IMBA’s vision is to create, enhance, and protect great places to ride mountain bikes for everyone across the U.S. and the globe. It should come as no surprise that IMBA is deeply committed to supporting mountain bike access and infrastructure in communities that may not, on the surface, check all the boxes for Model Trail Community. We work with trail champions and community advocates to uncover potential and bring their vision for trails to life. Thanks to support from private foundations in recent years, IMBA has had the opportunity to work to elevate the strengths, momentum, and deep-rooted outdoor recreation traditions of Navajo Nation communities; and working alongside Diné leaders, to create great places for kids and families to ride.

Because of the passionate leadership of Navajo leaders, trail champions and advocates, and innovative partners like Silver Stallion Bicycle & Coffee Works, Navajo Yes, Outride, NICA, and Project Bike Tech, IMBA has been welcomed and is committed to contributing to the momentum with expert trail development and mountain bike community building. Significantly, and based in deep respect for Diné culture, IMBA’s efforts are guided by a Navajo Nation Coordinator: a Navajo community member working as full-time IMBA employee to connect and empower Navajo communities and leaders and to provide mentorship to other tribal nations. This work was started by IMBA veteran Joey Klein and IMBA alumna and previous Navajo Nation Coordinator, Laura Johnson, working with communities to lay the foundation for mountain bike infrastructure across Navajo lands. Now IMBA is pleased to welcome Roxanne Marianito to this leading position.

IMBA Welcomes Roxanne Marianito

In October of 2024, IMBA welcomed its new Navajo Nation Coordinator, Roxanne Marianito to the team, and without hesitation, she hit the ground rolling… rubber side down. Roxanne is a member of the IMBA Local and Community Engagement Teams. With deep community roots, and a lifetime passion for riding, Roxanne continues to support the momentum in the Navajo Nation with expertise, a keen attention to detail, and community wellness focus.

IMBA and Partners on Diné Bikéyah

IMBA veteran Joey Klein’s first invite to Navajo lands was in 2018. Since then, IMBA has collaborated with other nonprofit organizations, municipalities, and youth-serving organizations in multiple Diné or Navajo Nation communities to explore potential; advocate for access, support, and funding; and plan, design, and build mountain bike amenities across the Navajo Nation. From Kayenta, Arizona; to Rezduro Base Camp in Hard Rock, Arizona; to K’e Community Trails in Crownpoint, New Mexico, IMBA has delivered expert trail knowledge and community engagement including Trail Care Schools; support for Rezduro (the first indigenous-led mountain bike enduro race on Diné lands); help with the installation of five pump tracks in five Navajo communities in only five days; expert advocacy and trail education at dozens of meetings with Diné and community leaders; and thousands of hours of planning and outreach.

For almost a decade, IMBA has had the pleasure of being a part of the centering of Diné people by Diné people: their health, their connectedness, and the wellbeing of their communities; on their lands. 

A Personal Greeting from Roxanne

Greetings! My name is Roxanne Marianito, Navajo Nation Coordinator. I was born and raised on Navajo Nation. My clans are Kin∤ichii’nii (Red House Clan) born for Dibé∤zhíní (Black Sheep Clan). My maternal grandparent is Honágháahnii (One-Walks-Around Clan) and my paternal grandparent is Tódích’íi’nii (Bitter Water Clan).
    
As a young Navajo girl from Window Rock, Arizona, I didn’t have many options except to ride my bike, which was lovingly fixed by my uncle. As it turns out, my uncle was part of a local BMX community, spearheaded by Russel Ingraham, who brought BMX racing to Black Hat Community. To get me involved, my uncle slapped me on a bike with a paper plate number, tied my pants with a string (so they wouldn’t get caught in the chain) and put me on the starting gate to make a 10 & under Powerpuff Girls Class. I excelled rapidly as a young 8 year old girl and became the first Native American to capture the Bicycle MotoCross (BMX) World Champion title in Las Vegas, NV. in 1989.

I was part of our Window Rock High 3A State Basketball Champion my senior year in 1992. Graduated from Northern Arizona University with Exercise Science Degree in 1997. I graduated and worked for Gila River Indian Community for nine years as their Youth Development Director for the Boys & Girls Club of the East Valley. There I coached youth basketball and gained valuable skills to mentor young athletes in their overall personal development.

Roxanne has been an active member of the Window Rock, Arizona community since 2006. For close to two decades, she has dedicated herself to the health and wellbeing of Diné people and communities. She worked as a Fitness Specialist and Employee Wellness Coordinator for the Fort Defiance Indian Health Board. She and her son were heavily involved in youth and adult athletics: Roxanne coached several local sports teams. Her interest in wellness and health promotion stems from a genuine love for helping people live healthy lives.

In recent years, Roxanne started mountain biking as a way to stay fit. She identified a lack of mountain biking options, infrastructure, and organized events for our youth and adults, and decided to do something to change and improve access. She began to teach road and mountain biking basics to co-workers and their children. Since then, she’s expanded her work and mission to local trails and worked alongside the robust partnerships thriving on Navajo.

Roxanne shares, “I'm excited to see the growth of mountain biking in the Navajo Nation in the coming years. In the spirit of community partnerships, I hope to see much more in the areas of biking for our youth and women. I want to give a huge shout out to IMBA, Outride, Project Bike Tech, NICA, Yaz Trailz, and Silver Stallion Bicycle & Coffee Works for their continued support in working with Navajo Nation Communities.”

IMBA is very proud of having Roxanne on our team, and grateful for her commitment and dedication to supporting work within Navajo Communities.