A Dirt Revolution

Specialized Soil Searching

Trail builders are the unsung heroes of mountain biking. We are changing that. Specialized Soil Searching is a movement to recognize, celebrate, and support the trail builders who help shape our sport and our stoke.

A Dirt Revolution

Specialized Soil Searching

Trail builders are the unsung heroes of mountain biking. We are changing that. Specialized Soil Searching is a movement to recognize, celebrate, and support the trail builders who help shape our sport and our stoke.

We host, we dig!

We host Specialized Soil Searching Dig Days around the world. They’re a chance to connect with your trail community—to get your hands dirty, build awesome trails, ride bikes, eat warm food, drink a cold beverage, and meet great people. Keep an eye on Specialized Soil Searching for information on upcoming dig day opportunities.

Dig Day Hungary
Crosskovácsi Bike Park

„In Hungary, there 2 places where building trails is legal and supported, and one of them is Nagykovácsi Bike Park. It is the place where we will have the dig day. It is about 10-15 km from downtown of Budapest, so with a bike you can be there in 30 minutes, but most people bring their ebike or enduro there.

The park belongs to the organizer of the biggest XC and marathon competitions of the country (CROSSKOVÁCSI), but they are really opened for e-bike organizations and teams too, so they are gathering these communities too. The part itself is more about beginners and XC and all-mountain trails rather than huge gravity lines, but with the dig day, we will create more advanced lines too. The reason why a lot of people like this is that it has a lot of flowy trails with smaller jumps, berms, corners. To learn more, follow this link: https://www.crosskovacsi.hu/en/about-us/about-the-association

Because SW BIKE KFT has a really good connection with this organization (they also take part in organizing e-bike categories on the events and they support the organization and events with a lot of things) the dig day will seriously involve Crosskovácsi and SW BIKE KFT communities combined.”

Dig Day Bulgaria
Zlatitsa Bike Park

Date of Dig Day - Second Half of September

Place: ZLATITSA BIKE PARK - https://zlatitsabikepark.com/

Nestled in the slopes of the midwest Balkan Mountains, Zlatitsa Bike Park is a gravity oriented trail center, developed and managed by a passionate and young trail crew who work relentlessly to bring their vision of mountain biking.

The trails provide a great mixture of natural steep and rocky terrain with a combination of exciting man-made features which give a thrilling ride. The park is in its early stages of development with rich and diverse terrain which gives great potential of the area to become a leading destination for riding in the region.

Dig Day Greece
Mountain Of Pelio

Soil Searching Greece will take place on the mystical mountain of Pelio where the Centaurs live right in the middle of the mainland. Bike 30 from neighbouring Volos will be hosting the dig teams who will be working on the trail network aiming to further work on existing trails and open new ones. The forest consists of a mix of natural deciduous trees, pine trees and coppice woodland used by the local wood and charcoal producers at an altitude of around 650 meters.

The existing trail network caters to both Enduro, Trail and Downhill bikes with a definite gravity bias and is well known around Greece often hosting Enduro and Downhill races as well as being a mountain bike tour destination. We aim to gather a group around 100 participants at the time of the Dig Days!

Specialized Soil Searching Tires
These Tires Build Trails

What’s mountain biking without trails? We created Specialized Soil Searching to fuel and support the energy and passion of the trail building community. By employing trail builders, hosting dig days, spearheading fundraisers, and telling their stories, we’re creating a community to further the development and maintenance of trail systems that are the lifeblood of our sport. And with our new limited-edition Soil Searching tires we’ve created yet another to way support this critical trail work.

Pedal The Planet Forward

Since 2018, Specialized Soil Searching has provided financial, organizational, and outreach support for trail systems around the world. We focus on three essential and interdependent aspects of trail work—ambassadors, dig days, and fundraisers—to assist communities in maintaining and growing their trail networks. Trail advocacy is the right thing to do for the sport, supporting not just bike riding, but creating sustainable, multi use trails as well.

