IMBA UK is pleased to announce Chris Bray as the new Regional Representative for the Midlands area.

Chris is the Forestry Commission Recreation Manager for the Sherwood District, including Derbyshire, Notts, South Yorks and Lincs. He has been riding mountain bikes for 15 years and is the founder of the IMBA-affiliated Forestry Commission Trailbuilders (Sherwood FD). He replaces Julian Winstanley, who stepped down earlier this year due to other commitments.

Under Chris's guidance, IMBA UK is working with the Forestry Commission on a "North Shore style" trailbuilding initiative at Sherwood Pines Forest Park near Nottingham, in an attempt to bring North Shore/freeriding out of the shadows and into the mainstream.

Chris says the main aim is to cut down on poorly-built trail features and provide local riders with a challenging resource on their doorstep. The forest has had problems in the past with unofficial trail work, and he hopes that the new initiative will help to manage this.

The aim is to start small and work up to more challenging trails over the course of 2004 and beyond. Chris and the IMBA UK team are using the IMBA Freeride Guide as a template for the trails. Limited copies of the Freeride Guide are available to IMBA UK members for £1 p&p on request.

Work has already begun, with local volunteers and enthusiasts from Gravity Slaves web site, and some financial support from local clubs, although FC and IMBA UK are currently looking for an official sponsor for the project.

The new Freeride Area will be accessible from the National Cycle Route 6, making it a truly sustainable and useful resource.

Chris will be present in his IMBA UK capacity at the third round of the NPS, to be held at Sherwood Pines on 12/13 June. Look out for him there, or find out more about IMBA UK initiatives in the Midlands by contacting him on chris@imba-uk.com.