By Juan Zurita Victoria, MBA, Chair of Athlete Support and Programs, Oax Sport
Oax Sport has launched a new Givebutter campaign to support Senderos Apaztli, a community mountain bike project in Magdalena Apazco, Oaxaca.
The campaign will help buy tools, trail materials, protective gear, and basic bike maintenance supplies for mountain bike trails, community rides, and youth cycling classes.
Donate to the Senderos Apaztli campaign: Givebutter campaign page
A trail project that started with a problem
In 2021, Luis Manuel Santiago Olivera and a small group of friends from Magdalena Apazco faced a problem: they wanted to practice mountain biking, but their community did not have proper local trails.
To ride more technical routes, they had to travel by road to other towns and areas, including San Miguel, Las Guacamayas, Huitzo, and El Fortín. That meant more time, more distance, and more risk before training could even begin.
So they started building their own space.
Luis founded and leads Senderos Apaztli. The name comes from Apaztli, a Nahuatl word meaning large clay basin. It is the root of Apazco, the town’s original name.
For Luis, the project began from a clear need. As he put it: “Senderos Apaztli started from a need: the need to have the right spaces to practice this sport.”
What the work looks like
Luis would ride his bike up the mountain with tools like a pick and shovel in his backpack. Neighbors would stare, wondering why someone was going into the hills with a bike, a shovel, a pick, and a machete.
The first trail the group cleaned started near Camino Ancho de Talán. It was steep and technical. The riders jokingly called it “La Desarma Fierros” because bikes rattled hard on the trail.
There were setbacks. In the early stages, someone destroyed the jumps Luis had built, two or three times. He stopped building for two or three months.
Then he came back. He invited riders from outside the community and kept working so people could see that Senderos Apaztli was serious.
Why the right tools matter
The terrain in Magdalena Apazco is hard and rocky. A shovel alone is not enough. Trail builders need picks, mattocks, machetes, shovels, and other basic tools to clear paths and shape safe riding lines.
The mountain also has little shade. By 9 AM, the heat can already feel strong. That makes every work session harder, especially when volunteers carry tools and materials up the mountain themselves.
What the campaign will fund
The goal is to raise $1,500 USD.
Your donation can help buy:
- Picks and mattocks for rocky terrain
- Shovels for trail shaping
- Machetes for brush clearing
- Protective gear for youth classes, including helmets and pads
- Basic bike maintenance supplies
These items will support trail work, youth classes, and community rides in Magdalena Apazco.
Youth cycling and community rides
Luis is a graduate of the sports training program at the public university in Oaxaca, known as UABJO. He has also started an introductory mountain biking program for about 10 girls and boys in the community.
The classes give young riders a healthy, active space to learn basic bike handling, trail skills, discipline, and respect for nature through sport.
Luis now organizes biweekly community rides open to all skill levels. These rides invite people to move, meet others, visit Magdalena Apazco, and see the trails that local riders have built with volunteer labor.
Follow Senderos Apaztli for ride updates and project activities on Facebook and Instagram.
Oax Sport’s connection to Senderos Apaztli
Oax Sport has already worked with Senderos Apaztli. In July 2025, Oax Sport donated 10 custom jerseys to Senderos Apaztli volunteers for the RIDE APAZTLI community event.
The jerseys were valued at $400 MXN each and produced by Felinus in Oaxaca. Oax Sport funded that support through its general fund.
Oax Sport did not fund trail tools, protective gear, or youth class equipment in the July 2025 jersey support. That is what this new campaign aims to cover.
After campaign funds are used, Oax Sport plans to publish an update with photos, purchases, and a short report for donors.
You can read more about the previous support here: Oax Sport MTB Sponsorship in Oaxaca.
You can also view current campaigns here: Active Oax Sport fundraisers.
Legal and transparency
Oax Sport Inc. is a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit. EIN: 86-3407818.
Oax Sport A.C. is a registered Mexican nonprofit based in Oaxaca, Mexico. RFC: OSP-230216-SG0.
Donations support athletes from underserved communities in Oaxaca, Mexico.
100% of designated funds from this campaign will support approved Senderos Apaztli expenses. Oax Sport will track the use of funds and share updates with donors.
If you need a receipt or tax documentation, contact us at https://oaxsport.org/contact/ and tell us whether you donated to Oax Sport Inc. in the United States or Oax Sport A.C. in Mexico.
You can also learn about volunteer options here: Volunteer with Oax Sport.
Donate to the Senderos Apaztli campaign: Givebutter campaign page
What would better trails and safer youth cycling classes mean for Magdalena Apazco?
Discover more from Oax Sport
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.