Finalists Announced for 2014 Bell Built Grants

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Fuglio (Apr 1, 2014 at 16:05)

Watch out for an onslaught of flow trails! No rock is safe.

24 1

WestwardHo (Apr 1, 2014 at 17:36)

These trails are straight up mom jeans. I vote for "steep-ass gnar trail you built with a rake, side of a f*cking hill, USA"

7 0

ambatt (Apr 1, 2014 at 17:47)

Mom jeans! Yes... Ha ha. While I agree that some trails should be built for accessibility and community engagement, if we don't build trails that actually engage riders of a certain skill level and demand, illegal trail building won't stop.

3 0

sofarider1 (Apr 1, 2014 at 21:02)

The Prescott park trail system in Oregon is super rocky. The flow trails will definetly be uniquely built. The trail system will have a mix of a little bit of everything. XC to DH. Race events will will be part to the gig. The city of Medford wants to promote the park as a destination for riders and race events.

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tbubier (Apr 2, 2014 at 6:45)

I tried to give WestwardHo more props but they wouldn't let me. So instead I will just repeat the awesome quote.
These trails are straight up mom jeans. I vote for "steep-ass gnar trail you built with a rake, side of a f*cking hill, USA"

Amen!

3 2

shikokukichiguy (Apr 2, 2014 at 8:51)

Great idea!
Let's introduce/attract new riders to the sport by having them start out on the most extreme trails as a way of building their confidence. I mean, if you're not as good as the PinkBike contingent (most of whom are engineers/team riders who huck 90' gaps w/steez) you shouldn't even try cycling.

6 0

ambatt (Apr 2, 2014 at 10:17)

That's not even part of the problem here, but thanks for the drama and sarcasm. You and I (and everyone else on this site full of 'huckers') know full well that DH has been dumbed down and buffed out the last few years, which is why illegal trail building has continued to grow. In the last 5 years here in Utah on the wasatch front, I have watched as trail after trail after trail is widened, dumbed down and all but destroyed in the name of 'public accessibility', yet haven't seen ONE legal, singletrack expert downhill trail go in. Not one.

I'm a huge proponent of including and bringing in as many people as possible in MTB; that's where growth of our sport will come in. But sensationalizing and sarcastically belittling the fact that people are really sick and tired of flow trails creates unnecessary conflict and animosity. Making trails easier for the sake of pulling more people into mountain biking is like a ski area having nothing but bunny hills to cater to beginner skiers; it also costs us the soul of mountain biking -- WE DON'T RIDE BECAUSE IT'S EASY. We ride bikes down mountains because it's a challenge, because it forces is to grow, rather than exert our own human forces upon the landscape to sooth our precious egos. We must change and flow, and dumbing down all trails to make them simple enough will kill MTB.

1 0

tbubier (Apr 2, 2014 at 10:41)

"We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things. Not because they are easy, but because they are hahd.”

1 0

pizatski (Apr 2, 2014 at 12:12)

I'm stoked about the chance to get a bike park with a pump track in Illinois. We really don't have any mountains to make into gnar trails, so a bike park is really the only chance we get to ride the fun stuff around here.

6 0

Tlax88 (Apr 1, 2014 at 17:19)

I live in Richmond and we really need something fun and new. The trails have not kept up with the trends in riding and struggle at times to keep me motivated. I constantly go elsewhere to search for trails and this grant would really help bring people to Richmond for a change. There's a great biking community and plenty of people try to help progress the city but we just aren't there yet.

1 0

payton4specialized (Apr 2, 2014 at 7:23)

I live in nova and I second this! VA in general has some real potential and I would love to see VA take a step in the right direction being that now we have practically nothing!

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j0302 (Apr 1, 2014 at 21:54)

Let's go flagstaff! Bike mag test rode the downhill bikes here so that proves we have good terrain and deserve a bike park. It's half an hour away from sedona. Could make a awesome time to ride our bike park, our trails then drive 30 mins down to sedona to shred.

6 0

kev1n (Apr 2, 2014 at 0:02)

Flagstaff downhill and cross country riding is seriously under rated. There are great gnarly trails up in these mountains and deserve to be showcased in compliment to a bike park.

