Professional Builder Profile Interview: Daniel Tulla of Mountain Bike Movement
Most often, when we hear or see the word “startup,” one of the first images that comes to mind is that of some tech company. However, startups come in all shapes and sizes, from restaurants to manufacturing to non-profits and more. Trail building companies are startups. They go through the same struggles as any other new business: how to be financially profitable, how to scale up, how to survive, how to learn to navigate the volatile world of a changing industry and regulatory landscape, and so much more.
When it comes to trail building as a profession, it is a dance between building the trails themselves, working with land owners and managers, and the whole business side of things. This Professional Builder Profile Interview series has been invaluable as we get to hear the startup stories of trail builders going all-in on starting their own businesses. The best part is that everyone’s story is unique. That’s because we are all different and come from a variety of backgrounds, countries, cultures, and experiences. I am excited to share this following interview with Daniel Tulla of Mountain Bike Movement in Austria. Enjoy!
Sean: What are you currently doing?
Daniel: I spent a short time with my family in Spain and planned a bike park and a trail park there. We are currently back in Austria and are starting to prepare for the season here. We are doing maintenance work and new construction on the Burgenland Trail (an absolute trail park madness). After that, we will continue to Sölden, Serfaus, and Bosnia, as well as planning in India.
Sean: What prompted you to take the plunge in launching out and starting your own trail building company?
Daniel: I come from the downhill sport and have always been enthusiastic about how trails are built. Before that, I was in the first trail-building company in Austria (Trail Solution), where I learned a lot and took a lot with me. But after this company reoriented itself and withdrew, it was clear to me that I would continue. Although the beginning was very difficult, and mountain bikers were not yet wanted in many areas, fortunately, that has changed.
Sean: What’s been the craziest story or a-ha moment so far?
Daniel: A-ha Moment: When I had a machine built that could mill existing trails, making maintenance much easier. With this machine, maintenance can be simplified and accelerated for everything from single trails to large flow trails. We can also use it to reprocess existing material and thus always offer a perfect trail for our customers.
Story: We flew to Kyrgyzstan and built the first bike park near the capital with excavators that were 60 years old, tools and vehicles that didn’t work, and trail scouting with horses. Everything was wild, but we will never forget this.
Sean: What was the biggest obstacle you faced when starting?
Daniel: That when I started mountain biking and trail building was not yet accepted. We had many discussions with nature conservation, forestry, and the community about starting a project. This is becoming better and better.
Sean: What is one thing you wish you knew when you started?
Daniel: You don’t really get to go mountain biking yourself anymore. You sit in the car and in front of the computer a lot, and have lots of meetings.
Sean: What advice would you give to someone thinking of venturing out to start their own trail building company?
Daniel: Find the middle ground between client and mountain biker to create the best product for everyone and build safe stuff.
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That concludes our interview. If you have a story to tell, click the button below and drop me an email.
Interview by: Sean Benesh Photos: Supplied by Daniel Tulla
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sean Benesh
Sean is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Trail Builder Mag. He is also the Communications Director for the Northwest Trail Alliance in Portland, Oregon. While in grad school, he worked as a mountain biking guide in Southern Arizona. Sean also spends time in the classroom as a digital media instructor at Warner Pacific University.
