Mobile Menu

  • Destinations
    • Canada
      • British Columbia
        • Vancouver Island, B.C.
        • Okanagan
        • Lower Mainland, B.C.
        • Northern B.C.
        • Interior B.C.
        • Kootenays/Rockies
      • Alberta
      • Yukon
      • Northwest Territories
    • U.S.A.
      • Alaska
      • Washington
      • Oregon
      • California
    • West Coast Galleries
  • Experiences
    • Things To Do
    • Staycation Secrets
      • Canada
      • U.S.A.
    • Adventure
      • Adrenaline
      • Beaches
      • Biking
      • Camping
      • Fishing
      • Hiking
      • Hunting and Fishing
      • Rafting
      • Skiing
    • Sip & Savour
    • Family Activities
    • Indigenous Tourism
    • Accessible Travel
    • Travel Tips & Advisories
  • West Coast Galleries
    • Nature Photography
    • Wildlife Photography
    • Cityscapes
  • Contests
    • Autumn Escape
    • Amateur Photographer of the Year 2023
    • Hotel Zed Contest
    • It’s A Shore Thing Summer Getaway
  • About
    • The Armchair Traveller Newsletter
    • Explore our travel guides
    • Impressive West Coast
    • West Coast Partners
    • West Coast Traveller Directory
    • Join Our Team
    • Contact Us
    • Explore West Coast Traveller on TikTok
  • Search
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • TikTok Icon
  • Flickr Icon
  • Menu
  • Skip to left header navigation
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Before Header

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • TikTok Icon
  • Flickr Icon

West Coast Traveller

  • Destinations
    • Canada
      • British Columbia
        • Vancouver Island, B.C.
        • Okanagan
        • Lower Mainland, B.C.
        • Northern B.C.
        • Interior B.C.
        • Kootenays/Rockies
      • Alberta
      • Yukon
      • Northwest Territories
    • U.S.A.
      • Alaska
      • Washington
      • Oregon
      • California
    • West Coast Galleries
  • Experiences
    • Things To Do
    • Staycation Secrets
      • Canada
      • U.S.A.
    • Adventure
      • Adrenaline
      • Beaches
      • Biking
      • Camping
      • Fishing
      • Hiking
      • Hunting and Fishing
      • Rafting
      • Skiing
    • Sip & Savour
    • Family Activities
    • Indigenous Tourism
    • Accessible Travel
    • Travel Tips & Advisories
  • West Coast Galleries
    • Nature Photography
    • Wildlife Photography
    • Cityscapes
  • Contests
    • Autumn Escape
    • Amateur Photographer of the Year 2023
    • Hotel Zed Contest
    • It’s A Shore Thing Summer Getaway
  • About
    • The Armchair Traveller Newsletter
    • Explore our travel guides
    • Impressive West Coast
    • West Coast Partners
    • West Coast Traveller Directory
    • Join Our Team
    • Contact Us
    • Explore West Coast Traveller on TikTok
  • Search
You are here: Home / news / Kootenay mountain bike trails poised to become global destination for athletes with disabilities

An adaptive mountain bike on the Spine Trail in Roseberry, BC. Photo courtesy Kootenay Adaptive Sport Association/Jesse Schpakowski.

Kootenay mountain bike trails poised to become global destination for athletes with disabilities

November 21, 2021 //  by Amy Attas

Share this:

Trails are a major component of British Columbia’s tourism industry, and a group in the Kootenays is on a mission to make them more inclusive.

No, that doesn’t mean paving a wheelchair ramp to the top of Pulpit Rock in Nelson or flattening the Canadian Rockies to make the multi-day Rockwell Trail universally accessible. It means adapting physical and social environments to allow more people to get active and challenge themselves in the great outdoors.

“Adaptive mountain biking uses a three- or four-wheel off-road hand cycle in different positions, and often with an electric-assist motor. These bikes are an important part of this discussion because they have revolutionized access to the backcountry and access to a greater difficulty of trails. Not to mention, they are super fun,” says Janis Neufeld, a founding member of the Kootenay Adaptive Sport Association (KASA).

Mountain bikes and adapted mountain bikes sharing the Miller Time trail in Revelstoke. Photo courtesy Kootenay Adaptive Sport Association/Tom Poole.

Universal trails are designed to increase participation by as many people as possible, regardless of age, size, ability or disability. Picture a trail with a compact surface that’s relatively flat and wide, with regular benches. Universal trails improve access, but are they inclusive?

For a mountain biker seeking thrills and challenges, a wide, flat rail trail is accessible, but it doesn’t include their interests. That’s where KASA comes in. They’ve developed trails in the Kootenays suitable for adaptive mountain bikes, and established guidelines to help other trail builders.

“This rating system takes into account recommended equipment, trail width, trail surface, obstacles, bridges, grades, the camber, berms, corner radiuses, exposure… and has been a great resource for increasing access and inclusion on our trails,” Neufeld says.

Adaptive mountain biking races made their debut at the Dunbar Series in 2020, which also hosts the Canadian Nationals. Races took place at Panorama and Fernie, BC. Photo Courtesy Kootenay Adaptive Sport Association/Niall Pinder.

Integration increases empathy and understanding

“Increasing access and inclusion into our trails needs to be done through integrating accessibility into an existing network to allow for meaningful intersection, interaction, encouraging empathy, relatedness, and normalization of differing abilities and interests,” Neufeld says.

One of the added benefits of building accessible trails for adaptive mountain bikes is that they’re also great for families, kids and seniors. Removing barriers to participation allows more people to enjoy BC’s beautiful trails and experience the adrenaline of rushing down a mountainside.

