Press Release: Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz Cancels Old Growth Classic 2020, Launches Fundraiser & Gravel-Oriented Giveaway to Support CA State Parks
July 14, 2020
This two-week fundraiser will provide much-needed funds to support road maintenance along the Old Growth Classic race route, and offer donors the chance to win high-value prize packs from event sponsors.
SANTA CRUZ, CALIF. – July 14, 2020 -- Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz (MBOSC), a 501(c)(3) trail stewardship organization, today announced the cancellation of its 2020 Big Basin Old Growth Classic gravel race, and in its place launched a two-week gravel-focused fundraiser to benefit road and trail maintenance by California State Parks and MBOSC. 2020 would have been the third year of the popular Old Growth Classic gravel race, known and loved for providing a weekend full of camping, racing, and celebration within the beauty of Big Basin and Butano State Parks. By launching a two-week fundraiser and giveaway filled with prizes like wheels, handlebars, seats, and more, generously donated by Old Growth Classic’s 2020 sponsors, MBOSC is keeping the spirit of the event alive and offering racers a way to support MBOSC and CA State Parks, the organizations behind their favorite annual event. Interested parties can enter the giveaway here.
The decision to cancel the 2020 Old Growth Classic event was driven by concerns related to the persisting COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to the MBOSC team’s concerns about participant safety, the organization’s hand was forced when one of the permitting agency partners for the event announced that they are not processing any permits until the county reaches Stage 4 in California’s reopening plan, which is contingent upon either herd immunity or having a COVID-19 vaccine widely available. Considering these roadblocks, MBOSC decided to postpone the Old Growth Classic until 2021 and instead focus its efforts on activities that have a clear path forward, like new trail development and maintenance of existing routes.
“While we look forward to hosting the Old Growth Classic each year, the reality is that it’s just not responsible for us to host an event of that size at this time,” said Matt De Young, executive director of MBOSC. “Despite the lack of races this year, conditions related to the pandemic mean that our trails and roads have been used by cyclists now more than ever before. By launching a fundraiser in the spirit of the Old Growth Classic, we hope to fund much-needed road and trail maintenance to improve the outdoor experience of road, gravel, and mountain bikers in Santa Cruz and beyond.”
In addition to a fun, challenging gravel race, the Old Growth Classic also serves as an annual fundraiser for MBOSC and California State Parks. To keep the spirit of the Old Growth Classic alive, MBOSC’s fundraiser, which will run from now until July 27, will give contributors a chance to win prizes donated by 2020 sponsors and raise funds to improve the parks and roads that the local community relies on for competition, recreation, and meditation. Sponsors and prize donors for this fundraiser include Praxis Works, FOX, Trail Head Cyclery, Mike's Bikes, Voler, Spokesman Bicycles, Bicycle Trip, Paul Components, Light & Motion, Santa Cruz County Bank, Ibis Cycles, Wilderness Trail Bikes, and Santa Cruz CORE Fitness + Rehab.
Funds raised through this campaign will be split between MBOSC and CA State Parks to support local trails and roads, and also help preserve access to Big Basin State Park for generations to come. MBOSC will earmark funds for new trail development planned for 2020, and CA State Parks will use funds generated from this campaign to repair damage from the heavy 2017 storms on Gazos Creek Road in Big Basin State Park, a memorable part of the Old Growth Classic race route. The fundraising goal is $20,000, and for just a $5 donation, supporters are entered to win the prize pack of their choice. A $200 donation equivalent to the price of a full race entry for Old Growth Classic ($200) offers campaign supporters the best price per entry, and a sliding scale lowers the cost per entry for donations above $10.
MBOSC understands that for many supporters, Old Growth Classic was the major source of involvement in trails-related activities. The organization hopes that those who were planning to participate in the 2020 race consider donating all or most of their normal race entry toward this 2-week fundraiser to keep local trails and state parks like Big Basin enjoyable and safe for all trail users. MBOSC can’t wait to bring everyone together again in 2021, but until then, the team wishes its supporters good times and good health!
