Max Albright is the creator of the Rock Quarry Trail Project. This Community Leadership Project (CLP) was inspired by his passion for mountain biking and his involvement with the NICA mountain bike team. NICA, the National Interscholastic Cycling Association, is dedicated to getting more middle and high school students on mountain bikes and providing opportunities for them to compete and develop their skills. NICA welcomes riders of all experience levels and organizes teams by state, allowing schools and counties to form their own teams that train year-round for the spring race season.
Max is a member of the Durham County Stampede, his local NICA team, which includes over fifty riders and coaches. The team trains year-round in preparation for races. However, Durham presents a unique challenge: there are very few suitable places to ride and train. This often requires the team to travel long distances to find quality trails. In contrast, teams from other parts of the state have greater access to well-maintained trails and better funding and support.
In Durham, trail work is the responsibility of the local mountain biking community, but it is often neglected, as many riders prioritize time on the bike over trail maintenance. The Rock Quarry Trail Project aims to address this issue by promoting trail stewardship and organizing designated trail work days—specifically at Rock Quarry Park.
Rock Quarry Park, located in the heart of Durham, is the team’s primary weekday training location due to its accessibility. Unfortunately, the trails at the park are poorly maintained and lack the technical features needed to challenge and prepare riders for races. The project’s goal is to enhance and modernize the trail system, making it more engaging and skill-building for both the team and the broader mountain biking community in Durham.
The project has already garnered strong support from the Durham County Stampede team and their families. With this backing, the initiative seeks to inspire additional volunteers from the larger Durham biking community. Groundbreaking is planned for the coming fall, with volunteers ready to get to work. With community support, the team believes that the Rock Quarry Trail Project can transform the park into a high-quality, local training and riding destination – eliminating the need for long travel and helping to grow a stronger, more connected mountain biking culture in Durham.
The Rock Quarry Trail Project will hold its first workday in the fall of the upcoming school year. Since the majority of volunteers will be student-athletes, the initial dates have been scheduled for the fall, after students return to school. Organized by Max Albright, along with coaches and teammates, the project aims to create meaningful improvements and inspire lasting change at one of Durham’s most cherished local trail systems.
The project will begin with a weekend of basic stair work in the fall, which will lay the foundation for ongoing maintenance and more extensive trail improvements. The team hopes that their efforts will inspire others and that the project will be sustained long-term by future team members and the broader Durham mountain biking community.
The next step in the project will be the implementation of the first official workdays, beginning next fall. Max intends to continue racing mountain bikes, as well as paddling the rivers of North Carolina.