6 scary test of courage drops
1 - Leogang I
For many years, hardly anyone jumped the 5-metre drop. Too old-school, too blunt. Now the drop has been revamped. Conclusion: better, lower, but still a bit scary.
2- Livigno
Four metres high, very exposed, treacherous in windy conditions, looks higher than it actually is. The controlled approach, long landing and drop alternatives to feel your way round reduce the scary factor
3 - Špičák
Gap drop on the DH course. Not actually high, but you need momentum to hit the landing and the approach is a bit choppy. Rumbles more than you would expect at this altitude.
4- Winterberg
The approximately 5-metre drop made headlines as the "death drop", as a park visitor died here years ago. The approach is good and the landing steep. The drop has been rebuilt (4 metres) and has become easier. But the reputation is intimidating.
5 - Leogang II
Years ago, the Boner drop directly in front of the valley station in Leogang had a moderate incline and was fun for many park visitors. Now the ramp rises up steeply like a wooden fence, creating a higher flight curve and a greater scare factor.
6 - Bikepark Kálnica/Slovakia
Down there? Oh dear! The height is seven metres, and the distance also needs to be well calculated in order to make it to the steep landing. If you hesitate, you should first take the smaller drop next to it. But even that is impressive. Around five metres!
"Something to be scared of!" - Interview with Adi Mayer, Headshaper Bikepark Leogang
FREERIDE: Adi, you are responsible for the Bikepark Leogang. You rebuilt the drop battery under the gondola. The old one had become famous due to a crash clip on YouTube. Why the rebuild?
Adi Mayer: The wood had become rotten and we had to replace the battery. In other words, there were age-related reasons.
Do you test it yourself after the conversion?
Of course. We carry out the fun check ourselves and see if the drop works well. We test all stunts ourselves before we release them.
What makes a good drop?
He needs a good approach, a defined take-off and a steep landing.
What does that look like in concrete terms?
It depends a lot on the terrain. If I arrive with a lot of momentum, I can have the drop-off point horizontally or even upwards, for example. If, on the other hand, I don't have much of a run-up, it makes more sense to tilt the take-off downwards. The trajectory will then be more harmonious. The landing should be relatively steep.
The biggest drop of the battery was particularly scary, what did you change about it?
We have tilted the take-off downwards, so you don't have to pull on the handlebars as much. The conversion has also cost us some height, now it is no longer 5 metres high, but one metre lower. So the battery measures: 1 metre, 2.5 metres and 4 metres.
There are more drops at the edge of the forest.
The highest drop in the Lumberjack is 3.5 metres high.
Directly in front of the gondola is a boner drop - it has become steeper. Why?
We wanted to give him more airtime. The Boner Drop is our prestige stunt for the absolute experts - something to scare you. For anyone looking for a challenge. If you want to take it easier, you can jump the Boner drop at the edge of the forest. It's much easier.
Do you jump it too?
I'm over 50 years old - I no longer jump the Boner at the finish, near the valley station, but almost all my shapers do.
