Sean is foundational. Wherever he is, at every work party, at every event or ride, he's the first trail builder to checkin with everyone, to offer support and a warm hello.

And being foundational, bringing so much to the team doesnt stop at the vibes, the check ins.  Evergreen maintains and builds trails all over the state and Sean is the kind of trail builder to show up day in and day out ready where Evergreen needs him. And lately, Evergreen has needed him pretty much everywhere! From Port Gamble to Darrington to Colville, if you've been at a work party or out ripping some berms, chances are you've run into Sean. And if you've run into him, there's a 100 percent chance you've seen an intentional, and smiling face and immediately felt welcome.

Photo By: Jack Lambert

And that welcoming attitude, that intentionality runs freeze-thaw mud deep. Before Sean started working professionally as a trail builder with Evergreen, he worked for a ‘little’ company out of Everett named Boeing. Sean will be the first to tell you it wasn't a terrible experience. But he'll also be the first to tell you it wasn't trail building. Wasn't mountain biking. Didn't bring the same joy to himself then as working for Evergreen does for him today. After a decade at it the career felt like a slog. And, therefore, the intentionality in his approach to trail building. The presense. When asked "why trail building" Sean's answers an easy one... Now he gets to go to work, wants to, doesn't have to.

Photo By: Jack Lambert

Sean has seen the other side, so to speak, and has firmly found a community and way of life that speaks to him on the deeper level he's looking for. I remember one of my first work parties with Sean back when I was a volunteer. We talked then about "nature bathing" and just how good it felt to be in the woods, on the bike, off the bike, cleaning drains, and sharing space with others. 

That conversation is a big reason I'm working with Evergreen today. Sean set the vibe for that work party, became an instant friend, and highlighted for me what's so special about working for Evergreen and the mountain biking community as a whole. The inclusivity. The positivity. The mental health benefits. The rewarding feeling that comes with a hard day earned on the trail.

"If trails can be fun while accessing nature, you get fit, and your mental health improves. I build trails not just for me to be outside but to get other people outside. Being outside, feeling healthy, feeling the connection with yourself, with nature, with the dirt. It's not a bonus in this life, it is a necessity."  

When Sean says it is a necessity he speaks from experiences that run deeper than the Boeing to volunteer to professional Evergreen trail builder transition. Sean, who grew up as an only child, has been around bikes since the early 90s, starting early on trainers before moving onto his first mountainbike, something like a Walmart Huffy, before switching to BMX because the "bikes didn't break as much." In the natural progression of the sport, he then started building neighborhood trails and jumps with his mates. 

Photo By: Terry Sweeney 

For a youthful Sean, biking became a way to get out of the house from dawn till dusk to enjoy the benefits of the outdoors, explore, learn how to throw a table or two (check the photo below from '99) do something intentional and positive, and just be while doing something with his friends. Something that older Sean was missing at Boeing. 

Photo By: Charles Shiermeyer

As a trail builder now, though, Sean gets to experience it again. And even though he's moved beyond the Huffy (no digs here; my first whip was a Huffy), the neighborhood trails, and the half-broken shovels of his youth, he still brings that sense of wonder, excitement, and the pure joy of being outside. 

And he’s brought his friends along for the ride, too.

To Sean, you're all welcome, all deserving of friendship, of community, all a part of the dirt we're digging in the same way he is, all worthy of holding the flat shovel to pack that last lip in. 

Sean understands the bliss of the digging and the riding and understands what that can mean to every one of you. 

Photo By: Jack Lambert

For Sean Sweeney, the recipe is work, anywhere, everywhere, empower, maybe get a bit of sun on the face (even if it's that two minutes you get on a cloudy Washington day), include others, ride, vibes, maybe drink a few beers after with the Brew Crew (two pilsners before an IPA keeps Sean's doctors away) rinse and repeat.

If that sounds like the right prescription, the good dirt for you, reach out to Sean about helping out at his next work party, where the music will be bumping, and the smiles will be spreading. Or better yet, next time you see the famed subaru parked at Duthie or your local spot, just listen for the laughs and head in that direciton to help.

Photo By: Jack Lambert

Sean + dirt equal, originality, freedom, equality, inclusivity, empowerment, equals vibes and so much more.