CAMBA just announced the establishment of The Ron Bergin Trail Fund in honor of Ron Bergin, a founding member of CAMBA and its Executive Director for 26 years. This fundraising initiative is a restricted fund for trail work, including new trails, maintenance, realignment and modernization. An anonymous donor graciously provided a matching grant up to a total of $45,000 over three years. The goal of this project is to provide up to $90,000 for CAMBA trails.
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More about Ron Bergin and his Contributions to CAMBA
Executive Director Ron Bergin, one of the founding members of the organization, retired from his position with the Chequamegon Area Mountain Bike Association (CAMBA). Ron has been with the organization since its inception in 1993, and has been the Executive Director since 1994. “My involvement with CAMBA has truly been a labor of love”, noted Ron recently. “The admin work, the trail work and everything about the CAMBA vision has been a great fit with my passions and strengths. What CAMBA has accomplished is a source of pride and legacy for everyone associated with the organization.”
Although many people have been responsible for the success that is CAMBA, none can be said to be more responsible for this enormously successful trail network known across the country. Ron’s vision and leadership has propelled the area to one of the premier off-road riding areas in the Upper Midwest, and the nation. In the 26 years that Ron has been the Executive Director at CAMBA, the organization has:
• built over 130 miles of singletrack
• mapped over 250 miles of gravel routes
• created one of the nation’s top winter fat biking experiences with 70 miles of trail
• organized more than 65 events on the trails
• helped organize another 40+ events run by others on the CAMBA trails
• enjoyed literally thousands upon thousands of hours of volunteer efforts
• increased economic impact to $7.8 million annually in Bayfield and Sawyer Counties
Ron himself has spent at least 25,000 hours over the past decades doing everything he can to promote, build and maintain the CAMBA trail network. Whether he is carrying out administrative duties, flagging a trail, running a chainsaw, swinging a trail tool, dodging aggressive insects or defending his dog from a rogue bear (ask him about that story sometime), Ron has always been on the case to make the CAMBA trails what they are.
All of us who love the trails are eternally grateful and owe a huge debt of gratitude for everything Ron has done to propel off-road cycling in northern Wisconsin. Our trail network and organization would not be the same without Ron. All of us in the CAMBA community wish Ron the very best and thank him for all the incredible things he has done to make CAMBA what it is today.
