ghorba

Who We Are

Our Vision is to establish the greater Houston area as the best large urban city for off-road cycling.

Fellowship

Recreation

Volunteering

Our Mission Statement

Greater Houston Off Road Biking Association promotes healthy off road cycling by collaboratively working with all trail users and landowners to build and sustain a network of enjoyable and environmentally friendly natural surface trails.

GHORBA was formed in September 1999 when the Houston Area Mountain Bike Riders Association (HAMBRA) and the Memorial Park Mountain Bike Association (MPMBA) joined forces to save the trails in Memorial Park from closure to all cyclists. Over the years GHORBA has expanded trail interests to dozens of Houston Area mountain bike trails. GHORBA is a non-profit 501c(3) corporation. It generates its operating revenue from your membership dues, organizing TMBRA series mountain bike and local races, and grants and donations from cycling and other businesses.

GHORBA remains committed to representing Houston's rich diversity with a spirit of inclusiveness for residents of all backgrounds, nationalities and genders. Off-road cyclists are an eclectic bunch of folks - men, women, and kids from all walks of life. We really don't care what your color, creed, sexual orientation or political affiliation is, once you're on a bike, you're one of us! Just be nice and polite to everyone you meet out on the trail - including other trail users.

Organizational Documents

Board of Directors

Meet your elected officials who work hard to maintain relationships and perform daily duties to help keep Houston's trails open and in great shape.

Send email to all directors HERE.

Kevin Highfield

President

Kevin has been a trail rider since 2002 and first joined the GHORBA board in 2005. His trail advocacy started in 2003, when he started work to save Cypresswood Trail. He’s been an active racer since 2003, competing in events all over Texas. He also serves on the board of the Sam Houston Trails Coalition as the cycling representative.

Cj Bernard

VP and Trails Director

CJ started biking in Houston in early 70’s. Raced W. Columbia track in 73, has been MTBing since and has ridden trails around the globe. Was a “pioneer” trail and jump builder in SW Houston area in 70’s timeframe and carried that passion since. He is ready to serve the GHORBA trails groups and bring those experiences and passion to where the “rubber meets the… dirt”.

Position Available – GHORBA needs YOU

VP of Advocacy

 Back up Presidential duties  Advocacy Committee Lead  Investigate new trail opportunities that come to GHORBA from members or the public.  Take the lead on all efforts for new trail development. Develop hand-off point to Trails  Cultivate and maintain external land owner/manager relationships  Identify additional areas for trail expansion  Primary person for accountability of Grants  Establish and maintain an advocacy committee comprised of non-board members

Vice President & Advocacy Director  Back up Presidential duties  Advocacy Committee Lead  Investigate new trail opportunities that come to GHORBA from members or the public.  Take the lead on all efforts for new trail development. Develop hand-off point to Trails  Cultivate and maintain external land owner/manager relationships  Identify additional areas for trail expansion  Primary person for accountability of Grants  Establish and maintain an advocacy committee comprised of non-board members

Eric Henao

Secretary

Graphic Designer/Marketer, mountain biker, trail runner, cocktail maker, foodie, art appreciator, music lover & tech geek. Bit of Maven-Connector type personality, love crowds, connecting with people and getting people the information they are seeking. Believe in continual self-development.

Gene Ronchetto

Treasurer

Charlie Gioielli

Communications Director

Chris Brown

Events Director

Chris has been involved with GHORBA since 2001 when he rode up on some trail gnomes and felt guilty for not helping. He eventually became Trail Steward at Memorial. Later, he joined the Board as Trails Coordinator. Chris’s real passion is teaching Skills Clinics. He is currently rewriting the curriculum for the intermediate classes and is excited for the future of the Skills Clinics.

Position Available

Membership Director

 Manage and report on membership gains and loses  Define strategy for driving growth in membership member services  Insures members get membership packets & renewal notices

Sara Kacprowicz

Bookeeping & Accounting

Sara is originally from Buffalo, NY she moved to Katy, TX in June 2013. she has been trail riding with her husband since 2014. They call Cypress Creek their home trails since moving to the Spring area recently, they also enjoy heading out to Austin to camp and ride as often as possible. Sara has been a part of the GHORBA Girls page for a while and is hoping to help encourage other women to give trail riding a try.

Kristopher Ahn

Director At-Large

Current Projects and Grants

We are always looking for new ways to grow the sport of off-road mountain bicycling. Here are some of the ways we are doing it today.

GHORBA has been awarded two $5000 grants from REI for a number of trail armoring projects at Cypress Creek MTB and a bridge in the 100 Acre Wood Preserve

REI – Cypress Creek

Huntsville State Park Expansion- Up to thirteen (13) mile $180,000 trail expansion, funded in part by a TPW RTP Grant, Northwest Cycling Club, and GHORBA has been flagged for construction by our contractor (S&S Trails) and is entering environmental evaluation which is expected to complete in early 2013. This expansion will increase Huntsville trail mileage by up to 102%.

Hunstville

REI recently awarded GHORBA a $10,000 seed grant for Jack Brooks Park, to coincide with their new store opening in Baybrook Mall. The grant money will fund several projects, such as signs and armoring erosion.

REI – Jack Brooks