They have the money, they have the construction equipment and they have the lifts. Nevertheless, it took a few years for the major Alpine ski regions to discover mountain bikers as a source of income. But now they are attacking and vying for the favour of the attractive summer clientele. First and foremost: Sölden in Ötztal. Compared to other ski resorts, the glacier region probably has fewer snow worries, and yet they are putting everything on the mountain bike map. And that in the middle of Austria, where even touring on the wrong gravel road can end up in court. Sölden has pedalled free of these old rights of way, carved seven flow trails into the high mountain flanks in a very short space of time and proclaimed the "Bike Republic".
But other regions are also working feverishly on concepts to make themselves more attractive to bikers. For example, bike parks are being expanded to attract trail bikers and even families in addition to the downhill clientele. In regions such as the Palatinate Forest, mountain biking is being carefully integrated into existing hiking networks. And in the German-Czech border region in particular, trail parks have been created that make downhill flow possible even without mountain railways. We asked MTB tourism expert Darco Cazin which of these concepts promise success.
Darco, people used to buy a Moser guide and ride beautiful tours with it. Why do the regions now need an MTB concept?
For two main reasons: Firstly, the needs and demands of bikers have changed. This happens in every market. Secondly, it is more efficient if a region defines the basics for itself before developing a mountain bike offer.
What exactly does a special concept for mountain bikers involve?
There are many forms and scopes. At Allegra, we first look at the macro and micro environment, the development of the market and the existing infrastructure of a region. These have an influence on the business model of a mountain bike region. And this in turn outlines target groups, channels, value propositions, measures and the ROI (return on investment). The three design elements are then derived from these parameters: Trails, services and identity.
How do you think mountain biking will develop by 2030?
The sport of mountain biking lacks a broad social base. For the market to grow, we need easily accessible experiences - for example, easy-to-ride trails, bike parks, trail centres or even mobile pump tracks. The sport needs to be installed much more in the big cities and thus become accessible to young bikers. Once their curiosity has been aroused, this is the breeding ground for a broader anchoring of mountain biking in society. However, we will experience a collapse of the market if the bike industry does not move out of its niche and does not respond to the changing needs of bikers. Then, in the words of Uli Stanciu, "we, the arrogant elite, will destroy the entire sport". I think that sentence really sums it up. Biking must become much more of a sport for everyone - regardless of age, economic means and mobility.
But if we attract the next generation via pump tracks and bike parks - will the classic touring biker or Alpine crosser even exist in the future?
But yes. The need to experience nature and adventure will continue to grow in our society. But the Alpine crosser will also continue to evolve. The demands on tour offers, accommodation, lifts and comfort will change. The bike regions should prepare themselves for this.
In your opinion, what is the most successful concept in the Alps?
I would say "Graubünden Bike". Years ago, 150 dedicated biking employees worked out the basics that make it easier to respond to the needs of guests today.
"For more growth, our sport needs easily accessible experiences. Like flow trails, for example. But if the bike industry doesn't move out of its niche, we will experience a collapse." - Darco Cazin, Allegra-Tourism.ch
1st Bikepark BISCHOFSMAIS - Volkspark with lift
The MTB-Zone bike park in the Bavarian Forest is the living room of trail building icon Diddie Schneider. Not only did he carpenter Germany's first North Shore descent into the forest, he has also just opened the country's first uphill trail. The park thus remains true to its basic idea of being a playground for all types of bikers. The concept corresponds to that of the large bike parks in the Alps and, of course, that of the great role model in Whistler, Canada: one mountain, one lift and varied downhill trails that appeal to as broad a target group as possible. A real magnet for the rather structurally weak Bavarian Forest.
Darco Cazin:
In general, the difference in quality between the various bike parks in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy is still very big. On the one hand, you have a real professional like Diddie Schneider, who is always thinking one step ahead. On the other hand, unfortunately, there are also many places with good intentions and poor realisation. But the market is the market and will separate the wheat from the chaff.
Number of routes 12 + 1 Uphill
Target group Family-DH-Professional
Bikers per season K. A.
