No way! Hans Rey to speak at Scottish conference

Mountain bike legend (and sometime Singletrack Contributor) hits Peebles

Hans “No Way” Rey to speak at Scottish Mountain Bike Conference

Top international Mountain Bike stars among speakers in Peebles

Swiss/American mountain biker Hans “No Way” Rey, known as the world’s foremost adventure rider, has been announced as a headline speaker at the event, which takes place at the Borders venue from 11-14 November. Hans Rey is a name known to all in mountain biking circles, and his cycling feats are the stuff of legend as he has conquered previously unridable trails and taken on extreme challenges. Throughout the 80s and the 90s Hans was regularly on the top step of National and International Trails MTB podiums, and he will share his vast wealth of experience of riding in Scotland and further afield at the Conference. Hans is an Honorary Board Member of IMBA (International Mountain Bike Association) and has been involved with mountain bike trail and resort development and purpose built trails, including his concept of Flow Country Trails, which he will talk about at the conference.

Hans Rey said, “It is very exciting to be announced as a speaker at the 2014 Scottish Mountain Bike Conference – International Edition. There are fantastic mountain biking trails in Scotland, both purpose-built and natural, and I am very much looking forward to returning to these world-class routes. Having ridden and raced my bikes in all corners of the world, there is a lot that I can share with the audience, including tales from my travels and experiences while riding. I am also interested to hear about Scotland’s progress in developing mountain biking, as I am aware that it is at the forefront of trail development, innovations and leadership qualifications.”

Rey will be joined by Team Scotland Commonwealth Games athlete Grant Ferguson who will share his experiences of mountain biking in Scotland and competing internationally. Having raced at every level in Scotland, from Under 12 to his current Elite category, Ferguson is well-placed to represent the competitive world of cycle sport.

Grant Ferguson said, “I am delighted to be announced as a speaker at the Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland Conference, particularly as it is the international edition. I grew up in Peebles, and as such, fully appreciate the world-class trails on offer in the Scottish Borders. Added to that, I have ridden and raced my bike across the world, and have a wide range of experiences to share with the Scottish audience. To be asked back to my hometown to speak about the events I have participated in, including the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, is a real honour and I am thrilled to be involved in the conference.”

The full programme for the Scottish Mountain Biking Conference 2014, which is supported by the VisitScotland Conference Bid Fund and Scottish Borders Council, was unveiled today at Peebles Hydro.

As well as speeches and workshops, the conference will also include a number of field visits to celebrated mountain bike locations throughout Scotland, including the Scottish Mountain Bike Centre at Glentress, the World Cup trail at Fort William and the Commonwealth Games trail at Cathkin Braes in Glasgow.

The conference is headed up by Graeme McLean, Project Manager at Developing Mountain Biking for Scotland, part of Scottish Cycling.

Graeme McLean said: “Scotland is one of the best locations in the world to mountain bike. We have fantastic facilities for visitors, and Scottish people, with over 30 purpose built trail centres spread across the country and our access laws which allow us to responsibly ride most trails and paths across the country. Scotland is a key mountain biking innovator in terms of trails and facilities development, skills progression and sustainable development however we are interested in learning best practice from around the world and bringing it to Scotland. We believe that the conference will help this growing sport reach its full potential”

For more information about the conference, please email info@DMBinS.com or visit: www.dmbins.com/developing/conference