For us laymen, amounts like 160,000 euros for a simple training course seem horrendously high. What makes trail building so expensive?
Expensive is relative. Think about it, a pompous roundabout like this can easily cost a city half a million. And that's no exaggeration. Construction usually takes just 2 weeks.
And what makes trail building so expensive?
Especially the machine hire. That easily accounts for 35 per cent of the total costs. I often have operating costs of 20,000 euros for a trail, i.e. oil, petrol, grease, chains. You also need the equipment and have to pay people to help you. I remember that the lorries and equipment alone cost 40,000 euros for the practice course at Bikepark Schöneck. For the downhill course in Willingen, we had to transport 700 lorry loads. You quickly end up with sums like that.
The easy flow country trails seem to be very popular. However, many advanced freeriders also want jumplines, such as the legendary A-Line. There still doesn't seem to be many, does there?
A jumpline complements the park's offerings and is a logical consequence, because the riders are getting better. I'm currently planning such a route in the Geisskopf bike park. If things go well, we'll start building it next year.
Sölden in Austria is currently investing a lot of money in track construction. Many regions seem to be vying for bikers as a visitor clientele?
Absolutely. Zermatt in Switzerland also wants to go full throttle. I'll be working there for the next five years.
Laurin Lehner
Editor
