The crazy idea
Back in 2001, many people thought the folks in Leogang were mad. A bike park? In Austria? For a bunch of weirdos who hurtle down the mountains clad in protective gear? Sounds like a business idea with a rather limited target audience.
Today, Leogang laughs off that scepticism. Today. Back then, those in charge weren’t quite sure what they were getting themselves into either. They had a queasy feeling about it. At the same time, the people of Leogang are keen to take risks and love to try new things. So they got to work: the first trails were built (far too steep), the first drops were constructed (far too blunt), the first jumps were shaped (too short, too long, rarely just right), and wall rides were laid out (far too vertical!).
But that’s just the way it is. As the Americans say: “From nothing comes nothing, from something comes something.” In the early days, the bike park in Leogang was more of a minefield than a bouncy castle. But the team led by cable car boss Kornel Grundner learnt quickly.
Austria’s first bike park set the standard across Europe. What began back then with just a few makeshift trails is now one of Europe’s leading mountain biking centres. 45 kilometres of lines and trails, nestled within Austria’s largest biking region, comprising Saalbach, Hinterglemm and Fieberbrunn. Above all, however, it is a place that has made mountain biking history, as the events held here were of the highest calibre.
Not for beginners: the World Cup Downhill
Leogang’s downhill course has always been tough. It inspired respect and tension among amateur cyclists, and fear in many. We were no exception. In 2010, the course was granted World Cup status. The World Championships were held here – for the first time in 2012.
The World Cup course is still one of the most technically demanding on the calendar. Especially in the rain. Roots, rocky sections, high-speed sections and jumps follow one another in rapid succession. It rarely forgives mistakes; only the bravest achieve speed and set the fastest times. Valis Hölle is the truest test for the best park riders. It quickly turns into a nightmare. Anyone who powers through this course can be proud of themselves.
What’s more:
Anyone who completes the course can say they’ve mastered downhill cycling.
Two DH moments stand out in particular from all those years of World Cup racing:
Aaron Gwin’s ‘Chainless’ run (2015) and the Austrian one-two finish by Andy Kolb and Vali Höll (2023).
Where legends learn to fly
Leogang has never been just about downhill.
At the 26TRIX Slopestyle became mainstream in Europe long before triple whips and double backflips were the norm. The world’s best trick riders transformed the slope into an open-air circus stage. In 2006, Greg Watts landed the first double flip in a competition, and Lance McDermott the first front flip (2007). It was also here that the then 17-year-old Brandon Semenuk made his first major appearance – shy, taciturn and pale, yet blessed with incredible talent that would later make him perhaps the greatest freerider of all time.
Then came White Style: Slopestyle in the snow, in the middle of winter. What sounded crazy at first turned into a cult event. Floodlights, sub-zero temperatures and backflips – only in Leogang would anyone have thought that was a sensible idea. Co-organiser and freeride ambassador Tarek Rasouli brought the top stars to Austria.
Added to this are World Cups, World Championships and, for many years now, the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series. Hardly any other place brings together so many disciplines in such a small area.
Building a bike park is manual work
A bike park doesn’t just spring up on its own. Not overnight. And not without learning the hard way.
During one of his first runs in Leogang, Matt Hunter – a freeride pro accustomed to Whistler – said: “Worst bike park ever!” After checking out the trails in Leogang, British Columbia-based trail-building guru Tom Pro furrowed his brow and rubbed his chin.
We at FREERIDE magazine were rarely shy about voicing our criticism either. In the early days, there was a lot of botched work in Leogang. What’s more, the Leogang trail builders had a knack for making even the best stunts worse or dismantling them altogether. There was an on-off wooden table in the woods – a highlight for many park riders. Suddenly, it was gone.
Near the valley station, there was an almost perfect series of drops. It had almost become a trademark of the park – but at some point it was dismantled.
For a few years there was a ‘Boner Log’ that gave you a great feeling of flight without being particularly technically challenging. It was replaced by a much steeper version, which hardly anyone jumps because it’s sketchy and prone to being affected by the wind. What a shame!
Another example:
There was a hip jump on the downhill track. The highlight of any run. That’s where the banger shots were taken. Yes, even cover shots. Not to mention how much fun the hip jump was. Everyone wanted to scub like Finn Illes. This gem was scrapped too. What a bummer!
Whilst visitors head back to their hotels after a day’s riding, that’s often when the real work begins for the shapers. Around 18 track builders maintain, repair and continue to develop the lines almost every day. Every root, every landing and every banked turn is scrutinised, adjusted and improved. Ideally, that is. It doesn’t always work out. Nowhere. Except perhaps at the flagship Whistler Bike Park – at least it used to; we haven’t been there for quite some time.
The mountain is celebrating itself
To mark its 25th anniversary, Leogang isn’t hosting a gala, but is inviting people to do what mountain bikers love most: riding.
In the (Leo)Gang Days The focus isn’t on long, formal speeches, but on a floodlit whip-off contest, community rides, photo challenges, family activities and plenty of that campfire atmosphere between the Expo and the lift station.
It suits this place. Just like the BIKE Festival. It’s not for nothing that we’re holding it in Leogang. Quite late this year, during the Indian Summer (hopefully!) – you never know in the mountains.
BIKE Festival, dates: 2 October to 4 October.
Leogang never set out to be the smoothest bike park in Europe. Rather, it aimed to be the most exciting.
And perhaps that is precisely why, for a quarter of a century, generations of mountain bikers have been attempting their first jumps here, professionals have been winning World Cups – and even world champions still speak of this track with a twinkle in their eyes.
Dimitri Lehner
Editor