Some lucky ripper has just earned themselves a super high-end team replica Kona Operator CR via our auction with the Pro’s Closet. The winning bid was $4900, of which every penny will be donated to IMBA. The Operator is an exact replica of the bike that World Cup racer Connor Fearon rode for the 2019 season.
Auction proceeds will benefit IMBA’s core programming, including Trail Labs and Trail Accelerator grants. Both programs accelerate the pace of trail building, first by educating community stakeholders on trail planning and creation, then by giving communities an initial boost to get great trail projects started. To date, Trail Labs have worked with 162 representatives from 35 states and seven countries, and more than 50 communities have applied for a Trail Accelerator grant. The next Trail Lab will be held in April 2020 and the latest round of Trail Accelerator grant recipients will be announced in January 2020.
“IMBA and Kona were both founded in 1988, and have always been closely aligned in our collective goals for mountain biking. We both want to make our sport accessible for everyone by working with land managers, and encourage it to grow by working with regional groups to build positive change at the local level. Dave Wiens and the IMBA team deserve the support of the bicycle industry and mountain bikers everywhere. United, we are making our sport stronger.” -Jake Heilbron, Owner, Kona Bikes
