Meet Six Time Leadville Trail 100 Champion Dave Wiens and Hear What He is Up To Today Grit, Guts and Determination: The Leadville Race Series Podcast

Welcome to this episode of Grit, Guts and Determination, The Leadville Race Series Podcast, a leading authority on all things Leadville. Host Cole Chlouber takes us on a story-telling journey of the 38 year rich history of this race. Listen in as they provide tips, tricks, and stories from the Leadville members. In today’s episode we meet six consecutive time Leadville Trail 100 mountain biking champion Dave Wiens.

As the conversation begins, Dave tells the story of how Leadville found him. Growing up in suburban Denver, his family often spent recreational time in Twin Lakes near Leadville. Dave’s first mountain bike race in Leadville was just his 4th ever race. Over the years, Dave has never lost the drive to compete. His wife, Susan, is a 1996 mountain biking bronze medalist and stands alongside Dave in the Mountain Biking Hall of Fame.

Then, Dave tells the story of Gunnison Trails, the hiking, running and mountain biking nonprofit he founded in 2006. It involves trail maintenance, trail stewardship, education and development at Gunnison Valley. While thinking about ways to fund the organization, Dave was approached to help develop the Sage Burner Trail Race. The Race is 100% owned and operated by Gunnison Trails and fully funds the organization. He also discusses Pennies For Trails, a fundraiser for Gunnison Trails made possible by a handful of local businesses.

Dave is now the Director at IMBA, the International Mountain Bicycling Association. IMBA is focused on providing great mountain biking trails for more people in more places across the country and even globally. They are largely focused on towns who have lost major former extraction industries, such as mining, and transforming them into recreation areas. Dirt industries, such as trails and mountain biking, are incredibly important to the health and wellness of communities and can contribute to local economies.

Next, Dave discusses his 6-time Leadville Trail mountain biking championship, a feat that is unlikely to be matched any time soon. In late 2006, he committed to the mountain biking race at Leadville. According to Dave, the Leadville trail is so special because it offers every kind of terrain along its course. Once he discovered he may be competing alongside pros such as Lance Armstrong, Dave created a whole new training regimen for himself.

Aside from being a competitor, Dave has a history of volunteering, helping races, supporting the Leadville Legacy Foundation and has stuck alongside the family during their darkest and brightest times. Leadville is really one huge family, which Dave said he felt from day one. Knowing the roots and history of Leadville from long before the race began is another element in Dave’s connection and appreciation of the town.

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