Why Spain Needs More Trail Builders (And What We Can Learn from Willard Bruce)
Willard Bruce is a name you probably haven’t heard, unless you’re deep in the trail-building or BMX scenes across the U.S. and Europe. A self-described mountain enthusiast now living in Barcelona, Willard has carved an unconventional path that weaves through BMX culture, mountain rescue, and trail building across continents.
In this candid conversation with Yari Alpizar, he shares his journey, opening up about the tools he loves, the trails he dreams of, and why Spain’s trail building culture still has a long way to go. His perspective is refreshingly honest and shaped by years of hands-on experience.
Yari: Hi, who is Willard Bruce?
Willard: I’m a mountain enthusiast living in Barcelona, always yearning to explore unknown landscapes. Bikes, skis, shoes, vehicles, planes—these are the tools that allow me to do that. I was born in the sagebrush hills of northern Utah butmostly grew up in the quaint town of Cambridge, NY, nestled between the Adirondacks and Green Mountains.
After college, I moved to Houston, TX, for a job with an urban planning and mobility nonprofit, helping design and plan bike lanes. But Houston was too flat—I only lasted two years. I spent the rest of my 20s in Colorado working in mountain rescue and trail building. In 2021, I moved to Barcelona. I now work in marketing for BUFF®, the Catalan headwear brand, and also freelance as a trail builder in Austria.
Yari: Why Spain?
Willard: I chose a Landscape Architecture degree at 18 because it combined my passion for the outdoors with my creative side. Plus, I knew Barcelona could be an option for my final thesis. Trail planning was a big part of the degree: master planning, grading and drainage, simple structures like retaining walls, and other design elements.
In 2013, at age 22, I came to Barcelona to complete my thesis on urban mobility. I was into freestyle BMX at the time and since Barcelona is the best city in the world for street riding, that sealed the deal. I returned to the U.S. to graduate, but I knew I’d be back. I married an Asturian in 2016, whom I met in Barcelona, and we moved back on my 30th birthday in 2021.
Yari: Before cycling it was skiing, right?
Willard: More seriously, yes. My parents say I was jumping curbs in Mississippi at four. But I started skiing after we moved from warm North Carolina to frigid upstate New York. I went to the local ski hill as much as I could. I even broke my two front teeth skiing at 12—I’ve had fakes ever since! I competed a few times in park and big mountain skiing, but by age 15, I was spending way more time on the BMX.
Yari: When and how did you start cycling?
Willard: I wanted a downhill bike when I was 12, but they were too expensive. My parents got tired of replacing Walmart bikes I kept breaking, so they bought me a $200 Nirve Foil BMX. That summer, I crashed on a gravel pile jump my friend and I built, ruptured an artery, and nearly bled to death. While recovering in the hospital, someone brought me Props Megatour 1 on VHS. I was hooked.
Yari: What came first: riding or trail building?
Willard: I’ve always spent most of my time outside, and we usually lived on land. I’ve been digging lips into sidehills since before I can remember. I probably rode a bike on the street first, but it’s all a blur—hah!
Yari: How did trail building start for you?
Willard: Around 14 or 15, I started riding proper BMX dirt jumps. We had a set in the woods behind my friend’s house. I kept building and riding there until I was about 18. Then I started traveling more to ride: NYC, Florida, Pennsylvania, Texas.
BMX has a strong “no dig, no ride” culture. Trails have to be perfectly shaped and maintained for 20” rigid bikes. I helped wherever I could. In college, I volunteered at Cranx Bike Park in Syracuse, NY, during its build phase. Phase one was wood; phase two added dirt jumps. I ended up working there after it opened.
Yari: Preferred tool and why?
Willard: Rock bar—hah! But seriously, it depends. I’ve been using a collapsible shaft with interchangeable heads from a French brand called Trailtool lately. It’s great for quick fixes around Collserola near Barcelona.
For longer shaping jobs with machine help, the Trailshark shovel is amazing. But a regular pointed shovel from any U.S. hardware store is still hard to beat. And for clearing trees, the Silky BigBoy 360 saw is the best.
Yari: What’s the single thing you can’t stand when checking a built trail?
Willard: Drainage. Without proper water management, one storm can wipe out an entire trail system. In Colorado, where I worked full-time for Jefferson County, 0.5% of sales tax goes to Open Space—a fund for trails.
After a historic flood in 2013, the county committed to regular maintenance. Spain, especially Catalunya, doesn’t have that. Most trails are unsanctioned and poorly maintained. They ride great at first but erode fast. Just 20% more work on drainage can extend a trail’s life by 200%.
Yari: Your most challenging project?
Willard: Probably burning out a root mass by hand on a BMX trail in 2008, or hand-building trail across bedrock in Colorado with just rock bars. Or maybe building a rock wall on a sliding, wet slope in the Austrian Alps. Tough to choose.
Yari: Your favorite kind of project?
Willard: I love a mix of natural and machine-built elements. The pre-existing terrain matters most: boulders, topography, and viewpoints. Corridor selection is like writing the trail’s story. It should be consistent: a blue flow trail shouldn’t end in a rock garden. I dream of steep natural lines into catch berms, then off-camber loam into shaped jumps. One trail I helped on in Austria, Blackgartner Trail, has aged well.
