Location Factor Oz Trails

An inclusive bike network for Northwest Arkansas.

portrait

Gary Vernon // OZ Trails / Walton Foundation

„I want to make Arkansas a world-class mountain biking destination and develop inclusive programs for women, children and other groups less represented in biking. We would like to host both national and international biking events. To make Arkansas a center of the biking industry, we need more local bike organizations. I think it's essential to share what we've learned with the world.

Gary Vernon has managed to develop Arkansas into a top destination for mountain biking, but not only that; with strategic vision and passion, he works tirelessly to create a positive impact for communities through mountain biking to achieve the goals of the Walton Foundation.

  • To establish Arkansas as a world class mountain bike destination
  • How mountain biking infrastructure can make a region more attractive to skilled workers
  • How mountain biking can contribute to a better society

About Gary Vernon
Gary Vernon is a leading expert in mountain bike trail system development. He currently leads cycling and trail-building initiatives for the Walton Foundation - the foundation of Walmart founders Steuart and Tom Walton - and has kept track of the design and construction of over 600 miles of world-class mountain bike trails and bike parks for the past seven years. Gary has always been a big bike enthusiast. Even as a kid, he was passionate about BMX and motocross. He discovered mountain biking in the early 1990s. Gary began his career at Walmart in 1984, wrenching on bikes at a store in his hometown of Joplin, Missouri. Thirty years later, Gary became Walmart's director of environmental stewardship and sustainability.

Glen Jacobs

About the distant trails in the Blue Tier Mountains

Glen Jacobs takes us on a journey to Tasmania

Gunnar Fehlau

On the outstanding appeal of gravel

Definition and potential of gravel biking

Chris Ball

About the spirit of Enduro

Insights into the EWS

Hans Rey

The MTB-legend's talk on the beginning of our sport

The history of MTB

Marc Schlüssel

On the magic of the Bike Kingdom and it's digital estates

Gary Vernon

About the Oz-Trails in Arkansas

How a trail network can facilitate an entire region

Olve Norderhaug

About Trysil, the most family-friendly MTB arena in Europe

Martin Vincenz

About Graubünden´s MTB-strategy

Home of Trails

Stephan Grapentin

About the Mountain Bike Monitor

the most comprehensive study on the mountain bike guest, his needs and wishes, in 2021 for the first time across Europe.

Graeme McLean

About Scotland´s MTB-strategy

Kevin Vermaak

The founder of the Cape Epic about the toughest MTB race in the world

Jasper Jauch

Invites you to a conversation about the scene

Sponsoringpartner

Doppelmayr
Komoot
Logo_OB
Schneestern
SALB_Logo_Gruen_Claim_MS-Word