IMBA Trails Symposium – Thredbo 05
International trails gurus train local designers!
15 private sector trail professionals from Thredbo, Jindabyne and Canberra gathered this weekend in Thredbo for a Trail symposium which featured Joey Klein as the guest presenter. As a trail designer and builder, and representing the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA), Joey captivated his audience with his experiences from overseas including Whistler MTB Park , Scotland, Wales and most recently Israel and Idaho.
Held over 4 days, each day began with a 2 hour presentation of the what, where and how sustainable trails can be constructed, which was followed by sessions in the field which looked at improving drainage and fun for bike riders and other users. “Thredbo has a great opportunity to continue to provide a quality mountain biking product, and it is ideally placed to attract riders from Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne.” said Klein. “Places like Whistler, Mammoth and a host of other north American ski resorts have focused on trial provision as a means of negating the obvious effects of global warming. Sustainable trails are a mechanism for economic growth and may allow alpine resorts to remain viable over the next 10-20 years.”
Also in Thredbo was world renowned Mountain Cross (MTNX) designer and fellow trail expert Glen Jacobs, here to mark out the soon to be built MTNX track on Thredbo’s beginner ski area, Friday Flat. “It’s a perfect venue with just the right slope and distance.” said Jacobs. “I’ve been designing and building these types of courses all over Australia in the last few months, and this one in particular is going to provide exciting close racing, as well as be a positive facility for recreational riders.”
Thredbo mountain bike tour operator Colin Battersby from Raw NRG, was thrilled with the success of the symposium. “We are very fortunate to have guys of Joey and Glen’s caliber visit us to impart their considerable knowledge and expertise to our own trail builders and designers.” said Mr Battersby. “There is a considerable body of evidence that well built and maintained trails will attract riders to places like Thredbo and Jindabyne. We started the weekend of with a product orientation on the mountain which helped everyone get a handle on what we are trying to achieve which is a fun, achievable and challenging trails for everyone from the world champion to the novice bike rider.”
Raw NRG is focusing on providing educational riding services, with the business becoming accredited Australia wide by the Vocational Education Training Advisory Board (VETAB). “We will be offering learn to ride, intermediate and advanced riding courses over this coming summer.” said Mr Battersby. “Raw NRG has a number of in-house Instructors already trained, as well as high profile racers including Jared Rando, Ben Cory, Claire Whiteman and Luke Strom.”
With Thredbo hosting the National Championships in January, as well as a host of other MTB events this summer, the IMBA “Trails are our Business” symposium comes as a welcome addition to the summer product offerings. As such, the symposium was supported by Thredbo Chamber of Commerce and the Snowy River Shire Council and without their respective contributions it would not have happened.
For more information, photos or interviews, please call Colin Battersby on 0418 225 265 or go to RawNRG.com.au for more information.
International trails gurus train local designers!
15 private sector trail professionals from Thredbo, Jindabyne and Canberra gathered this weekend in Thredbo for a Trail symposium which featured Joey Klein as the guest presenter. As a trail designer and builder, and representing the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA), Joey captivated his audience with his experiences from overseas including Whistler MTB Park , Scotland, Wales and most recently Israel and Idaho.
Held over 4 days, each day began with a 2 hour presentation of the what, where and how sustainable trails can be constructed, which was followed by sessions in the field which looked at improving drainage and fun for bike riders and other users. “Thredbo has a great opportunity to continue to provide a quality mountain biking product, and it is ideally placed to attract riders from Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne.” said Klein. “Places like Whistler, Mammoth and a host of other north American ski resorts have focused on trial provision as a means of negating the obvious effects of global warming. Sustainable trails are a mechanism for economic growth and may allow alpine resorts to remain viable over the next 10-20 years.”
Also in Thredbo was world renowned Mountain Cross (MTNX) designer and fellow trail expert Glen Jacobs, here to mark out the soon to be built MTNX track on Thredbo’s beginner ski area, Friday Flat. “It’s a perfect venue with just the right slope and distance.” said Jacobs. “I’ve been designing and building these types of courses all over Australia in the last few months, and this one in particular is going to provide exciting close racing, as well as be a positive facility for recreational riders.”
Thredbo mountain bike tour operator Colin Battersby from Raw NRG, was thrilled with the success of the symposium. “We are very fortunate to have guys of Joey and Glen’s caliber visit us to impart their considerable knowledge and expertise to our own trail builders and designers.” said Mr Battersby. “There is a considerable body of evidence that well built and maintained trails will attract riders to places like Thredbo and Jindabyne. We started the weekend of with a product orientation on the mountain which helped everyone get a handle on what we are trying to achieve which is a fun, achievable and challenging trails for everyone from the world champion to the novice bike rider.”
Raw NRG is focusing on providing educational riding services, with the business becoming accredited Australia wide by the Vocational Education Training Advisory Board (VETAB). “We will be offering learn to ride, intermediate and advanced riding courses over this coming summer.” said Mr Battersby. “Raw NRG has a number of in-house Instructors already trained, as well as high profile racers including Jared Rando, Ben Cory, Claire Whiteman and Luke Strom.”
With Thredbo hosting the National Championships in January, as well as a host of other MTB events this summer, the IMBA “Trails are our Business” symposium comes as a welcome addition to the summer product offerings. As such, the symposium was supported by Thredbo Chamber of Commerce and the Snowy River Shire Council and without their respective contributions it would not have happened.
For more information, photos or interviews, please call Colin Battersby on 0418 225 265 or go to RawNRG.com.au for more information.