6 0

joecrosby (Apr 1, 2014 at 16:33)

Durango Colorado could use the bike park! Durango's 18 time National Collegiate Champion team would be so stoked to have a park to get some laps in, we don't have an actual bike park here!

3 0

matjtom90 (Apr 1, 2014 at 17:39)

I kind of liked how the contest was run last year as opposed to this year. I thought that separating it by pump track, flow trail, and downhill meant that the cash would build a varied set of trails as opposed to the possibility that all flow trails or all trails of another discipline could win. I like the variety in mountain biking and would hate to see term shoehorned into the enduro/flow segment of riding. It was also cool because places like Copper Harbor Michigan got to build a very legitimate downhill trail where previously they would have been overlooked for geographic reasons in that discipline. Props to Bell though, regardless of how they hand it out it is bound to do some good.

1 0

deadtime (Apr 2, 2014 at 4:16)

I thought the DH trail at Copper Harbor was already under construction when they won the grant, could be wrong. And enduro trails and flow are not the same thing. IMBA does a great job, just remember, different parts of the country have different needs. Thanks again Bell, I've already bought 2 helmets since last year.

1 0

SBPwhat (Apr 2, 2014 at 4:45)

One of the application requirements was to have your project approved and shovel-ready. I'd say that having your trail under construction would show you've met the requirements. Thanks Bell

2 0

mtaero (Apr 2, 2014 at 6:58)

The Steamboat Springs bike park was already under construction as well, but with a major lack of funding it had stalled out. Bell came to the rescue and we now have some of the sickest jumps I've seen around. Thanks Bell!

3 0

oldphatguy (Apr 1, 2014 at 19:01)

They have been trying to build the Stafford Lake park in Novato Ca. for at least 6 years that I know of. I hope it finally gets started...

www.marinij.com/marinnews/ci_25426472/corporate-donors-boost-1-million-bike-park-at

2 1

kneeko (Apr 1, 2014 at 19:38)

I agree. Best option for the west coast. Santa Cruz already has the funding and doesn't need anymore to finish the project. The Medford Oregon place. Well honestly how many people live in Medford. Stafford Lake Bike Park has multiple trails and just needs some cash to get the trails rolling.

4 0

Trainwreck81 (Apr 1, 2014 at 20:39)

I live in Talent, OR 7 miles from Medford. there are a ton of mountain bikers here, just not a ton of legal mountain bike trails. most are multi use trails. the Prescott Park project has been in the works for years, and just got approved last year. this would really help the local MTB community. Its hard to get approval, let alone funding, for legit trail or trail improvements here. and fyi, the Rogue Valley (Medford and surrounding area) has a population of around 200,000 people.

Good luck to all the projects, any trail money is good trail money, no matter where it goes.

1 0

sofarider1 (Apr 1, 2014 at 21:09)

Not only will it benefit the area. it's right off of I-5. Thousands of riders travel up and down the I-5 corridor to bike destinations. Prescott park just adds to Oregon being a mountain bike destination state. It's literally 15 minutes from the freeway. The city of Medford is also encouraging race events. it will become another race destination on the west coast and it will have legit tracks.

1 0

kneeko (Apr 1, 2014 at 21:30)

Yeah I agree with you guys but the addition of Stafford Lake would finally bring Marin back on the map for top mountain biking destination. Hundreds of miles of trails could be added to the community. You guys have Ashland which isn't too far away. Which is an awesome place to ride. But thanks a lot Bell Helmets. I will be getting a Transfer or Full 9 soon.

1 0

Quesadilla34 (Apr 1, 2014 at 22:45)

Ifeel that Martin county seems to be hanging more pull on me even from the la area where i live. Though i wish snow summit would get funds as i know it could compete with mammoth if it grew, marin should get the funds, Santa Cruz, as said before, has the capitol, marin needs the boost!

1 0

Quesadilla34 (Apr 1, 2014 at 22:45)

*marin county

1 0

bigdog79 (Apr 2, 2014 at 23:05)

Marin just got the endor tamarancho trail.

3 0

cglasford (Apr 2, 2014 at 7:26)

Thank you Bell, what you are doing for the riding community is incredible! I appreciate it and I only ride Bell Helmets now! All the projects look great and I wish them all success! We are trying to build more of a freeride scene here in MN please support the Cottage Grove Bike Park Project! www.bellhelmets.com/bellbuilt/cottage-grove-bike-park
Thanks again!

