EMBA January 2023 Newsletter

EMBA January 2023 Newsletter

Happy New Year! 2023 is an exciting year for EMBA we look forward to what this year brings including projects coming to fruition. As our president, Joe Yurkovich, addressed in his end of the year message in December, “the passionate and engaged Edmonton mountain biking community was essential in making 2022 a landmark year for EMBA and mountain biking in the Edmonton region.” Once again, we thank you, and look forward to continuing on this momentum with your ongoing support, passion, and engagement!

Annual General Meeting: This is advance notice that we will be holding our AGM Saturday, March 18 at Goldstick Park. A call for Nominations for next year are now open. More information can be found further down in this newsletter. We will also have more of an update in February.

Join EMBA by becoming a member: EMBA is now accepting memberships for our 2023 year and anyone interested in supporting mountain biking in Edmonton can purchase their membership by clicking here. Or click here for a Family Membership. Membership runs from April 1st to March 31st each year.

Edmonton Bike Park:  We are still seeking financial contributions in lieu of grants, donations, as well as fundraising for our Bike Skills Park. We thank and continue to work with the City of Edmonton to see the Bike Skills Park a reality, and hope to begin work this summer. For regular updates and to keep informed check out the Edmonton Bike Park website.

Volunteer with us! Many opportunities are available to get involved with EMBA. Help build or maintain a trail, assist with a project, be a part of a committee, or join the board. For more information and how you can get involved check out our volunteer page here and sign up. Thank you!

Hawrylak Park: The park will be fully closing beginning March 13, 2023. The impact to accessing the trails around the park will have to be from other points as the City of Edmonton completes a 3-year project of rehabilitation to the area. The perimeter gravel trails will still be open and accessible and should not affect single-tracks south of the park like Raven. More information can be found by clicking here.

Fort Saskatchewan Trail Alliance: FSTA recently held a fundraising event whereas a bottle drive raised over $1000 dollars. Thanks to the many who came and supported the FSTA with donations. The Snow Groomer for trails is working really well, and has been used with much success. A different concept design that is paying off greatly for keeping mountain biking going in the winter. FSTA has also received a grant from the City of Fort Saskatchewan, and many thanks to those involved in continuing to keep the alliance operating.
 
Ribbon of Green: EMBA continues to work with our City of Edmonton, particularly through three city departments ensuring Council’s direction is still being followed with our trail system being designed to properly balance all human use against legitimate ecological concerns. This continues with directors for EMBA and their hard work with getting trails maintained and be allowed to use. We look forward to future projects enhancing mountain biking and the trails for safer and better access with cooperation between the CofE and EMBA. A comprehensive River Valley Trail Strategy is still pending funding. Keep up to date by checking in with our Ribbon of Green page on our website.

Advance Notice of AGM and Call for Nominations

EMBA’s 2023 Annual General Meeting (AGM) is set for 2:00 pm, Saturday, March 18 at Goldstick Park!

Doors will open for socializing at 1:00 pm and official notice of the AGM will go out next month to all members (expiring March 31, 2023).

Nominations to the EMBA Board of Directors for the next year are now open! To stand for election to the Board, you must be a current Member (2022) and be nominated by another member in good standing. Nominations must be received no later than February 15 by contacting us here.

Note that nominations from the floor of the AGM will not be permitted, so if you are interested in joining the Board please forward your nomination to us by February 15 along with a short biography for distribution with the AGM Notice.

Ski Race to Take Over Gold Bar Park January 21st and 22nd

The Edmonton Mountain Bike Alliance is asking anyone who may be out riding or using the trails, specifically in Gold Bar Park, to avoid them on Saturday, January 21st and Sunday, January 22nd. This goes more for Gold Digger and HustlerTrails.

The Edmonton Nordic Ski Club would like to thank the Mountain Bike community for our cooperation as this is the first time in 10+ years that an Alberta Cup cross-country ski event is coming to Edmonton. Approximately 200 racers aged six years and older will take to Gold Bar Park with events and grooming taking place for the majority of the weekend.

For any more information or if you wish to contact the Ski Club please send them a message.

Gold Digger & Hustler Trails (Gold Bar Park)

EMBFest Fat Bike Races

Ages 13 and older can take part in EMBFest Fat Bike Races presented by Mud Sweat & Gears right in the heart of Edmonton!

$10.00 Registration / Mixed Gender / Beginner & Advanced Categories

There will also be free fat bike demos from Mud Sweat & Gears.

Saturday, February 11, 2023 (ACC Ice Fest)
Saturday, February 18, 2023 (Silver Skate Festival)
Saturday, March 18, 2023 (TBD)

More Information including Registration can be found by clicking here!

Hardcore Kids Mountain Bike lessons have moved under the Transcend Athletics banner.

Registration is now open for the Saturday lessons from 9:00am to 11:15am starting in April.

The weekday events will be open for registration sometime this month.

Follow the link here to reserve your spot in the Saturday sessions.

Partial proceeds will be donated to the Edmonton Mountain Bike Alliance. Thank You Transend Athletics!

Fort Saskatchewan Trail Alliance

(Photos courtesy of Colin Hafer and the FSTA) “We picked up a track sled project that had been built to pull a sled for ice fishing. We all lowered the unit 4”, built the square tubing framework, guard, as well as the entire handlebar setup. Then built a grooming sled with a snow comb on the bottom and a hitch assembly that allows the grooming sled to pivot around very tight corners. A new carburetor and twist throttle were installed, and then the testing began! FSTA has groomed approximately 12km of single-track trail along the river in the Fort Saskatchewan River valley. The machine leaves a beautiful 20″ wide packed and combed surface that is great for biking, running, and hiking.” – C.H.

Get Your EMBA Membership or Merch