The morning after publishing the article about the Swiss Trail Awards, the author receives a voice message. The voice is deep, deliberate and familiar: it's Remo Eberle, Mountain Bike Project Manager at Destination Disentis Sedrun. "I came back from Scotland with this idea and gave it to Fanie Kok." Well then, credit where credit is due: Remo did it. And even without the Swiss Trail Awards, he deserves great respect for his commitment to the sport of biking over the past years and decades.

The sequel was already in the original version of this story: Fanie Kok, the Specialized ambassador and Allegra employee, brings Andy Stalder on board, who immediately takes the helm and launches the Swiss Trail Awards on behalf of Imba Switzerland and the Trail Foundation.

The jury includes some well-known names from the Swiss mountain bike community such as trail entrepreneur Adi Greiner, event organizer Andrea Roth and René Wildhaber. Ride publisher Thomas Giger and his colleague Xaver Frieser from Born Magazine will also be judging the awards. Mountain handbike pioneer Andi Gautschi plays an important role. The other members: Sarah Hundert (athlete), Vanessa Rueber (Patagonia).

Two places are still available and are to be filled by absolute leisure trail riders without a background in the industry. The election will be "announced" at the Meet & Ride event in Thun in October, according to the Swiss Trail Awards website. Anyone interested in volunteering should contact Imba Switzerland. 

The beauty contest for Swiss trails is primarily intended to put the spotlight on the people who have made it possible, explains Andy Stalder. At the same time, he and the other organizers also want to make a statement about what makes a good mountain bike trail. "We're letting our pants down a bit," he says, indicating that he is prepared for lively discussions on this issue. "Trail building has undergone a huge development. It can be seen in the different types of trails and features," Stalder lectures. "We want to show people that they can not only consume them, but also judge them."

Awards in eight categories

The number of categories in which prizes are awarded suggests a long award ceremony - but also a rather interesting one.

• Trailheaven of the year
  Not a single trail, but a region or a network is to be crowned here.
• Singletrail of the year
  This is about the classic, natural, narrow trail.
• Styletrail of the year
  This refers to built trails with jumps and other elements to show off stylish maneuvers.
• Techtrail of the year
  This also refers to natural singletrails, probably just harder to ride than those in the singletrail category.
• Adaptive Trail of the year
  The best trail for mountain bikers and others with special needs and bikes.
• Trail crew of the year
  Who has been particularly effective in promoting mountain bike trails in a region?
• Trail Advocate of the year
  Who has made a special contribution to trails in general?
• Protect and Preserve
  A trail project that also protects nature or repairs damage.
   

Further information on the categories and the Swiss Trail Awards

Who can nominate possible award winners and what criteria the jury will use to decide is still being clarified, says Andy Stalder. What is certain is that the first Swiss Trail Awards will be presented in August 2026 at the Just Ride event in Disentis.