brainstorm and implement exciting ideas for attracting new members. Remember, with numbers comes political clout, which makes this an important part of the development of the organization. We will be setting up a weekday evening meeting soon. Please email Brian Baumann at brian@nw-trail.org if you are interested. Tour de Tilly Cancelled, St. Helens Mountain Bike Festival Postponed You read it right, Tour de Tillamook is cancelled and Helens Fest II has been postponed until August. Hopefully, we'll have Tour de Tillamook back on track for next year. Take one look at Mt. St. Helens, and it seems apparent that Jack Frost has conspired against us and blanketed the volcano with an unusually late snow pack. It sounds like we will have to take a raincheck (snowcheck???) until August. There's definitely an upside to this, though. Think of it this way, when everyone else is riding in the blistering August heat, we'll be on a mountain having a blast with our friends and family! Be sure to stop by our facebook page or the NWTA website for updates. |
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Life Out at the Farm
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Fat Tire Farm Presents, 3 Minute Gaps
NWTA would like to send a big thanks to Fat Tire Farm for organizing the premiere, the Hollywood Theater for hosting our motley crew of riders, and all of you who made it out Saturday night! It was a great success and a truckload of fun. Director Clay Porter's film gave us a gripping chronicle of the '09 and '10 World Cup Downhill Series and World Championships. It was a nice treat after day of riding, building, and whatnot, to sit back and enjoy some sick footage with friends. The flick was pretty inspiring and we'd bet more than a few hit the trails the next day, taking those lines like a pro.
 The night also brought some new faces to the mix, and with all of the regulars there too, made
for some really good times! All the attendance definitely helped as proceeds went to benefit Sandy Ridge Trail System and future NWTA endeavors. Fundraisers like this always seem to hit right on the nail what it is to be an NWTA member. Riding, camaraderie, and working for the future of our trails- plus, everyone saw some sweet prizes handed out. Speaking of which, winner of the grand prize, an Ibis Mojo HD, was none other than Joel Martinez. Joel has been a volunteer to multiple trail work parties and we were really happy to see the Ibis go to such a good guy. Overall, the night was a blast and helped raise some funds. Thanks again for everyone's continued support and friendship!
Fat tire Farm Takes Giant Leap at Sandy Ridge
 | | Bama: Rocks??? Pwned! |
It wasn't too long ago that hiking trails and fire roads were our only means of connecting with the great landscape our Northwest has to offer. Things are changing for the better and in a BIG way. Right in our backyard is a growing community of riders, and together we have become an organized and legitimate voice of trail rights and trail advocacy. Now we have a devoted sponsor showing support for our trails and taking an interest in trail development. Our friends at Fat Tire Farm took a long, hard look at where to focus efforts and picked Sandy Ridge. Park Chambers and the crew have hired a dedicated trail builder to work over the next several months, dialing in that line you'll ride next weekend. The lucky fellow's name is Chris Milucky aka "Bama", and he and his girlfriend have bought an Airstream, and moved it to the base of the Sandy Ridge system for the summer. Sweet job eh? So why is FtF doing this? Because they want to show support for Sandy Ridge, one of the raddest trail systems around, help make it even better and really put the NW on the map! It's great to see one of our local bike businesses take such an active role in supporting our sport, and we look forward to seeing more sponsors take that first step and help shape the future of our trails. Thanks Fat Tire Farm!
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NWTA in the Community
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 Sunday Parkways
Sunday Parkways are fast becoming a Portland tradition, and NWTA is now entering our 4th year of our partnering with the city on the event. The NWTA skills course has become a regular feature at the events and is a testament to the popularity of recreational cycling in our city parks. Thanks to everyone that has helped out with the NWTA Skills Course. There is no doubt that your help has launched our involvement into public's view and has paved the way for us to build our first public pump track in East Portland!
Join us as we continue the tradition. Volunteers can help out with setting up and staffing the event. The upcoming event is in North Portland on Sunday, June 26th from 11am - 4pm. If you have done this before, you know it's a blast, if not, this is a great way to get involved, give back, and be part of soemthing that has made real, and positive change for recreational cycling in Portland! For more information email Will at will@nw-trial.org
Youth Corps Lends Some Help
by Zach Jarrett
Youth Corps are diligently building new singletrack on the Sandy Ridge Trail Project. During the primary build season, May 1st to November 1st, the BLM will have a total of four different crews on the project. The main crew work will be performed by WOAPE, a Sandy Oregon based youth crew, and being directed by Ethan Furniss (an NWTA member, case ya didn't know). Additional efforts come from Northwest Youth Corp based out of Eugene Oregon, Columbia River Environmental Youth Corp based out of St. Helens, and a crew funded by the state under the Oregon Youth Employment Institute based out of Brightwood.
