Episodes

For Episode 189 we have Chase Draper the President of Birmingham Urban Mountain Pedalers otherwise known as BUMP. BUMP is another powerhouse volunteer driven trail organization that falls under the SORBA mothership in the South East region of the United States. Chase provides some exceltent stories about what can be accomplished when you are willing to outwork everyone else, and he’s got a pretty sarcastic personality as well. Topics Include: How and why Chase got into Mountain Biking How Cha...

For Episode 188 we have Jarrod Harris and Josh Cohan back on from Jarrod’s Place Bike Park. We cover a handful of topics including what Josh & Jarrod have learned since opening Jarrod’s Place Bike Park and we went deep on All things Trail Armor – The first line of defense for protecting your Flow Trails, Jump Lines and Berms. There’s a lot of great things that Jarrod and Josh have been learning through their development of Trail Armor, but the most important aspect of all of this is that they ar...

For Episode 187 we have Marty Caivano the Local Community Engagement Manager for IMBA and John Cox the Education Manager for IMBA. We discussed many topics including The IMBA Foundations (Formerly known as IMBA Trail Labs), along with a lot of the other community engagement and educational programs that IMBA is continuing to host in 2025… There is also the hint of the IMBA Epics Returning in 2025! Topics Include: How Marty got her start at IMBA How John got his start at IMBA IMBA Foundations...

For Episode 186 we have Jason Aric Jones. Jason recently announced that he was stepping away from 30+ years of working extremely hard for mountain bike trail access and advocacy, and I know that it would be important to have Jason on the show to recount some of the experiences he has had along the way. Jason definitely took a creative approach to getting the job done, which eventually parlayed itself into the DTE Energy Foundation Trails, and multiple roles in statewide advocacy, that are even h...

For Episode 185 we have Steve Kasacek back for his second appearance on Trail EAffect. Steve is the assistant Director of the Outdoor Sport Institute located in Maine. We covered a ton of various trail projects that Steve has been a part of in Maine, along with the value of building relationships. Topics Include: Updates with the Outdoor Sport Institute The value of building relationships Steve’s first PTBA Conference (Spring 2024) Presentations that Steve was involved with at the Conferenc...

For Episode 184 we have Uriah Steber, the Owner of Benchmark Trails, Founding Member of the Oahe Wheelmen, and a driving force behind the rise of trails and mountain Biking across the State of South Datoka. Topics Include: The creation of the Oahe Wheelmen and MT Biking in Pierre, SD The rise of trails and mountain biking in rural communities The start of Benchmark Trails Unique Projects that Uriah and Benchmark Trails have been a part of Deer Mountain Village Western South Dakota and the...

2024 SORBA Year in review and 2025 Updates with Philip Darden | 183 For Episode 183 we have Philip Darden back on. Philip is the executive director of the Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association otherwise known as SORBA. During this conversation we recap some of the more notable events that Philip was able to attend in 2024, how the region was impacted by multiple hurricanes, along with some of the changes that SORBA will be implementing for 2025. Topics Include: Membership updates rolling into...

For Episode 182 we have Daniel Sapp back on, this time Daniel is here to provide some insight around the impacts that Hurricane Helene had on Western North Carolina and the Communities around the Pisgah National Forest. Western North Carolina relies heavily on tourism, please consider supporting these communities and organizations in any way that you see fit as they clean up, reopen and rebuild. Topics Include: The broad impact that Hurricane Helene had on Western North Carolina Being allowed...

For episode 181 We have Brice Shirbach for his third appearance on Trail EAffect. Brice knows trail communities like no other. Brice has been at this for well over a decade now and it shows! We covered how his Underexposed series came to be and, some of the communities that Brice has covered recently through the Underexposed Series. Brice has a very unique perspective on Trails and Trail Communities – This is a good one! Topics Include: The backstory on how Underexposed came to be Pocahontas ...

For episode 180 we have Charles Evans. Charles is the Trail Maintenance Coordinator for the Snowshoe Highlands Area Recreational Collaborative. The Snowshoe Highlands Region has nearly 400 miles of trail, is a IMBA Silver Level Ride Center, and is the region that has hosted Several World Cup Mountain Bike Races and Championships. We covered the ever-popular topic of Trail Maintenance, along with the Federal Reserve, and even talked a little bit about listening for aliens. Ultimately Charles prov...

For episode 179 we have Luke Krolikowski – the Bike Park Manager of the Farside Bike Park at Chestnut Mountain Resort in Galina, IL. The Farside Bike Park is a relatively newer lift access bike park located in a topographically rich part of the upper Midwest known as the Driftless Area. Luke dives into all things Farside during our conversation. If you live in the Upper Midwest and haven’t checked out the Farside Bike Park yet, you should as we are embarking on fall and time will be running out ...

For Episode 178 We’ve got Mischa and Edoardo the two masterminds behind the International Trail Rating System. Mischa is based in Switzerland, and Edoardo is based in Italy. Both have a strong understanding about the nuance that goes into dissecting and rating a trail. While there is a lot that can go into how or why a trail is rated a certain way, this system is the most comprehensive approach I’ve seen for rating trails yet. Topics Include: How Mischa got into mountain biking How Edoardo go...

For Episode 177 we have Emily Brown. Emily is a Co-Founder of the newly created Spearfish Trails Coalition based in Spearfish, SD. If you haven’t been to the Black Hills in South Dakota, this place is truly remarkable. Spearfish has a history of trails and mountain biking that runs parallel with the history of mountain biking itself. Emily discusses the importance of this new coalition and why it is being formed now. Emily is also a Field Guide for SRAM, and SRAM happens to have an office in Spe...

