The dirt: 2025 Recap
The Dirt on 2025 in COMBO
Welcome to The Dirt, your favorite monthly newsletter. If you wanna get informed, get outside, and get involved in your local Central Ohio trails, then get "the dirt" from us.
Remembering 2025
As the year winds down and the woods settle into winter, we wanted to pause and say thank you for another unforgettable year on the trails together.
Whether you joined a trail day, raced your heart out, taught someone to corner for the first time, or simply recharged among the trees, you were part of another chapter in the story we write together. The culture of mountain biking in Central Ohio is grounded in showing up, giving back, and lifting each other up, which is something truly special, and we are grateful to share it with you.
This year wasn’t about stats or checklists. It was about time spent together in the woods.
It was built trail side, shoulder to shoulder, moving dirt and solving problems. It showed up in dusty rides we laughed through, races where we pushed ourselves and cheered each other on, and moments when someone learned a new skill or found confidence for the first time. It lived in quiet solo rides that offered peace and purpose, and in big group rides that remind us how powerful community can be.
what we built together
Thanks to you, 2025 was a year of meaningful impact:
24 Trail Days
640 Volunteers contributing together over 5,000 hours of volunteer time
Almost $700k worth of new trails at Star Hill & Alum Creek
We welcomed a whole new trail system in Gahanna
Alum Creek and Star Hill saw brand new trail signage
Supported 3 fleets totaling in 500 riders in Pelotonia, which raised over $40,000 for our trails
Kicked off our largest Women’s Weekend ever at Horns Hill, welcoming more women into the sport
Over 410 race entries across the FUNduro Series and Horns Hell XC and Horns cHill Downhill
The Alum Creek Connector Trail Grand Opening brought 300+ people together to celebrate what community built trails make possible
These numbers tell a story, but the real story is the people behind them. What makes COMBO special isn’t just the trails, it’s the culture we’ve created together. A culture where everyone is welcome, everyone contributes, and everyone finds a home in the woods.
We don’t show up because we’re experts. We show up because we care!
Building trails. building community.
COMBO is shaped by our trail stewards, coaches, volunteers, racers, families, first-timers, and long-timers alike. Yes, we build trails. But more importantly, we build community. And this year, the trails we built changed people’s lives, just as much as the people changed the trails.
As we look toward the year ahead, we’re excited to keep the momentum going by continuing progress on the Alum Creek Flow Trail, Expanding inclusive and family-friendly events, Investing in education and sustainable trail building. But today is about gratitude, not what’s next.
If you’re looking for a way to continue supporting the trails and community you love, you can donate directly by using the link below. Your donations make all of this possible and every bit of support helps keep this community thriving.
From all of us at COMBO, thank you for the time you gave, the energy you brought, and the joy you shared on and off the trail this year. We hope the holiday season brings you rest, connection, and maybe a snowy ride or two. We can’t wait to see you back in the woods in the new year.
Happy Holidays and thank you for helping us Build Trails and Build Community.
