Tucked between Italy, Austria, Croatia, and Hungary, Slovenia is so small you might skip over it on your next biking trip — but that would be a huge mistake. Smaller than the size of New Jersey, Slovenia has it all: emerald rivers and lakes, cliffside castles, mesmerizing caves, jaw-dropping waterfalls, rich wildlife, beautiful forests, a diverse coastline, and some of the best restaurants in the world. If we switch our focus to the world of mountainbiking, Slovenia boasts diverse terrain, ranging from rugged alpine trails to picturesque forest paths, offering an exhilarating playground for riders from all corners of the globe.  

In “Price & Purpose,” trail builder Dillon Osleger calls for a shift in mountain biking culture—away from commodified, copy-paste flow trails and toward restoration, local engagement, and ecological stewardship. He critiques the industry’s fixation on new trails as economic drivers and urges a deeper reckoning with the environmental and cultural impacts of trail development. Trails shouldn’t just be sold—they should serve people and place.

A few years ago, Trail Builder Magazine was just an idea scribbled in the margins of a notebook after a long day shooting photos at a trail work party. I remember it clearly—sitting back at my van, soaked, boots caked in mud, coffee in hand.

In that quiet moment, it hit me: the stories of trail builders—the real, gritty, inspiring ones—deserve a place to live. That’s where this all started.

Since then, Trail Builder Magazine has grown into something much more than a publication. It’s become a platform to elevate the people, places, and passion behind the trails we ride and build. And now, we’re taking the next step: offering magazine subscriptions.

But this isn’t about selling magazines—it’s about sustaining a movement.