Developing MTB in Scotland - DMBinS
Aberdeenshire Trail Academy
Trail Academy: Aberdeenshire was a pilot project that ran for 5 sessions over the month of June 2024, for a group of students aged 12-18 from Aberdeenshire, who mountain bike and have been, or have a desire to, build and maintain mountain bike trails.
The project offered them a chance to engage in an industry led trail building academy programme and begin to increase knowledge and skills around trail building, provide insight into the process behind authorised trail building projects.
The project also focussed on, highlighting the importance of positive landowner and community relationships, and looking at how to build mountain bike trails in areas where there are protected species and other environmental sensitivities.
The project was led by Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland (DMBinS) and delivered through North East Adventure Tourism (NEAT) with support from CRC Trails, Aberdeenshire Trail Association and The Cairngorm Capercaillie Project. Coaches and trail builders were selected based on their knowledge, experience and reputation within the trail building industry. The sessions utilised the trail network at different locations across the region, offering a range of terrain, skills requirements and teaching opportunities.
With the pilot project concluded, evaluations drawn, Trail Academy is looking forward to running the next Trail Academy. It is hoped that this project can be run again both at a skills level and a graduate level in Aberdeenshire (but also nationally after some consultation). Want to be involved? Have something to offer in a teaching capacity? Get in touch with Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland to find out more.
https://dmbins.com/
