Last week I loaded up the WTB van with tires, swag, and plenty of snacks and took the 35-hour trek from Colorado to Northern Vermont to attend the coveted NEMBA fest. This festival takes place in the sleepy Northern Vermont town of East Burke. Covered with lush green forests, rolling hills, and quaint small town vibes this little town easily steals your heart on arrival. Aesthetics isn't all this town has to offer though; East Burke is home to some of the best riding in the country. Hidden inside East Burke are the Kingdom Trails and Burke Mountain forming hundreds of miles of epic riding. Between the two locations, you can find everything from gnarly DH tracks to flowy jump trails. Growing up racing on the East Coast gave me prior knowledge of how amazing the riding here is, and I was more than excited to attend an event in the heart of these trails.
Vermont has always been known for its light hearted kind people and NEMBA fest was no exception. Upon arrival to the festival we were met by the friendly and excited staff which set the tone for the whole weekend.
NEMBA fest started Friday at noon and went until Sunday afternoon.
However, Saturday was when the festival started getting really busy. Booths had lines filled with eager people waiting to demo bikes and talk gear.
With trails minutes from the festival location, people conveniently could come and go all day. Guided group rides went out almost every hour keeping people's stoke high. Even with Sunday's rain festival goers came back from rides covered in mud and smiles. The muddy tracks made for a great conversation about the WTB's new tire compound and Verdict tire, WTB's new wet-mud tire.
NEMBA fest proved to be a good time rain or shine. With happy people, live music, good food, and great conversation, making it a must for any bike enthusiast.