Day 1 - Wednesday 13 May, 2009
Day 1 - Public Lands
Registration for Day Delegates and Late Arrivals
Morning
Testimonial for Richard Juryn, Housekeeping and Introductions
9:30 - 9:45
Dan London,
World Mountain Bike Conference
Conference Opening
9:45 - 10:00
Scotland's Contribution to Sustainable Mountain Biking
Minister for Environment,
The Scottish Parliament
Plenary Session
10:00 - 11:30
Mountain Biking – 7stanes Foundation to Economic Success
Scottish Enterprise is Scotland's enterprise, innovation and investment agency. Its goal is to stimulate the sustainable economic growth of Scotland's economy. David Gass is Scottish Enterprise's Regional Director who covers the south of Scotland and works closely with the Scottish Government on Rural and Environmental Affairs. He has a passion for rural economic development and will illustrate how the 7stanes mountain bike trails have been a catalyst to economic development. Using examples of mountain biking in Scotland, David will demonstrate how rural areas can become more economically sustainable as well as contribute to the wider Scottish economy.
David Gass,
Scottish Enterprise's Regional Director who covers the south of Scotland
Meeting the Challenge of Delivering World Class Sustainable Mountain Biking in Scotland's Sustainably Managed National Forests
Although Scotland is a small nation on the western periphery of Europe with modest forest cover it is renowned for delivery of multi-purpose forestry. Scotland has also been recognised as a world leader in mountain biking with some of the coolest and hottest mountain bike trails on the planet. Add enlightened land access rights to the mix and the result is the IMBA accolade of 'Global Superstar'.
The presentation will cover the development of sustainable forest management and recreation on the Scottish national forest estate by the Forestry Commission and its partners with special reference to the development of mountain biking as a tourism draw, a recreational pursuit and sports activity.
Alan Stevenson,
Head of Communities, Recreation and Tourism, Forestry Commission Scotland
Coffee & Networking
11:30 - 12:00
Workshop Sessions
12:00 - 13:00
Delegates are required to select ONE Workshop (A1 - A5) per session - Sessions are repeated in the afternoon
A1: PUBLIC LAND MANAGEMENT & COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Challenges of Stakeholder Engagement and Partnership Working
An overview of the challenges faced on Vancouver's North Shore, in engaging local residents, riders, media and environmentalists in designing an integrated land management approach. How the politics of mountain biking have evolved within the community and the sport has been embraced as a defining part of local culture. Ideas for engagement and problem solving in an urban/forest interface area, in one of the birthplaces of the sport. North Vancouver’s Fromme and Seymour Mountain areas contain 30 sq.km. of some of the most challenging downhill trails in the world. The area is within four different land management jurisdictions, which work closely together in providing stewardship and setting standards for long-term sustainability.
Richard Walton, Mayor, North Vancouver,
Vice Chair, Metro Vancouver,
Co-founder of First World Mountain Bike Conference
Managing Wild Trails: Forestry Commission England Perspective
An overview of problems surrounding wild trail creation from a land manager's perspective and ways to help solve these. The Forestry Commission in England manages over 1350km of official trails but plays host to hundreds of miles of wild trail and countless dirt jump areas. The past 15 years has seen a more progressive approach to the management of these with a more community based approach.
Chris Bay, Forest Recreation Manager - Sherwood Forest District
Forestry Commission England
Sustai 'gnar' bility
The areas of mountain bike design, construction and technology have seen unprecedented advancement over the past ten years. This has resulted in many riders seeking increasingly challenging mountain biking opportunities, which are often unavailable in the majority of purpose-built venues. This presentation will explore the emergent need for these more challenging facilities whilst also discussing methods through which to attain them within a framework of optimum environmental sustainability.
