Albuquerque Mountain Bike Association
Grants Awarded
The Albuquerque Mountain Bike Association (AMBA), in partnership with the Sandia Ranger District of the Cibola National Forest, is seeking funding to enhance downhill mountain biking trails on the east side of the Sandia crest. This project aims to develop unique features while preserving the trails' original character, promoting community engagement and fostering increased recreational opportunities for local mountain biking enthusiasts.
The Albuquerque Mountain Bike Association (AMBA), in partnership with the Sandia Ranger District of the Cibola National Forest, is seeking funding to enhance the existing downhill mountain biking trails on the Sandia Crest. This project is set to create exceptional progressive features that will improve the biking experience while fostering community engagement and preserving the trails’ natural character, ultimately benefiting both participants and the local outdoor culture.
AMBA is a non-profit association whose mission is to create, enhance and preserve great trail experiences for mountain bikers in the greater Albuquerque area, and to create a bicycle friendly community through cycling awareness, safety, advocacy and promotion of bicycling for fun, fitness and transportation. AMBA seeks to preserve, protect, and promote mountain bike access and diverse riding opportunities on NM’s public and private lands through education, communication, and unified action. AMBA is an IMBA (International Mountain Bike Association) Chapter. Tapping into the roots of the former IMBA Chapter, FOO (Friends of the Outdoors), we are committed to continue advocating mountain biking in the greater Albuquerque area. AMBA builds community as well as trails. Momentum is building, and people just like you are volunteering their time. AMBA is not just about one agenda item. Our members have various personal reasons for coming together such as: giving back to the sport, trail building, organizing races, and organizing community rides, just to name a few. As an organization, we have redirected our focus towards trail management, construction, and maintenance for all rider types. Over the past three years we have received funds from IMBA’s dig In Program and the NMEDD Trails+ Program to purchase trail tools and equipment, along with make substantial progress in enhancing the Sandia Mountain downhill trail systems – respectively. **This proposal is an extension of the same project we submitted in the Fall of 2022. The initial $99,000 has enabled AMBA, the USFS, and Rocket Ramps, to break ground on Unnamed Trail #1 from the attached master plan. That trail is currently in progress, and will require all initial funds to be completed. As a result, we are reapplying for additional funding to continue our original proposal/project and construct Unnamed Trail #2 as well as move forward with further maintenance and updates on the two existing user-built trails – which will be adopted by the USFS once safety requirements have been met. You can find further details about this process in the Sandia Downhill Trails Master Plan attached at the end of this submission.