Andrew Shandro at Bronze-Level IMBA Ride Center Opening In Copper Harbor, MI

By: Ryan LaBar
Photos: Aaron Peterson
Video: Trek Bicycles

The quaint little tourist town of Copper Harbor, Michigan, recently became one of just seven IMBA Ride Centers in the world. To kick off the Ride Center's opening, IMBA worked with Trek Bicycles to bring pro-rider Andrew Shandro in to experience the area's riding and culture.

Shandro had good things to say about the riding in Copper Harbor, "When Trek asked me to go to Copper Harbor, Michigan, I didn't know what to expect, but it turns out that they've really got a great trail network there. I was surprised by the diversity of the riding--they've got a bit of everything--the Downtown trail is a good, natural, technical trail and the Flow trail is bermed-out and fun. My favorite trail there, though, is the Flying Squirrel--it's a really well-built jump trail."

Copper Harbor's main trail builder and Mid-West Trail Specialist for IMBA Trail Solutions, Aaron Rogers, commented on the future of the Ride Center, "We are starting out as a bronze-level center, but should be rated silver soon." Rogers continued, "The Ride Center's rating is based on a points system: There are points for having a diverse trail system, points based on community and points based on destination--we get a lot points for destination. We are working hard hard to reach Gold Level. We'll be building medium- and small-sized jump trails--Flying Squirrel trail is considered a large-sized jump trail--as well as a true flow track to increase our scoring."