For episode 208, we have Ethan Edman, the Director of Trail Construction and Maintenance at the OZ Trails Bike Park. If you want a real understanding of how one of the most anticipated bike parks in the country is coming together, this conversation delivers.

Topics Include:

• Ethan on Gravity Based Bike Parks
• Ethan on his role as the Director of Trail Construction and Maintenance
• Bike parks he’d visited, and the experiences Ethan has learned about them
  • Angel Fire Bike Park
  • Spirit Mountain Bike Park
  • Highland Bike Park
• The value gained from riding and experiencing many different places
• The Chairlift at the OZ Trails Bike Park, and the experience it will provide
  • Discussing different uplift experiences
• Details on the 30 trails that the OZ Trails Bike Park will be opening with
  • Maximizing the 280’ of elevation at the Bike Park
  • The importance of Diverse Trail Experiences that will be offered
• Anticipated Opening of the OZ Trails Bike Park
  • Dialing in operations ahead of opening and training staff.
• Unique characteristics of having a truly blank canvas to create this bike park
• Gravity Logic as the main contractor for the bike park, both for building trails and dialing in operations of the bike park as a business
• Hours of Operation
• Other amenities at the OZ Trails Bike Park
  • Rental Bikes
  • Skills Coaching / Lessons
• How this bike park will cater to new riders from a skills perspective
• Mena, AR Bike Park
  • What Ethan knows about the bike park in Mena, AR
  • How the OZ Trails Bike Park will complement a much larger bike park in Mena
  • The scale of the Ouachita Mountains in Arkansas

Closing Comments and Thank You’s

Trail EAffect Show Links:

OZ Trails Bike Park: https://www.oztrails.com/oz-trails-bike-park/

Show Support By:

Outdoor Marketing Bootcamp: https://www.outdoormarketingbootcamp.com/

KETL Mtn Apparel Affiliate Link: https://ketlmtn.com/josh

Trail One Components: https://trailone.bike/josh

Smith’s Bike Shop – 130 Years of Excellence: www.smithsbikes.com

Trail EAffect Podcast Website: www.traileaffectpodcast.com

Contact Josh at evolutiontrails@gmail.com

This Podcast has been edited and produced by Evolution Trail Services

For episode 207, Phil Waidner is our guest – Now if you read the title, it says West Virginia Mountain Biking and the Arrowhead Bike Farm – This is where Phil Lives and what Phil does, but how he got here is a whole lot of different stories. Phil took us from Indiana to Ashville, to China to Bolivia, to Vail Colorado and finally to Fayetteville, WV. He’s had a lot of different roles in the mountain bike community that span from Tour Guide / Instructor to Leading Teen Trail Corps for NICA and a ton more. There’s so much to unpack about this conversation that an intro just won’t do it justice.

Topics Include:

• Phil Waidner Back Story
• Heading to China to guide for climbing and mountain biking
• Getting a job as a mountain bike guide in Bolivia
• Transitioning back to the U.S. as a ski instructor in Vail, CO.
• Moving to West Virginia to take a role as the Wheels Program Manager
• at the Summit Bechtel Reserve Boy Scout Camp
• Getting the keys to a brand new 35-mile trail system at the Summit Bechtel Reserve
  • The importance of Trail Maintenance
• Hired by NICA to run the Teen Trail Corps – Nationwide
  • The success of NICA Teen Trail Corps
• Coming onboard at the Arrowhead Bike Farm in Fayetteville, WV
  • Arrowhead Bike Farm Backstory
  • What the Arrowhead Bike Farm is and what they do there (lots!)
• Mountain Biking in the New River Gorge Region
• The uniqueness of West Virginia
• Events and Festivals in the region
• What Phil looks for in trail communities
• Closing Comments
  • Bonus Bolivia Content

Trail EAffect Show Links:

Arrowhead Bike Farm: https://arrowheadbikefarm.com/

West Virginia Mountain Bike Association: https://wvmba.com/

Summit Bechtel Reserve: https://www.summitbsa.org/

Gravity Bolivia: https://www.gravitybolivia.com/

Show Support By:

Outdoor Marketing Bootcamp: https://www.outdoormarketingbootcamp.com/

KETL Mtn Apparel Affiliate Link: https://ketlmtn.com/josh

Trail One Components: https://trailone.bike/josh

Smith’s Bike Shop – 130 Years of Excellence: www.smithsbikes.com

Trail EAffect Podcast Website: www.traileaffectpodcast.com

Contact Josh at evolutiontrails@gmail.com

This Podcast has been edited and produced by Evolution Trail Services

For episode 206, I’m joined by Mark Eller from Leave No Trace. This might sound like a straightforward conversation. It isn’t. Mark is a veteran of the outdoor industry, with more than a decade at IMBA during a period of major program expansion, and he continues his work today at Leave No Trace. His background includes climbing, mountain biking, and decades of time spent outdoors. This episode sits at the intersection of marketing, mountain biking, trails, and how we show up outdoors in ways that are practical and low impact.

Topics Include:

• How Mark landed in the Outdoor Marketing space more than 2 decades ago
• Landing at IMBA doing Communications and Marketing
• Mark working at IMBA during the time of the Trail Solutions Book, The Ride Center, Regional Directors, and more
• The Impact of the Trail Solutions Book on Land Managers and Modern Trail Design and Construction taking a real science backed approach
• What are some things that trails / mountain biking has gotten right and wrong from a marketing perspective
• The Leave No Trace Backstory
• The Seven Principals of Leave No Trace
• Common Misconceptions about Leave No Trace
• Best method for learning Mark has found during his career
• Surprises for Mark while at IMBA and Leave No Trace
• What bad habit would Mark get trail users to change
• What Mark Looks for in Trail Communities
• Outdoor Marketing Boot Camp
• Closing Comments

Trail EAffect Show Links:

Leave No Trace: https://lnt.org/

Show Support By:

Outdoor Marketing Bootcamp: https://www.outdoormarketingbootcamp.com/

KETL Mtn Apparel Affiliate Link: https://ketlmtn.com/josh

Trail One Components: https://trailone.bike/josh

Smith’s Bike Shop – 130 Years of Excellence: www.smithsbikes.com

Trail EAffect Podcast Website: www.traileaffectpodcast.com

Contact Josh at evolutiontrails@gmail.com

This Podcast has been edited and produced by Evolution Trail Services