Day ticket 31,50 Euro
Open Easter-November
Info www.bikepark.net
2. bike park PFÄLZERWALD - consensus solution
In principle, Rhineland-Palatinate has a similar state forest law to Baden-Württemberg. However, it is interpreted differently here and the various interest groups communicate more. There is therefore no two-metre flagellation for bikers. Not even in the Palatinate Forest Nature Park. Here, MTB signs have been pointing the way for many years through a 900-kilometre network of forest trails with a 25 per cent share of nature trails. This has prevented problems with hikers from arising in the first place. The restaurateurs in particularly remote areas also benefit from this, as a quarter of their guests come by mountain bike. Next goal: a downhill route, possibly with a shuttle.
Darco Cazin:
Unfortunately, I have not yet been to the Palatinate Forest in person. With the information I now have from the internet, I would say that a large, freely accessible network of tours and the obviously very committed members of the association form a healthy basis. The conflict between hikers and mountain bikers has been tackled proactively here, taking the emotional sting out of the issue right from the start.
Number of routes 900 km
Trail share 20-25 per cent
Target group Trail-savvy touring bikers
Bikers per year A quarter of the guests
Care Local MTB clubs
Info www.mountainbikepark-pfaelzerwald.de
3rd RABENBERG - Well-maintained trail network
Germany's first real trail centre is located in the Ore Mountains, close to the Czech border. There is no lift here either. The trails here are built around a few gravel roads, which are used for slightly longer uphill sections. Compared to the flow mecca of Pod Smrkem, which is 275 kilometres away, you can definitely expect some technical riding here. Some of the forest trails are natural and feature root carpets. Beginners are better off staying on the pump track or the five-kilometre-long Taster Loop, especially in the rain. A trail centre with simple, well-maintained trails, but more for advanced bikers.
Darco Cazin:
Basically, I am an absolute fan of trail centres. Here, a virtue is made of the fact that there are no mountain railways: the aim is to arrange the metres in altitude uphill in such a way that they can be managed by as many bikers as possible. And the metres in altitude downhill should guarantee long downhill fun. But this is where the trails need to be particularly well laid out to create real flow. Otherwise mud pits and braking ruts will form.
Number of routes 5 laps, 75 km
Target group Family enduro biker
Bikers per season K. A.
Open April - end of October
Day ticket 9 Euro
Info www.trailcenter-rabenberg.de
4. CZECHIA: POD SMRKEM - Free crushed sand paradise
In autumn 2009, Davydd Davis, the famous trail builder from Wales, immortalised himself somewhere in the Czech Jizera Mountains with a twelve-kilometre-long superflow trail. This attracted 15,000 bikers to Nové Mesto - and Davis kept on digging. Today, 50,000 bikers make a pilgrimage to the 80-kilometre flow network every season and don't miss a lift. The trails are reinforced with crushed sand and curve so smoothly up and down through the spruce forests that there are neither long climbs nor an urge to brake. The trails are free to use and maintenance is partly financed by the income from the centre with its café and shop.
Darco Cazin:
The Czech Republic was faced with the problem of either banning mountain biking in the forest or rolling up our sleeves and making it a popular sport. The latter has prevailed. There are great stories here: from perfectly designed trail centres to the production of modular pump tracks by Parkitect. We can only learn from these ideas
We can only learn from these ideas, because they are getting more and more people excited about our sport.
Number of routes 80 km of trails
Claim Easy flow trails
Target group Family-Flowjunkie
Bikers per year 50000
Day ticket Free admission
Info www.singltrekpodsmrkem.cz
5th BIKE REPUBLIC SÖLDEN - Alpine complete offer
First the Tyrolean trail ban slowed things down, then the planning and approval phase took another three years. But now the people of Sölden are sparing no expense or effort: nothing less than the Whistler of Europe is to be created at the head of the Ötztal valley. The "Bike Republic Sölden". Seven kilometres of flow trails are already basking in the glacier sun. From these, 17 natural trails branch off, making 13 different enduro combinations possible. The Gaislachkogel cable car helps you uphill. But just like the Canadian model, the authorised nature trails wind their way through a tranquil mountain landscape that you climb under your own steam.
