Diane Kolvenbach is presented her new Specialized Carve donated by Cycle World and Specialized, by former CORBA Board of Director Peter Heumann
CORBA’s 25th Anniversary Party at Founders Hall in Calabasas on September 29 was a mix of nostalgia and looking toward the future. Past accomplishments were highlighted, including the miles of trails that are open to cycling in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SMMNRA) thanks to CORBA, as well as CORBA’s programs: Trail Crew, Youth Adventures, Kid’s Club, Free Skills Class, and Advocacy. Special recognition awards were given to those individuals who have made a substantial difference to CORBA and its programs: Lance Biscoe (MBU, Youth Adventures), Danny Ybarra (Youth Adventures), Dave Dwyer (Youth Adventures), and Jim Shanman (Advocacy, graphic design). Achievement Awards were given to individuals for their outstanding contributions over 25 years: Al Farrell (philanthropy, advocacy), Troy Braswell (advocacy), Mark Langton (CORBA Skills Class), and Jack Dwyer (MBU).
A highlight of the event, whose guests included representatives from National Park Service, California Department of Parks and Recreation, National Forest Service, the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, Los Angeles County, and Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority, was a special proclamation presented by City of Calabasas Mayor Mary Sue Maurer in appreciation of CORBA’s 25 years of advocacy.
The evening’s keynote speaker was Jim Hasenauer, CORBA founder and member of the Governing Board of the Mountain Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA). Hasenauer emphasized there is still much work to do. With the SMMNRA’s impending Interagency Trail Management Plan, as well as a public comment period opening up in 2013 to address shared use on the Pacific Crest Trail, the need for public input and involvement from the mountain biking community will be greater than ever. Hasenaur pointed out that because of CORBA, mountain bikers are seen as partners in the backcountry open space community instead of outsiders.
CORBA also premiered a new video: CORBA’s 25th Anniversary Salute, a collection of images, anecdotes and congratulations from CORBA’s founders, volunteers, and our agency partners.
CORBA 25th Anniversary Salute from CORBA on Vimeo.
After the awards and video, the evening ended with a nice raffle. Six signed copies of Where to Bike, Los Angeles Mountain Biking were raffled off, courtesy of Bicycling Australia. Bill Humphries donated a beautiful, signed copy of The Jersey Project. Niner came through with a sweet E.M.D. 9 Frame. The culmination of the evening was a drawing for a Specialized Carve 29er mountain bike, donated by Cycle World 
of Chatsworth and Northridge. We thank all these great companies for supporting CORBA’s efforts, and helping ensure a great evening for all. A gallery of photos from the event is available at CORBA’s Smugmug photo site (slideshow below), and through our Facebook page.
