Purpose, Perspective, and People

In September 2022, the Mountain Bike Tourism Symposium (MBTS) brought together a hive of trail advocates to SilverStar Mountain Resort, B.C., for its biennial conference. There, trail builders, bike park managers, adaptive riders, indigenous groups, non-profits, economists, and risk assessors joined in discussion to address some of the most heated issues facing the mountain bike industry in a post-Covid world.

The symposium theme was “partnering for success,” and many of the topics discussed—sustainable operations, development, and community initiatives—are relevant to mountain resort bike park operators. Amid stark changes to consumer mindsets, climates, and cultural habits, a new way of thinking about mountain bike operations is emerging.