Darco Cazin:
There are alpine ski destinations that first build a trail and then another one five years later. In the meantime, they let the first one rot again. In my opinion, Dominik Linser and Co. from the Bike Republic Sölden set the standard for future trail construction in alpine ski destinations. This difference in quality will prove to be a competitive advantage in the coming years. It is Allegra's biggest construction project in 2017.
Number of routes 7+17 Nature trails
Trail share 45 km
Target group Family Enduro
Season Duration Mid-June-October
Day ticket 34 Euro
Info www.bikerepublic.soelden.com
6. SCOTLAND: 7 STANES - Dedicated foresters
The first trail centre in Europe opened back in 1994 in Wales (Coed-y-Brenin). Since then, its great success has motivated the whole of Great Britain to build flow trails. There is hardly a place that does not have a smaller or larger trail in the neighbouring forest. However, the seven most famous are located along the southern Scottish border. On laps up to 30 kilometres long, you can bob, twist, jump, balance and fly over otherwise rather bland forest and heathland humps. But who needs a view when you can experience such master trails? The exciting thing about this concept is that it is the forestry authority that plans and maintains these facilities. All without a lift. World class!
Darco Cazin:
The Scots have shown how single trails can be made accessible to a broad target group. In the future, however, Scotland could certainly improve in terms of identity and service. In this way, the investments made would be amortised even more, and not just economically.
Number of routes Countless
Trail share 90 per cent
Target group All bikers worldwide
User fee 3.50 euros for parking
Care Forestry Commission
Info www.7stanesmountainbiking.com
7 GRAUBÜNDEN: OBERENGADIN - Integration concept
Glacier scenery, various ascent aids and plenty of high mountain trails - but also thousands of hikers from all over the world. Nevertheless, the Engadin never wanted to exclude bikers. And so a "master plan" was drawn up early on at Piz Bernina. Below the Corviglia mountain station, a well-maintained flow trail network has been thriving for years. However, as bikers also need to get out and about, large tour circuits through the epic landscape of the Upper Engadine have also been signposted. These high mountain trails are not a must for bikers, but as they have been lightly groomed, they are simply more fun. A big mountain trail centre with climbing aids, so to speak.
Darco Cazin:
I am at home here and therefore naturally both over-critical and over-enthusiastic. What inspires me most is that people in Graubünden generally work honestly on the basics and on the offer before communicating to the world how good they are. Today, the Grisons destinations have the best conditions to continue to develop with the market for many years to come.
Number of routes 400 km
Trail share Approx. 80 per cent
Target group Family adventurer
Season Duration Mid-June-October
Ticket Price incl. for hotel stay.
Info www.engadin.stmoritz.ch
8th CANADA: WHISTLER MOUNTAIN BIKE PARK - 100 per cent MTB
The absolute number 1 when it comes to bike parks with lifts. Bikers from all over the world make a pilgrimage to the ski resort north-east of Vancouver to ride the 70 sacred trails. The trail builders have realised everything that is possible in biking on the 1500-metre slope. From the velvety flowline to the black double-diamond pro line. Naturally, this also attracts the freeride elite, who in turn have their own ideas and inspire the trail designers to come up with new ones. This is the case once again this autumn: the Creekside is still undergoing major construction. 18 new kilometres of trail should be ready for the opening in spring 2018.
Darco Cazin: The milestone in the future too
The next stage of expansion in Whistler has begun. And as the world's first mountain bike destination, Whistler will live on its status as a pioneer for a long time to come. In my opinion, however, Whistler's greatest asset is not the bike park, the trails or a special event, but the enormously deep roots of the local mountain bike culture. This ensures that Whistler will change with the changes in the market.
Number of routes 70 / approx. 250 km
Trail share 100 per cent
Target group Family-Professional
Bikers per day 700-1200
Bike ticket Approx. 60 Euro
Info bike.whistlerblackcomb.com
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Gitta Beimfohr
Editor
