Weekend Workshop for Women (update!)

For the ladies: Shred Sisters Ltd. has added a 3rd group for their weekend workshop in Hinton on August 12th and 13th.   Visit their webpage to register!!

New Membership Sponsor

The Hinton Mountain Bike Association would like to welcome Folding Mountain Brewing as their latest 2017 HMBA Membership sponsor! HMBA Members get 10% off food. This new brewery is just 10 minutes west of Hinton and also offers a kid-friendly menu (found on their website!). Not a member?? Go to our website to find out more and how to become a member! 

Not a biker? Play disc golf!

Going to the bike park with family and friends and looking for optional activities? Check out the disc golf course managed by the Hinton Disc Golf Association (they have a Facebook group). The course is only a minute walk away from the park's parking lot. Discs can be borrowed (with deposit) at the Travel Alberta Hinton Visitor Information Centre.

Give Feeback!

We'd love to hear your thoughts about the latest 2017 Trail Maps for Hinton! Only 500 pamphlets were printed recently and can be found at the Hinton Bike Park sign-in kiosk, Vicious Cycle (Hinton), The Hinton Voice, Travel Alberta Hinton Visitor Information Centre, Maximum Work Gear and Bike Boy.  

Please let us know what you think! We will take all suggestions and feedback into consideration for our next batch of maps.

Donation Received for Recent Bike Park Refurbishment

The Hinton Mountain Bike Association (HMBA) would like to thank Daniel Duval for donating $500 towards the Community Grant project at the Hinton Bike Park: Refurbishing Slope Wars, Fo'Shore and the Drop Zone. In the photo: Jay Hore, HMBA President (left) accepts the cheque from Daniel (right).

The HMBA was awarded two Community Grants from the Town of Hinton in April. The second grant will be used to build a ladder bridge over the 50-70 feet of wet/marsh at the end of Rock Band, a black diamond trail that was added to the Happy Creek Trail System last year.

Jay Hore, HMBA President receives cheque from Daniel Duval

Jack's Trail System Report

Trail highlighted in yellow.

"Dan's Deadly Downhill", part of the upper loop of Jack's Trail System, has many downed trees and debris across the trail. Pine beetle infected trees, pine beetle abatement work and strong winds have contributed to the debris. Please stay on the lower loops until the trail has been cleared up. Thanks!

Book Nook at the Bike Park

For those who enjoy reading a book while friends and family enjoy the Hinton Bike Park, a new "Take a Book - Leave a Book - Borrow a Book" box can be found behind the seacan.

Donated in 2016 by a visitor who loves reading and sharing!

Behind the Hinton Bike Park

Build it and they will come....but who will maintain it???

To help give Hinton Bike Park users and visitors an idea of what goes on behind the scenes, some information is provided below.   When the weather makes bike park conditions poor, there are many reasons why the HMBA reminds all users to stay out of the park, and the main one is the knowledge of all the hard work put into keeping the park in great shape for the enjoyment of all.

How it all started

When the Hinton Bike Park was in its first phase (2008), the goal was to build an outstanding mountain bike skills park that is fun, safe, free of charge, and accessible for all abilities and ages, thereby facilitating the promotion of skills development, active lifestyles and mountain culture.   It was the first of its kind in the Yellowhead region, a regional hub for activity.

Grand Opening of the Hinton Bike Park

Partnerships

The Hinton Bike Park was made possible by the Hinton Mountain Bike Association (HMBA) - all volunteers!!!, the Town of Hinton, and the many, MANY, supporters over the years.  Check out our list of growing supporters!

The Stats

• The Hinton Bike Park has 37 Acres of land with the possibility of future expansion.  
• The cost to build the first two phases (2008-2009) was over $400,000 in cash, material and time.
• Free of charge to users (donations are welcome!)
• Central location to access Hinton's trail network (over 30 km!)
• Visitors from all over Alberta, Canada, US, and many international countries have been to the park

Fast Forward to 2017

The Hinton Bike Park is almost 10 years old and was showing signs of aging and deterioration.  It was time to focus on refurbishing many areas within the park.  The HMBA applied for grants, made use of the annual maintenance fund provided by the Town of Hinton, and used funds accumulated from donations received from its wonderful sponsors.

