Mark Hayes of Highland Bike Park (#55)

Trail EAffect Episode 55 Mark Hayes of Highland Bike Park

This episode first aired on January 27th, 2022 on Mountain Bike Radio

Topics Covered:

• The Mark Hayes Back Story
• How a trip to Whistler Bike Park inspired Mark to create Highland Bike Park
• How Mark found the property to build out Highland Bike Park
• The details around Highland Bike Park
• The Importance of entry level trails for growing the customer base and mountain biking in general
• What is a beginner trail and incorporating the lesson component of the business
• Getting people into mountain biking
• The overview of Highland as a business and a brand
  • Platform A – Highland Bike Park
  • Platform B – Camps
  • Platform C – Highland Trails (Trail Building outside of Highland)
• The impact of Covid on Highland in 2020
• How Highland Bike Park also serves as a training facility for educating trail builders for Highland Trails
• Building the Highland Team
• The Evolution of trails from the start of Highland to today
• The Evolution of Trails in terms of creating a trail system that constantly progresses as the rider’s progress.
• ASSF – Amplitude, Speed, Sightlines and Frequency according to Brian Finestone (former manager of Whistler Bike Park)
• Famous Failures / Learning Experiences by Mark Hayes
  • The indoor bike park structure
• The differences between Private Bike Parks and Public Trails, and what Private Bike Parks offer over public trails
• The Foothills Foundation, the public trails non profit that Mark is president of
• The 1%er’s
• Public Trails and Maintenance
• The Upside of great trails in your community
• The ingredients that make a great trail community according to Mark
• Asphalt Pumptracks
• Closing Comments
  • Making the sport accessible to everyone
  • Continuous Learning
  • E-Bikes
• Thanking the Team at Highland Bike Park

Links:

Highland Bike Park: https://www.highlandmountain.com/

Highland Trails: https://www.highlandmountain.com/trail-building-services/about/

Highland Training and Camps: https://www.highlandmountain.com/camps-lessons/camps/overview/choose-your-camp/

Highland YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/HighlandMountainBikePark

The Foothills Foundation: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/collections/8684f506713c4b32b144dda45894fb48?item=1

Support for Trail EAffect Comes from Smith’s Bike Shop in La Crosse, WI https://smithsbikes.com/

This show has been edited and produced by Evolution Trail Services, for more information go to:

Evolution Trail Services: www.evotrails.com

Contact Josh at evolutiontrails@gmail.com

Support the Trail EAffect through Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/traileaffect