On a cool December morning in the Estrella Mountains, the sound of a DJ’s bassline echoed off the desert hills as riders clipped into brightly colored helmets and jerseys at the starting line. Volunteers moved through the crowd with radios and coffee cups, giving last-minute directions and encouragement as the Estrella Cup mountain bike race officially returned after a five-year hiatus.
More than 100 riders lined up to take on the rugged Estrella trails, marking the comeback of an event that is as much about community as competition. The race served as the primary fundraiser for the Estrella Trails Group, an all-volunteer nonprofit dedicated to building and maintaining the trail system that residents consistently rank as Estrella’s top amenity.
The race featured three courses: a 47-mile endurance course with roughly 4,000 feet of climbing, a 20-mile short course, and a 10-mile junior race for riders 12 and under.
“This race is really about sustainability,” said Henry Brumbach, president of the Estrella Trails Group and owner of West Valley Insurance. “The long-term goal is to get the race to a point where it supports the group financially so we don’t have to rely on the developer.”
Volunteers staffed registration, parking and aid stations, while others directed riders along the course and cheered them through some of the most demanding climbs. The energy at the start line carried throughout the morning as racers spread across the Estrella Mountains, tackling rocky terrain and steep elevation gains.
“The funds (from the race) will be used for trail improvements,” said Rob Wilson, a librarian at the Georgia T. Lord Library and an active member of the Estrella Trails Group. “Our goal is to eventually become a 501(c)(3), which would allow us to apply for grants and add infrastructure like shade structures along the trails.”
For Wilson, the trails represent more than recreation. What began as hiking eventually turned into mountain biking, and a lifestyle shift.
“I started as a hiker but wanted to use the trails like they were supposed to be used,” Wilson said. “I bought a cheap used bike, started riding, and never went back to the gym.”
Group rides, particularly the club’s popular night rides, have become a cornerstone of the trail community.
“There’s so much more to being outdoors,” Wilson said. “You get the nature fix, and when you ride with a group, you also get the social element.”
Brumbach remembers his first night ride vividly.
“I thought I was going to have a heart attack trying to keep up,” he said, laughing. “I took a wrong turn and could see their lights disappearing in the distance. Now we have a real community, people who keep you going and keep you on the right trail.”
Night rides offer a unique desert experience, Wilson said.
“With all the stars out, it’s spectacular. You see moonrises and things you might never see otherwise.”
The Estrella Mountains trail system, now more than 50 miles of hiking and biking trails, was built from the ground up by volunteers. A recent community survey confirmed its impact, ranking the trails as Estrella’s top amenity by a wide margin.
“Number two wasn’t even close,” Wilson said.
What began years ago as informal trail building on land owned by a previous developer has since grown into a formal partnership with Estrella’s current developer, allowing the group to plan ahead for trail expansion.
“We get plans for future communities so we can put trail infrastructure in before the buildings go up,” Brumbach said. “People love the Estrella trails.”
Despite those partnerships, the work remains almost entirely volunteer-driven.
“We’re doing the work ourselves,” Wilson said. “Those trails don’t maintain themselves, and for a small club, there’s always more to do.”
That volunteer spirit was on full display during the Estrella Cup. From course prep and race-day logistics to post-race cleanup, members and supporters stepped in to make the event happen.
James Goldmeer Reporter | Goodyear & Litchfield Park
Meet James James Goldmeer joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2024, starting their career as a reporter in Goodyear and Litchfield Park.
Community: James grew up in the West Valley, calling Avondale home and going to school in Glendale and Peoria. Returning to the community after university, James plans to get involved in everything arts and culture, and civil rights.
Education: Northern Arizona University a bachelor's degree in Journalism, a certificate in Professional Communications, with a minor in English.
Random Fact: James spent half a year as an intern for the Arizona House of Representatives communication team, working with legislators to inform the public through press releases and social media.
Hobbies: James collects postcards and old books, reads memoirs and attends local jazz shows.
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