Freeride Ain’t Free Introducing the Freeride Fund by Tourism Kamloops; an innovative new initiative that reinvests tourism proceeds back into the trails.
Words by Tourism Kamloops | Photos by Dylan Sherrard | Artwork by Nigel Quarless
Kamloops, British Columbia. A town steeped in mountain bike lore, and revered by in-the-know riders across the globe as the birthplace of freeride mountain biking. From iconic trail builds to groundbreaking film parts, Kamloops served as a proving grounds for freeride pioneers and all who followed in their tire tracks.
Over the decades since that golden age, Kamloops has been instrumental in driving the progression of the sport, all the while staying true to the inherent grit and determination that birthed such a formative era of mountain biking. Home to original freeride icons like Brett Tippie, Wade Simmons and Richie Schley, as well as contemporary legends like Matt Hunter and Graham Agassiz, the freeride scene in Kamloops has evolved from an unsanctioned underground movement into a globally celebrated culture, embraced by the community as well as the municipal government.
While the politics of land management and trail development can be complex, Kamloops has made significant efforts over the years to create sanctioned spaces for freeride mountain biking. Today, with almost 200 km of designated mountain bike trails spread across over half a dozen different riding areas, as well as the Kamloops Bike Ranch, one of North America’s premier freeride facilities, the community of Kamloops has invested major resources into building out a world-class mountain bike destination. And those investments have paid off. As one of BC’s most popular bike towns, the sport now generates millions of dollars annually for the community and local businesses.
But Freeride Ain’t Free.
The vast network of trails and riding zones in Kamloops is a result of decades of sweat-equity, hand-carved from the mountains and hillsides in the surrounding area. The efforts from a collection of passionate local riders and KMBTA and KBRA trail associations, paired with support from the City of Kamloops and other funding partners, have shaped the landscape into the iconic freeride destination it is today.
“The amount of work that goes into building and maintaining a trail is monumental. There’s so much going on behind the scenes that people don’t see.”
– Matt Hunter, Kamloops Freeride Legend
Yet with increased popularity and a growing volume of riders, the demands on the trail network grow year after year. Each season, local trail crews put in countless hours of back-breaking maintenance, clearing deadfall and drainages, raking singletrack, and moving buckets of dirt to shape lips and berms.
At Tourism Kamloops we hold a great deal of gratitude for this community that works tirelessly, often unrecognized and under-resourced, to maintain the mountain bike infrastructure that keeps the birthplace of freeride on the forefront of progression in the sport. Recognizing that funding for this type of work is an ongoing challenge, we’ve decided it's time to create a sustainable solution that utilizes tourism proceeds to support maintenance.
That's why we're pleased to announce the Tourism Kamloops Freeride Fund initiative.
Starting with a $50,000 seed donation from Tourism Kamloops over the next 3 years, we're creating a living fund specifically to support trail maintenance in the Kamloops riding region. By redirecting tourism revenues into the trail networks that are so vitally important to community residents and visitors alike, this multi-year commitment is a key component to creating sustainable funding streams to be directed towards trail maintenance projects in partnership with Kamloops’ trail associations.
“Kamloops has always been at the heart of freeride culture. This fund is our way of honouring that legacy and ensuring the next generation of riders can continue to explore, connect with the land, and experience the thrill of our trails.”
– Erik Fisher, Tourism Kamloops CEO
Initiated by Tourism Kamloops, Supported by Donors
Initial funds from Tourism Kamloops will be enhanced via community campaigns, donor contributions from visitors and locals, grant applications, and corporate donations to maximize leverage and impact. Through partnership with the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Foundation (TOTF) there is a provincially registered non-profit society with CRA registered charitable status in place to receive Freeride Fund contributions. All donations $20 and above will receive an official tax receipt.
The complete and full amount of all donations received to the Freeride Fund will be allocated to trail maintenance projects in Kamloops for approved initiatives. Administrative costs to manage the Freeride Fund are being absorbed by supporting organizations Tourism Kamloops and the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association.
Whether you’ve ridden in Kamloops before and have a connection to the place, or you’re just inspired by this kind of community-driven initiative, we are grateful for any and all support provided to the Freeride Fund. Donations can be made via our online platform, or contact us directly to discuss additional partnership and donation opportunities.
