Why Mountain Biking and Trail Building Need More Races Like RezDuro
The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of travel, which has left my email inbox and DMs bursting at the seams and unanswered (apologies!!!). First, I ventured to eastern Oregon to cover another story about a bike park at a ski resort. It was three days of riding, exploring, and meeting many amazing people on and off the trail (article coming soon). After returning to Portland, I hopped on a plane bound for Arizona and the RezDuro enduro race on Navajo land in the northeastern part of the state. I returned to Portland late last Sunday night, only to step back into the classroom teaching as my semester began. I’m a little over a week removed from RezDuro, and I can’t shake it from my mind. It was special. Let me tell you why …
While working on an article specific to RezDuro for the print issue, I wanted to share why we need more events like RezDuro. Since part of my life is spent in academia, it feeds my nerd side. In particular, this past year, I’ve been reading and scouring numerous research projects and academic journals related to diversity in outdoor recreation. That ranges from the topics of gender to ethnicity to even socioeconomic status and making mountain biking (and trail building) more welcoming for all. Inevitably, as soon as I type that last sentence, there will be those out there beginning to craft a rebuttal and why we should keep the sacred space of mountain biking out of these conversations. Some will accuse me then of shoehorning politics into mountain biking and trail building.
There’s a reason why there are innumerable studies and research projects detailing the experiences of African Americans or women, for example, about the challenges they face and have to overcome to get involved with such things as mountain biking. Again, there will be pushback. Interestingly, I’m teaching an undergrad course called Advanced Information Literacy and Research this semester. Throughout the semester, we explore such topics as conspiracy theories and confirmation bias, which only elevate the importance of research. For example, take climate change. Here in the United States, the primary determining factor about whether one believes climate change is human-caused or not (or even real) is their political affiliation and not data. Meaning two people can look at the same data and draw different conclusions. That’s confirmation bias.
When it comes to the topic of diversity, unfortunately, the same is true. There is always pushback whenever I write about the importance of women-specific events or how we should make outdoor recreation (like mountain biking) available to all (i.e., diverse). I love the motto of Warpant Magazine, started by my friend, Roo … “The outdoors belong to all of us.” That’s why we need more races and events like RezDuro.
For two days, down a dirt road on Navajo land, RezDuro showcased why diversity and inclusivity matter. Rezduro is organized by the Chíshí Dine’é (Chiricahua Apache Clan) family of northeast Hardrock in the Navajo Nation. Most of the racers were Navajo. Like you, I’ve been to many mountain bike races, but there is nothing like RezDuro. One of the highlights for me was spent on the trail, taking photos of the racers. No matter where I went, there were fans … Navajo neighbors and family members were cheering the racers on. Sweet grandmothers were trekking into canyons for a great perch to watch the race and shout encouraging words at racers as they zipped by. Most racers were known on a first-name basis. You see, it wasn’t simply an event or race; it was about community. It was the culmination of work being done all over the reservation to foster mountain biking and trail building among Navajo youth and adults alike.
Despite some of the pushback from a vocal few, one of my goals with Trail Builder Magazine is to continue to elevate and tell stories of people and places that are helping shape the story of trail building and mountain biking, especially stories like RezDuro or the story of the first bike park in Uganda (which will be featured in our next print issue). Why? We already know the stories of the Whistlers or Innsbrucks. Those places are to be celebrated, and rightly so. They are important. At the same time, let’s continue to tell and hear the stories of others out there creating new opportunities for riding in their communities. The more trails and people on bikes, the better.
Thank you for following along. I appreciate you all. I also gladly welcome pushback. To have a true public forum means creating space for robust conversation, and I’m all for it. Ask the difficult questions, and let’s have tough conversations, but let’s all do so with dignity and grace.
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.
