April 24, 2005 – The International Mountain Bicycling Association’s (IMBA) Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew will be in Swan River,Manitoba, May 20-22 to talk trails, teach people proper trailbuilding technique, and spend quality time digging in the dirt. The visit is one of 70 stops on the 2005 schedule. Everyone is invited to attend the weekend’s events.

The award-winning Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew program includes two full-time, professional teams of trail experts who travel North America year-round, leading IMBA Trailbuilding Schools, meeting with government officials and land managers, and working with IMBA-affiliated groups to improve mountain biking opportunities. IMBA’s Crews have led more than 1,000 trail projects since the program debuted in 1997.

The Crews teach “sustainable” trailbuilding, which means building trails that last a long time and require minimal maintenance. This helps reduce trail damage, protects the environment, and enhances visitor enjoyment.

Most Trail Care Crew visits last four days, allowing time to assess local trails, host an evening event at a bike shop, conduct a two-day Trailbuilding School, and ride with the locals. Now in its ninth year, the Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew program is more popular than ever.

The Crews travel in 2005 Subaru Outbacks provided by Subaru of America – the company that has been IMBA’s leading sponsor since 1997.

The Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew program has inspired great volunteer trailwork across the U.S. and abroad — a big help to government agencies and land managers who have limited funding for trail construction and upkeep.

As a direct result, there are now thousands of new and improved trails in all 50 states, Canada, Mexico and several European countries. That’s a pretty impressive record.

Coming to Swan River, Manitoba are Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew members Nat and Rachael Lopes. Before working at IMBA, Rachael worked as an archaeologist with a breadth of experience that ranges from GIS mapping to soil sampling to burial exhumation. Nat worked as an independent marketing, design and photography consultant.

All are welcome to join the Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew leaders when they come to town. Below is a schedule of events that are open to the public:

May 20, 2005, 7:00pm — 9:00pm at the Swan Valley Regional Secondary School
Around the World with IMBA Slideshow

May 21, 2005, 8:30am — 5:00pm at Thunderhill Ski Area
May 22, 2005, 9:00am — 2:00pm at Thunderhill Ski Area
IMBA Trailbuilding School

For more information and to register for the IMBA Trailbuilding School, contact.
Randy Schenk IMBA Manitoba 204-731-0102 randyschenk@hotmail.com
For a complete list of visit dates, photos and additional information on the Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew visit www.imba.com.

About Subaru of America, Inc.
Subaru of America, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. of Japan. Headquartered near Philadelphia, the company markets and distributes all-wheel drive Subaru vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of nearly 600 dealers across the United States. Subaru of America, Inc., is the only car company that offers symmetrical all-wheel drive as standard equipment on every vehicle in its product line. Subaru has been the best-selling import wagon in America for the past 20 years, based on R.L. Polk & Company new vehicle retail registration statistics calendar year-end 2002.

About IMBA
The International Mountain Bicycling Association creates, enhances and preserves trail opportunities for mountain bikers worldwide. Since 1988, IMBA has been bringing out the best in mountain biking by encouraging low-impact riding, volunteer trailwork participation, cooperation among different trail user groups, and innovative trail management solutions. IMBA’s worldwide network includes 32,000 individual members, more than 450 bicycle clubs, and 400 corporate partners and dealer members. For more information visit www.imba.com.