Here at Anthill, we believe bikes make the world a better place.
Not only a powerful tool for some of the world’s most complex problems—from climate change to equitable mobility, the global transportation clusterf*ck, and economic and social equality—the bike is a unique play machine, improving mental and physical wellbeing, and making our lives better, day in day out.
For years, we focussed on capturing stories, athletes and images at the cutting-edge of mountain biking. Our goal has always been to inspire anyone who is watching to get up off the couch, shut down their screens and get outside for a ride. But there is always more to a good story than the action. And lately we’ve realized that we can help shine a light on individual change-makers who are harnessing the humble bicycle to effect change in the most profound ways. We’re committed to highlighting and supporting organizations and causes on the ground that are truly walking the walk and doing the work. Here’s are some of our favourites so far. Stay tuned!
Stevie Smith Legacy Foundation
On May 10, 2016, the mountain bike world tragically lost a legend. An incredible athlete, Stevie Smith earned global attention with his captivating personality, mischievous grin, and thrilling riding style. Appearing in mountain bike movies and collecting plenty of podiums and awards throughout his career, Stevie relentlessly pursued - and achieved - his goal to be number one in the world. In 2013, he made history when he became the first Canadian to win the World Cup Overall title. Stevie's champion spirit on and off the bike as he represented Canada at the sport's highest level continues to inspire the next generation of athletes.
The Stevie Smith Legacy Foundation (SSLF) is committed to creating opportunities to support elite Canadian gravity racers as they strive to achieve their own dreams of competing on the world stage. Our film, Long Live Chainsaw, was produced in partnership with the Stevie Smith Legacy Foundation. All proceeds from the film will be donated to the Stevie Smith Legacy Foundation to help grow Stevie’s legacy of inspiring the next generation of riders.
Richmond Cycling Corps
Non-profit Richmond Cycling Corps (RCC) are using bikes to connect with some of the most marginalized kids in Richmond Virginia’s East End. There’s magic in realizing you can do something you didn’t think was possible. RCC is using bikes to tap into this magic by helping kids to see that if they can get better at cycling, they can get better at anything they put their mind to.
The cycling programs offered by RCC allows local youth to get outside, be active, get away from structures that have perpetuated poverty, and improve their physical and mental health. Day by day, they are learning how to improve and get better. While cycling is RCC’s main program, at heart the organization is serving disadvantaged youth who live in public housing.
PeopleForBikes X Final Mile
Since 1999, PeopleForBikes has created a prominent place for bikes in transportation, mobility and recreation decisions at all levels of government. They work aims to ensure bikes are prioritized and positioned as a real solution to improve Americans’ health, connect communities, boost local and state economies, and protect the planet.
Three years ago, PeopleForBikes set out to accelerate the construction of safe and complete bicycle networks in five U.S. cities. The Final Mile, a partnership between Wend Collective and PeopleForBikes, achieved that goal and hopes to use it as a playbook for more cities to do the same.
Indigenous Youth Mountain Bike Program
Community planner Patrick Lucas sees mountain biking not just as a healthy lifestyle, but as a portal for reconciliation. As the founder of the Indigenous Youth Mountain Bike Program (IYMBP), he travels to remote First Nations communities to consult with community leaders and help build trails and skills centres. Often places of extreme poverty and hopelessness, this critical work helps First Nations youth find purpose through sport and reconnect to their traditional lands.
Patrick and the IYMBP group of riders, trail builders, community activists and leaders are passionate about trails, riding, reconciliation, and building healthy, resilient and adaptive communities.
Grow Cycling Foundation
After the death of George Floyd and the surge of the #blacklivesmatter movement, Grow Cycling Foundation Founder and ex-pro rider Eliot Jackson was stunned by the reactions from some industry insiders and fans - a sport dominated by white males who didn’t seem to understand the implicit biases he has to deal with as a black man on a daily basis.
Grow Cycling seeks to promote education, access and opportunities that will increase both diversity and inclusiveness in cycling. To sustainably grow our industry, Grow Cycling Foundation recognizes that we must first build authentic foundations of diversity from within. With ears on the ground in these communities, they work to provide the education, access, and opportunities that directly address implicit barriers.
Maui Mountain Bike Coalition
For Aaron “Moose” Reichert, one of the most life-affirming experiences was being introduced to the 12 Steps program many years ago while he was incarcerated. Another was riding a mountain bike down Hawaii’s Skyline trail for the first time. Moose’s rollercoaster journey has led him to him setting up his bike shop Krank Cycles and to give back to his adopted community on the island of Maui. A firm believer that bicycles can change lives, every year he partners up with other local businesses to give hundreds of bikes to underprivileged kids and fix up broken ones. A permanent fixture in the local bike scene, it seems natural Moose would also found Maui Mountain Bike Coalition, the Maui chapter of the International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA), that advocates for more licensed riding trails around the island.
SQUAMISH OFF-ROAD CYCLING ASSOCIATION
Trails are the foundation of mountain biking. Without them, we’d probably still be racing around in circles, NASCAR-style, on gravel roads. Along with the people who ride them, trails build the communities and lifestyles that we all share. What we’ve found over the years of filming and riding in the woods is that every trail has a builder. Supporting your local trail organization is an easy but powerful thing we can all do.
In Season One of Return to Earth: The Series, we celebrated the work of our hometown hero “Big Red Ted” Tempany, whose tireless efforts have not only helped make Squamish an international mountain bike map but also nurtured the next generation of local shredders. Full Nelson, the trail that solidified Ted’s reputation as a world-class trail builder and put Squamish on the map with mountain bikers, was partially funded by SORCA, our local trail association. It’s a great example of how the simple act of joining a trail association can make a big difference!