July 21, 2005 – The International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) and the National Off-Road Bicycle Association (NORBA) recently awarded ten $500 grants to develop and improve trail systems used by racers and recreational riders. NORBA members funded the grants by selecting an optional checkbox on license applications and renewal forms. Winning projects ranged from urban freeride parks to improvements to country trail systems.

Here are the 2005 winners:

Waco Bicycle Club; Waco, TX The WBC will expand the Outback Trail, used in the annual Outback Blowout Mountain Bike Race. New bridges and sections of singletrack will enrich the course for racers and recreational trail users alike. http://www.teamwbc.com

Velo de Animas Bicycle Club; San Juan Co., NM Velo de Animas will re-route a portion of the Road Apple Rally Trail from dirt road to singletrack. This event is one of the longest ongoing mountain bike races in the country and is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2005. http://www.velodeanimas.com

Montpelier Area Mountain Bike Association and Onion River Sports; Montpelier, VT MAMBA and Onion River will build several bridges, improving and extending the Morse Farm racecourse. The course hosts a popular ten-week summer race series. http://www.onionriver.com http://www.bikemamba.org

SORBA-OMBA; Central Georgia SORBA-OMBA will improve a section of trail at the Georgia Industrial Children’s Home, using armoring and re-routing to avoid sensitive areas. The group will also enhance the Arrowhead Park Trail System, where they will soon hold several races. http://www.sorbaomba.org

Michigan Mountain Biking Association and Tailwind Enterprises; Detroit, MI The MMBA and Tailwind will add new trail and a technical skills area to Stony Creek Metropark, near Detroit. Tailwind organizes a race at Stony Creek, which has become one of Michigan’s premier mountain biking areas. http://www.mmba.org http://www.tailwind.net

Flagstaff Velo Cycling Club and Flagstaff Biking Organization; Flagstaff, AZ FVCC and FBO will revamp Upper Moto Trail, a popular freeride trail in the San Francisco Peaks. This project will add a challenging outlet for advanced riders in this popular mountain biking destination. http://www.flagstaffbiking.org

Great Divide Cycling Team; Helena, MT The Great Divide Cycling Team, along with the Prickly Pear Land Trust, will build the Hobbes Hill trail near Helena. The new trail will provide a useful link between two popular trail systems and offer stunning views of the Helena Valley. http://www.greatdividecyclery.com/gdcmain.html http://www.helenabicycleclub.org

The Outback Trail Commission; Imagination Glen, IN The Outback Trail Commission will build a 16-foot bridge and reroute the Outback Trail to an area that is more suitable for race traffic. This trail hosts the annual Pig’s Feat Bike and Run. http://www.outbacktrail.org

Santa Barbara Mountain Bike Trail Volunteers and Stumpgrinder Productions; Santa Barbara, CA The SBMBTV and Stumpgrinder Productions will build two miles of new trail in Elings Park, which will be used for an annual bike festival. http://www.sbmtv.org

Great Falls Bicycle Club; Great Falls, MT The GFBC will expand the River’s Edge Trail System, an exciting singletrack area that parallels the Missouri River. Their work will provide an excellent venue for cross-country and 24-hour races. http://www.greatfallsbicycleclub.org