The Latest OCMTBA has a new Executive Team for 2023. We are actively recruiting for Secretary.
David Browning President, founder of OCMTBA (2020), thinkMTB
Jim Foley Vice President, co-founder of OCMB
Kurt Wiemann Executive Director and acting Secretary, Good Dirt event director
Mike SoursbyTreasurer, founder of thinkMTB
Steve Larson and Brad Larkins Outgoing President and Vice President will be assisting and advising us going forward also and we thank them for their years of service with SHARE
A Quick History
Orange County Mountain Bike Association was created in 2022 as a merger of SHARE MTB which has been a trail advocacy group since 1988 and OCMTBA which was founded in 2020. The two groups merged in 2022 and adopted the name Orange County Mountain Bike Association and the new group will be known as OCMTBA going forward.
What we’ve been doing
The Dirt
We have been working trail maintenance days at Aliso Wood Cyns, Laguna Canyon Wilderness, Santiago Oaks and O'Neill County Parks.
We are also in a cooperative project with San Diego Mountain Biking Association (SDMBA) for restoration of Trabuco and West Horsethief trails in the Cleveland National Forest. SDMBA has a mechanical equipment trail crew and can handle more complicated projects like this.
In December, OCMTBA Members Todd Lounsbury and Jim Foley spent two days with Laguna Canyon Foundation staff, and Shimano employees. They were receiving training from Chris Orr at International Mountain Bicycling Association(IMBA) Trail Solutions on the latest methods to control water damage to trails. Better drainage means less repair later and the more we can free up people for other trail work.
The Trails
We are watching several projects closely with Orange County Parks. We hope to see an opening in the next few months of the East Orange (former Saddleback Motocross) property. This is from land given to the county by the Irvine Company in 2014, along with two other areas, for future recreational use. We will keep on top of these as they progress.
The Craig Park Bike Facility project, a 9.7-acre mountain bike skills course facility in Fullerton, for all ages and abilities, is also making its way through the final Army Corps of Engineers approvals before construction RFPs (Requests for Proposal) will be issued (This land is owned by the US Army Corps of Engineers for flood control.)
We enjoyed a great land manager roundtable during the IMBA training that included new city council members from Laguna Beach and Irvine.
Meetings are being scheduled with those folks as well as our new Supervisors with the express goal of getting more trails.
The Partners
We had a great tour with the CAMTB Executive Director Michael Anzalone in November and then trail meetings with David Wiens, Executive Director of IMBA in December, and learned a lot. We have some specific actions started for your benefit.
We're also excited to announce we have built an advisory council of influencer and industry folks who you recognize and trust. Look for the guidance of all these parties to make a material difference in our efforts in the coming year.
For 2023 and beyond
OCMTBA will be:
Strengthening and building relationships with Orange County, OC Parks, State Parks, US Forest Service and the Cities, HOAs and Conservancy groups that manage the land that we ride on.
Building our membership by demonstrating we can make a difference for you and your goals in 2023
Working with riding groups and high school racing teams to get their members involved for trail work events and for input on our actions.
Publicizing and scheduling trail workdays with local land managers and asking riding groups and High School teams to get involved. Trail work is the biggest thing we can do to show our support publicly for the trails that we ride on.
Working with CAMTB and IMBA, both of which we are members of, to leverage their state and national experience and connections for our goals.
Our goal is to energize the Mountain Biking Community around protecting and expanding our trail access.
Upcoming Events
The Good Dirt Ride, a community event, now in its 16th year has been announced for September 30, 2023. Put it on your calendar, this is an event for you, run by you and with a goal of raising funds that benefit you! Registration will open on April 1, thanks in advance for your support.
Trail Work Events Laguna Ridge FEBRUARY 5 @ 8:00 AM — 12:00 PM Sheep Run aka. Mentally Sensitive FEBRUARY 11 @ 8:00 AM — 12:00 PM Little Sycamore FEBRUARY 19 @ 8:00 AM — 12:00 PM Meadows MARCH 11 @ 8:00 AM — 12:00 PM
Races and Rides Over the Hump Sat Jan 28 - Sat Feb 18 - Sat Feb 25 Register HERE Warrior's Society Counting Coup Sat April 15 Register HERE Warrior's Society Vision Quest Sat April 15 Register HERE
Our Supporters
With four stores to serve you and 30 years in the bicycle business, we are your source for cycling in Orange County. Voted "Best Bike Shop" by the OC Hotlist. In an effort to support our cycling community and help grow OCMTBA, Rock N Road is offering a free one year membership to the first twenty-five people that buy a new mountain bike in February!