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Paydirt Banner - A trail builder moving rocks on a dusty single track trail
Swinging a axe while building trails with Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship

PayDirt

  • Overview
  • Apply for Funding
  • PayDirt Projects
  • Stewardship Partners
  • Digs

Overview

PayDirt is our commitment to increasing access to trails by supporting the work of people who make it happen. We’re pledging to donate $1 million over the next three years towards trail projects, local organizations, events and programs that are geared towards creating and strengthening opportunities for people to get out on the trails.

PayDirt funds projects or groups that share our mission. The application period is currently closed. We'll have more info about 2023 funding soon.

Funding guidelines, requirements, and frequently asked questions can be found here.

We like to do things that benefit riders and inspire others with our actions. This isn’t new, we’ve been doing it for years. Here are some of the ways we’ve supported greater trail access, maintenance and new trail construction:

PayDirt Projects

North America - West

Grow Cycling Foundation

Region
California
Project
Pumptrack
PayDirt Grantee Logo: Grow Cycling Foundation

Grow Cycling Foundation was established to create new avenues for inclusive community building and career development in the cycling industry as well as to empower existing programs working to tear down the barriers to entry in cycling for marginalized communities.

PayDirt funds are helping to kick off Phase One for Grow Cycling, which is to build a pumptrack to serve as an offline community hub that will be an entry point for people take cycling to the next level. This is a long-term journey and Grow Cycling Foundation is also looking to provide education, access, and opportunities to tear down the barriers to entry in cycling for marginalized communities. Visit @growcyclingfoundation on Instagram.

West Coast North America Map
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Stewardship Partners

Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship Trail Work
Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship Trail Work

Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship

Downieville, California is the temple to which staff and riders retreat in order to get in touch with, as Greg Williams puts it, “big empty spaces full of empty trails.” The trails and the experience of being in that area are golden but it’s only possible because of the hard work of SBTS. 

From the SBTS website: “For 25 years, Santa Cruz Bicycles has been rallying down the Downieville Downhill right alongside us. Our partnership with Santa Cruz started back when the first Tazmon arrived. They are the Downieville Classic Mountain Bike Race and Festival title sponsor and helped us kick start SBTS back in 2003."

Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz Trail Work
Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz Trail Work

Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship

Trail access in Santa Cruz does not come easy. Despite being the home to a lot of mountain bike companies and a lot of mountain bikers, the number of legal and non-threatened trails isn’t that great. Of the 220 miles of official trail in the county, less than 40 are open to mountain bikes.

Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship (previously known as "Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz") works to support, preserve, and expand trail access and responsible mountain biking in Santa Cruz County. They promote legal and sustainable mountain bike access through trail building, races, events, and strategic partnerships with land managers, other trail users, the local bike industry, and enthusiastic volunteers.

San Vincente Redwoods Trails - PayDirt Approval
San Vincente Redwoods Trails - PayDirt Approval

San Vincente Redwoods Trails

In 2014, Santa Cruz caught wind of an exciting opportunity for a new trail system near the town of Davenport, California, just 10 miles up the Pacific coast from the company’s headquarters.

Over the prior 10 years, a local conservation group called the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County (LTSCC) led an effort to protect and purchase several parcels of land to create an 8,500 acre open space that extends from the Pacific Ocean to the top of the coastal Santa Cruz Mountain Range. Dubbed the San Vicente Redwoods (SVR), the park will eventually feature 38 miles of trail.

Santa Cruz Factory Racing Dig Days - Employee Race Team
Santa Cruz Factory Racing Dig Days - Employee Race Team

Factory Racing Dig Days

Santa Cruz Factory Racing is our in-house team, made up of people who work at the Santa Cruz factory, sponsors, friends, and family. We race everything from downhill to cyclocross in categories from Beginner to Pro. It’s not just about racing however.

These riders go out and help with dig days across the western United States; they host our events; they volunteer with setup and clean up at regional enduro races; and we’ll match any race winnings they donate to charity.