鈥淔irst thing I learned is that we really are on the map.鈥�
That鈥檚 how Pat Dub茅, a member of the 亚洲天堂 Lake Mountain Biking Association (BLMBA), described his experience at a recent mountain biking tourism symposium in Revelstoke. His attendance was sponsored by the Village of 亚洲天堂 Lake.
鈥淲henever I attend a seminar anywhere, the first thing I have to do is explain where 亚洲天堂 Lake is - people simply don鈥檛 know,鈥� he said. 鈥淣ot so at this symposium. Everyone knew us and knew very specifically about mountain biking.鈥�
Dub茅 explained that 亚洲天堂 Lake鈥檚 mountain biking pursuit began after the village received a $10,000 grant for economic development in 2004. After a local resident suggested the idea of investing in mountain biking, Dub茅 and other local representatives attended a mountain biking symposium in Whistler. He described the 2004 symposium as a 鈥渞evelation.鈥�
鈥淸What we heard during the 2004 symposium was that] In Seattle, it took them seven years to build a small bike park under an overpass. We were checking things off [a list] and saying, 鈥榃ell, all the challenges and problems that Seattle had, we not only didn鈥檛 have, but we had the solutions already in our backyard.鈥欌��
鈥淎ccess to machinery - every second person in 亚洲天堂 Lake runs a backhoe,鈥� he continued. 鈥淎ccess to land - they are sending us here to look at mountain biking as a potential. So we started thinking this could really work here.鈥�
鈥淔rom that, you look at where we are now鈥� we have really met our mandate of creating a world-class mountain biking destination and building a mountain biking culture in 亚洲天堂 Lake.鈥�
This year, approximately 70 bikers from all over the world made a stop in 亚洲天堂 Lake as part of the B.C. Bike Ride North.
鈥淲e were the jewel in the crown of the B.C. Bike Ride,鈥� said Dub茅. 鈥淭hey loved their experience here.鈥�
Dub茅 said BLMBA鈥檚 membership is now the 鈥渆nvy of the province,鈥� with 236 members.
鈥淲e have a bike camp that we have to turn away people,鈥� he added. 鈥淚t sells out in less than two days.鈥�
In addition, Dub茅 says interest in mountain biking has significantly increased across B.C. over the past 10 years, creating an opportunity for 亚洲天堂 Lake.
鈥淲e have this amazing place鈥� where else do you mountain bike to the trails and come down to a lake with a dock? Nowhere is the answer to that.鈥�
Heartbeat of the organization
Every Wednesday, a group or approximately 25 BLMBA volunteers participate in a work bee at the Boer Mountain Recreation Site.
鈥淭hey come because we ride afterwards too, and that鈥檚 everybody - whether you鈥檙e a beginner or advanced rider,鈥� said Dub茅.
鈥淥ther communities have only one work bee a season; we have one a week, and that鈥檚 fantastic,鈥� he continued. 鈥淧eople feel like they own these trails.鈥�
鈥淲e鈥檙e gonna keep developing the culture,鈥� he added. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the heartbeat of our organization.鈥�
How could the Village of 亚洲天堂 Lake help?
Dub茅 said the Village of 亚洲天堂 Lake could support BLMBA鈥檚 vision by helping out with maintenance.
鈥淲e work really hard to make different proposals, but maintenance is really hard - nobody funds maintenance,鈥� he said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been on the back of us, volunteers. As much as I love volunteering, maintenance is a constant issue. At some point it鈥檚 going to be unsustainable when we get too old or just burned out, and maintenance is a priority.鈥�
Dub茅 said the village could also support BLMBA by providing logistical or financial support for larger projects such as a trail connecting Kager Lake to 亚洲天堂 Lake, as well as branding 亚洲天堂 Lake as a mountain biking destination.
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