Dirt Magic

Dirt Magic

Telling the story of Dirt Magic, the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship’s mission to help build sustainable recreation-based communities through stewardship, job creation and outdoor recreation. Hosted by Martin Scheel

Episodes

December 12, 2025 3 mins

Dirt Magic Trails Report - December 12th, 2025

HERO DIRT continues, but Old Man Winter has snow on the menu. 

New World Class features on Tollgate!  Thank you Shimano Trail Born!

Yuba Shuttles still running. 

Last chance for epic riding above 5,000ft.

Dirt Magic-The Podcast, Hosted by Martin Scheel

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Dirt Magic Trails Report - December 5th, 2025

Still tires instead of skis!  Mother Nature serving up great riding weather. 

Yuba Shuttles still running. 

SBTS Twist The Throttle For Trails Promotion

Late season trail bliss!

Dirt Magic-The Podcast, Hosted by Martin Scheel

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Dirt Magic - S3E4 - Stories of the SBTS - Dain Zaffke

On this episode of Dirt Magic we explore the story of long time friend of the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship, Dain Zaffke. 

In the two decades that Dain has been part of the SBTS family, we’ve seen him wear many hats from racer to bike industry executive to a founding father of Grinduro. Dain’s life and his identity have clearly been shaped by the inspiring landscape of the Lost ...

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April 7, 2025 58 mins

On this episode of Dirt Magic we join the Orogenesis Collective and their mission to boldly go where no mountain bike trail has gone before. We will explore the vision of “a new way on old ground,” born from Bike Packing Roots and dreamed about over pints in small mountain towns. A vibrant community of people growing their relationship with backcountry landscapes, each other, and themselves along an uninterrupted ribbon of singletr...

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March 25, 2025 66 mins

On this episode of Dirt Magic we delve into the world of ladies in cycling. From recreational rolling to world class competition, we will explore the successes and challenges that young girls to seasoned pros must navigate from everyday riding to standing on the podium. Our guests today collectively are a multiple time Olympian, world cup cyclocross champions, gravel champions, mountain bike champions, barrier breakers, a former Bi...

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On this episode of Dirt Magic we take a virtual stroll through a historic recreation area, the Lakes Basin, located in the Plumas National Forest of Northern California. With over 20 small lakes, impressive peaks, 30+ miles of trails, waterfalls, picturesque campgrounds and historic lodges, the Lakes Basin Recreation Area is a crown jewel in the Plumas National Forest. And now it is ever more important to talk about keeping these e...

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January 19, 2025 88 mins

On this episode of Dirt Magic,  we invite the SBTS pro trail crew in for a casual conversation about digging in the dirt, high flying river jumps and exploding trees, yep, exploding trees. The SBTS pro trail crew creates the most public interface of the stewardship and is literally where the dollars meet the dirt. Since the birth of the stewardship, the pro trail crew has built over 215 miles of brand new trail, maintained over 2,7...

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November 13, 2024 62 mins

On this episode of Dirt Magic we will be discussing forest stewardship and how looking to the past may help protect the future of our forested public lands.

Our guests today have a combined dossier of experience that would rival any renowned institution of learning. 

Together they are a visionary that collected the right ingredients to create a 20 plus year trail stewardship organization, a self-funded professional mountain bike adve...

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Our show today features a panel discussion from the California Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force regional meeting in South Lake Tahoe. The meeting was attended by 800 in-person and virtual guests. 

SBTS’ Michelle Abramson was a featured speaker on the Focus on Recreation panel, discussing how SBTS is promoting recreation and rural economic stimulation through our Connected Communities project. 

She also addressed the challeng...

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September 5, 2024 53 mins

This Episode focuses on the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship's mission to produce world class events. A brief history of how it all began, where we’ve been and where we are going. We will also discuss an upcoming event in Quincy, CA and a grand purple homecoming in 2025. Our guests today consist of a seasoned event producer, manager, director and a rookie that has made his way to big leagues. Introducing SBTS executive director...

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Our guests today could be labeled as prospectors of Dirt Magic. From digging deep into virtual trails to digging dirt on the trails and exploring a bit deeper to search for that ever elusive vein of gold.  Maybe not gold in its traditional sense, but just as valuable nonetheless. They have a plan. It could even be called a master plan.  And after a long day of prospecting and planning, these two good people of the SBTS take the tim...

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April 14, 2024 73 mins
Today’s guests are what you may call OG’s of the SBTS. Collectively they have nearly 80 years of experience with the stewardship in one form or another. Over 100 years if you bring in guiding in the Lost Sierra, Yuba Expeditions and the Downievile Classic. From side gigs like working on and sailing America’s Cup boats, kicking butt in Downhill Junior National Championships, announcing & interviewing an LPGA winner live on ...

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Garen Becker hails from a town where you used to be able to attend college naked, which brings a whole new meaning to Banana Slugs. He is making a name for himself as theTrail  Bear Whisperer, not to be confused with the cocaine bear. And while he prefers veterinarians and trail side medics for his many suture procedures, he still isn’t afraid to shred the Downieville Trail system on two wheels. Calling him a partner or sponsor wou...

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Paul Hart started rolling dirt back on a midwestern farm and quickly found a passion for building trails. His trail travels took him to the land of the alligator, the Florida everglades, the high desert mecca of Sedona AZ and finally to his destination, the Tahoe National Forest and Downieville CA. With his backyard, playground and office all located in the outdoor epicness of the Lost Sierra, never a day goes by where he isn’t bui...

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Carl Decker began his cycling career out climbing seasoned mountain bike racers on his modified 3 speed BMX bike. He wasn’t even a teenager yet. With a family instilled love of cycling, little did he know, an exceptional career was being born. From there, the list of accolades grew exponentially. He even has a world land driveway speed record. Eventually the lure of Downieville would infect his blood and kick off a viral need to be...

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Nathan Lloyd  started his path to Downieville fame in the saddle of a BMX bike at the age of four. As both his skill and age increased, a local bike shop gave him a nudge to try out mountain bike racing and that nudge set in motion events that would land him at the top of the DVC podium. On his journey to a feat that only he has accomplished at the Downieville Classic, he took some time to become a bunny hop champion and even  chal...

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The Fishes hail from a land of steady habits, nutmeg and Mark Twain. And although punk rock may have fired their engines early on, it would soon give way to their steady habit of mountain biking.  That newfound love brought them out west searching for the epic land of trails and mountainous beauty aka, The Lost Sierra. As they settled into their new promised land, a new mission arose. A mission of resurrecting a steward of the trai...

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Kelli Emmett began her rise to Downieville stardom smoking cigarettes, drinking self made cider,  spinning thousands of caramel apples and getting kicked out of gym class. With a short stint purveying exquisite mixologies in the land of Kokomo, you’re welcome for that song stuck in your head now, she returned for a December mountain bike ride in the warmth of a Michigan winter, and that propelled her toward her true calling, a...
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Steve Fong has been getting dirty in Downieville for more than a decade. Wherever and whenever there was trail work to be done or an event needing volunteers, you will find him. He hails from strange lands on the east coast and from where if you don’t like spicy food, you’re likely to starve. He loves a good conversation, and maybe a constructive argument, even more. His modus operandi for travel is his bicycle, he’s a detective no...

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Paul Price started his pursuit of perfection in junior high. He made quality, handmade products for a fringe crowd. You know, skaters.  His skateboards were masterfully hand crafted from oak, right out of his parents’ garage. You know the type of kid I’m speaking of. The one spawned from an artist and engineer. The one always taking things apart.  Well, just a few decades later, his passion for art and engineering continues through...

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