The National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) recently announced a partnership with the International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA).
Troy Hawks, spokesperson for NSAA, said in an interview that IMBA has good resources available to help winter resorts improve their mountain biking offerings and attract more summer business.
“Whether (resorts) go about using them is completely up to them,” he explained. “The partnership formalizes, outlines and recognizes areas where we have a shared interest.”
IMBA is an advocacy organization promoting access to, and creation of, trails for mountain biking, said Mark Eller, communications director for the group.
In the past, when resorts have wanted to make trails for mountain biking, they invited resort staffers with a passion for the sport to cut trails. As a result, many North American resorts have trails that are not professionally designed and are not friendly to every skill level.
Hawks said the partnership makes sense because IMBA has resources to help resorts plan and professionally construct trails that will be popular with all riders.
Ski resorts should plan out mountain biking trails the same way they plan ski runs, Eller said.
Whistler, British Columbia, is a great example of what can be accomplished with proper investment, Eller said. Vail Resorts is now doing the same in Colorado.
“There’s no reason why other resorts can’t replicate that,” he said. “It’s all doable; it’s about having a plan and a budget.”
The wisdom of the investment may differ by region, Hawks acknowledged. Not every resort, nor the summer guests it attracts, is the same, he said.
Summer guests in some areas are interested in sightseeing, while resorts in other areas find zip lines to be their most popular offering.
But if mountain biking is popular in a resort’s region, improving the trails could be a great way to expand the summer activities bill, he said.
Park City Mountain Resort is already a member of IMBA.
Deer Valley Resort is a member of the National Mountain Bike Patrol, which is an arm of IMBA, resort spokesperson Emily Summers said.
“We have worked with IMBA on trail design in the past and currently use their guidelines when designing new trails. We think it’s great that they are offering their expertise to other ski areas in design and maintenance of bike trails. It is a good thing for the whole industry,” she said via email.
Canyons Resort was unable to comment, but also offers mountain biking access in the summer. The resort opened a Skills Park last August and three different skill-level trails with a variety of features serviced by the High Meadow lift.
IMBA named entire Park City area a “Gold Level Ride Center” this week. Mountain Trails Foundation will receive the award, but credit goes to all organizations that maintain trails, said foundation executive director Charlie Sturgis.