1st Livigno | Italy
First things first: Livigno is far off the beaten track. It's a good four hours' drive even from Munich. However, once you have made it to the southern side of the Alps, you are usually spoilt with sunshine. There's also a wide network of trails with many metres of elevation gain - all around the bike park. But the descents in the park are also fun on an enduro bike, although the trail maintenance is not always ideal. If you want a flowy ride, you can ride the new Tutti-Frutti trails.
Info: www.livigno.eu
2. Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis | Austria
On most park trails, you're better off with a big bike. Why does the park still make it into our ranking? The "Hill Bill" descent is our favourite enduro trail. Soft, rooty, fast and peppered with stunts - this is how an enduro descent should be! There's also the FrommesTrail outside the park, a 10-kilometre epic trail that starts at 2,436 metres. Bummer: The lift for this costs extra.
Info: www.bikepark-sfl.at
3rd Saalbach-Hinterglemm | Austria
Saalbach-Hinterglemm is a real address for enduro bikers. The descents around it are much better than the park. The Hacklberg and Bergstadl trails are among the classics. Both are long (almost 10 kilometres), varied, with postcard panoramas and ideal for enduro bikes. If you want to take things a little more seriously, choose the X-Line, a 1000 metre descent with tables, roots, forest floor and bumpy passages.
Info: www.saalbach.com
4th Sölden | Austria
Sölden is already well known to many enduro riders. The European Enduro Series was once held here. And rightly so. The people of Sölden are known as bike enthusiasts and have equipped their slopes with an extensive network of trails. In addition to the well-known built trails Teare Line (flow trail) and Zaahe Line (jump trail), there are over ten natural trails here, which score with versatility as well as panoramic views. In short: Sölden is worth a visit for enduro riders.
Info: www.bikerepublic.soelden.com
5th Reschen am See | Italy
It is probably the most underrated enduro region of all. Because there are several showcase enduro descents hidden here in the border triangle. For example at the Schönebenbahn. Here, the trails wind down into the valley partly on loose forest soil - roots (lots of them), bends, high-speed passages - Braaap! The descents on the Mutzkopf are similarly spectacular. If you prefer tours with panoramic views, you can combine the Plamort Trail with the Bunker Trail, for example.
Info: www.vinschgau.net
THE FIRST TIME
Endless downhill fun without having to crank up a single climb. Bike parks make the adrenaline junkies' dream come true. But the first visit has its pitfalls. We have four tips to ensure that your maiden ride in the bike park is a memorable one.
Tune your bike
Modern enduro bikes can easily cope with a visit to the bike park. Jumps, berms and drops are no problem for bikes with 160 millimetres of suspension travel. However, weak tyres quickly reach their limits in nasty root fields or rock gardens. Because nothing is more annoying than having to patch a flat tyre after every descent, we advise: Fit fat tyres with a downhill carcass and soft rubber compound for plenty of grip.
Safety First
If you want adrenaline to flow instead of blood when riding full throttle on the bike park slopes, you need good protection. When gravity accelerates, the risk of falling increases. Good protectors protect against annoying grazes and bruises and often even keep bones intact. The basic equipment includes a full-face helmet, knee pads, back armour, elbow pads and gloves. You can usually hire this equipment in the park. Extra tip: special riding technique courses for the park.
Take the Chickenline
Good bike parks are built for all skill levels. Some routes or jumps can be too much for beginners. When adrenaline and peer pressure mix in the rush of the descent, it's easy to overestimate your own abilities. Our tip: If you're not quite sure about tricky manoeuvres, always take the chicken line if in doubt. Even if your mates make fun of you. It's better to have a temporary dent in your ego than a real crack in your arm and that's the end of the fun.
Take a break
Turning on the gas in the park burns more calories than you think. Even if you are only going downhill, there is a risk of hypoglycaemia! The consequences: less concentration and an increased risk of falling. The lift ride offers short recovery phases, but is no substitute for a proper break. Therefore, it is better to skip a ride at lunchtime and have a small snack. Afterwards, you can continue twice as fast. A water bottle deposited at the valley station helps to quench your thirst between runs.
Dimitri Lehner
Editor
