Events come in all shapes and sizes. Some of them bring significant power to do good things. And some – the most powerful ones – provide experiences that can even transform people and communities.
The 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid was more than just a global sporting event—it was a defining moment for Lake Placid that captured the world’s attention. Then there was the ‘Miracle on Ice’ game that echoed far beyond the rink. It galvanized a sense of pride, not only across the country but deeply within the community. The event empowered Lake Placid to see itself as more than a quiet mountain village; it became a symbol of perseverance, possibility, and national pride. Even decades later, Lake Placid continues to thrive on that legacy, drawing strength and identity from a moment when the impossible became reality on its own ice. That is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of power. Today, other major events are having transformative effects of their own, even when we don’t immediately take notice.
The Power of a Major Mountain Biking Event
Last year International Cycling Union’s (UCI) Mountain Bike World Series marked the first ever summer sport World Cup competitions in Lake Placid, and over three days, the thrill of the best riders in the world, fresh off the Paris Olympics, racing on our home trails at Mt Van Hoevenberg made some mighty waves. They started right here in our own little Olympic Village and propagated around the world along with international TV broadcasts.
“It was all good,” says Adam DeSantis, Director of Economic Development at the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST). “The athletes and the teams and the people who came to the event were universally well received by the community. It had a very positive impact on local businesses and was a huge benefit to the community. We’re very happy with the impact.”
Though ROOST is primarily known for its focus on tourism, they also consider broader perspectives, and Adam was especially impressed with the event’s inspiration on youth at a related event at Mt Van Hoevenberg called the Team 31 Ride. “80, 90, or 100 kids got to ride with some of the professional athletes, and if you didn’t have a mountain bike, they provided one. It was a great opportunity for kids to hear a message from athletes that could set them on the right path to building healthy habits.”
Business Point of View
This is just a start, as the power of the UCI Mountain Bike World Series and the range of its impacts are broad. The commercial perspective is most often considered first, and on that account, this event produces:
- Engages wide audiences close to home and around the world
- Educates people about the region and the activities and recreation available
- Generates leads, visits, and spending at businesses in our communities
Especially important, the UCI event shows the world that Lake Placid is a four-season destination. Because the area is so often seen as the winter wonderland it truly is, potential visitors don’t consider all the available summer activities. This huge summer sport event with worldwide interest is now broadening that perspective. “There’s such great value in that,” says Adam. “That’s not advertising you can pay for.”
Regional Trail Awareness
“Having the UCI World Series here is fantastic for building awareness and excitement for mountain biking and what this region has to offer,” says Glenn Glover, Executive Director of the Barkeater Trails Alliance (BETA), an organization that builds, maintains, and advocates for mountain biking and ski touring trails in the greater High Peaks region. “We’re not trying to create a destination for mountain biking. The area is already a travel destination. We want to encourage people to enjoy our trails. They’re built for our communities, and they’re inviting for visitors, too.”
Glenn notes the sentiment visitors expressed to BETA volunteers at a presence they maintained at the Craigwood Trails during the three-day UCI event. “We encountered a lot of spectators and even racers themselves, people coming out to ride our trails,” said Glenn. “We had great conversations and heard good things. They were really positive about all they encountered.”
Community Benefits
The power of this one event can do much for the broader community, too:
- Facilitates networking and collaboration among organizations, businesses, and agencies
- Connects people around the area and enhances social cohesion
- Fosters relationships that lead to positive outcomes now and in the future
- Boosts pride in our region
The power of the collaborations this event fosters is vital to our communities and cannot be overstated. For more than a century, individuals and groups working together were a driving force in shaping the character of the Olympic Region and advancing its position as a travel destination. In continuing that same type of collaborative work today we continue that legacy together.
Those collaborative relationships are vital to Olympic Authority events, including the UCI Mountain Bike World Series. Says Adam, “We’ve developed good partnerships with the Olympic Authority, with UCI, and with Warner Brothers Discovery Sports (WBD Sport). We all understand the benefits of closer collaboration and that working together we can have a greater positive impact on the community. We’re excited to continue that.”
Among the collaborative efforts, Adam noted Olympic Authority Senior Manager of Sport Strategy & Engagement Kris Cheney-Seymour’s involvement with the Community Connectivity Initiative, a group charged with improving access to both trails and the community by connecting trail systems and parts of the Village. “They’re working together to create sensible connections that are family friendly.”
Thanks to community collaborations, an event of this scale also provides locals and visitors alike with a series of additional events. Area mountain biking trails were promoted. BETA held a Bike Jam event downtown. The Team 31 Ride provided an exciting opportunity for youth. Plus, the event featured numerous vendors, live music, a panel discussion, and more.
Extraordinary Guest Experiences
The thrills and excitement this event generates are out-of-the-ordinary experiences for spectators. Something that creates lasting memories and good feelings about their time in Lake Placid. In addition to benefits for the business and community, the power of this event produces very personal impacts for spectators, too. They include shared memories and experiences with friends and family, personal growth and inspiration, and a greater understanding of the sport and its athletes.
It all leads to positive personal change as well as many conversations with others after returning home. Conversations that often spur additional interest in visiting the area by people with otherwise low awareness of the activities and adventures available in the Olympic Region.
Future Positive Impacts
Over time, the power of an event of this scale is likely to positive impact these areas:
- Business development
- Job creation
- Tax revenue
- Community pride
- Resident health and wellbeing
- Sustainable trail development for various activities and abilities
These are all yet to be seen or measured impacts, yet to one degree or another, we are highly likely to realize them given all we know about the power of grand sporting events like this that attract many thousands of spectators in addition to being broadcast around the world.
A Next Legacy in the Making
“We will have more resources to do even more for the community because this event brings more visibility to the importance of our outdoor recreation and trails, mountain biking, and ski touring,” says Glenn.
His view is spot on according to a report titled “Economic Benefits of Mountain Biking” by the Trust for Public Land that showcases how trails work to boost rural economies and enhance community well-being.
The current contract between the Olympic Authority, UCI, and WBD Sport keeps the Mountain Biking World Series in Lake Placid for two more years. This is an event that is not only highly likely to stay in Lake Placid beyond the initial three years but also one that is already growing. The 2025 edition is further enhanced to include the enormously popular Downhill World Cup races at Whiteface this year. That in addition to the Cross Country World Cup, Short-Track World Cup, and Marathon World Cup, all held at Mt Van Hoevenberg.
With many wide-ranging impacts being made now and in the future, The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series is a positive event for Lake Placid and the entire Olympic Region. As a community that was originally shaped from and continues to thrive from elite sport and recreation, the many opportunities this event alone engenders are important drivers of our ongoing collective success and well-being.
And that ultimately transforms the power of an event into an empowered community.