Five gifts that give back: A mountain biker’s gift guide Pt.2

Shiny new things are nice, but what do you do if your favorite cyclists already has a full closet of gear and shiny new bike? These gifts pull double duty, great for your partner/loved one/friend and for the mountain biking community. Win win!

Trail Pass / Trail Association membership

Local trail associations are the backbone of the Canadian mountain bike scene. They advocate for land access and planning, manage trail maintenance, run community events and so much more behind the scenes. If the mountain biker in your life is already a member, you can support the trail association the next town over, make a donation, buy apparel, or just rack up some Trail Karma on Trailforks.

Fast and Female Youth Hoodie (fastandfemale.com – $50.00)

Fast and Female says its mission is empowering girls through sport. They have the backing of some big names, including Catharine Pendrel and Haley Smith. The cross country duo wore Fast and Female jerseys when they won the Epic Israel stage race this fall. Fast and Female has various apparel and unique gifts you can purchase for your young shredder, including this youth hoodie. You can also donate to the program without buying anything.

Jordie Lunn Rough AF memorial stickers (ifht.tv / $5.00)

Jordie Lunn’s tragic passing earlier this fall left a giant hole in the Canadian, and global mountain bike community. Lunn was known for his always-positive personality and enthusiastic coaching of young riders as much as he was his wild stunts on the bike. Proceeds from Rough AF stickers, a reference to his series of freeride videos, will go toward the Jordie Lunn Legacy Fund, which you can find out more about and donate to here.

ycling Canada downhill program donation (hoponcanada.ca – donation varies)

Cycling Canada doesn’t receive government support for the national downhill program (or the cyclocross program), so it’s on athletes and volunteers to get aspiring Canadians out to the races. Canada’s junior downhill racers had a phenomenal year on the World Cup circuit, with multiple riders swarming the top-1o every round, several podiums, and a World Cup win. It’s a great time to help support the next generation of Canadian talent. Any donation over $25 will be issued a tax receipt.

Protect Our Winters – Apparel / Stickers ( Protectourwinters.ca / prices vary)

Protect Our Winters Canada hoodies

"Go Fact Yourself" T shirts

POW Canada 10" vinyl decals.

Protect Our Winters is an organization raising awareness of climate change and its impacts through the lens of outdoor sports. POW recently opened it’s Canada chapter, which has leapt out of the gates with some of the biggest names in Canadian outdoor sports. Climate change doesn’t just affect snow sports, though. Drier summers and longer fire seasons impact mountain bikers. Which is why Casey Brown, Vaea Verbeeck, ultrarunner Gary Robbins, photographers Ian McIntosh, Bruno Long and Rubben Krabbe have signed on as POW ambassadors along with Canadian winter Olympians Eric Guay and Olympic champion Kelsey Serwa.

Of course, you can always donate to POW Canada without buying anything, all year long.