I highly recommend watching all the videos in order, as the principles outlined in the early chapters are referred to throughout the rest. More than that, I'd recommend doing the IMBA workshop, or working with experienced trailbuilders and learning by doing it.

The original DVD was about 40 minutes long, but for YouTube, it's split up into an Intro plus Eight chapters.

International Mountain Bike Association
US Forest Service

Has a local trail become a maintenance nightmare? Is the route severely damaged despite regular trailwork? Sometimes the best solution for eroded trails isn't aggressive maintenance. Instead, we often recommend closing the trail and replacing it with a new, sustainable, re-route. Designing and building a re-route may be time-consuming and hard work, but in the long run closing a poorly functioning trail is better for the environment. A critical aspect of any re-route project is closing and reclaiming the old route. Here are eight elements to include in your restoration work.

1. Create an outstanding new route.
A key component of any trail closure plan is creating a fun and sustainable alternative. You must provide a new trail that is more appealing than the old route. Otherwise, some visitors will continue to use the original trail.

2. Design a smooth intersection.
Create a natural, seamless transition onto the new section. Trail users shouldn't be able to recognize where the re-route begins.

Presented at the 2006 IMBA Summit/World Mountain Bike Conference

Speakers: Joanne Ulmann, City of Mississauga Parks and Recreation, Mississauga, ON; Jon Kennedy, Backcountry Bicycle Trails Coalition, Seattle, WA; Jay Hoots, Hoots Gear, Vancouver, BC

The continual evolution of mountain biking has led to a recent boom in the popularity of bike skills parks. These venues can be a terrific community component that provides a managed arena for beginners and experts alike. Getting approval from the community is the first step toward creating a skills park. Here are eight points to emphasize.

1. Set the stage: In your campaign to develop a skills park, you should start with the following tasks: identify allies in local government, find sources of volunteer labor, search out funding, and conduct an educational campaign, including tours of the potential area, to familiarize people with bike parks.
2. Address risk management: Bike skills parks provide a level of managed risk that many riders and parents will find reassuring. Develop standards for structures and emphasize how this will be a safe place for kids to ride while saving the city or county money spent tearing down unauthorized areas.
3. Design a visually appealing facility: Communities often reject plans that might lead to eyesores. Emphasize planting and other beautification efforts to help convince sceptics who claim a bike park would be visually unappealing. You might try partnering with gardening clubs and other community groups on you beautification efforts.
4. Create a maintenance program: Develop a thorough maintenance plan for your park, and set it down in writing. Name each structure and plan on having the staff use an inspection form to check the park. This will help standardize maintenance records and allow you to easily identify an area that needs repair after a rider reports a problem.
5. Train your builders: Identify potential crew leaders and make sure they're well trained before you start building the park. You're going to need these people to direct groups of volunteers several days a week, so make sure they have the building skills and leadership qualities needed to produce a first-rate facility.
6. Progression is key. Any bike park should include smaller stunts that allow for a safe progression to more difficult terrain and attract new riders and parents who otherwise would be watching from the sidelines. Parent support helps build momentum for future expansions.
7. Plan for growth. Parks are long-term community assets. Most should be overhauled every two to three years to keep them fresh and exciting. The most advanced riders may leave the park, but this will help retain and attract other riders.
8. Consider hiring a pro builder. Communities often prefer working with a professional contractor. When hiring a builder to construct a bike skills park, be prepared to articulate your needs, longer term plans, education and other goals and any in-kind contributions you may have. Less important is to know about the specific materials or technical specifications.