Simon French,
Director, Dirt Art
Tasmania, Australia
A2: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FROM MOUNTAIN BIKING IN SCOTLAND
Stimulating Economic Activity - Collaboration, Product Development and Packaging
A panel of Scottish entrepreneurs will present on their experiences of delivering products and services for the mountain bike market. Following on from the Plenary Session where David Gass, Regional Director, Scottish Enterprise will present on how mountain biking has been a catalyst to economic development; the panel will provide an insight into how they have personally cultivated market opportunity. The examples will demonstrate how businesses have undertaken product and service development to increase profitability and illustrate the importance of business collaboration in developing a holistic approach to meeting the needs of the mountain bike market. This will be followed by a discussion to explore world wide experiences through a question and answer session.
Catherine Maxwell Stuart
Traquair House
Rob Gray
Get Amongst It, Ae Bike Shop and Café
Mark Shimidzu
Wheels Cycle Centre
A3: MOUNTAIN BIKE ACCESS AND SUSTAINABILITY
Encouraging and Developing Sustainable Mountain Biking in Scotland
Responsible Behaviour by Planners and Users A public right of access to most land in Scotland comes with an obligation on land managers and recreational users to behave responsibly – in terms of their own actions, and in respect of potential impacts on the interests of others and the environment. This presentation will highlight Scotland’s sustainable recreational resource, what responsible behaviour means for those seeking to develop mountain biking opportunities and mountain bikers themselves, and will explore the role of Scottish Natural Heritage and partners in encouraging enjoyment of the outdoors and the social and economic benefits this brings, whilst protecting the environment.
Bridget Finton,
Policy & Advice Officer - Recreation & Access
Scottish Natural Heritage
Plans, Policy and Partnerships to Enhance Access and Foster a Sustainable Mountain Bike Community in British Columbia
Mountain biking in British Columbia has exploded over the past 2 decades. Yet, despite over 92 million hectares of public lands, mostly forested, legitimate and authorized trail access for mountain biking continues to be a challenge. The Provincial Government in British Columbia recognizes mountain biking as a legitimate and important activity taking place on public lands. Through a number of initiatives, including the Trails Strategy for British Columbia, the Mountain Bike Trails Policy and by building relationships with the mountain bike community, the government is pro-actively working to ensure access and foster a sustainable mountain bike community in British Columbia.
John Hawkings,
Recreation Sites & Trails Section
Ministry of Tourism, Culture & the Arts, British Columbia, Canada
A4: RISK MANAGEMENT
Risk Management vs Taking Risks
Risk is defined as: 'The probability of an event and its consequences'. Risk management is the practice of using processes, methods and tools for managing these risks. An overview of how the Forestry Commission as one of the largest land managers and provider of mountain bike trails in GB, approach this subject on the National Forest Estate.
John Ireland,
Safety and Environment
Forestry Commission Scotland
A5: MOUNTAIN BIKING FOR ALL
Stepping Stanes, Engaging and Sustaining Young People's Participation in Biking
Dumfries and Galloway’s Stepping Stanes Youth Cycling Development Club is run by volunteers and was established to help young people access the world class 7stanes sites and improve cycle coaching across the region. Its partners include Scottish Cycling, 7stanes, Forestry Commission, Dumfries and Galloway Council and others. This workshop will tell the story of how the club came in to being, the ingredients of its success and highlight how these could be used to engage young people in mountain biking elsewhere.
Steve MacCreadie,
Stepping Stanes, Scotland
Keith Stocker,
Scottish Cycling
Disabled Downhillers!
Introducing the UKs first fully inclusive MTB club, promoting downhill 4 wheel mountain bike riding nationwide. A fast growing sport among both wheelchair users and able bodied people in the States and Canada, these new bikes provide a fantastic chance to create a fully integrated UK downhill MTB scene. Find out more about these amazing bikes and the aims of the club in our short film and presentation.
Phil Hall,
Roughriderz, UK
Lunch
13:00 - 14:00
Workshop Sessions (Repeat A1 - A5)
14:00 - 15:00
Coffee & Networking
15:00 - 15:30
Plenary Session
15:30 - 16:30
Question Time
Panel of Workshop Presenters
Live Music Events in Dumfries and Local Towns
Evening
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