Rockburn Skills Park Hosting Family Event

What is foremost on my mind is the for the Rockburn Skills Park, the new mountain bike trail system being developed in .

It was exciting last weekend to see the pump track reopen. Lots of volunteers worked on resurfacing the track then enjoyed riding it and hanging out with their family and friends.

Although April 15 usually brings the heavy burden of tax season on us, this year it will bring a big celebration. Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts (MORE) will be hosting a to raise the remaining money to build the rest of the skills park.

Did you come to the fundraiser back in August? It was a huge success with more than 300 people. The spring fundraiser will be the same format and same location—the off of the Montgomery Road entrance—from 1 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, April 15.

Starting at 1 p.m., there will be guided bike rides. I was very excited when I heard that rides will be led by Chris Eatough, six-time world champion mountain biker, and Marla Streb, U.S. national champion, World Cup-winning cyclist and author. Stop by and talk with them; they are both great people

If you are up for the advanced ride, you will have a blast riding with Chris. Marla will be leading the ladies' ride. Single Speed Outlaw Scott will be running the intermediate ride. Thankfully, there will also be beginner and family/kids' rides led by a crew of MORE volunteers. Nobody will be left behind—each group with have a sweep rider in the back. It will be a great way to learn the trails in Rockburn and Patapsco while having the support of other riders and without getting lost!

As the rides finish up, around 2 or 3 p.m., the picnic activities will begin. There will be BBQ, food, drinks for adults and kids, face painting, snow-cones, music, vendor tents, t-shirt sales and a raffle with more than $5,000 worth of prizes. Come try out one of the demo bikes that will be there and check out the vendor tents.

Good news about the raffle, you don't have to be present to win, and you can get your raffle tickets at the website www.RockburnSkillsPark.org. A limited number of tickets will be sold, so get yours quickly. Four bikes and a gift card will be raffled off. Tax-deductible donations are also accepted on the website.

RSVP, although not required, would be helpful to ensure there is enough food and drink for everyone. You can RSVP on the skills park website: www.RockburnSkillsPark.org.

Admission to the is free, but guests can contribute by purchasing tickets for food and drinks and by buying raffle tickets in advance at www.RockburnSkillsPark.org or at the picnic. You do not need to be present to win the raffle. Prizes include Cannondale Flash MTB or Caad Road frame; Specialized Stumpjumper FSR full suspension MTB in size Medium 2011 ($2,500 value); Diamondbike Assault Dirt Jump Bike 2012 ($900 value), perfect for the pump track; Giant Brass size medium 2011 ($650 value); and a Performance Bike Shop gift card worth $250.

What is the Skills Park?

Mid-Atlantic Off Road Enthusiasts (MORE), Howard County Recreation and Parks, and International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA) have created a public-private partnership to build the skills area in Rockburn Branch Park. For those of you who have yet to visit Rockburn, it is 450 acres located in Elkridge, MD, with two entrances: one by  and across the street from Patapsco Valley State Park. The multi-use trail system is being built with mountain bikers and trail runners in mind. It will consist of multiple trails of varying complexity and will be called the Rockburn Skills Park.

Howard County has dedicated land in Rockburn Branch Park for the project; IMBA is flying in world-class trail builders and designers; and MORE is raising the funding and providing volunteer support. The final product will be donated to the park system and will be free for the public to use. The park will include a pavilion, a pump track and three downhill lines: one for beginners, one for intermediate riders, and one for more advanced riders. This will be a family-first facility where Howard County kids and adults can hone their bicycle riding skills.

Who is MORE?

MORE (the Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization representing thousands of area mountain bikers. Founded in 1992, MORE maintains more than 250 miles of natural-surface trails in 25 state and county parks throughout the region. MORE members contribute more than 3,000 volunteer hours annually and have constructed nearly 100 miles of new, sustainable trail. The club also leads hundreds of rides each year at local parks, ranging from beginner to advanced levels. MORE is committed to environmentally sound and socially responsible mountain biking, facilitating recreational trail cycling, educating about the sport of mountain biking, maintaining local trails and advocating for increased multi-user trail access.

More Information

• Marla Streb: http://www.marlastreb.com/
• Chris Eatough: http://www.chriseatough.com/
• MORE: http://www.more-mtb.org/
• Rockburn Skills Park: http://www.rockburnskillspark.org/