Marquette County is an IMBA Ride Center!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Joanna Wilbee Amis
(906) 399-8757
Candy Fletcher, CVB
(906) 228-7749

MARQUETTE MOUNTAIN BIKING TRAILS RECOGNIZED
BY INTERNATIONAL MOUNTAIN BIKING ASSOCIATION

Marquette County Awarded Bronze Level Ride Center

BKE-11133MARQUETTE, MI (August 5, 2014) – Mountain biking in Marquette County has received another recognition that puts it on the map as a top spot to ride. The International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA) has just announced the 2014 IMBA Model Trail Awards, naming Marquette County as a Bronze Ride Center.

The IMBA Ride Center designation represents IMBA’s Model Trail recognition for large-scale mountain bike facilities that offer something for every rider. Meaning, these destinations are worth traveling to and should be put on the wish list of riding destinations, offering a variety of riding experiences and the best the sport has to offer.

Once a year, IMBA recognizes outstanding mountain bike trails and locations with the IMBA Model Trail awards. The goal of the program is to inspire and inform, recognizing the best places to introduce someone to the sport as well as the facilities, builders and advocates who have helped to create the trails and systems.

“We are thrilled to receive the IMBA Ride Center designation,” said Candy Fletcher, Recreation Marketing Director, Marquette County CVB. “This recognition will help to generate more awareness for the area as a top mountain bike destination.”

MBK.4171.05Fletcher, along with Lyle VanderSchaaf, of the Noquemanon Trail Network (NTN), will receive the actual award at the IMBA World Summit in Steamboat Springs, Colorado later this month. “The application process for Ride Center status is lengthy and requires the collaborative effort of many parties,” said Fletcher, adding, “without the support of the community, volunteers, local government, private land owners and of course, riders, we would not have our trail network or this prestigious award.”

Marquette is now one of only twenty IMBA Ride Centers in the United States and only the second location in the state to be recognized (the other is Copper Harbor, also in the Upper Peninsula). For a complete list of IMBA Ride Centers, visit https://www.imba.com/model-trails/ride-centers.

To find out more about the invitation only ride center evaluation process, please visit https://www.imba.com/ride-centers/evaluation-overview.
For more information on Marquette County, please visit www.travelmarquettemichigan.com or call 800.544.4321.

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Located along Lake Superior in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Marquette County features the best that nature has to offer, from proud waters and rugged landscapes to forests as far as the eye can see. No matter the season, we encourage you to find your human nature in Marquette County, for more information, visit www.travelmarquettemichigan.com or call 800.544.4321.