Southwest Idaho Mountain Biking Association Inc

 Since the early 1990s, SWIMBA has been enhancing Southwest Idaho’s trail recreation experience by:

• Putting on fun events like the Tour de Fat to raise funds for new trail projects
• Educating riders about the responsible, shared use of trails
• Promoting and participating in the purchase of open space and trails
• Working in partnership with Ridge to Rivers, the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, Idaho Fish & Game, and private landowners to build new trails and trailhead facilities
• Leading trail rides and teaching kids and adults about mountain biking technique and bike maintenance

• Investing funds for new trail construction. Money talks! SWIMBA recently provided over $18,000 in direct funding for trail construction in the Boise Foothills, including Watchman, Fat Tire Connector, Seaman’s Gulch, Rock Island and Shafer Butte trails.
• Educating riders about proper trail etiquette. This work is crucial to our future! We work with Ridge to Rivers and other agencies to develop signage and other printed materials for promoting proper trail etiquette. Educational materials are publicized through the SWIMBA website, PSAs (public service announcements), media appearances and direct contact with riders and hikers in the foothills. SWIMBA has provided more than $3,000 for trail signs and literature promoting responsible trail use. You can see the signs on the edge of popular trails.
• Building new trails. SWIMBA’s trail crew rocks! Volunteers have donated more than 6,000 hours of time to build and maintain trails in the Ridge to Rivers system. The latest trail projects include the new Mahalo Trail on the Boise Ridge near Bogus Basin, several trails in Avimor next to Idaho Highway 55, and the Eastside Trail in the Shafer Butte trail system. SWIMBA has been working on the Weywuekie trail system in the Stolle Meadows area in Valley County.
• Mountain bike instruction. Working with Boise Parks & Recreation, the SWIMBA Bike School (formerly Sprockids) has graduated more than 1,000 children and adults.
• Hosting super-cool events. Tour de Fat, the Fat Tire Festival and the Bike Bash are just a few of the happenings that raise funds for trails and provide social gatherings for the mountain bike community.
• Leading low-key, no-drop mountain bike rides. We hold these group rides to show new mountain bikers some of our favorite trails and inform folks about the many ways they can participate in SWIMBA activities.
• Playing a key leadership role in the Boise Foothills Open Space Campaign. The Boise community voted yes to raising $10 million for the preservation of open space, wildlife habitat and recreation trails. In 2000-2001, SWIMBA put its heart and soul into the campaign, knowing it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Many miles of new trails have resulted from open space acquisition.
• Continued investing in open space. We provided $20,000 to the Land Trust of the Treasure Valley Land Trust to purchase a key piece of property in Harrison Hollow that preserves open space and trail access to the Harrison Hollow to Hillside Junior High trail system.