This year’s 5th Annual KBF Adaptive Mountain Bike Camp brought together more than 20 adaptive athletes, their loved ones, and an incredible crew of adaptive MTB instructors from across North America for three unforgettable days of riding, learning, and connection.

Athletes traveled from all over the country, including California, Missouri, Montana, and of course right here in Vermont. The first two days of camp gave athletes the opportunity to learn the basics, try them out in a skills park, and then apply them in a big group ride across Kingdom Trails, a network with more than 53 miles of adaptive friendly terrain to explore. Individuals within the KBF community joined the athletes for Day 3 for a downhill adventure at the Burke Mountain Bike Park.

Some riders were testing out equipment for the first time, while others were dialing in their new equipment recently received via the Active Fund. They had help from expert aMTB instructors from across North America, such as the Bowhead Corp team from Alberta Canada, National Ability Center and TRAILS Adaptive in Utah, Evergreen Mountain Alliance in Washington, New England Disabled Sports in New Hampshire, Catalyst Sports in the DC area, and our friends from Vermont Adaptive. These generous volunteers helped the athletes through challenges and breakthroughs. As one rider shared, “This camp helped remind me to get out of my comfort zone and that I can do hard things.”

That feeling echoed throughout the camp. Whether it was conquering a tricky root section, trying a steeper descent, or tackling the logistics of travel, the theme was clear: everyone was pushing their limits and finding joy in the process. One participant reflected, “The progressive training over three days took me to a skill level that I didn’t initially think I could achieve.”

But it was not just about the riding. The heart of the camp came through during the meals, the laughs around the table, and the easy conversations in between rides. “I have been to many adaptive events, but this camp allowed me to really meet and engage with the other attendees and made it feel like I was becoming part of a community.”

That sense of belonging extended to family and partners too. One athlete said, “Off the bike, my wife and I really enjoyed getting to know the other participants and their plus ones. That aspect of the camp was particularly special for me because it allowed my wife to see how impactful her support is to my journey.”

Adaptive mountain biking is as much about freedom as it is about resilience. For many, just getting there was an adventure. As one participant put it, “The experience of both attending the camp and navigating the logistics of flying with my bike and renting a car all while traveling alone, was very empowering!”

By the final day, the group had not only taken on some of Vermont’s most beautiful trails but also formed a close knit community that will carry forward long after the camp ended. The weekend was a reminder of why these gatherings matter so much: the skills, the laughter, the shared stories, and the courage to keep riding toward what comes next.