March Newsletter
Hopefully you saw our announcement about the 7 new miles of trails being built at Bridger Bowl and Crosscut this Summer. The total cost of this project is $300K and we have already started fundraising. This is going to be a community effort to make this a reality!
The current membership of SWMMBA (including The Dirt Concern and Trail Dogs Chapters) is 3,600+ enthusiastic mountain bikers. If everyone donated $9 to this project, we would have it funded. Even if we had 50% of members donate $20, we would have it funded. The cost to build the trail is around $9 per foot, so think of helping us build a foot at a time…are you in?
For those of you that have already donated, THANK YOU!
We will have a lot of information, maps, and details at the Ritual Film Festival on April 12th at the Ellen Theater, so we hope to see you there!
Finally, we are deeply saddened by the recent cuts to the United States Forest Service (USFS), which have had a significant impact to our community. SWMMBA, its chapters, and in collaboration with our local partner organizations, will be actively supporting ongoing trail maintenance efforts this summer. We are focused on making sure our trails continue to thrive through collective action, volunteer efforts, and community engagement.
Development and Events
Mark your calendars!
Ritual Mountain Bike Film Festival
Saturday April 12, at the Ellen Theater! Doors open at 6pm. The inaugural gathering of mountain biking’s best films hits the big screen this spring featuring epic adventures, legendary lines, stellar storytelling, and interstellar athletes. Don’t miss your chance to celebrate the sport we love, learn more about our new trails project, and be the first to hear about this season’s events among friends and fellow disciples of dirt!
Give Big 2025
Gallatin Valley’s Give Big is right around the corner, May 1-2. This year we will be having our wrap party at the Westlake Dirt Jumps. We are working with the city to complete the project this Spring/Summer. Come on by and get the latest info and say hi.
SWMMBA Kickoff Weekend
May 31 and June 1st at Copper City. We are kicking off the riding season with group rides, a Strava challenge, skills clinics and more…Stay tuned for more details.
Development and Events
Mark your calendars!
Ritual Mountain Bike Film Festival
Saturday April 12, at the Ellen Theater! Doors open at 6pm. The inaugural gathering of mountain biking’s best films hits the big screen this spring featuring epic adventures, legendary lines, stellar storytelling, and interstellar athletes. Don’t miss your chance to celebrate the sport we love, learn more about our new trails project, and be the first to hear about this season’s events among friends and fellow disciples of dirt!
Give Big 2025
Gallatin Valley’s Give Big is right around the corner, May 1-2. This year we will be having our wrap party at the Westlake Dirt Jumps. We are working with the city to complete the project this Spring/Summer. Come on by and get the latest info and say hi.
SWMMBA Kickoff Weekend
May 31 and June 1st at Copper City. We are kicking off the riding season with group rides, a Strava challenge, skills clinics and more…Stay tuned for more details.
Trails
Do these pre-spring temp fluctuations have you excited to ride your bike? Because we sure are! These freeze-thaw cycles can wreak havoc on your favorite trails if ridden too early. As the snow melts and temperatures warm up, expanded soil compresses releasing water and creating mud. If you are leaving a rut, you need to turn back.
But, how can damaging ruts be prevented?
Ride early while the trail is frozen to avoid mud.
Ride gravel roads as an alternative.
Report trail conditions to keep everyone in the loop.
It is going to be very important that we are good stewards of the trails this year!
Gravel riding is just getting rolling if you can't wait for the single track to dry. The Axtell loop is ready to go. The Norris connector road turns to mud at the top of the climb but will dry soon. For those interested, the Muddy Dog Gravel Series starts end of April.
Advocacy
SWMMBA is keeping our eyes on a pair of bills that are advancing through the Montana Senate, SB307 and SB310. These affect the funding of recreation (like the grant we got for Copper City), State Parks, and fish/game/nongame-wildlife.
Our federal land agencies continue to face significant funding and staffing cuts, which will affect the capacity of remaining staff to maintain a safe and positive experience for visitors in the near future. Federal land management agency staff across the nation is needed to manage our forests and recreational resources. The consequences of these additional agency cuts will be realized in several ways including; trails and infrastructure, emergency response and wildfire mitigation, diminished user experience, and impacts to the recreation economy.
