Trail EAffect

For episode 208, we have Ethan Edman, the Director of Trail Construction and Maintenance at the OZ Trails Bike Park. If you want a real understanding of how one of the most anticipated bike parks in the country is coming together, this conversation delivers.

Topics Include:

Ethan on Gravity Based Bike Parks

Ethan on his role as the Director of Trail Construction and Maintenance

Bike parks he’d visited, and the experiences Ethan has learned about them

Angel Fire Bike Park

Spirit Mountain Bike Park

Highland Bike Park

The value gained from riding and experiencing many different places

The Chairlift at the OZ Trails Bike Park, and the experience it will provide

Discussing different uplift experiences

Details on the 30 trails that the OZ Trails Bike Park will be opening with

Maximizing the 280’ of elevation at the Bike Park

The importance of Diverse Trail Experiences that will be offered

Anticipated Opening of the OZ Trails Bike Park

Dialing in operations ahead of opening and training staff.

Unique characteristics of having a truly blank canvas to create this bike park

Gravity Logic as the main contractor for the bike park, both for building trails and dialing in operations of the bike park as a business

Hours of Operation

Other amenities at the OZ Trails Bike Park

Rental Bikes

Skills Coaching / Lessons

How this bike park will cater to new riders from a skills perspective

Mena, AR Bike Park

What Ethan knows about the bike park in Mena, AR

How the OZ Trails Bike Park will complement a much larger bike park in Mena

The scale of the Ouachita Mountains in Arkansas

Closing Comments and Thank You’s

Trail EAffect Show Links:

OZ Trails Bike Park: https://www.oztrails.com/oz-trails-bike-park/

 

Show Support By:

Outdoor Marketing Bootcamp: https://www.outdoormarketingbootcamp.com/

KETL Mtn Apparel Affiliate Link: https://ketlmtn.com/josh

Trail One Components: https://trailone.bike/josh

Smith’s Bike Shop – 130 Years of Excellence: www.smithsbikes.com

Trail EAffect Podcast Website: www.traileaffectpodcast.com

 

Contact Josh at [email protected]

This Podcast has been edited and produced by Evolution Trail Services

For episode 207, Phil Waidner is our guest – Now if you read the title, it says West Virginia Mountain Biking and the Arrowhead Bike Farm – This is where Phil Lives and what Phil does, but how he got here is a whole lot of different stories. Phil took us from Indiana to Ashville, to China to Bolivia, to Vail Colorado and finally to Fayetteville, WV. He’s had a lot of different roles in the mountain bike community that span from Tour Guide / Instructor to Leading Teen Trail Corps for NICA and a ton more. There’s so much to unpack about this conversation that an intro just won’t do it justice.

Topics Include:

Phil Waidner Back Story

Heading to China to guide for climbing and mountain biking

Getting a job as a mountain bike guide in Bolivia

Transitioning back to the U.S. as a ski instructor in Vail, CO.

Moving to West Virginia to take a role as the Wheels Program Manager

at the Summit Bechtel Reserve Boy Scout Camp

Getting the keys to a brand new 35-mile trail system at the Summit Bechtel Reserve

The importance of Trail Maintenance

Hired by NICA to run the Teen Trail Corps – Nationwide

The success of NICA Teen Trail Corps

Coming onboard at the Arrowhead Bike Farm in Fayetteville, WV

Arrowhead Bike Farm Backstory

What the Arrowhead Bike Farm is and what they do there (lots!)

Mountain Biking in the New River Gorge Region

The uniqueness of West Virginia

Events and Festivals in the region

What Phil looks for in trail communities

Closing Comments

Bonus Bolivia Content

Trail EAffect Show Links:

Arrowhead Bike Farm: https://arrowheadbikefarm.com/

West Virginia Mountain Bike Association: https://wvmba.com/

Summit Bechtel Reserve: https://www.summitbsa.org/

Gravity Bolivia: https://www.gravitybolivia.com/

 

Show Support By:

Outdoor Marketing Bootcamp: https://www.outdoormarketingbootcamp.com/

KETL Mtn Apparel Affiliate Link: https://ketlmtn.com/josh

Trail One Components: https://trailone.bike/josh

Smith’s Bike Shop – 130 Years of Excellence: www.smithsbikes.com

Trail EAffect Podcast Website: www.traileaffectpodcast.com

 

Contact Josh at [email protected]

This Podcast has been edited and produced by Evolution Trail Services

For episode 206, I’m joined by Mark Eller from Leave No Trace. This might sound like a straightforward conversation. It isn’t. Mark is a veteran of the outdoor industry, with more than a decade at IMBA during a period of major program expansion, and he continues his work today at Leave No Trace. His background includes climbing, mountain biking, and decades of time spent outdoors. This episode sits at the intersection of marketing, mountain biking, trails, and how we show up outdoors in ways that are practical and low impact.

