I’m not a surfer. Never tried and don’t plan on it. It’s not the sharks (cough); it’s that I already have enough hobbies to keep me happily broke and perpetually busy. But dirt surfing? On a 170 mm enduro bike? Now that I can get behind.
This past weekend marked the kickoff of Ride the Dirt Wave, an enduro series along the Oregon Coast. First stop: Klootchy Creek, just inland from Cannon Beach. While I didn’t race, I still showed up early. Nacho the Van packed with beans, filters, kettles, and a table full of pourover gear ready to serve the good stuff to sleepy racers, volunteers, and vendors.
Coast Trails: Born from enthusiasm and teamwork
Just a few years ago, mountain biking on the coast was almost unheard of. Riders flocked to Bend, Hood River, Ashland ... classic trail hubs inland. Then came Klootchy Creek in 2019, thanks to partnerships among Clatsop County, Lewis & Clark Timberlands, Travel Oregon, and trail advocates like the North Coast Trail Alliance (now part of the Northwest Trail Alliance). Professional trail builders and volunteer crews put in the work of trimming, drainage, and berms to create a world‑class riding destination.
At the inaugural Klootchy Creek race, over 100 riders (80% new to the trails) descended on the coast. In Coos and Newport, attendance exceeded 150, with similarly high percentages of first-timers. That’s the true wave: riders discovering coastal trail systems for the first time and then coming back.
Dirt + Beans = Big ripples in coastal economies
This isn’t just a ride; it’s a win for local towns. According to the Trust for Public Land’s 2024 Economic Benefits of Mountain Biking report, mountain biking tourists spend an average of $416 per visit, with some destinations reporting over $1,000 in trip expenditures.
Events like Ride the Dirt Wave channel that spending into nearby communities through food, lodging, and local services. Nationally, outdoor recreation participation reached a record 175.8 million Americans in 2023, according to the Outdoor Industry Association. Mountain biking, in particular, is one of the fastest-growing segments, and with Oregon’s coastal towns working to diversify local economies, trail-based tourism is more than just play; it’s smart economic strategy.
As organizer Daniella Crowder of Mountain Bike Oregon explains: “… we are hoping with our new event, Ride the Dirt Wave, we can expose a whole new area to people to come and explore!”
Loam Coffee’s Place in It All
Loam Coffee isn’t a big company. It’s just me, a van, a kettle, and the belief that a good cup of coffee can help kickstart connection. I’m not out there trying to be the star of the show. I’m there to serve. To be part of something bigger, something buzzing with energy.
Because what makes these events special isn’t just the trails or the bikes. It’s the people. The early risers. The mechanics. The volunteers. The kids cheering. And yeah, the folks clutching cups of hot coffee, huddled around Nacho the Van, swapping trail stories and getting stoked for the day ahead.
This Isn’t Just a Race
Ride the Dirt Wave isn’t just a race. It’s a reason to gather. A chance for coastal communities to thrive, one trail at a time. A reminder that something as simple as a pourover can create a moment that sticks.
And I’ll keep showing up. One cup at a time.
