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...

Maintenance Night at the Bike Park

Maintenance night at the Bike Park was a big success! A total of 16 volunteers came out: 5 were RBC staff and 3 were under 12! :)  THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS! - YOU ROCK!!!

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Big thanks to the Hoots Inc. crew for all their assistance and direction! A lot got accomplished!

And a really BIG Thank You to the RBC Staff for selecting to support the HMBA again this year. Because they volunteered their personal time, RBC will now donate $1,000 to the HMBA.

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Leave Trees Standing

It has been brought to our attention by some of our members that someone has been cutting down trees along some of the HMBA trails. Although folks might think they are doing the right thing and helping maintain the trails or making riding them easier, please refrain from cutting down any standing trees.

Our ability as an organization to keep using these trails and bringing an unreal riding experience to Hinton is based on preserving the forest and minimizing our impact on our natural surroundings as much as possible. If you feel the need to cut down trees or do some work on trails, stand by! We will be announcing a work bee soon where there will be no shortage of work.

If you have any questions regarding the trails or if you see an issue or dangerous trees please send us a note and we can always come and take a look.

Thanks everyone! Get out and ride!

Pine Beetle Control

Update from West Fraser Mills Ltd.

The HMBA has been in touch with West Fraser regarding the Mountain Pine Beetle work being done near Hinton.  They have a huge undertaking ahead of them and have begun work already.  They will have approximately 1500 trees to fall in the HMBA trails area - both in Jacks Trail System and Happy Creek Trail System.  The trees will not be burnt, but they will be felled, limbed and peeled.

The results will be very noticeable, especially on the Bighorn trail and a few other trails that have a large number of trees infected by the beetles.

Infested tree

Popcorn-like pitch tubes created by the beetles.

Key messages from West Fraser

• Crews will be walking into most locations as quading would only get them so far. Some may even be biking in.
• Crews will not be quading on our trails and if they do, it will only be to cross them.
• Before falling trees, they will use signs and have staff along affected trails to advise users to avoid walking or riding the trail where the work will be happening.  Users will be advised both at the entrance and exit points of the trail.
• Limbs will be pulled away from the trails and all peeling's and limbs, cones etc will be raked off the trails.
• Trees will be fallen away from trails as much as possible to help avoid any damages to the trails themselves.
• Any stumps within 5m of the trail will be rounded off.
• The trees, once fallen and peeled, will be bucked to small lengths and left in the bush away from the trails.
• The work needs to be complete by June 15th.  This means it will be an intense activity and will have some impact on accessing some trails but it will be short term.

Contact

If for some reason you run into any issues from crew members or just the public at large, you may contact Hal Jackson at 780-865-8741 and point him in the direction of the issue.

Please note that similar pine beetle control is being done within town limits, but under a different contractor.  Their methods may differ.  Contact the Town of Hinton if you have any concerns of the beetle control work being done within town limits.

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Parking Lot Addition

The Hinton Bike Park now has a designated parking "stall".  There are many times when the parking lot is full: during Sprockids sessions, special events, or just a busy sunny day!   The bike park is accessed by the Town Trail system, but may prove challenging to some visitors.  Having a designated parking spot will help visitors who require such a stall won't have to turn away when the parking lot is otherwise full.

Thank you to Hinton Sprockids, Darryl and Tim Trahan for the materials and installation!!

Cool Bike Plates for Sprockids

New this year! All participants will get a Sprockids bike plate that attaches in front of the handle bars (like a race plate!). A big thank you for all our Sponsors who have supported the program these past 5 years.

All proceeds from the Hinton Sprockids Program registrations helps to cover operating costs and any extra will be put towards trail development within the Bike Park (specific to Sprockids!). We will provide more info later in May. Exciting!

Get your 2017 HMBA Membership!

2017 HMBA Memberships available for purchase

2017 Memberships are available for purchase at 4 Hinton locations!

• Vicious
• The Hinton Voice
• Dr. Duncan Murray Recreation Centre
• Bike Boy (later May/June)

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Membership fees include a membership card with Hinton & Jasper discounts and great stickers including a smaller member sticker is included - the perfect size for your bike!   Fees have not increased since 2008:

• $25 Individual
• $75 Family

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2017 Membership Card Discount Sponsors

Weekend Bike Clinics for Women

Shred Sisters will be giving 2-day workshops in Hinton on August 12 and 13th!!  The weekend workshops are the perfect way to have an overview of mountain biking, and to improve your skills, to be more confident on your bike, and have fun with your new Shred Sisters friends! 

More info...

Beginner Workshop

This weekend workshop is for women who have little or no experience on a mountain bike and would like to learn the fundamentals of riding in a fun, safe, professional, and supportive environment.

Skills Covered:

• Bike Anatomy/Safety Check, Bike Maintenance
• How to change a flat tire
• Stance & Balance
• Braking & Shifting
• Cornering
• Climbing
• Descending
• Wheel Lifts

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 1 & 2
• Register here

Intermediate Workshop

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...

Hats off to our 2017 members!

In honor of our 10 years and record 300+ members we are giving away limited edition anniversary hats to the first 30 2017 members who are attending our AGM on Tuesday, April 11th at the Peoples Centre at the Dr. Duncan Murray Recreation Centre. Doors open at 6:30pm. See you all there!!!

Ride DIRT, not MUD

Spring is indeed upon us! Current conditions in the Hinton Bike Park and many of our trails are very wet and muddy. Please refrain from riding in these poor conditions as it deteriorates our trails. It won't be long before we can all go out and enjoy riding!

Sprockids Registration Open

Registration is now open for 2017 Sprockids Program!

COST: $20 per participant (must be a 2017 HMBA Member)

WHEN: Thursdays May 18 - June 22 AND September 7 - 28 (10 sessions)

WHERE: Hinton Bike Park

HOW YOU CAN HELP: Coaches (training provided) and volunteers needed 

CONTACT: Tim at hmba.sprockids@gmail.com

Visit the Sprockids page for more information or click the button above to register.

Anniversary Apparel for Sale at AGM

Limited edition 10 year anniversary jerseys will be on sale for HMBA Members at this year's AGM.  Limited quantities available.  Price reduced by $10 (10 years!) from HMBA's cost.  Check out our shop page for more info!  Trucker hats will also be available (no pics available).  Past year jerseys and shirts will also be on sale.

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women's front

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left sleeve (bikehinton.com)

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right sleeve (HMBA)

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Men's front

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Annual General Meeting

Mark your calendars! The Hinton Mountain Bike Association Annual General Meeting is set for Tuesday, April 11th in the People's Centre at the Dr. Duncan Murray Recreation Centre.

Doors open at 6:30pm.  AGM to start at 7:15pm

Come get your 2017 membership! 

2017 is our 10th Anniversary.  Limited edition jerseys will be for sale at the AGM.

Interested in joining the Board?  Let us know!!

Contact the HMBA

Interested in joining the board

Wonderful Support from our Sponsors!

One more day until the Hinton Growler 2017 - Fat Bike Endurance Race!!! We want to thank all our wonderful sponsors for this event - we've received so much great support!! We also want to thank all our volunteers who have or will help make this is fantastic event! See you all tomorrow at Maxwell Lake.

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