Our whole operation is run by volunteers; every foot of trail in the area is the result of generous riders putting down the bike and picking up a shovel (sometimes a metaphorical shovel). Every last one of you is vital to keeping things moving forward. But every year we like to recognize an individual who has really stepped up. This year we have two nominations, Brian Barnes and John Sauer.
From Brian's nomination: "For his work at Blue Mound SP this past year. He spent many hours improving the "beginner" loop by cutting out exposed roots and performing other trail improvements. He also made multiple passes of leaf blowing and other work, but where he really stood out was by communicating and coordinating his efforts with the trail stewards, which is critical to maintaining a good relationship with the land manager. His contributions have paid huge dividends in overall enjoyability of the trail segments he worked on." Editor's note: That communication and coordination is a huge deal. Trail work is usually fun and rewarding, but following up is easy to put off and forget; it makes trail stewards' lives much easier and ensures that the work you do is needed and permanent.
From John's nominations: "Not only has he been the main force in getting the green light for building the Dam Trails in Sauk, but he has put in more work getting 3 miles of rideable dirt there than anyone (in one short year). He is also a NICA coach with the Sauk Eagles team, as he has been since the Wisconsin league started. John is getting his community involved in the mountain bike scene in many, many ways including fundraising, local trail planning, coaching, and just plain being passionate about the sport with everyone he talks to." Editor's note: If you haven't tried to get a new trail built, it is difficult to imagine how much work it takes to get approval, and how unglamorous the work is. And John was dealing with two land managers!
Tremendous thanks to both of you, and everyone who pitched in this year! We'll announce the winner at the Annual Meeting on Friday.
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