Enter now at oldgrowthclassic.com
Social kit for this campaign: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aSZKCjsx3x7XCukzzedTpQp9mOdbrT2QHR1qYv7xXZY/edit
SANTA CRUZ, CALIF. – July 14, 2020 -- Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz (MBOSC), a 501(c)(3) trail stewardship organization, today announced the cancellation of its 2020 Big Basin Old Growth Classic gravel race, and in its place launched a two-week gravel-focused fundraiser to benefit road and trail maintenance by California State Parks and MBOSC. 2020 would have been the third year of the popular Old Growth Classic gravel race, known and loved for providing a weekend full of camping, racing, and celebration within the beauty of Big Basin and Butano State Parks. By launching a two-week fundraiser and giveaway filled with prizes like wheels, handlebars, seats, and more, generously donated by Old Growth Classic’s 2020 sponsors, MBOSC is keeping the spirit of the event alive and offering racers a way to support MBOSC and CA State Parks, the organizations behind their favorite annual event. Interested parties can enter the giveaway here.
The decision to cancel the 2020 Old Growth Classic event was driven by concerns related to the persisting COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to the MBOSC team’s concerns about participant safety, the organization’s hand was forced when one of the permitting agency partners for the event announced that they are not processing any permits until the county reaches Stage 4 in California’s reopening plan, which is contingent upon either herd immunity or having a COVID-19 vaccine widely available. Considering these roadblocks, MBOSC decided to postpone the Old Growth Classic until 2021 and instead focus its efforts on activities that have a clear path forward, like new trail development and maintenance of existing routes.
“While we look forward to hosting the Old Growth Classic each year, the reality is that it’s just not responsible for us to host an event of that size at this time,” said Matt De Young, executive director of MBOSC. “Despite the lack of races this year, conditions related to the pandemic mean that our trails and roads have been used by cyclists now more than ever before. By launching a fundraiser in the spirit of the Old Growth Classic, we hope to fund much-needed road and trail maintenance to improve the outdoor experience of road, gravel, and mountain bikers in Santa Cruz and beyond.”
In addition to a fun, challenging gravel race, the Old Growth Classic also serves as an annual fundraiser for MBOSC and California State Parks. To keep the spirit of the Old Growth Classic alive, MBOSC’s fundraiser, which will run from now until July 27, will give contributors a chance to win prizes donated by 2020 sponsors and raise funds to improve the parks and roads that the local community relies on for competition, recreation, and meditation. Sponsors and prize donors for this fundraiser include Praxis Works, FOX, Trail Head Cyclery, Mike's Bikes, Voler, Spokesman Bicycles, Bicycle Trip, Paul Components, Light & Motion, Santa Cruz County Bank, Ibis Cycles, Wilderness Trail Bikes, and Santa Cruz CORE Fitness + Rehab.
Funds raised through this campaign will be split between MBOSC and CA State Parks to support local trails and roads, and also help preserve access to Big Basin State Park for generations to come. MBOSC will earmark funds for new trail development planned for 2020, and CA State Parks will use funds generated from this campaign to repair damage from the heavy 2017 storms on Gazos Creek Road in Big Basin State Park, a memorable part of the Old Growth Classic race route. The fundraising goal is $20,000, and for just a $5 donation, supporters are entered to win the prize pack of their choice. A $200 donation equivalent to the price of a full race entry for Old Growth Classic ($200) offers campaign supporters the best price per entry, and a sliding scale lowers the cost per entry for donations above $10.
MBOSC understands that for many supporters, Old Growth Classic was the major source of involvement in trails-related activities. The organization hopes that those who were planning to participate in the 2020 race consider donating all or most of their normal race entry toward this 2-week fundraiser to keep local trails and state parks like Big Basin enjoyable and safe for all trail users. MBOSC can’t wait to bring everyone together again in 2021, but until then, the team wishes its supporters good times and good health!
Enter now at oldgrowthclassic.com
Social kit for this campaign: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aSZKCjsx3x7XCukzzedTpQp9mOdbrT2QHR1qYv7xXZY/edit
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