Topics Include:

How Mark landed in the Outdoor Marketing space more than 2 decades ago

Landing at IMBA doing Communications and Marketing

Mark working at IMBA during the time of the Trail Solutions Book, The Ride Center, Regional Directors, and more

The Impact of the Trail Solutions Book on Land Managers and Modern Trail Design and Construction taking a real science backed approach

What are some things that trails / mountain biking has gotten right and wrong from a marketing perspective

The Leave No Trace Backstory

The Seven Principals of Leave No Trace

Common Misconceptions about Leave No Trace

Best method for learning Mark has found during his career

Surprises for Mark while at IMBA and Leave No Trace

What bad habit would Mark get trail users to change

What Mark Looks for in Trail Communities

Outdoor Marketing Boot Camp

Closing Comments

Trail EAffect Show Links:

Leave No Trace: https://lnt.org/

Show Support By:

Outdoor Marketing Bootcamp: https://www.outdoormarketingbootcamp.com/

KETL Mtn Apparel Affiliate Link: https://ketlmtn.com/josh

Trail One Components: https://trailone.bike/josh

Smith’s Bike Shop – 130 Years of Excellence: www.smithsbikes.com

Trail EAffect Podcast Website: www.traileaffectpodcast.com

 

Contact Josh at [email protected]

This Podcast has been edited and produced by Evolution Trail Services

For episode 205 we have Charlie Riou and Cullen McMorrow – the President and Vice President of the Austin Ridge Riders Mountain Bike Club. While Austin may not be on everyone’s radar as a ride destination Austin certainly has a very deep history around mountain biking, mountain bike advocacy and trails. Both Cullen and Charlie provide some excellent stories about the history of mountain biking in the Austin Area along with what they are doing for the future of mountain biking in this region.

Topics Include:

The Austin Ridge Riders Backstory as a Mountain Bike Club

Barton Creek Greenbelt

How Cullen got involved with the Austin Ridge Riders

How Charlie got involved with the Austin Ridge Riders

Trail Work by the Austin Ridge Riders

Walnut Creek Metro Park work day

Benefits of cleaning up parks and trails

American Trails Webinar – Using Natural Surface Trails as Transportation Alternatives.

Working with other user groups to create Win – Win scenarios

Reimers Ranch Park 

The Quality-of-Life aspect of trails in Austin and how that’s a tougher sell in large metro areas like Austin (where lots of people are moving there regardless of outdoor recreation)

Where Charlie likes to ride in the Austin Area

What Cullen looks for in a Riding Community

What Charlie looks for in a Riding Community

Closing Comments

Trail EAffect Show Links:

Austin Ridge Riders: https://www.austinridgeriders.com/

Show Support By:

Outdoor Marketing Bootcamp: https://www.outdoormarketingbootcamp.com/

KETL Mtn Apparel Affiliate Link: https://ketlmtn.com/josh

Trail One Components: https://trailone.bike/josh

Smith’s Bike Shop – 130 Years of Excellence: www.smithsbikes.com

Trail EAffect Podcast Website: www.traileaffectpodcast.com

 

Contact Josh at [email protected]

This Podcast has been edited and produced by Evolution Trail Services

Nick Ryan | Copper Harbor Trails Club Trails Coordinator | 204

Topics Include:

Giving Tuesday for Copper Harbor Trails Club

Looking back at the 2025 achievements by the Copper Harbor Trails Club

Looking forward at the 2026 goals

Wrapping up the Keweenaw Point Trail in 2026

Winter Trails around Copper Harbor that the far east end of the Keweenaw Peninsula

More than double your donation through the Giving Tuesday Campaign when you donate through the Copper Shores Community Health Foundation to the Copper Harbor Trails Club

The Nick Ryan backstory on how he got into mountain biking

Why Nick chose Copper Harbor as a place to work

Enrolling into the Northwest Arkansas Trail Technician Program

Going deeper on the importance of Planning and Design for trails

Building Experiences

The International Trail Rating System and traveling to Europe to attend the certification course

International Trail Rating System Details

Copper Harbor Trails Club adopting the International Trail Rating System

Going deeper on wayfinding

Things that Nick learned generally speaking while in Europe

What Nick Looks for in a Trail Community

Trail Maintenance and the value / and importance of Trail Maintenance

Closing Comments

Trail EAffect Show Links:

Copper Shores Community Health Foundation | Giving Tuesday: https://www.coppershores.org/giving-tuesday

Copper Harbor Trails Club: https://www.copperharbortrails.org/

Northwest Arkansas Community College Trail Technician Program: https://www.nwacc.edu/academicdivisions/trailstrades/trailtechnician/

International Trail Rating System: https://itrs.bike/

Show Support By:

Outdoor Marketing Bootcamp: https://www.outdoormarketingbootcamp.com/

KETL Mtn Apparel Affiliate Link: https://ketlmtn.com/josh

Trail One Components: https://trailone.bike/josh

Smith’s Bike Shop – 130 Years of Excellence: www.smithsbikes.com

Trail EAffect Podcast Website: www.traileaffectpodcast.com

 

Contact Josh at [email protected]

This Podcast has been edited and produced by Evolution Trail Services