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<br /> Welcome to the
<br /> World of Freeriding
<br /> ''
<br /> is a growing style of mountain bikingFreeriding
<br /> that celebrates the challenges and spirit of techni- ` .,
<br /> cal riding. The word "freeriding" was first coined by
<br /> riders seeking to escape the confines of organized 100,7-,' , 0,, ,,,,,,„
<br /> competition.Nowadays, it is used to describe all types
<br /> of advanced-level mountain biking, from traditional ,
<br /> trail riding to big-air jumps,hair-raising descents,and a'
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<br /> technical maneuvers. 1'
<br /> There's no denying that freeriding has created a +
<br /> positive buzz in the mountain biking world, just as voom000
<br /> snowboarding and telemarking sparked a stale ski - ,..A11111
<br /> industry. Freeriding appeals to both long-time riders s.' '
<br /> and a new generation that is just discovering the sport. -4,
<br /> The media's fascination with freeriding has sparked the ,if ,{„, ,F _ ,A _
<br /> growth,but it is the thrill of riding demanding trails and .,« �`._.
<br /> landing jumps that keeps participation numbers high. ..
<br /> Freeriding is even pulling more ski resorts into the : x
<br /> mountain bike-tourism game.Facilities that were once '1 ; 4,
<br /> underutilized in warm-weather months are proving to * ,. -; '
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<br /> be ideal settings for purpose-built trails, skills parks, '
<br /> lift-served downhilling,and dirt jumps, attracting new - - .*,•-
<br /> visitors and keeping staff employed year-round. \ •.e. 4 "' " '
<br /> i The success of the freeriding movement has been
<br /> well documented in British Columbia, where the
<br /> movement took off. But the freeriding groundswell is .. x • x a
<br /> not limited to western Canada. Many official freeride _ .:- _ s
<br /> areas have been built throughout the United States, 1, ,;> — ,
<br /> Canada, the United Kingdom, and other countries,
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<br /> and more are opening all the time:IMBA receives daily , %''" ,:. J'
<br /> calls from land managers and mountain bikers look-
<br /> ing to establish new trails and parks. _ S mi
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<br /> But freeriding presents thorny problems for trail ..m
<br /> managers.The quest for challenging places to ride can ,
<br /> exacerbate user conflict, unauthorized trailbuilding,
<br /> off-trail riding,and liability concerns.
<br /> Still,at the end of the day,freeriding and all types a
<br /> of technically challenging mountain biking are posi
<br /> 1 tive experiences that deserve to thrive. That's why
<br /> IMBA is committed to providing resources for making Creative trails and high risks are core to the free-
<br /> freeriding work. riding spirit.
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<br /> Welcome to the World of Freeriding
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