Meet the Board
The Manitoba Mountain Bike Association is entirely volunteer-driven. Get to know our dedicated board of directors here.
Brett Stovin
President
I grew up in Stony Mountain, MB, where I spent summers building jumps and racing bikes in the quarry. As a recently retired professional hockey player, I have replaced my training with my biking obsession. My riding style is conservative, with a focus on fitness. I love a good flow trail and features like tabletops, step-ups, ski jumps, and drops. I moved to Kamloops in the summer of 2021 to learn about the trail systems out west to bring that knowledge back to Manitoba. Off of the bike, I am a Blue Jays fan, and I love backcountry hikes, camping, Nordic skiing, snowboarding, and travelling.
As part of the MMBA, I have worked mostly on administration duties. I intend to grow positive relationships with partners, sponsors, donors, and volunteers while getting my hands dirty on the trails. I am excited to help to grow mountain biking in Manitoba!
“No one will protect what they don’t care about; and no one will care about what they have never experienced.” – David Attenborough
Chris McLaughlin
Secretary
I grew up in Santa Cruz, California; somehow, skateboarding never took. In 1988, I got my first mountain bike and have had one ever since. I got more into it in the ’90s, riding with buddies and getting on some adventures with lift-assisted biking, bike camping, and bike touring. I was never into the big miles, but I’ve enjoyed mountain biking all my life. I like the downhills, the flowy rides, technical too. These are around us here in Manitoba, notwithstanding our lack of actual moutains.
I’m on as Secretary for the MMBA Board and hope to bring my experience working in non-profit organizations to bear. We’re in it for all Manitobans, hoping to make the joys of this sport and riding together apparent and make it accessible for all. Please help us out where we need it to make the most of the Manitoba mountain biking scene!
Chantelle Nault
Treasurer
My prairie roots run deep; I grew up on the northeast corner of Birds Hill Park and eventually moved to Winnipeg as a teenager. I spent my childhood outdoors on horseback, quads, and snowmobiles, exploring some remote Manitoba and Northwest Ontario areas. As a young adult, I started back-country canoeing, camping, and hiking with my husband. It wasn’t until 2019 that I started biking, and I haven’t stopped since.
Although I have a few bikes now (N+1), if you ask me what type of riding I prefer, I would choose mountain biking any day of the week. The connections I’ve made in our community have brought new friendships, fond memories, and a chance to give back to my community and our next generation of riders.
My role as Treasurer allows me to use my financial skills to help our organization grow, create new trails, optimize existing systems, and build strong relationships with stakeholders to bring new opportunities to our mountain biking community.
Alex Albani
Director of Marketing
I started riding mountain bikes in 2012, but it wasn’t until a few years ago that I started taking it more seriously. Ten years and a few bikes later, it’s become one of the things I’m most passionate about. I’ve done the odd race or event here and there, but just riding for fun with friends or a club is the best. We have a great community of riders here!
My professional background includes marketing, advertising, photography, and content creation. I look forward to using these skills to help grow our sport through my Manitoba Mountain Bike Association role.
My goal as Director of Marketing is to ensure that Manitoban riders from all walks of life feel welcome and engaged in our community and that they know we are advocating for them and the sport we all love.
Al King
Director at Large
I like to be active outside and in natural surroundings. There is nothing like a good trail to bike, hike, ski, snowshoe, ATV or snowmobile. Although, I prefer the non-motorized activities.
Biking is healthy for the body, mind and environment. I started commuting year-round by bike in 1993. I continue to bike as my primary mode of transportation unless logistics get in the way. In the last 10 years, trail riding has become a significant recreational activity for my wife and me. Since our children have become adults, we have taken our bikes across North America using Trailforks to find our way to the trails and in and out of them.
I aim to make trails accessible to all… nearby and easy to find. To achieve this, I act as a Trailforks ambassador, helping organizations of all activity types share and promote their trails. I also volunteer with SWTA in the summer and Winnipeg Trails in the winter.
Allison Zimmer
Director at Large
I've lived in Winnipeg my whole life and grew up mountain biking the Canadian Shield with my Dad every summer. After a break from the sport during my late teens, I was thrilled to learn that there are excellent mountain bike trails in Manitoba – many not far from Winnipeg!
I prefer it when my wheels stay on the ground, and I love Manitoba's flowy single-track. I always joke that I always fall off my bike, but I genuinely believe that "life begins at the edge of your comfort zone," and most of my crashes are not severe. When not cycling or camping, I like to play volleyball, hockey, word games, or even Super Mario on a rainy day.
I have non-profit volunteering experience, and I love mountain biking, so I've joined the board to help whenever needed. I also know that girls and women in sports have higher confidence and self-esteem, so I'm here to bring that representation to the table as The MMBA's first female board member. With the support of all Manitobans, the sky's the limit for us!