Women's Trail School Recap 2024
Women want, and deserve, a place in the trail-building world. When we create space for them, they show up. Change starts with an invitation and education.
Words by Jessica Mavica // Sturdy B Racing
On a sunny day in early February, Sturdy Bitch Racing, organizers of the Sturdy Dirty Enduro, and Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance, joined forces to host a Women's Trail School in North Bend, WA. The purpose of the Trail School is to make bike trail building more approachable and provide a basis to learn the why and the how of what goes into creating fun, lasting features to ride.
The day started out with classroom instruction where attendees learned about things like soil composition, sustainable building practices, and what tools to use for the job. In the afternoon, we went out onto the trails at Raging River in Snoqualmie, WA to practice our new skills in the field.
The Sturdy B’s and Evergreen have been collaborating for over five years, organizing monthly dig days that attract several dozen volunteers who lend their time and energy to the trails. Together the groups have helped maintain a multitude of trails in the area, as well as designing and building new trails such as the award-winning Canyon Creek Downhill (CCDH). The dig days have forged a strong community and creates an atmosphere that is fun and inviting for folks who are new to trail building.
"The female-identifying community in mountain biking is growing. First, it started with getting more women on bikes and now it's about getting more women into trail building. Trails are the structure, the core of what builds community and connects us to the land. More women leading the charge on the trails brings their voices to the way we build, ride, and expand representation. Evergreen is thankful for having the Sturdy B's push the limits and inviting more women to the table." - Liz Lunderman, Cascades to Sound Development Lead
Watch the video recap of the Women's Trail School:
Come dig with us at Evergreen! You do not need experience, you have mentors and tools awaiting you. Stay connected on Evergreen’s Instagram and Facebook; and sign up for newsletters for all the “braking news” in our MTB world.
We work with Evergreen Trail Builders who are easy to approach, super welcoming and are able to answer questions while never making you feel like your work is undervalued.—Ady of Sturdy B Racing
Evergreen trail builders and volunteers creating legendary works of art in the PNW mountains. Photo: Chris McFarland
Racers in the Sturdy Dirty Women's Enduro enjoy varied forest terrain on the 2.2 mile "spicy blue" CCDH trail. Photo: Matthew Mikaelian
Through a collaborative approach with Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance and Sturdy B Racing, CCDH was finished in 2020 and has become one of the most popular trails in the PNW. In 2022, the trail was awarded the "Outstanding Trail Award" by the Washington State Trails Coalition, recognizing the trail and partnership's important contribution to the regional riding community.
Sturdy Bitch Racing and Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance accept the 2022 Outstanding Trail Award Winner for CCDH.
We are thankful to our amazing sponsors, evo, Georgetown Brewing, Fiveten, and Shredly for their sponsorship and support of the Sturdy Dirty & Evergreen dig days!
Click the links below to learn more about Sturdy Dirty Enduro and Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance:
Sturdy Dirty Enduro
Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance
Check out the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance Calendar to register for an upcoming dig day and learn about other women's trail building events such as Shovel and Shred in Darrington, WA and Dirt and Debauchery in Port Gamble.