Update on the Inner Workings at Trail Builder Mag
It has been a whirlwind past few months. I am humbled by the growing response to the announcement of creating a new magazine dedicated to mountain bike trails and those who build, maintain, and advocate for them. Since our first social media post back in February, it has been a rush. We’re bombarded with DMs daily on Instagram as people share content with us, message us, tag us, and tell us how excited they are for this. Again, very humbling.
So what is the latest? When is the date for the release of the first issue?
As you’ve discovered by now, as we’re building towards the release of our first print issue, we’ve begun to slowly populate our website and social media with articles and stories. We’ll continue to do so. The goal was never to be a print magazine only exclusively, but more or less a “media house” about all things trail building. That means articles, social media, and eventually other forms of media to enjoy. Yes, the print magazine is central, but if you’re like me, you also enjoy other forms of media like videos, podcasts, etc. Rolling out other media has been slow cooking in our creative crock pot.
Towards the end of the summer, I was making significant strides in the magazine. Many interviews took place over the summer and conversations with other contributors. Then my travel schedule picked up, and in between trips, COVID finally hit me for the first time. Once the dust settled, I stepped back into the university classroom as a digital media instructor with a full teaching load. It’s like I blinked, and it’s the first week of October. What happened?
Tackling a print magazine is a monumental task. The greater the word spreads and more people hop onto following along ramps up, not only the excitement but expectations as well. I welcome that. It means people care and are passionate. We all have high standards. I know I do. I do for this magazine, so I decided to extend my internal timeline for the release of the first issue. In my mind, and I shared it on social media, I was aiming for late summer / early fall. That’s where we’re at now, and no magazine.
It’s also been an excellent opportunity to assess and evaluate my expectations. Like you, I enjoy print magazines. I love the photography and storytelling as I flip each page. In the mountain biking and outdoor space, we’re fortunate to have several great magazines that we all collectively eagerly await to arrive at our doorstep (or read digitally). As a result, I’ve altered my timeline for the first release to ensure we’re creating and delivering a meaningful, quality product for you to enjoy.
I cannot thank you enough for journeying with me on this adventure. Your feedback, encouragement, and support mean more than you could imagine. I also want to remind you that you are the unsung heroes of mountain biking. You’re advocating for trails, meeting with landowners and government leaders, and putting literal blood, sweat, and tears into moving dirt to build trails for people to use. Your effort and sacrifice do not go unnoticed. That’s why this magainze is for you.
If you have a story idea or feedback, I want to encourage you to go to the homepage of Trail Builder Mag and fill out the “Feedback wanted” section. Your input is invaluable.
Thank you for caring.
Words: Sean Benesh Photos: Sean Benesh
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, where he also leads and coaches the WPU Cycling Club.
