SORBA News & Events

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The Southern Mountain Bike Summit is a not-to-be-missed event. Nowhere else will you see such a passionate group of mountain bikers in the Southeast meet and work together to create better trail opportunities for all. And, you get to ride your bike on the finest trails in the Southeast!

Join SORBA’s volunteers, land managers, advocates, and members in Tallahassee, FL for the 2020 Southern Mountain Bike Summit held at the host hotel, Holiday Inn.  Workshops, presentations, panels, networking, socials, bike riding, and lots of fun will be had by all.  This year the Summit is held in conjunction with the inaugural Tallahassee Trail Festival held at Tom Brown Park, all within riding distance from the host hotel, Holiday Inn connected by the Kohl’s and Fern Trails.  Register for both and experience the best of learning about and riding great mountain bike trails.

Click HERE for more exciting info about Tallahassee trails!

Special thanks to Tallahassee Mountain Bike Association and Visit Tallahassee for hosting this Summit!

Summit Location – Holiday Inn Tallahassee, 2003 Apalachee Pkwy, Tallahassee, FL 32301

Schedule of Events

Wednesday, March 18  

• Chainsaw Certification for Sawyer B – Bucking Only –  The Sawyer B – Bucking only is a two-day course designed to train volunteers to safely and effectively clear downed trees. Participants will learn to independently buck and limb any size material in moderately complex situations.  Just as a prospective driver does not go to the local DMV expecting to learn how to drive, prospective sawyers are expected to be comfortable with chainsaw use and to have basic chainsaw maintenance/troubleshooting skills before certification and must have a current CPR/First Aid Certification.
• Trail Crew Leader Training Course – Instructors, Valerie Naylor and Eric Mason. The Trail Crew Leader training course is a two‐day course for any volunteer that wants to learn the basic technical trail work skills to lead a crew. It will cover natural surface trail design, construction, maintenance and crew leader training. The focus is long term sustainability that can reduce overall maintenance needs and user impacts on natural resources. Trail crew leaders should have a strong commitment to building sustainable trails and get satisfaction out of helping others have a good time while doing good work.

Thursday, March 19

• Chainsaw Certification for Sawyer B – Bucking Only – 2nd day
• Trail Crew Leader Training Course – 2nd day
• Early Summit Registration and Social – 5p – 7:30p.  Holiday Inn Tallahassee, 2003 Apalachee Pkwy, Tallhassee, FL 3230. (Dinner on your own)

Friday, March 20.   Land Manager Day – Advocates and land managers are welcome to attend a series of sessions geared for the land manager.  Coffee reception and lunch are included.

Meeting Location – Holiday Inn Tallahassee, 2003 Apalachee Pkwy, Tallahassee, FL 32301

• Sessions will focus on mountain bike trail planning, design, construction and risk management with an emphasis on Florida geographical characteristics.
• Lunch with Leslie Kehmeier.  Leslie Kehmeier is an adventure nerd, who has ridden her bike around the world.  During this lunch session, she will share her photographic stories about mountain bike experiences across the globe, on all seven continents for over two decades.
• After the Summit ends for the day, join in on the Tallahassee Trail Festival (TTF) rides and socials (separate $50 festival ticket purchase for both Friday and Saturday rides and socials – includes food, beer and commemorative beverage container).  Does not include camping.  Link and code for $50 TTF SORBA Social Ticket below.

Saturday, March 21.   Advocates Day – Land managers, SORBA chapter representatives and advocates are welcome to attend sessions geared for our advocates.  Coffee reception and lunch are included.

Meeting Location – Holiday Inn Tallahassee, 2003 Apalachee Pkwy, Tallahassee, FL 32301

Sessions will include

• SORBA Board of Directors Meeting for chapter representatives
• Chris Sporl, Director of Recreation, Wilderness, Heritage and Partnerships/Volunteer Resources, USFS Region 8
• Deb Caffin, Trails Program Leader, USFS Region 8,
• Working with your local Tourism Bureau, the Visit Tallahassee Crew
• IMBA is in the House – David Wiens, IMBA Executive Director and Anthony Duncan, IMBA Local Manager –  Updates on IMBA and chapter support.
• Chapter 101:  For new chapter leaders.
• Lunch with Leslie Kehmeier.  Leslie Kehmeier is an adventure nerd, who has ridden her bike around the world.  During this lunch session, she will share her photographic stories about mountain bike experiences across the globe, on all seven continents for over two decades.
• After the Summit ends for the day, join in on the Tallahassee Trail Festival (TTF) rides and socials (separate $50 festival ticket purchase for both Friday and Saturday rides and socials – includes food, beer and commemorative beverage container).  Does not include camping.
• Click HERE and promotional code is ‘SORBA’ for $50 TTF SORBA Social Ticket.

All programs, clinics and sessions are designed to meet the increasing demand from our chapters, land managers and mountain bike communities for developing and maintaining more trails close to home!

Lodging

Host Hotel – Holiday Inn Tallahassee, 2003 Apalachee Pkwy, Tallahassee, FL 32301  850-792-8300 * Special rate of $119 + tax (code SORBA).  The summit meeting and sessions will be here.  Easily accessible to downtown.  The connector trail via Kohls and Fern Trails to Tom Brown Park is located across the Apalachee Pkwy.

Other hotel – Wyndam Garden Hotel, 1355 Apalachee Pkwy, Tallahassee, FL 32301 850-394-9831 * Ask for Erika Henson for special SORBA rate of $99 + tax.

Camping – Tent camping is included with the Tallahassee Trail Festival (must buy full TTF Admission Ticket  ticket – $99  rate goes up after March 1st to $109).  $35 for an RV (anything bigger than a car or van) – no electrical, water or sewer hookups.  Restrooms and shower trucks will be provided.

Camping – Coe Landing County Park Campground, 1208 Coe Landing Rd, Tallahassee, FL 32310. (30 minutes from Summit location).  For reservations:  reservations.leoncountyfl.gov or 850-350-9560

Fees

Chainsaw Certification for Sawyer B – Bucking Only (includes lunches)  $100

Trail Crew Leader Training Course (includes lunches and Trail Solutions Book)  $150

Full Summit – Friday 5/17 & Saturday 5/18 (includes coffee reception & lunch)  $100

Single Day – Friday 5/17 or Saturday 5/18 (includes coffee reception & lunch)  $50

Each chapter (the president or proxy) and SORBA Executive Committee member receives ONE reduced rate registration for the Full Summit Friday ($50) 5/17 & Saturday 5/18 (includes coffee receptions & lunches) or $25 for Single Day (Saturday).

Friday and Saturday rides and socials are hosted by the Tallahassee Trail Festival and requires a separate TTF Social Ticket of $50 (includes rides, Friday and Saturday night parties with food, beer and a commemorative beverage container) Click HERE for link to TTF SORBA Social Ticket – promotional code is ‘SORBA’

Full Schedule Coming Soon!

Sponsors

Bike Demos