For Episode 176 we have Mike Gehard, Mike is the current president of SORBA Chattanooga. If you’ve been following along for a while, you’ve heard several guests talk about Walden’s Ridge in Chattanooga, now you’ll get the full story on mountain biking in Chattanooga along with the fact that SORBA Chattanooga is currently looking to hire their first Executive Director. Mike Also provides a bunch of insight he has learned through volunteering and working with organizations. Topics Include: Why C...

For Episode 175 we have Glen Jacobs back for Round 2 on Trail EAffect. Glen first appeared on episode 125, if you haven’t listened to the first conversation with Glen, I highly recommend it as, episode 125 will provide some context for this conversation. Glen is easily one of the most prolific visionaries in Trail Building. Glen Co-founded WorldTrail with Dylan Jeffries 20 years ago. They have since gone on to plan, design and build some of best mountain bike destinations on the Planet. The ov...

Daniel Sapp – President of Pisgah Area SORBA / Trail Advocacy 174 For Episode 174 we have Daniel Sapp, Daniel is the current president of Pisgah Area SORBA, co-founder of The Backslope as well as colleague to the infamous Seth Alvo of Berm Peak. Prior to this Daniel was a journalist for Pinkbike, among other publications and Daniel has spent most his adult in various roles in the trail and mountain bike world. Ultimately Daniel provides his take on the importance of Mountain Bike Trail Advocacy...

Steve Ford - Bike Park Manager of the Luiseño Bike Park in San Diego, California – 173 For Episode 173 we have Steve Ford – Steve is the Gravity Bike Park Manager at the Luiseño Bike Park located in San Diego County California on the La Jolla Band of Luiseño Indian Tribal Lands. We covered all things Gravity Bike Parks from Steve’s experience and how this Gravity Bike Park has huge potential for Southern California! Topics Include: Steve Ford Back Story How the Bike Park fits into the La Jol...

Jeremy Poore from Old Fort, NC / McDowell Tech Trail School / Mountain Top Shuttles #172 For Episode 172 we have Jeremy Poore – who is based in Old Fort, NC which is not too far east of the Infamous Ashville, NC. Old Fort is ramping up to be the next community to embrace the benefits of trails and outdoor recreation. We covered all things Old Fort, Trail Building School through McDowell Tech, Jeremy’s thoughts on the 2024 PTBA Conference, along with his thoughts on the 2024 SORBA Spring Summit....

Amanda Carey – President of NICA – National Interscholastic Cycling Association – Talking Trails, Youth Development, Leadership and Non-Profits – 171 For Episode 171 we have Amanda Carey as our guest. Amanda is the president of NICA, the National Interscholastic Cycling Association. Amanda worked for 5 other Outdoor and Trail Based non-profits leading up to her current role at NICA, including a role as the Executive Director for Mountain Bike the Tetons. We talked all things trails, the role th...

Peter Mills of Elevated Trail Design - 170 For Episode 170 we have Peter Mills the owner of Elevated Trail Design as our guest. Elevated Trail Designs is a PTBA Member Company that is based out of the Ashville, NC Region. Peter is a lifelong mountain biker and trail builder that is responsible for some of the newest yet most notable trail projects in the greater Ashville Region and beyond. Trail EAffect Show Links: Elevated Trail Design: https://www.elevatedtraildesign.com/ Elevated Trail Des...

Toby Cortez / Bogue Chitto State Park / Mountain Biking in Louisiana 169 For Episode 169 Toby Cortez is our guest – Toby is one of the masterminds behind the mountain bike trails at Bogue Chitto State Park located in Louisiana. Toby drops a ton of knowledge on this episode, through some incredible stories about how Bogue Chitto came to be, cutting through the red tape that comes with making a trail system reality and what’s in store for the future. Trail EAffect Show Links: North Shore Off-Ro...

Loam Pass with Rob Brown and Joey Foresta - 168 For episode 168 we’ve got Rob Brown and Joey Foresta – Co Founders of the Loam Pass. The Loam Pass is your North American Gravity Bike Park Pass, and its brand new for 2024. Rob and Joey Teamed up to create the Loam Pass, and it launched in March with 30 resorts and shuttle services, with additional locations cued up to land on the Loam Pass in the near future. Tune in to learn more about the Joey, Rob, the Loam Pass, along with some bonus racing...

Women in Trail Building at the 2024 Professional Trail Builders Association Sustainable Trail Conference 167 At the end of day one during the 2024 Professional Trail Builders Association Sustainable Trails Conference Martha Becton took over as host of the Trail EAffect Podcast. Martha brought Erin Amadon, Rebekah Morrisson, and Addie Clayton onto the show to have an open conversation about Women in Trail Building. A Huge Thank You goes out to these four Women for recording this conversation, an...

Hansi Johnson on the Rise of Upper Midwest Mountain Biking and more! 166 Hansi had a front row seat, and sometimes took control of the wheel when it comes to the rise of mountain biking in the Upper Midwest. He’s got some incredible stories, which set the stage for what we know as some of the best mountain bike and trail communities around. Topics Include: The Driftless Region How Hansi got hooked up with IMBA Duluth, MN Cuyuna, MN The Iron Range in MN Copper Harbor MI Aaron Rogers The...