The main theme of the summit ‘‘Reframing mountain biking” includes new perspectives on what is sustainable, and it challenges all speakers and participants to be open to new perspectives and solutions to secure a bright future for mountain biking in all its aspects. Following on from the successful model of previous years, the topics covered at this year’s Summit will be divided into relevant subthemes: Sustainable trail design, construction & management; The building blocks of mountain bike friendly & inclusive places; Sustainable mountain biking tourism.
Theme of the day: The Building Blocks of Mountain Bike Friendly Places
The building blocks of mountain bike-friendly places start with a strong, active mountain bike community who share a love and understanding of the sport, making mountain biking accessible for everyone and actively work together to build, manage and maintain their trail networks.
10-00 – 12.00: Keynote speakers & panel discussion
Themes for the day:
Sustainable Trail Design, Construction & Management
Looking to the past, evaluating the present and planning for the future. Minimising the impacts of trail building and maintenance through environmental consciousness and better education.
Sustainable Mountain Biking Tourism
Washing the green out of the term ‘sustainable mountain biking tourism’. It’s easy nowadays to slap a green label on something and call it ‘sustainable’. Through implementing the three pillars of sustainable tourism-environmental sustainability, social sustainability and economic sustainability- only then can we begin to start using the word ‘sustainable’.
10.00 – 12.00: Keynote speakers & panel discussion
Community ride day! Choose from one of the four options.
Interesting and inspiring content aside, the IMBA Summit is also about the experience, and enjoying the destination - Val di Sole.
Bike Park Val di Sole: It has 3 trails of varying levels of difficulty, all accessible thanks to the handy, fast 8-seater Daolasa Val Mastellina cable car. As well as the famous World Cup trail where the bikers from all over the globe compete every year, fun is guaranteed for keen riders on their bikes thanks to recently created new-concept trails. North-shore sections, jumps, doubles, berms, rock gardens and all the characteristics in pure Val di Sole style are the ingredients that go to make up the Val di Sole Bike Park.
Trail La Preda: it starts from Folgarida and it is a real downhill plunge of 1,261 metres, from 2,039 metres asl into the valley bottom, along Val Meledrio. The La Preda Trail is a classic single track, totally natural and a definite must-try.
Epic Tour Grande Guerra: the Epic Tour Grande Guerra is one of the best epic ride in Val di Sole. It has an important value thanks to the historic ruins dating from the First World War you can find on the trail and also to the stunning view on spectacular natural landscapes on the peaks of exceptional glaciers (Presanella and San Matteo).
Rafting experience: an extreme sport but also a fun activity for families who want to enjoy an energetic morning along Noce River through the adrenaline rush of the rapids or the fun of calmer stretches.
LUNCH: all the three groups will have a BBQ lunch at Extreme Waves Rafting Centre, followed by the final celebrations of the Summit.
There will be ample opportunities for Summit participants to enjoy the offerings of Val di Sole. Some of the highlights will include dinner in an alpine mountain hut with astro trekking; the Val di Sole BikeFest; the annual IMBA Epic on the “Tour Grande Guerra” route.
