“The nature of mountain biking is that local knowledge is key,” he says. “Locals are essential for route finding, bridging the language barrier and when challenges occur.” For instance, when Winter organized an exploratory mountain bike tour to Ilulissat and Sisimiut in September 2019, it was people like Jan Banemann, the owner and operator of Sisimiut Boat Safari, that he relied on.
“Jan was really helpful, for knowledge of the area and the remote boat transfer, for sure,” Winter says. “He would have become integral had we had an issue, like a mechanical, injury or weather challenge, while on the trail. But more than just logistics, I’ve found interacting with locals is what makes my tours memorable.”
But after 20 years of building tours, often returning to the same area over and over, Winter knows his repeat business brings value too. Indeed, local communities benefit enormously from small group tours, says sustainable tourism expert Kelly Galaski.