VOLUNTEER spotlight series

Behind the Trails: Meet Mike laputka

If you’ve ever had the pleasure of riding Back Country, Portal, Sinter, or Sledgehammer in the North Mahnomen Unit, then you know these trails are a bit out of the way from the majority of our other trails. Technical and absolutely stunning throughout the season, these trails really highlight what Cuyuna has to offer.

Trail work on these sections is no easy task. That’s where Crew volunteer, Mike Laputka steps in. Since 2022, Mike has been a major contributor to the work being completed in North Mahnomen, volunteering significant time weed-whipping, removing trees, cutting drains, and blowing leaves.

Originally from the East Coast, Mike and his wife moved to Brainerd from Backus after he retired. They had been spending a considerable amount of time road biking and were introduced to mountain biking in 2013. It’s safe to say that once they tried it, they were hooked! Mike said it was during one of their rides when he rolled by a man with a bucket and shovel and realized that the trails weren’t just happening on their own. After that, he decided to join the Crew and started volunteering. Not long after joining, the Memorial Day storms of 2022 hit, taking down a significant number of trees in the North Mahnomen Unit. This storm event compelled Mike to focus his efforts there. To this day, Mike is committed to keeping the trails in the North Mahnomen Unit safe and ride-ready.

Q: Why should people consider volunteering?

Mike: Volunteering has created a new circle of friends. And there is a job for everyone if you just give it a try.

He is 100% correct… no matter your skill level, there is no shortage of volunteer tasks you can do for the Crew or any other volunteer organization.

If you see Mike out on the trails, please give him a thumbs-up and thank him for giving our trails so much love and helping us make Cuyuna a great place to ride.