Established in 2008, the West Alabama Mountain Biking Association hosts multiple weekly group rides while working to promote trail building and maintenance in the ?Tuscaloosa area.
Darrell Arnold, training coordinator at the Center for Advanced Public Safety at The University of Alabama as well as the group’s president, said the group’s founders organized the chapter of the International Mountain Biking Association as a way to work on local trails.
“They got started because a lot of them were just going out and creating and maintaining these trail systems that have been here for years,” Arnold said.
Daniel Dye, a senior majoring in civil engineering and the group’s secretary, said he’s gained ?endurance in his time on the trails. Dye said the group has proved a valuable resource for beginner riders. The rides on Monday nights are targeted to the more inexperienced, and other members can offer advice ?on equipment.
Other than recruiting new members, the group’s immediate goal is making Sokol Park more navigable. Over the past year, WAMBA members have logged more than 1,700 hours maintaining the trails they ride. WAMBA has also partnered with volunteers from the University’s Honors College for Lake Lurleen service days and Outdoor ?Action cleanups.
Arnold said he hopes that more young riders will come out and become more involved with the group through both service ?and sport.
