MTBeer: Q & A with Susie Murphy

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Susie Murphy shares deep wisdom on working with public lands managers and the varying user/recreation groups that are on the trails, that wisdom coming from decades of riding and years of working in the trenches. As Executive Director of San Diego Mountain Biking Association, she’s been at the forefront of regional and national politics around mountain biking access. In her spare time (!), she serves as Secretary of the Board for CAMTB and has several other irons in the fire. Read on to learn about all that and the next time you see her/run into her, say “thank you” for what she’s doing for you/us.

1. Tell us about SDMBA. How long has it been around and what's the size of its membership?

The San Diego Mountain Biking Association was founded in 1994 by a few MTB friends who thought trail advocacy sounded like a thing that was needed here in San Diego. They were correct in that assumption. Those were early days in the effort so they were “trail blazers” to be sure.  SDMBA was incorporated as a 501c3 non profit in 2005 and currently has about 1500 members. 

2. How long have you been in your role as Executive Director? Discuss how being an Executive Director of one of the largest mountain biking associations in the USA has been rewarding and challenging. 

I have been at this post for 5 ½ years. When I first got the job I assumed there were going to be lots of people in similar positions across the country.  There were not - really only a handful.  Now, there are many trail organizations that have professional staff which is very exciting.  I talk with many of them regularly which is very helpful and inspiring.  Any non-profit job is a labor of love.  It doesn’t matter what the mission is, but when it is something that is also your hobby, it is pretty all consuming.  The best parts, of course, are getting to meet so many local riders and learning more about San Diego County even though I was born here.  The challenges are many. Lesson #1: You can’t please everyone. Trail advocacy is not for those who want immediate gratification. Every project takes vision, perseverance, and patience. While bringing projects into timely implementation is always a priority, a lot of what we do is for future generations.  

3. What's on the SDMBA agenda for 2021-22?

The past year has been a challenge for obvious reasons. We continue to monitor and adjust field activities as the pandemic and COVID guidelines continue to shift.  The restrictions have severely limited volunteer trail work and other events. We sorely miss hanging out with everyone at events large and small! SDMBA continues to work on long range trails plans at Daley Ranch, the Laguna Mountain Recreation Area in the Cleveland National Forest providing both consultation in mapping and field work but also with funding.  We have advocacy efforts continuing on trails in Chula Vista, Sycamore Goodan Ranch, Mission Trails, Florida Canyon, and various bike park projects. Early 2021 has brought little rain which is also a hindrance when attempting to do any tread work.  We are getting some small groups out to areas where land managers are allowing volunteers like Mount Laguna, La Costa, and Daley Ranch.  Luckily because of the support of our members, we have our full time Trail Coordinator, Ben Stone, who has been able to work on projects alongside land managers eager for the help because he is a staff person.  This has been invaluable to seeing projects move forward.  We are trying to work towards hiring a season intern for the winter of 2021-22 which would be a huge help with all the upcoming projects on our plate. 

4. Has being a female Executive Director offered any unique experiences that maybe male Executive Directors wouldn't get to experience?  

I think that being a woman in this space has a lot of benefits. It is pretty clear that the conceived demographic of mountain bikers are white, middle aged men. This stereotype, while possibly well-deserved, is becoming tiresome. All sorts of people are finding mountain biking, although admittedly, the barrier to entry can be a little high from getting a bike to getting to a trailhead.  I find that I have a larger reach as a woman in this space.  I can relate to many groups: younger student athletes of the National Interscholastic Cycling Association as a coach and mom of former youth racers; women’s MTB groups such as Girlz Gone Riding; local clinic coaches; other advocacy groups in the county; conservation groups and others. I also serve on the board of the California Mountain Biking Coalition (CAMTB; 501c4) and enjoy seeing things from a legislative and policy lens and learning from other advocates throughout the state. 

I also have observed that if I walk/zoom into a meeting with an agency or jurisdiction, and they see I am a woman “of a certain age” that is a passionate advocate they can be disarmed and may tend to listen to me more as a mom, an educator and a passionate trail advocate. I always say, they didn’t hire me to be the biggest “shredder” in the group, but I can send mad emails and fill out smokin’ grant applications. 

5. Any advice/words of enlightenment you might have for fostering inclusiveness, in general, in the mountain biking community, at large? Specific/practical things we can do? 

The key here is that individuals and organizations need to begin to be intentional in their efforts to expand the community of mountain biking and the outdoors in general.  Now, some of this effort has met with some push back with the most common sentiment being “I just want to ride my bike” or “Why do you have to bring politics into mountain biking?”  That may be, but those of us involved in advocacy are frequently the same ones who also have a progressive vision of opening that opportunity for more people. Not only do we need more diversity in our ridership, but also in our pool of trail volunteers and board members of local trail advocacy organizations. Most of us know the best part of mountain biking is the friends we make. If each of us can reach beyond our immediate circle and intentionally invite some new people along on adventures, the benefits would be immense.

6. Favorite local trail(s)?

Snake Trail - Chula Vista, La Cima/Lucky 5 (Cuyamaca Rancho State Park) and Mount Laguna - all of it! 

7. Favorite destination(s)?

North Rim of the Grand Canyon; Sedona; McDowell Park, AZ; Whistler, B.C.

8. Post-ride beer? Yay or nay? If "yay," whatcha reaching for in the cooler?

Yay!  Wild Ride Sierra Nevada or Athletic Brewing Co. Run Wild (if driving!) 

9. Parting thoughts? 

Southern California is difficult when it comes to land use.  Any open space is being pulled in so many directions. Current parks and forests are woefully underfunded and understaffed. The environmental lobby has a strong presence. Some complain about the pace at which projects move.  Believe me, I feel your pain. But if advocacy groups like SDMBA, Concerned Off-Road Bicyclists Association, Inland Valley Mountain Bike Association, Mount Wilson Mountain Bike Association, Big Bear Trails, and CAMTB weren’t all working so hard for trails in SoCal the story would be much worse. These are the voices speaking up for trail users and mountain bikers. Trails are essential!