The total value of the 2017 maintenance work was $25,500, and focused on these areas:

• Skills Area
• Mini Pump Track
• Dirt Jumps
• Drop Zone (part of the Hinton Community Grant)
• Fo'Shore (part of the Hinton Community Grant)
• Slope Wars (part of the Hinton Community Grant)
• Midway Pump Track
• Business Time
• Jodoin's Journey (erosion/drainage issues)

Dirt Jumps

Midway Pump Track

Business Time

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New Trail

Earlier in the Spring, a representative from Pembina Pipeline Corporation contacted the HMBA about the opportunity to donate towards something Sprockids-related.  The Board of the HMBA suggested building a trail that was suited for the younger Sprockids group (dubbed the run-bikers).   With Hoots Inc. and Crew lined up for all this work, the new trail became a reality in mid-June!  The total value of this trail is $20,800, which includes $3,295 of services donated by Hoots Inc.  and $15,000 donated by Pembina Pipeline Corporation.

New trail!

Thank you Pembina Pipeline Corporation!

How you can help

• Ride Dirt Not Mud.  If you are leaving visible ruts, it's too wet to ride!
• Become a member!  It helps with grant applications.
• Stay connected via the website, facebook or through our member emails.
• Volunteer when maintenance days are announced.
• Be a bike park and trail ambassador!  Educate others.

Hoots Inc. Crew with their biggest fan

New to our Trails? Here's what we recommend!

New to our trails? One of the loops that locals enjoy is highlighted in yellow, approximately 8.6 km. About 200 m elevation gain. Start on Just Get There and finish on Happy Creek (West side). The trail head is roughly 2 km from the Hinton Bike Park parking lot. This loop has bit of of everything: up and ups, rewarded with downs and flowy single track. And don't forget to stop at our favorite EZ lookout!

Caution on some Trails

You may see some CAUTION notices on our trails.

The Rock Band trail is awesome, but the bottom section is still very wet. Best to avoid this trail until the wet area is re-mediated later this summer.

The Lower Bighorn, between the Beaver Boardwalk and the powerline right-of-way is eroded, so please ride with care, especially when going in the downhill direction.

Thanks!

Phil's Mad Skills Bike Clinic

Phil Mark is offering a bike clinic on Tuesday and Thursday July 4th/6th, from 6pm until 8pm.  Cost is $20!  All abilities welcome.

Location: St.Gregory School, Hinton

If interested, please contact Phil: 

Visitors encouraged to sign-in at the Hinton Bike Park

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The guest sign-in box at the Hinton Bike Park has been so successful this past year, that we now have a permanent installation. Guests from Hinton, from Alberta, from Canada and even from all over the world have signed in. The comments left behind are so wonderful to hear and have been a great help in our grant applications. Thank you to EVERYONE who has signed in when visiting the park - please continue! We love to hear about your experiences!

Pembina Pipeline Corp Investing in Hinton

We are SUPER excited to announce the donation of $15,000 from Pembina Pipeline Corporation's Community Investment Program. This amazing donation has funded our newest trail in the Hinton Bike Park, unofficially named "Pembina Sprockids Trail".

This BIG cheque was presented by Clint Walker, of Pembina Pipeline, to Jay Hore (HMBA President) and Julie Duval (HMBA Treasurer). Jay Hoots from Hoots Inc., and his crew were hired to build this sweet new trail. Hoots Inc. has also donated over $3,000 of labour towards the building of the Pembina Sprockids Trail. Revenue accumulated from our Hinton Sprockids Program registrations and donations have also contributed to this trail build.

The trail is over 600m of gently sloped terrain and is suitable for younger bikers and novices.

Thank you Hoots Inc. and crew for this new addition and THANK YOU Pembina Pipeline for investing in our community!!!

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A new trail well suited for riders of all abilities!

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Hinton Bike Park back in Great Shape!

Hoots Inc. and crew have completed three weeks of maintenance and trail building work at the Hinton Bike Park!

Thanks!

 The HMBA would like to thank Jay, Alan, Dalan, Fraser and Ben for the awesome work done!!!