2 0

jpetak15 (Apr 2, 2014 at 11:30)

Flagstaff could definitely use the love. Right now we are fighting to keep developers out of the areas we ride, and this movement could only help consolidate the local riders, as well as open up Flagstaff as a bigger destination beyond Sedona.

1 0

pizatski (Apr 2, 2014 at 12:10)

I live right near the Andres Park one in Illinois. We don't have mountains, so 'gnar' is out of the question. I'd LOVE to have a pump track put in at the park in Illinois. This could be huge for getting a lot of kids into the sport!!

1 0

Sir-Peanuts (Apr 2, 2014 at 16:59)

Hey everyone, i work with the Chicago Area Mountain Bikers on the Andres Bike Park Project. If you have questions about that project and what we are doing i'd happily answer them. We are bringing an abandoned and rundown park back to life here and creating a bike park for a community in need, so it would be great if we win. Ask away!

1 0

bigdood (Apr 1, 2014 at 21:24)

This contest is the reason I just bought a Bell Transfer 9 vs. other helmets I was considering. Love seeing a company give back, especially in this manner. Also, don't listen to that hoser PacificPointer. I have on good authority that he's actually posting from Wisconsin.

4 0

cakemoto (Apr 1, 2014 at 17:01)

should have picked mt. watermen.Its going to be sick!

1 0

mxwhitey (Apr 1, 2014 at 18:38)

Yaaaa mt waterman should have been an option its already coming together and its gonna be awesome when its finished. And it all been built by hand by pirates donating there time and money.

3 0

crewmember (Apr 1, 2014 at 18:39)

Flow trail is a loose term...go ride last years winner Copper Harbors Overflow trail, it's gnarly

1 0

Thrashmulisha (Apr 1, 2014 at 22:59)

It's too bad they dropped the dh race on the overflow for this years bells beer race

1 0

tccrawfo (Apr 2, 2014 at 19:20)

Agree super lame

4 0

ghetto3 (Apr 1, 2014 at 16:57)

Holiday Valley!!

2 0

Featherlilly (Apr 2, 2014 at 3:57)

Holiday valley for sure!!!!!

1 0

dhcrazycowboy (Apr 2, 2014 at 8:53)

Hmmm, nothing in Canada? Is the program not open to anyone north of the border? whats up with that!?

1 0

cglasford (Apr 2, 2014 at 9:50)

unfortunately no. I believe it is only a US contest. It would be cool if more companies based in other countries would step up and do something similar!

1 0

bigdog79 (Apr 2, 2014 at 23:00)

You know Santa Cruz is going to mop this up. People already have built that place into a meka.

1 0

MTBLegend92 (Apr 1, 2014 at 16:56)

It'd be cool if Yellow River won, even though I don't live near there anymore. Last time I rode there it sucked

1 0

haljohnson (Apr 1, 2014 at 17:05)

Is it $100k total - so $33k apiece, or $100k for each trail, so $300k total?

3 0

Mallet21 (Apr 1, 2014 at 18:35)

Looks like $33k for each regional winner for a total of $100k

1 1

PacificPointer (Apr 1, 2014 at 19:24)

I live in Oregon and IMO we have enough mountains and trails/BR/Post/ect that we could pass and let another area have the chance that doesn't have near what we have.

4 0

shannon-filbey (Apr 1, 2014 at 20:37)

This man is clearly a Californian posing as an Oregonian. HUSH YOU! DON'T EXPOSE OUR DIRTY SECRET!!

2 0

the-bike-life (Apr 1, 2014 at 22:05)

Finally, that SC flow trail is gonna get finished.

1 0

bensteen2 (Apr 4, 2014 at 14:15)

PLEEEEZeee vote for flastaff arizona. We have some good riding, just no bike parks....... yet

2 0

Flyart0 (Apr 1, 2014 at 19:52)

Fuck yeah sc

1 0

zephxiii (Apr 3, 2014 at 16:52)

COME ON BROWN COUNTY!!!!!

1 0

camthecanasian (Apr 1, 2014 at 19:41)

Murica Fuck ya!