An Important Update For Plaid Goat 2021
Bumpy Rides in COVID Times, with Some Mods Ahead
Dear fellow riders,
We hope you've been keeping well and that you're getting pumped for riding season. Behind the scenes at Plaid Goat headquarters in Canmore, AB we've been head down to best understand the potential for a 2021 festival. It's not looking good folks.
Besides carefully observing how the Government of Alberta's Path Forward is unfolding, there have been major changes in the bike industry due to their supply chain and consumer demand.
The good people that we work with to host Plaid Goat's demo have been kind enough to share their insights and here's what we learned in a recent exhibitor survey:
There are next to no brands carrying demo bikes for 2021
Very few, if any, brands will have event staff for 2021
Most brands' health and safety policies won't be allowing team members to participate in major events until vaccinations have been rolled out and there is a higher level of confidence for them to conduct their work safely.
Then there's the provincial side of things. The Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park is not permitting events yet, and there's no line of sight for when large gatherings are expected to be able to safely resume. Major events like ours take a minimum of 4 months to plan and there are a mix of factors still in our way.
So we have decided to postpone the Plaid Goat festival format until 2022, as there are many barriers impeding a major event from happen this year and the conditions to support its viability are tenuous. But all is not lost! See below...
#1: JUMP JAM // June 19, 2021
Our friends at B-Line Indoor Bike Park knocked on our door with an idea, and we've decided to plan a Plaid Goat Jump Jam in Calgary inside at their 60,000 sq ft bike park! Pencil in Saturday, June 19 and though we're still working on logistics, we are aiming to hold JUNIOR, CITIZEN and PRO categories for both mountain bikes and BMX. Like always, we'll have cash prizes for the PRO categories. Registration will open toward the end of May.
As Ryan of B-Line so eloquently put it, "COVID doesn't give a shit about our plans, but we'll be prepared to host this thing if conditions allow." In doing so, we commit to your safety and will be taking all required precautions, including having a host of planned scenarios. This may include no spectators, masks worn while riding, and other safety provisions. We're planning a livestream of the Jump Jam on social media channels and will have as much fun as we can wherever things are at by the end of June.
#2: VIRTUAL SERIES // April, May
We are working through a few virtual ideas including:
A Virtual Digger's Discussion Series for our provincial association builders (kicking off in April). Is your association not on our mailing list? Email us here.
A Welcome to Mountain Biking in Alberta Info Session for those wanting to learn where to go, trail tips, etiquette, and the all-around scoop for new riders in Alberta (May).
Through the Ride the Rockies Society (the back of house rally crew that supports the provincial mountain bike associations) we're keeping the digger's dream alive, and have heard that a ton of people new to the sport have questions, so why not get them some answers? More details to come soon for both virtual experiences!
Thanks for your continued support. Feel free to reach out via email if you have any questions and let's keep connected though our social media channels.
~ The Plaid Goat family
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