The HMBA would also like to thank the Town of Hinton for the Community Grant received in April. This grant ensured that the Drop Zone, Fo'Shore and Slope Wars skill areas got inspected, re-shaped, and buffed.

Business Time

Other areas in the park that received similar maintenance include the Skills Area, Dirt Jumps, Business time, Midway Pump Track and Jodoin's Journey. Funds for this work was provided by the HMBA, the Town of Hinton's Bike Park Annual Maintenance Fund and from donated services/labour by Hoots Inc.

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Dirt Jumps

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Midway Pump Track

Lastly, the Hinton Bike Park now has a new trail!!! This trail is freshly built over approximately 600m of gently sloped terrain. It was designed with the younger bikers in mind, to allow easier access to the mid-areas of the park. This trail was funded by a generous benefactor which we hope to announce soon! Registration revenue and donations from the Hinton Sprockids program also contributed to this build!

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New trail

Investing in our Communities

Thank you Cody Begon! Through his employer, Repsol, and their "Investing in Our Communities" program, Cody donated $500 towards HMBA's Hinton Sprockids Program! Cody is also a longtime Hinton Sprockids coach.

Bike Park Closures

We have been very busy putting valuable grant, donation, and maintenance dollars to work on buffing the Hinton Bike Park. There are still some closures marked with Red Tape throughout the park.

PLEASE RESPECT CLOSURES marked by red tape - the dirt jumps, upper pump track, drop zone, slope wars need time to set. Once they have set they will be rock solid for the season.

Thank you for your patience, the rain has been slowing the process but we will be there soon!

Ride DIRT not MUD!

Let's all do our part and avoid these kinds of situations!

A Group Who Deserves our Thanks!

The Hinton Mountain Bike Association (HMBA) is driven by volunteers who want to maintain and continue improving our awesome mountain biking playground in Hinton.  All the work done at the Hinton Bike Park or on our single track trail systems is made possible by the efforts of HMBA's volunteer board, HMBA member volunteers, community volunteers, partnerships with municipal and provincial governments, and partnerships with local businesses and industry.

HMBA relies on memberships, volunteers, grants and donations to make this all happen!   The Board is always grateful for all the support and we love to broadcast such great news via our social media outlets.   

There is a group of supporters that are not always to the forefront of our thank yous: the Anonymous Donors.  You know who you are!!!   At the Hinton Bike Park, on the main seacan door, there is a donation box.  And every year, a sum of money is accumulated from folks wanting to contribute to our efforts in making "bikehinton" great.

Since it's installation in 2013, over $850 have been contributed via this donation box!!

Well, Anonymous Contributors:  THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!

We're stoked that you are enjoying the park and our trails and have contributed to it's continued success!!  We hope you keep coming and enjoying our playground!  And don't forget to sign in our log book!

- HMBA

Bike Park TLC

The Hinton Bike Park is getting a good round of maintenance and buffing - thanks to the great work done by the crew of Hoots Inc., with some help by HMBA volunteers during our work bees.  Check our event calendar for the next one!

With a lot of rain in the forecast, PLEASE stay out of the park, especially in areas that have been buffed up. These areas need to have a chance to settle, compact and harden.

If a section is taped off with flagging tape - this means STAY OUT. By using features when they are not ready, you will be destroying all the hard work put into it! (which costs $$$).

Hoots Inc. are onsite for 3 weeks of solid bike park maintenance, buffing and a new feature - stay tuned!

Dirt Jumps

Business Time

Midway Pump Track

A few spots left for Ladies Intermediate Bike Workshop

Intermediate Workshop

Weekend of August 12th and 13th, 2017

This weekend course is for women who have taken the beginner program before or have been riding for few years and are interested in improving their mountain biking skills. It is also an amazing opportunity to meet like-minded riding buddies.

Skills Covered:

• Review of Stance and Balance
• Review of Shifting and Braking
• Pumping
• Straight Line Riding
• Roll Down Lunge Maneuver
• Descending Strategy
• Technical Climbing
• Cornering: Switchback & High Speed

Details:

• Location: Hinton, Ab
• Dates: August 12th & 13th
• Ratio: 6 riders per instructor
• Length: 9:30am to 4pm with one hour lunch break
• Cost: $295 + GST
• Level: Suited for Level 3
• Register here

More info...