We are urging those who benefit from our public lands to ACT NOW. The Outdoor Alliance has created a quick action form to help you send a personalized letter to lawmakers.
Chapter Updates
Big Sky - Meet the New President, Kevin Daily
Originally from Buffalo, NY, Kevin saved up for his first mountain bike in 1988, purchasing a Schwinn Sierra with friction thumb shifters and a rigid fork. The neighbor kids made fun of this weird bike with fat tires and a flat handlebar. But for Kevin, an obsession was born.
Being there for the early days and growing with the sport of MTB has given Kevin a unique and rich perspective that he brings to the Trail Dogs.
In college at Nevada, Kevin XC and Downhill raced on the UNR cycling team. After time in Tahoe, Kevin moved to the storied bike town of Bellingham, Washington before finally landing in his current home of Big Sky in 2007.
Along with his amazing wife Jodi, Kevin is the owner of Montana Backcountry Adventures, operating the Shedhorn Grill and Montana Dinner Yurt restaurants, and the original founder of the Bell Lake Yurt backcountry ski hut in the Tobacco Root Mountains.
As an active community member, Kevin has served in many voluntary roles, including for the BSOA Board, the BSCO Trails Committee, Big Sky Search and Rescue, and the Big Sky Public Education Support Fund.
As a member of the Trail Dogs, Kevin is passionate for the creation and support of a world class trail network in Big Sky. And he is absolutely aware that his days of keeping up with his sons Frank and Sam on the ski slope or the bike trail are running out!
Bozeman - sticker contest
Calling all artists! The second annual The Dirt Concern Trail Gnome Sticker Contest is open for submissions! This annual competition will provide the opportunity for one artist’s design to represent the hard work, manual labor, and advocacy the Bozeman Chapter does each year via a sticker. The winning sticker will be given out freely at every 2025 trail work party, as a way to thank our volunteers and recognize them for their contributions. This year includes an amazing prize packages donated by Bridger Bowl and Crosscut to help promote our newest collaboration with them!
Deadline is March 23, 2025.
Sponsor Spotlight
Millikan Consulting is one of the finest Women-Owned Businesses in the Gallatin Valley. Born out of the friendship between Amy Millikan and Alicia Singer (meet the entire Millikan Co team here), Millikan Co is a private software consulting firm that delivers personal and professional services to local and out of state businesses. Their detailed work allows businesses to optimize their sales and daily operations. Their team culture takes it a step further by selecting non-profits and community driven objectives to support financially. Every year Millikan Co dedicates a substantial portion of its net profits to strengthening the Gallatin Valley. In 2024 they gave a total of $40,000 to support local art, recreation, and safety which in their words “are fundamental to building a thriving and vibrant community.”
Amy and Alicia have been proud supporters of our Bozeman Chapter's (TDC) local projects for two consecutive years now. They’ve directly impacted SWMMBA members by covering TDC’s Ladies Beginner Mountain Bike Clinic scholarships and donating to TDC’s Bridger Bowl & Crosscut Trail Project. If you are considering improving your businesses sales or operations, Millikan Co should be your first call.
If you’re a local business, becoming a business sponsor is a great way to support the biking community while gaining visibility among outdoor enthusiasts.
Sponsorship benefits include website and newsletter recognition, social media highlights, and the chance to make a lasting impact on local trails.
Package Levels
Ross Peak ($250)
Saddle Peak ($500)
Blackmore Peak ($1,000)
Hyalite Peak ($2,500)
Granite Peak ($5,000)
Become a 2025 Business Sponsor
Volunteer Spotlight
This month's spotlight is on Aaron Moore and Grace Strand, the 2024 TDC trail work king and queen. Their hard work as volunteers keeps our trails maintained and fun to ride. Dedicated people like Grace and Aaron make a huge difference in our community. We hope to see some strong contenders for their crowns this summer! So keep an eye out for trail work days.
Trail Forks Deal
Right now, get 30% off Trailforks Pro for the first year and get unlimited offline access to 550,000+ trails, global heatmaps, Garmin basemaps, and every feature in the app, anywhere you go. Plus: Feel good knowing $5 from your purchase goes directly to supporting SWMMBA and its chapters.