Freeriding and Risk Management: 15 Steps to Success British Columbia's South Island Mountain Bike Society built this sweet trail feature on the South Ridge Trail in partnership with local land managers. A skills park in Port Moody, British Columbia. The freeriding park in Keystone, Colorado. Club Mud's expert riding area in Quiet Waters Park, Florida. At least one sign should describe safety guidelines, helmet rules, risk warnings, a "Use at Your Own Risk" message, responsible riding tips, emergency contact information and more. There should always be an easier, alternate route around a technical feature. (Fall Zone) A fall zone provides a clear landing for a rider who has failed to negotiate the obstacle. The freeride movement went through an awkward adolescence in the 1990s. Early movies and magazine stories gave many people the impression that "freeriding" was synonymous with riding off-trail and mountain biking in a reckless fashion. As a result, some land managers cling to the notion that technically challenging trails are fundamentally unsafe. They oppose freeriding out of a fear of potential injuries and lawsuits. The good news is that mountain bikers can responsibly create and ride challenging trails without sparking liability concerns or provoking lawsuits. In this article we present 15 steps to managing freeriding risk.1. Be Aware of Possible Social Issues There are many social and emotional issues surrounding freeriding. Technical riding areas, both natural and constructed, have been opposed by a variety of groups, including land managers, environmentalists, neighbors, other trail users, and even other mountain bikers. If you're planning to develop new freeriding opportunities, you should be aware of some of the social issues that may come into play. These issues can be effectively addressed through open communication and understanding.2. Build Partnerships and Communicate Successful trail projects require close collaboration among freeriders, land managers and local mountain bike clubs. By consulting with freeriders and incorporating their suggestions into trail management decisions, planners can develop trail systems that have broader appeal. This effort will also reduce unauthorized trail construction. Judgemental attitudes and negative stereotypes from either side can undermine successful partnerships.3. Determine Shared Use or Single Use IMBA supports shared-use and single-use trails. A purpose-built freeride trail will usually be more successful if it is single use. Frequent technical trail features are unsuitable for horse use and may not provide an enjoyable experience for hikers. Adding technical trail features to a crowded trail shared by joggers, dog walkers and inexperienced trail users is rarely a good idea. However, shared-use trails that offer technical challenge are feasible in the right situation.4. Understand Local Liability Laws One of the first things people want to know is, "Will I be held liable if someone gets hurt while riding a trail on my property?" Most states have laws, called Recreational Use Statutes, which protect land managers and private property owners from being held liable in the event that someone is injured while recreating on their property.Recreational Use Statutes vary from place to place, so we recommend that you research the laws governing your own area. IMBA partnered with American Whitewater to