It's a dilemma. Mountain biking is booming. Everyone wants to get out. Into the forest. To the summits. But while tarmac and concrete are being poured over the country everywhere, the infrastructure for bikers is more than poor. The few hotspots are chronically overcrowded. The lack of suitable trails makes it impossible to switch to less frequented areas.
It should come as no surprise that, in their desperation, some locals even reach for a spade to build jumps or berms. Even initiatives by clubs or associations to create legal trails are in most cases rigorously blocked by the responsible authorities. Even worse: in some places, mountain bikers are treated like environmental pests.
When it comes to tourism and therefore commercial interests, things look a little different. In the Alpine region in particular, numerous winter sports resorts have been transformed into true MTB paradises in recent years. If the cash registers are to ring, many things are possible. Simple, commercial-free mountain bike oases that are purely for fun and recreation are difficult to realise. If at all.
A recent example from the Western Palatinate shows that the dream of a local MTB spot can become reality. Three years ago, two teenage bikers discovered the site of a former sand pit on the edge of the small village of Schönenberg-Kübelberg. A hollow the size of a sports stadium, surrounded by steep walls and forest. The two knew the videos from the Red Bull Rampage, where the world's most death-defying freeriders jump down slopes that they had modelled themselves in the days leading up to the showdown.
Under the shelter of the trees, the teenagers began to create their own mountain bike dreamland. Naturally, word got around in the local scene. Soon whole groups were romping over the tables and ramps they had built. When the big MTB boom broke out last spring at the start of the pandemic, the whole thing seemed to get out of hand. The spot was literally overrun. Not only bikers who knew how to jump came, but also families with small children on balance bikes. The clique that had once created the scene meeting point was seriously worried. The small bike park was tolerated by the municipality. But what if a bad fall happened? Who would be liable?
They decided to at least try the almost impossible: They wanted to turn the illegal trails in the sand pit into an officially authorised MTB park. Full of enthusiasm, the kids and young people drew up a presentation, which they showed to the mayor and the parties represented on the local council. At the same time, they launched a signature campaign and an online petition: "Yes, to the Schönenberg-Kübelberg bike park".
The response was tremendous. The mayor pledged his support. And so the project got off the ground. There were also opponents of the project and numerous other hurdles. But construction was able to begin in March. Thanks in part to a generous donation from a sponsor. Various short downhill trails, a circular trail, a pump track and lines with different levels of difficulty are to be created before the official opening of the spot in the summer. All peppered with berms, tables, drops and Northshore elements. Not your typical downhill park. Which is not even possible due to the relatively flat terrain. Instead, it's a kind of playground for mountain bikers that offers something for everyone.
The big report on the bike park, which we published as part of our Love Trails - Respect Rules" campaign The photo gallery of the start of construction work can be found here.
