Supertrail with Canadian Spirit

"That's an indictment! It takes Canadians to show us Germans how to build smooth trails," says Thorben. This is the second time today that the Freiburg local has cranked up the 450 metres in altitude to the Kybfelsen rock, only to then chase his Enduro down the Canadian Trail. We meet Thorben at the trail entrance. Thorben's reference hits a sore spot in the German freeride soul, but we say nothing. Because now we're euphoric: Canadian feeling in the Black Forest? That doesn't exist. Or is there?

"It all started about three years ago," explains Arne Grammer from Bikepark Todtnau. Together with the MTB-Freiburg association, he negotiated with the forestry office. No easy matter. The goal: authorisation for a bike trail near the city centre. "At some point we got the go-ahead. We had almost given up," recalls Arne. When it came to deciding who should build the trail, a fellow club member came up with the crucial idea: friends who were trail builders from Canada should design the route. And that's exactly what happened. Four Canadians from British Columbia travelled there and were thrilled. Even when they heard that instead of money, they would only be given flights, accommodation, tools and food. "That was around 12,000 euros, which the bike designer and Freiburg resident Peter Denk took on," says Arne. The Canadians spent four weeks digging without machines, but with many helpers, until the track from Kybfelsen down to the edge of the city was finally finished.

How and where?

From the Wiehre district, you climb 450 metres in altitude to the Kybfelsen. Bike celebrity Andi Kromer showed us the ascent on single trails. However, the route is difficult to find on your own as there is currently no signposting (this is set to change). If you want to be on the safe side, follow the forest road and the signs towards Kybfelsen. You can't miss the trail entrance.

The descent: The descent is over 3.6 kilometres on forest soil. The trail quickly picks up speed. Well-sized berms appear constantly. They fling the biker like a pinball to the left, right, left, then back to the fall line until the next turn hails. Braaap! The trail is fast, fun and indeed: flowy. The overused buzzword really fits here. There are no tests of courage, just a wooden drop (can also be rolled), a medium-sized jump (you can also cascade) and a fun hip jump (you should hit it right). Semi-experienced freeriders can ride everything here unseen. Nevertheless, the trail is never boring.

ConclusionMission accomplished! The trail is a prime example of how it can be done without spending a lot of money. You just have to know how and ask the right people. On the downside, we fear that the weather and high footfall will have a negative impact on the trail, as it is built entirely naturally and without crushed sand.