2009 Midwest Mountain Bike Summit

[Bexter]

Thomas, thank you! We saw the FORC logo on your Summit ad in Dirt Rag. That is Saweeeeeeet!!!!! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! And, thanks for getting the poll running. That will give us some guidance as we plan our event for 2011.

I think quite a number of us are psyched to head up to the Summit and a number of folks down in Peoria (PAMBA) are also planning to road-trip with us.

Your trail systems look lot lots of fun!

Our trails, you ask? We have three trails with a 4th one on the way hopefully. Check out the "Our Trails" link up above for descriptions of our trails. We like the, of course, and most everyone who visits likes them. But, you know how it is. Checking out a new trail system is always fun.

Looking forward to meeting you at the Summit!!

[nate]

9th Annual Midwest Mountain Bike Summit
May 28th-31st
Grand Rapids, MI
MidwestMTBSsummit.com

• The Welcome Reception, Comfort Suites North, 7.00pm- 10.00pm
• Thursday, May 28, 2009:

Network with Summit attendees over an evening of sustainably pastured roast pig from Crane Dance Farms and beverages from Founders and Arcadia Brewing. A pump track will be on site for the duration of the Summit.

• The Velocity Advocacy Summit, Comfort Suites North, 7.30am- 4.30pm
• Friday, May 29, 2009:

Throughout the day attendees can participate in workshops and seminars focusing on all aspects of mountain bike advocacy, with an emphasis on promoting and developing urban trail systems called gateway trails.
Friday’s schedule of presentations:
* 9:00am - Club Care with Kelly and Collins Bishop from IMBA
* 10:00am - The economic impact of mtb by Mike Dulin from KYMBA
* 11:00am - Grantmaking from the grantmakers perspective by Milt Rohwer from the Frey Foundation
* 12:00pm - Pizza Lunch
* 1:00pm - Gateway trails by Ryan Schutz from IMBA
* 1:30pm - IMBA trail school track #1 with Kelly and Collins Bishop from IMBA
* 1:30pm - Gateway success story by Kevin Marley from CAMBRwest
* 2:30pm - Building Coalitions by Ken Freestone from the West Michigan Strategic Alliance
* 3:00pm - Working with City Planners, Commissioners, and Parks Department roundtable
* 3:00pm - IMBA trail school track #2 with Kelly and Collins Bishop from IMBA
* 4:00pm - Chainsaw school by Stihl
*5:30pm - Head over to the Cannonsburg Ski Area

• The Festival, Cannonsburg Ski Area 8.00am-10.00pm
• Saturday,May 30, 2009:

Saturday morning will feature hands–on trail building demonstrations with equipment from Ditchwitch, Trail armoring, Stihl chainsaw safety class, and trail layout with Kelly and Collins. Later in the day, the Summit will have a festival atmosphere, with demos from Trek, Fisher, Giant, and Specialized; organized rides on local trails, a downhill race, slalom, bike polo, derby, team time trial and music provided by the Sinners. Additionally, attendees may submit photographs and digital "YouTube" style videos shot during the Summit with prizes being awarded to the top submissions on Sunday afternoon.
Schedule of Saturday’s clinics:
* 8:00am - Using chainsaws on common trailday applications
* 8:00am - Mechanical trailbuilding with Stihl yardboss and a Ditchwitch Sk-600
* 9:30am - Trail Layout with Kelly and Collins Bishop of IMBA
* 9:30am - Using chainsaws on common trailday applications
* 11:00am - Trail Armoring with Mike Dunston from GORC
* 11:00am - Mechanical trailbuilding with Stihl yardboss and a Ditchwitch Sk-600
*Noon the midway officially opens and the festival starts

• The Dirt Rag Epic Ride, Cannonsburg Ski Area 10.00m-3.00pm
• Sunday, May 31st:

Sunday, May 31, 2009: Sunday's big event is the organized epic ride. Attendees will cover 3 different trail systems, every kind of surface you can ride a bike on (dirt, roads, and paved trails), and over 40 miles of riding. There will be aid stations along the way to fuel-up, as well as optional stops at local watering holes for refreshments. Shorter ride options will also be available.

[Bexter]

Hey everyone, today is the last day to register for the Summit before the price increase by $10 a person on May 1st. Right now, it's $35 a person and you get a couple meals on Thursday and Friday as well as a T-shirt. Not sure if camping is included in that price. Here's the registration page.

http://midwestmtbsummit.com/main/ind...d=16&Itemid=30

John and I won't get up there til Friday afternoon, so we'll miss the meals and advocacy thing.

And, check out the FORC poll on their website: http://midwestmtbsummit.com/main/ind...d=15&Itemid=32. The Michigan dudes were kind enough to post this poll on their website for us so we could get feedback from potential attendees of OUR 2011 Fest as far as their opinion about a preferred time of year for us to host ours.

[LM5]

From what I could tell it looks like camping is $7/per night/per person and not included in registration, cash or check only. Not sure if you need to make reservations with the campground ahead of time. I'm in, I still have yet to figure out how or when I'm coming up. If anyone is swinging through chicago on their way and have room for me and my bike let me know, otherwise I'll borrow my ma's car :).

[Bexter]

Yo! Yo! Yo!

So, who all is going to the Summit?

[Gunchie]

Gunchie and Matt are in.

[Bexter]

For those who plan to camp, you need to fill out the registration form and send in your money in advance to guarantee a spot (though they did say that they don't expect that they will run out of room). Here's the form:
http://www.michcampgrounds.com/grand...index_mwmb.php

$7 a day per tent.