Try adaptive mountain biking next summer

The Kootenay Adaptive Sport Association hosts clinics, retreats and integrates adaptive mountain biking into competitions across BC. They also offer rentals across the province, and lessons for beginner riders and those hoping to level up.

They’re eager to help other trail associations integrate adaptive mountain biking into their trail systems, if you’re looking for guidance on getting a local program rolling.

“The unique concentration of accessible and inclusive infrastructure has attracted the attention of the local mountain biking community and beyond. Mt. Abriel (Nakusp) in conjunction with the surrounding trails has the potential to become a global destination for athletes with disabilities,” writes the KASA website.

Whether you’re hoping to see these bikes in action from the safety of the sidelines or take a turn down the trail, visit trailforks.com/trails/all/adaptive to find a trail near you.

Adaptive mountain bike trails need to be slightly wider to accomodate three or four wheels, but they definitely don’t need to be flat. Taking turns on the Spine Trail in Roseberry, BC. Photo courtesy Kootenay Adaptive Sport Association/Jesse Schpakowski.

FUTHER READING: In Nelson’s forests, trail building becomes an art

FUTHER READING: A Canadian first: New ice bikes wheel into Calgary’s Bowness Park!

Share this:

Category: news, TravelTag: Accessible Travel, Adrenaline, Biking, British Columbia Destinations, Canada, Kootenays/Rockies, Mountain biking, Things to do, Travel, WCT Intro

Related Posts

You may be interested in these posts from the same category.

Visiting Mount St. Helens is inspiring and alarming all at once

‘This is it.’ In March 1980, Washington’s Mount St. Helens rumbled awake. A series of…

Visiting Mount St. Helens is inspiring and alarming all at onceRead More

Guided June hikes explore old-growth forests in seven Kootenay communities

Wildsight, a non-profit working to protect biodiversity and encourage sustainable communities, is offering guided walks…

Guided June hikes explore old-growth forests in seven Kootenay communitiesRead More

Parks Canada plans major rewrite of more than 200 historic site plaques

They’re affixed to old buildings where someone important used to live. Or they’re mounted on…

Parks Canada plans major rewrite of more than 200 historic site plaquesRead More

Victoria International Airport welcomes new airline with Friday Harbor route

Victoria International Airport (YYJ) has welcomed a new airline. Kenmore Air now provides the only…

Victoria International Airport welcomes new airline with Friday Harbor routeRead More

41 Disneyland tips, tricks and food secrets from park fanatics

By Jeanette Marantos, Adam Tschorn, Danielle Dorsey, Michelle Woo and Lisa Boone, Los Angeles Times…

41 Disneyland tips, tricks and food secrets from park fanaticsRead More

Chinese Canadian Museum in Vancouver gets $5.18M from feds

The Chinese Canadian Museum in Vancouver is getting a $5.18-million boost from the federal government.…

Chinese Canadian Museum in Vancouver gets $5.18M from fedsRead More

Boo the bear preps for big spring debut as B.C.’s Kicking Horse Resort opens

It’s a bear-y good day for fans of Boo the bear. With British Columbia’s Kicking…

Boo the bear preps for big spring debut as B.C.’s Kicking Horse Resort opensRead More

Waterfalls, not wildflowers are Mt. Rainier National Park’s main springtime attraction

By Taylor Newquist, The Spokesman-Review A thin layer of clouds hung over Mount Rainier on…

Waterfalls, not wildflowers are Mt. Rainier National Park’s main springtime attractionRead More

Fly high and touch the sky at Golden Skybridge

For adrenaline junkies, outdoor adventurers or families looking for a thrilling, interactive way to spend…

Fly high and touch the sky at Golden SkybridgeRead More

Previous Post: « It’s snow time in British Columbia!
Next Post: Williams Lake mural brings the past to life … and solves a modern problem »

Primary Sidebar

Things To Do

Visiting Mount St. Helens is inspiring and alarming all at once

June 4, 2023

Guided June hikes explore old-growth forests in seven Kootenay communities

June 3, 2023

Parks Canada plans major rewrite of more than 200 historic site plaques

May 31, 2023

Victoria International Airport welcomes new airline with Friday Harbor route

May 31, 2023

Recent Posts

Visiting Mount St. Helens is inspiring and alarming all at once

June 4, 2023

Guided June hikes explore old-growth forests in seven Kootenay communities

June 3, 2023

Parks Canada plans major rewrite of more than 200 historic site plaques

May 31, 2023

Victoria International Airport welcomes new airline with Friday Harbor route

May 31, 2023

Footer

The West Coast Traveller has an immense social media footprint, with eight social media sites and and 125,000+ social followers.

Join us on social media and Join Our Community by sharing your stuff!

Get Inspired

News Media Groups

Black Press Media
Sound Publishing
Oahu Media Group
Alaska
Boulevard Magazines
Used.ca

Let’s Get Social

West Coast Traveller
I Love British Columbia
I Love Alberta
I Love Yukon
I Love Northwest Territories
I Love Washington
I Love California
I Love Oregon
I Love Alaska

Visit Our Companion Sites

I Love Saskatchewan
I Love Manitoba
I Love Nunavut
I Love Ontario
I Love Quebec
I Love Newfoundland and Labrador
I Love Nova Scotia
I Love New Brunswick
I Love Prince Edward Island

Site Footer

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • TikTok Icon

Copyright © 2023 West Coast Traveller and · All Rights Reserved