Take care of your trails

The 2022 TCoYT campaign was another edition to remember. Lessons were learned, inspiring stories were told, and the outstanding crews and individuals were recognised and rewarded for their efforts. We had a target in our head that we wanted to surpass the numbers of 2019. But actually, what we learned is that focusing purely on numbers isn’t a measurement of success. The success of this campaign is recruiting and maintaining a strong community of volunteers, that will show up week in week out.  Not only that, but educating and encouraging the participating crews to be more aware of the natural environment, and how we engage with these natural spaces. It’s also an opportunity to be more inclusive in how we recruit people to participate in trail maintenance events.

Since the inauguration of Take Care of Your Trails in 2017, this campaign has grown into something so much more than friendly competition between crews across Europe. This is an opportunity for mountain bikers to take responsibility for their environments, to lend a hand, and build better relationships within the whole MTB sector. We want to reward and highlight the individuals and groups who are creating the biggest impact in their local communities and are contributing to positive change in their communities. In 2022 we awarded crews based on the following categories:

1. 1. “Outstanding trail crew “– The crews that are creating positive change in their community through being inclusive in their volunteer recruitment, organizing regular trail maintenance days throughout the year, communicating and engaging well with their local community and spreading positive ride vibes
   2. “Most Outstanding National Mountain Bike Association” award emphasizes the importance of national trail associations and their created impact on their communities and trail networks.
   3.  “Protect and preserve award”– is awarded based on the best community led conservation idea/proposal from a trail crew or association.
   4. “Trail advocate of the year award”– Rewarding the individual who goes above and beyond for their local trails and association. This award is given to an individual who has distinguished them self in hours and service to trail maintenance during the past year.

The focus as always will be more on the quality of local crews and the positive impact they can have on their community and the protection of the places they love to ride.