Jersey Pre-Orders Available Again!

Tim Trahan Recognized at AGM

Jay Hore, HMBA President, thanked Tim Trahan at the Hinton Mountain Bike Association AGM on April 12th, 2018.  Tim was a member of the HMBA Board of Directors (Operations/Trails) for 5 years, Sprockids Coordinator for 4 years, Sprockids Coach for 6 years and avid volunteer for over 10 years!

Thank you Tim for your commitment and energy.  It's members like yourself that have been the building blocks to our amazing mountain bike mecca!

Your chance to give input!

The Hinton Mountain Bike Association is looking for feedback, we'd love to hear from you!

Lots of riding options in Alberta!

Itching to ride soon? Got kids who need to peddle off their extra energies? Check out this extensive list of great places to ride this summer - all over Alberta!

The paved pumptracks in the Yellowhead County will be great options during the Spring thaw. Remember to avoid the Hinton Bike Park until it dries out!

HMBA Receives Donation from Edmonton Juventus Cycling Club

The HMBA would like to thank the Edmonton Juventus Cycling Club for recently donating $500!! The club's Sprockids program visits the Hinton Bike Park every Spring for a day fun riding.

SCiP Volunteer Opportunity!

The Hinton Mountain Bike Association is seeking a post-secondary student studying in Alberta to volunteer as an intern via the SCiP program (www.joinscip.ca). This is ideal for someone with course work in:

• Social Sciences
• Marketing
• Tourism and Hospitality

When the volunteer internship is successfully completed, the student receives a $1000 award. And HMBA benefits from their volunteer work!

Check out our posting:

https://www.joinscip.ca/internsh…/1970-survey-analyst-intern

HMBA Receives Donation

On December 12th, The HMBA received a $500 donation from Colin Hanington through his employer REPSOL Oil & Gas Canada's Investing in our Communities Program. In the photo, Jonathan Hayward (left) accepts the donation from Colin Hanington (right). Thank you Colin and REPSOL!

HMBA Awarded CFEP Grant

Exciting news! Tuesday, Mr. Eric Rosendahl, MLA for West Yellowhead, presented a cheque to HMBA's Treasurer, Julie Duval. HMBA has been awarded $6,683 for a Community Facility Enhancement Program (CFEP) grant - a grant that was applied for in March 2017.

This grant covers the work done this past summer to refurbish the skills areas and trails within the Hinton Bike Park. The work totaled over $14.6K. Matching funds for the grant included $5K from the Bike Park's Operational Funds (Town of Hinton) and $3.5K of donated services/labour from Hoots Inc.

Let there be light!

The time of year when the lights go on! Part of the Hinton Community Grant received in April 2016, the solar panel and lighting setup (inside and outside of the main seacan) has been made fully operational this year. The lighting will be useful for visitors who ride a bit longer than anticipated and for those who enjoy night-riding. For those wishing to better plan their rides, this link can provide some information for the daily changes in sunrises and sunsets.http://www.sunrisesunset.com/canada/Alberta/Hinton.asp

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.

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

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

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

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