IN
THE
WIND
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YAMAHA OUTDOOR ACCESS
INITIATIVE TURNS 10
I
f you needed another reason
to buy a Yamaha, the tuning
fork brand is a strong advocate
of land-use initiatives, and puts
their money where their mouth
is. Yamaha recently celebrated
the 10th anniversary of the
Yamaha Outdoor Access Initia-
tive program, which provides
funds to efforts ranging from
land management and conserva-
tion efforts to developing and
maintaining OHV areas and trail.
Their efforts extend to anything
involving outdoor access, includ-
ing riding, camping, hunting and
fishing.
Yamaha has put up some
impressive numbers over the
last decade, with a stagger-
ing $3.5 million to land-use
initiatives—more than any other
manufacturer. They also lay claim
to supporting over 10,000 miles
of OHV trails across the country,
and they're looking to build on
that, particularly in states they
haven't funded yet (looking at
you, New Mexico, Louisiana,
Tennessee, North Carolina and
West Virginia)!
In celebration of the Yamaha
OAI's 10th anniversary, Yamaha
held an Outdoor Access Event
for its employees, family and
friends up in Big Bear, California
at the Cactus Flats trailhead,
where we were offered a closer
look at Yamaha's contributions to
outdoor access.
"Our mission is really about
responsible, sustainable use
and access to open public riding
areas and all forms of outdoor
recreation," explained Lisa
Spicer, Grant Administrator for
the Yamaha Outdoor Access
Initiative. "Outdoor recreation is
where we live and breathe and
we want to help those who want
to go outside and enjoy it."
Yamaha employees, fam-
ily and friends (kids included!)
volunteered some hours along-
side USFS OHV volunteers, and
activities on the day included trail
maintenance, watering (pinion
