Heard of PayDirt? How Santa Cruz Bicycles Brings New Trails to Life
While you’re likely familiar with Santa Cruz Bicycles, there’s a chance that the brand’s PayDirt effort to support trail stewardship organizations might have flown under your radar. Through PayDirt, Santa Cruz Bicycles will support trail stewardship around the world and make over $1 million in contributions to nonprofits like us.
We’ve been an official PayDirt recipient for the past two years, and have been able to build and maintain new trails and pump tracks with their support.
“The work that Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship does is transforming outdoor access in our backyard,” said Katie Zaffke of PayDirt. “It’s a no-brainer for us to support SCMTS through annual PayDirt funding, and I’m excited to see the new trails they bring to life in the years to come. Our community needs more outdoor access, and I’m glad that their amazing team is working towards a trail future where everyone has a place to play and appreciate the Santa Cruz Mountains.”
Projects that PayDirt Supports
Cotoni-Coast Dairies
PayDirt is a diamond-level sponsor of trail development at Cotoni-Coast Dairies, a portion of the California Coastal National Monument that will open to the public later this year. Their support is enabling us to build 19 miles of brand new multi-use trail on the Santa Cruz coast.
Westside Pump Track
PayDirt was also a top-level supporter of the completely redesigned and rebuilt Westside Pump Track that our crew built and opened last summer. The existing pump track was in a loved-to-death state, and with PayDirt’s support, we were able to breathe new life into this already popular pump track. We built a brand new track with bigger features, smoother corners, and a paved surface so that skateboarders, roller bladers, and more could join in on the fun. In addition to supporting the project financially, multiple groups of volunteers from Santa Cruz Bicycles joined our professional SCMTS Trail Crew to put in a full day of hard work out on the track.
In the first six months since its opening, the redesigned Westside Pump Track saw over 70,000 trips. Community members of all ages flock to the new track, and come together every day to build their skills and watch one another grow.
Trail Stewardship
In addition to helping bring new trails and pump tracks to life, PayDirt’s support extends to our team’s trail maintenance efforts on existing trails in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Popular trails can see as many as 120,000 trips per year. It’s our job as a trail stewardship to keep these high-traffic trails safe, fun, and in great shape year-round, which is easier said than done. There will always be ongoing trees to clear, holes to patch, and sightlines to brush, and every bit of support from PayDirt makes a difference.
Bike Giveaways
Everyone’s favorite part of our PayDirt partnership: bike giveaways! PayDirt and Santa Cruz Bicycles generously donate one top-of-the-line mountain bike for our team to give away to supporters like you each year. This year, we’re giving away their brand new 5010, fully outfitted with an electronic AXS drivetrain and Reserve carbon wheels.
Want to win this bike? Make a donation via on our Santa Cruz webpage, then sit back and wait for us to call your name! This giveaway closes on 10/28, so you gotta move fast to grab those entries.
Best of luck, and thanks in advance for supporting trails!
Pictured below is last year's Santa Cruz sweepstakes winner, Cullen, posing in front of Mt. Shasta on his brand new Bronson.