Yari: And the worst?
Willard: A bad team and bad soil is the worst combo. With good people, even rough terrain can be overcome. But stakeholders need to understand you can’t build a perfect blue flow trail on bedrock without expensive materials. I’vebeen lucky to work with great people. That’s the beauty of trail building, you’re always learning.
Yari: What bike do you ride most often?
Willard: I’ve broken three frames in the last three years. I rode hardtails in my 20s and just broke wheels and derailleurs. Now I ride an aluminum Propain Spindrift (180/190mm) in mullet setup. It’s not the fastest, but it’s fun and durable. I switch to singlespeed for bike park season to avoid destroying derailleurs.
Yari: 26, 27.5", 27.5+ or 29? What works for you?
Willard: Each size has its place. 29 is best for pedaling. I like smaller, playful bikes from my BMX background. I’d love a 27.5/26 mullet park bike, but I’m not that materialistic. In my late 20s, I did ultra-endurance rides like the Colorado Trail. So I’ve been through phases. If I had to stay core, I’d say 20”. Those were my favorite riding years.
Yari: Of your current trail building projects, which is the most promising?
Willard: There’s a cool one called Shaker Ridge Trails near my parents’ place in New York: over 500 acres bought to build public MTB trails. Imagine that happening in Spain! Personally, I’m headed to Austria in 2025 to build a skill area in Tirol and a jump zone in Schladming. I work full-time now, so I build on vacation. It’s more stable this way since I bought an apartment in Barcelona last year. Trailbuilding isn’t a full-time career in Spain yet.
Yari: Favorite riding spots—Spain, Europe, the world?
Willard: Spain: Maresme in winter is like a powder day for bikes. In summer, it’s like marbles on concrete. I love the Pyrenees around La Pobla de Segur. For maintenance, Tremp and Rocallaura are great. Across Europe: Austria. Trails hold up better than in Andorra or the French Alps. The Lake Bike region near Slovenia is wild and amazing.
Globally: the Adirondacks and Green Mountains in NY/VT for soil, Colorado for mountains, and Canada’s Interior Rockies for feeling remote. Bike parks? Austria’s are the best. Schladming’s 99 Jumpline is a favorite.
Yari: How do you see the current state of trail building in Spain?
Willard: Spain has incredible geography but is behind in trail building. It feels like a reemergence. There are ancient hiking trails still in good shape, but the handwork tradition is fading. Bikes get people outside and that helps. But in urban areas like Barcelona, MTB isn’t a priority. Bikers are seen as takers, not givers.
In rural areas like Asturias, it’s more open. They’re eager to attract younger people. But knowledge, funding, and connection between stakeholders are lacking. Spain has the pieces for a MTB boom, we just need more builders, companies, and resources.
Yari: What advice would you give to someone starting out?
Willard: Find a trail you love and ride it often. Figure out what you like and what could improve. Learn who maintains it and ask to help. Maybe they’ll let you build something small. In the U.S., nonprofits make this easy. In Spain, it might be a small trail center or just your local bike shop. Start small, get dirty, and keep learning.
Yari: What else do you do besides digging or riding?
Willard: I work in an office in Igualada or from home. Not my favorite, but it’s still the outdoor industry. I also run, hike, ski, boulder, and people-watch in Barcelona. I travel too. I’m going to Morocco soon, without a bike.
Yari: Favorite music?
Willard: My taste is varied. Lately, it’s The Brudi Brothers and Karl Blau. Favorites include Jose Gonzalez, Beach House, and DIIV. For BMX or energy, I go back to Metallica and Judas Priest. Last time I played “Seek and Destroy” while riding, I exploded my front wheel. Lesson learned. I also like local bands like Heal Metal and Mujeres.
Yari: Favorite movie or TV series?
Willard: For comedy, Seinfeld and anything with Bill Murray. I love cerebral movies with limited effects: “The Man from Earth” and “Coherence.” Also “Drive,” minimal dialogue, strong soundtrack.
Yari: Pizza, steak, or salad?
Willard: Pizza, no doubt. You can put salad and steak on a pizza. I grew up in NY, the land of the dollar slice.
Yari: Van or Ferrari?
Willard: Van. I’m on my third now. First was a Chrysler Town and Country, the Silver Bullet. Then a Dodge Caravan, the Golden Eagle. Now it’s a Citroen Berlingo. No name yet. Just big enough to haul bikes and tools and small enough for my parking garage.
Yari: Thanks for your time, Willard!
Willard's story is a reminder that trail building isn’t just about shaping terrain, it’s about resilience, collaboration, and dreaming up the kinds of spaces that bring us joy, challenge, and connection.
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Yaroslov Alpizar
Yari, born in Russia, raised in Havana for 30 years, living in Europe for the last 18 years, between Spain, Ireland, Portugal, and a trusted VW T4. Started mountain biking in 2005 when he landed in Spain and was hooked since the first day. Software engineer spending way too much time with anything related to mountain bikes. Trying to give a voice to trail builders and trail associations in Spain & Portugal. Trail Advocate of the Year 2023 award from IMBA Europe.