At the height of the build season, July through August, all four crews will be working simultaneously on the project. Our estimate is that at any given time during this period we could see upwards of 35-40 youth each day! Total hours for all crews being performed on the trail system this season is estimated at just over 15,000 hours.
Hands Off Our Hood
As you might have heard, Oregon Wild is currently working
 to get more land in the Mount Hood area designated as Wilderness where, as all of you know, bikes are prohibited. Approximately 100 miles of trails in the Mount Hood area were lost to a Wilderness designation in 2009. The current Oregon Wild proposal is in early stages, and as yet has no legislative sponsor. We're out front on this issue, and believe that the proposal has a slim chance of being successful, but we know we must not let our guard down and be vigilant in protecting the areas where we ride. In response, NWTA and IMBA are strategizing on our tactics, and on June 15 convened a meeting of mountain bike advocates and Oregon Wild to determine whether there is any room for agreement in the proposal. In addition to IMBA representatives Anna Laxague and Jill Van Winkle, attending the meeting were Tom Archer and Joe Barcott (NWTA), Woody Starr (COTA), Kay Kucera (CAMBA), Arthur Babitz (Hood River mayor and CAMBA member), and Erik Fernandez (Oregon Wild). Mountain bikers agreed that in context of the recent losses to trail access, we have no tolerance for losing any more trails; and we will oppose any proposal which would put more trails off limits. IMBA has assigned Ashley Korenblat, their Public Lands Initiative Director to convene future meetings among our group and devise an overall strategy in response. This is a great example of the benefits of being part of an international organization, with resources and connections beyond our means locally. We will keep you informed and up-to-date as this proposal develops. |
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Trail Talk: Thrillium, Eichler, and The ST240. Oh, My!
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June Women' Group Ride
Summer has finally arrived! The June edition of the Northwest Trail Alliance Women's Group Ride tookplace in the Tillamook Forest. Seven awesome women rode from Gales Creek Day Use Area, up and over Storey Burn, looped Sickter Lars, and screamed back down Gales Creek trail. We were blessed with perfect temps and trail conditions, along with zero mechanicals. Thanks to all who rode and to those who helped to organize, and share their skills and knowledge. What a treat!  Keep your eyes on the NWTA calendar for the next women's ride, and join the " N.W.T.A. Women's Group" on Facebook to stay informed of all the latest news and ride postings. Of course you can feel free to post your own ride to these sites anytime you feel so inclined. Things are Looking Up, for Going Down- Thrillium Trail! MOMENTUM- WE HAZ IT! Now, we're not just talking about the momentum that comes from the kind of kinetic force gathered during Thrillium's 3 miles of DH single track descent, covering a 2,000' elevation drop. Nope, we're talking about the stir of recent activity out at the Cold Creek group's Thrillium Trail. NWTA has just signed on to help fund the efforts happening at the trail, and we're grateful to see additional sponsors following suit. The funding for the project has just been joined by Vancouver Toyota, and Bad Monkey Bikes. Located on Larch Mountain near Tarbell trail- Thrillium is sure to prove a new favorite! If all goes as planned, this trail will be open later this summer. Look for updates on the NWTA website. Eichler Jump/Flow Park- UPDATE 
Things are really taking shape out at Eichler. The park has transformed from an underused and neglected space into what will be one of the westside's premier bike parks. Eichler is being rebuilt literally from the ground up. This has required a ton of effort from some dedicated friends- and they aren't done yet! This is the type of advocacy coming from NWTA these days. We certainly hope that city officials see this project as a great example of how ridership and trail access are relevant opportunities in the urban setting. We have long touted mountain biking as a conservation-based form of recreation, and while typically this rationale is applied to the forest-like trails we usually frequent, projects like Eichler preserve open spaces in cities, too. Bottom line: Eichler will, no contest, be one pretty sweet jump park, but it will also be there to improve and preserve the livability of neighboring communities for a very long time. A work party is scheduled for this coming saturday at 9AM, see our calendar for details. Ventura Park Pumptrack- UPDATE We're still jumping through hoops with the City in hopes of starting work on Portland's first pumptrack later this summer. The