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The Mad River Riders are excited to have brought on a full time trail crew for this summer! With over 60 miles of trail in our network and a growing amount of usage, we wanted to not only keep up with basic trail maintenance but also address sections of trail that had become seriously eroded in recent years or otherwise would benefit from meaningful upgrades. We’re confident that we’ll get the healthy membership numbers and other donations needed to fund this investment. If you haven’t renewed your membership this year, please do so via the VMBA site here. This is your support at work! Combined with the impact from our volunteer trailcare days, we’re certain that this summer the Mad River Valley trails will be riding better than they ever have before Let’s meet the crew! Jose Darias leads the Mad River Riders Trail Crew. Born and raised in Massachusetts, he regularly spent his winters in Vermont skiing the raw terrain at Mad River Glen. After graduating from high school, it was a no brainer to relocate to the Valley to be amongst the Green Mountains full time in 2012. Growing up in a cycling family, bikes have been a foundational pillar of Jose’s life and he actively makes time to ride as often as possible. As a strong proponent of "Type 2 Fun", you'll often find Jose pedaling long climbs for big descents, aiming for a high smiles per miles ratio and a "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" attitude. Jose also leads this summer’s Mad River Rippers youth mountain biking program. He currently resides in Moretown with his wife Larissa Darias, their three dogs, Viper, Paco and Kona. The family expects the birth of their first child later this Summer!
Ryan Harris joined the Mad River Riders trail crew in May 2023, looking to add some new-school flavor to the area’s existing network. Growing up in Pennsylvania, Ryan raced gravity mountain bikes since early high school. Now in his senior year at UVM, when Ryan isn’t out building trails you can find him filming his next action sports video. He is looking forward to getting more familiar with the Mad River Valley and its unique mountain biking community. Eli Moskowitz joined Mad River Riders as full-time trail crew in May of 2023. Eli has lived in Vermont his whole life. He grew up in Waterbury Center, graduated from Harwood Union in 2019, and is now a rising senior year at the University of Vermont. From his roots here, Eli has experienced mountain biking in many parts of the country outside Vermont and world beyond. Two cross-country road trips focused on riding bikes, and he’s also found himself on a mountain bike in Italy and Ecuador. Despite traveling all over the world, Vermont remains one of Eli’s favorite places to ride. Nate Caplan rounds out the Mad River Riders trail crew. Originally from southern Vermont near Mt. Snow, Nate grew up with a passion for the outdoors, skiing in the winter and biking in the summer. After high school at Stratton Mountain School where Nate traveled and competed in freestyle mogul skiing, he decided to stay in the green mountain state and attend the University of Vermont. While Nate is still an avid skier, when not on snow you may find him hiking, biking, fishing, and exploring the forests. He lives in Burlington where he is completing a major in Forestry, giving him an array of knowledge about forest ecosystems. Whether on a bike, skis, or foot, Nate is happiest when he can be outside doing what he enjoys the most. The Mad River Trail Crew supplemented their natural energy and passion with top-notch trail building instruction early this summer at a VMBA boot camp in Randolph/Rochester. We’ll be documenting their work via Instagram. Please say “hello” if you pass the crew on the trails this summer!
1 Comment
7/19/2023 01:54:38 am
Wow, what an incredible glimpse into the world of the 2023 Mad River Riders Trail Crew! This blog beautifully showcases the passion, dedication, and camaraderie that goes into maintaining and perfecting the trails we all love. It's heartening to see a group of individuals coming together, driven by their love for nature and mountain biking, to create unforgettable experiences for fellow riders. The vivid descriptions and captivating photographs truly bring their work to life, making me feel like I'm right there with them on those breathtaking trails. As an avid rider myself, I'm inspired and grateful for the hard work they put in, ensuring we can continue to enjoy the thrill of the great outdoors. Hats off to the Mad River Riders Trail Crew for their unwavering commitment and for sharing their amazing journey with us! Leave a Reply. |
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