Pedal The Planet Forward

Since 2018, Specialized Soil Searching has provided financial, organizational, and outreach support for trail systems around the world. We focus on three essential and interdependent aspects of trail work—ambassadors, dig days, and fundraisers—to assist communities in maintaining and growing their trail networks. Trail advocacy is the right thing to do for the sport, supporting not just bike riding, but creating sustainable, multi use trails as well.

BY THE NUMBERS

IN 2019 AND 2020 SPECIALIZED SOIL SEARCHING SUPPORTED:

50 TRAIL BUILDERS
200 DIG DAYS
11,000 VOLUNTEER HOURS

Why not sponsor trail builders like athletes?

What if the outdoor industry sponsored trail builders the way it currently sponsors professional athletes? We are, it’s called the Specialized Soil Searching Global Trail Ambassador program. We’re supporting a group of Trail Ambassadors from around the world so they can focus on building and maintaining trails for us all.

Why not sponsor trail builders like athletes?

What if the outdoor industry sponsored trail builders the way it currently sponsors professional athletes? We are, it’s called the Specialized Soil Searching Global Trail Ambassador program. We’re supporting a group of Trail Ambassadors from around the world so they can focus on building and maintaining trails for us all.

FUNdraising

Trail building requires equipment, time, hard work, and some money to pay for much of the above. We host fundraisers around the world, where you can donate to a trail organization and get a chance to win some amazing gear or even custom Specialized Soil Searching bikes. We also provide grants and bike raffles to qualifying trail organizations, through the Outride Fund.

FUNdraising

Trail building requires equipment, time, hard work, and some money to pay for much of the above. We host fundraisers around the world, where you can donate to a trail organization and get a chance to win some amazing gear or even custom Specialized Soil Searching bikes. We also provide grants and bike raffles to qualifying trail organizations, through the Outride Fund.

Put your money where your tread is

With our limited-edition Specialized Soil Searching tires you can support trail builders on every ride. Every Soil Searching tire you buy helps us support Specialized Soil Searching and its mission. Available in our race-winning tread patterns and equipped with our premium T9 and T7 sticky fast rubber, Soil Searching limited-edition tires come in a striking, classic skinwall casing. You’ll hit the perfect line for the perfect cause.

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Jump the Dump

QUESTION: How much rock and soil does it take to build a mountain?

ANSWER: None, just a few metric tons of…well…garbage!
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Given to Fly

Some people change the world and are beautifully oblivious to the fact. Ron Ponney, Brad Stuart, Luke Beers and Eric Simmons are some of these people.
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The Constant Gardener

“Dillon Osleger is what you'd call a “gentle activist.” His passion for mountain biking, and his conviction for a healthier planet, bridge the gap between recreation and activism. Can a trail possibly preserve and protect what we hold dearest in our natural environment? Dillon shares his conviction with us, and we reckon he’s onto something.”
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Quiet Craftsman

When the earth speaks, Hylton Turvey listens, taking the time and care to carve trails in South Africa in a way that honors her presence. Soil Searching founder, Fanie Kok, shares this intimate profile of a man who has a true connection with the land he builds upon.
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Guardian of the Mountains

Ryo Hazuma is a man who can—and will—move mountains. Living in the Minami Alps of Japan, he dedicates himself completely to developing and maintaining trails at this UNESCO World Heritage Site, all while consciously bridging the generational divide.
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Tales from Tasmania

A professional chef turned professional trail builder. A racer turned wizard with an earthmover and a shovel. It’s safe to say that Ryan De La Rue and Rhys Atkinson never followed their guidance counselors’ advice. We’re glad they didn’t.
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For the Love of Flow

What do you do if you dream of riding renowned trails, but you aren’t lucky enough to actually live in a mountain biking Mecca? Caio Suzarte’s answer? You transform your home into a riding destination in its own right.
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Your Bike is Your Freedom

Is a pump track just a jumble of berms and rollers? A trail just a scratch in the soil? Not to Eduardo Arruda. Eduardo is changing his world, one brilliant track and trail at a time.
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Home, Home in the Van

Transforming a van into a rolling home on wheels may be many riders’ fantasy du jour, but Will Cadham and Mark Taylor (the “Free Radicals”), have been nomads on a trail riding—and trail building—mission for years now.
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