track, located at Ventura Park in SE Portland, will feature both a kiddie track and a more advanced line for us big kids. We are putting the finishing touches on our site plans and working on the logistics, which are formidable. We are soliciting partners and sponsors to help support this exciting project and are in need of a couple things in particular - plant stock for landscaping, and earthmoving equipment (Bobcat or similar). If you're interested in supporting this project with funding, or in-kind donations, please contact Tom Archer. Keep an eye on our website for updates on the first build day! ST240 Flexes Some Muscle at National Trail Day  In addition to all the festivities that happened on National Trails Day, Stub Stewart was host to our first operators training for the ST240. Joe Roykowski was there to show just what the machine was capable of. It''s official, and as of now the ST240 is available to partners who are helping pilot this aspect of Trail Development Partnership Program (TDPP). The beast is already on the ground in Tillamook State Forest (and initial reports are quite positive about the machine's capabilities!) Later this summer, it will go to Sandy Ridge to dial in some new trail treats for us, and later to Stub Stewart State Park. If you have a project you'd like to see come to fruition in your neck of the woods, please go to the link above. Participating partners are eligible for credit towards rental of equipment in exchange for services rendered (volunteer operator training, fabrication work, equipment repair work, etc). |
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Spotlight on Service
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 | | Raul On Top of the World! |
Welcome to our new section, where we hope to showcase a different member each month who has, in some way or another, been invaluable to NWTA. These are the people, like all our volunteers, who have made what we do possible.
Meet Raul Atencio. Tireless volunteer and creative voice behind some truly innovative trails, Raul's contributions to NWTA and our community of riders have been immeasurable. Join him out at Eichler as we work to complete one of our latest and greatest place to ride.
Who: "First of all, I am a Rideeerr!!!!"
You are Involved Because...: "I have been mountain biking for more that 15 years and I want to get more people to enjoy the freedom of the woods and the outdoors." Why You Ride: "When I am on the trail everything else just goes away, and because I like sweet jumps." Favorite Trail: "Bonzai DH at Black Rock, Falls City. OR - This trail is the perfect beginner trail for anybody that wants to get into DH or Freeride mountain bike." Best Post-Ride Grub/Drink: "Walking Man Brewery in Stevenson, WA. after Syncline or Post Canyon." Handshake, Hug, or Hi-Five: "ALL. Handshake for the business meeting, hug for the people I respect, and Hi-five when it's super fun." What's on Deck: "Today I rode at Black Rock solo with Rage Against the Machine, Radiohead and Red Hot Chili Peppers on my headphones."
Raul's life-long affair with riding started when he was introduced to his first mountain bike in 1991 in Orlando, Florida- it was the Toys R Us special so many of us grew up with. Unlike most of us, though, he built his first Downhill Trail a short time later in 1998- in Barquisimeto, Venezuela no less. Raul has been a driving force behind the freeride efforts out at Stub and sits at the helm of gravity group activities at Westside Trail Federation. He has put in countless hours building trails and helping shape the future of riding in the Northwest. For those who know Raul, it is no surprise that his goals at NWTA are to see the completion of both Eichler Bike Park and Ventura Park Pump Track. THANK YOU, Raul! There you go folks, your monthly dose of "Spotlight on Service." Until next time, drink it in, it always goes down smooth.
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Upcoming Events: Mark Your Calendar
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June 24th - 26th (5:00pm) - Mckenzie River Campout Mix equal parts camping, riding, and good weather, and you have a recipe for summer fun!
Sat, June 25th (9:00am - 4:00pm) Eichler Build Day Come out and help move some dirt with the remodel of Eichler Bike Park in Beaverton.
Tue, June 28th (6:00pm - 8:00pm) - June General Meeting Arrive at Hopworks Urban Brewery to get the latest on all things NWTA... or just grab a beer and talk bikes.
Wed, June 29th, July 6th, 13th... (5:30pm) - Weekly Forest Park Ride Join us for our regular Wednesday night ride in Forest Park.
Mon, June 6th, 13th, 20th... - Portland Mountain Bike Short Track Series 2011
Every Monday evening June through August 1st. Don't forget new NWTA members enjoy a discount on registration! See you at the races!
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