Bike Trails, Races and Donations
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Submitted by Who Knows on Fri, 20/07/2012 - 1:51pm.
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Posts: 48
Joined: 05-03-2007 |
Hi, I am aware that the Fernie Mountain Bike Club receives large donations from each bike race that happens in town. It would be great to see the money that is alloted from each race, to go directly into the trails that were impacted by the race. I am sure this could be achieved, and there would still be funds left over for projects such as the dirt jumps (that appear to be getting way more cash for maintenance then the trails that bring people to Fernie). The races are important for local business and tourism, but lets keep the trails in great shape for everyone else to enjoy again and again. Thanks for listing, |
Joined: 06-03-2007
The Fernie Trails Alliance http://www.fernietrailsalliance.com/ receives money from race events such as Trans Rockies and Furious 3. The money is then allotted to the Fernie Mountain Bike Club and Fernie Trails and Ski Touring Club to be used for various projects.
For instance have you noticed the work on Old Goats/ Megahurts that's been happening this year. A new 32' steel structured bridge was put installed over Gorby creek. http://fernietrails.com/2012/06/gorby-creek-old-goats-bridge/ Ascent Helicopters were hired to sling in this bridge and materials (at a cost of ~$900/hr)The cedar 2x6 decking used is $1 per foot(it doesn't take long to go though 1000' of wood building bridges and boardwalks) Most of the steel used was salvage, but many hours of prep work and welding were involved in creating this structure. This was all volunteer labor btw. Also several boardwalks were constructed over wet areas, a reroute was built around a wet stretch of trail. Again very labor intense volunteer hours. This trail project was taken on by The Fernie Trails and Ski Touring Club We also did a major reroute and built several meters of boardwalk around the soup hole at the bottom of Oh Dear http://fernietrails.com/2012/06/oh-dear-upgrade/
Pat and Mitch have put in a lot of hours upgrading Hyper extension rerouting, berming and dealing with erosion issues.
The Fernie Mountain Bike Club has spent much time and resources upgrading trails such as the R Trail, building boardwalks and armoring wet areas with bricks and gravel. They also did a major upgrade on Sidewinder addressing wet areas. Recently they armored and graveled the muddy section of trail at the bottom of Slunt. The Wednesday night trail crew has done many reroutes around eroded and wet areas.
Lots of money is being pumped into our trails system. Start looking around. Also have you noticed new trail signage starting to appear, the Fernie Trails Alliance has spent a couple grand getting the new signs made.
Money only goes so far, volunteerism is the backbone behind our trail system. Please get out and volunteer as much as you can and support all local event such as Porky's Revenge, High Roller etc.... These local events generate cash flow to be pumped back into trails.
Joined: 20-03-2009
I have to disagree with you about the dirt jumps getting more attention than any other area. It seems like every time I ride a trail at the moment there has been some sort of re-route or improvement. I think the volunteers and paid trail maintenance staff are doing an amazing job.
Even though the organized races do a lot of damage to the trails I think the tourism and money they bring into the town and to the trails more than makes up for it.
On a side note, has anyone noticed that the Pub are now donating money to the trails, I think it's $1 off every Fernie pint they sell during July and August. It doesn't seem to have been publicized much unless you're already at the pub, but I think they should be commended for a commitment like that. They also give some good freebies to the trail maintenance crew. It would be good if more local businesses that benefit from the tourism $$ that the trails bring to town could find a way to give a little back.
Joined: 06-03-2007
Thank you! I'm glad someone is actually paying attention to what is happening. Another side note for you all, The Fernie Hotel meat draw proceeds from this year have been donated to the FERNIE TRAILS ALLIANCE....WHICH COMPUTES TO THE TONE OF $6000...please patronize these guys when you go for your after bike ride refreshments!
Joined: 23-12-2006
The Fernie Mountain Bike Club received the same note, we sent a reply but unfortunately a bogus email was provided and it bounced back.
This was the response sent:
Hi Trail user,
The Fernie Trails Alliance receives most of the funds from the bike races, all of the funds they receive from these events go directly back into the trails. You may want to contact them for more information - info@fernietrailsalliance.ca
The mountain bike club receives a small donation in exchange for finding bodies to volunteer as marshall's etc. Nearly 100% of these funds go directly back into the trails.
The dirt jump park is it's own project with it's own funding sources and it's own budget. It does not siphon off money from trail maintenance.
You may have noticed major projects on trails that were/are impacted by races such as the bridges and re-routing in old goat, major upgrades to project 9, re-routing various sections of Coal Discovery and Oh Dear, much work on ditching and bridging of phat bastard, many upgrades to hyper ventilation and hyper extension.
If you have suggestions of maintenance projects please let us know. Or better yet come on out to a volunteer maintenance night on Wednesday. we meet at 6PM at the dirt jump parks.
Remember, all the trail clubs are still 90% volunteer run with very limited funding. We can't do it without volunteers.
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