What should you EXPECT from a new bike park

**norbar** · 05-01-2012, 02:58 PM

Originally Posted by Sandwich

I'd shoot for 4 trails on opening day, and plan to get at least 6 within three years. That's one new trail a year, and it keeps people coming back.

Take a look at Highland, but learn from their mistakes. Their first trail was NE Style, and it was a balls-out North Shore wannabee trail that lacked flow and crippled riders. Virtually every trail they've built after that has been far more popular and NE style hardly gets any use now. Now they have about 6 trails, virtually every turn is a berm, and people froth at the mouth about it. Laid back is the last thing I'd call broland, but that's another story.

I'd build at least one gA-line style trail, with berms and flow and jumps, and build one XXXomg DH death trail, and then two moderate, singletrack, DH runs that have a lot of speed and flow. Then you have something for everybody, and something to build on. The following year, you can build what people are riding. Another death trail? Go for it. Another BMXTB trail, done. This is pretty much what Highland has done, and most every new trail they build is a buffed out berm trail, but that's what people are diggin on.

I'd also hire a good trail builder. Take a look at Burke MT in Vermont. They have two trails that are hand built by Knight Ide, and they're fantastic. Highland's trails were largely built with the help of a pro who's name I can't remember right now. Try to get somebody good and let them have fun. You can probably get away with a partially volunteer trail crew, but it's worth paying to get a good trail laid out.

Lift options are pretty simple based on how much you want to pay. I agree that wheel hooks are awful, and dedicated bike trays are the best, but even with crappy hooks on the side of chairs, you can still get a decent rhythm going. Just put hooks on every chair, and then the liftee has flexibility with keeping lift lines down. That's something that always bugged me about plattekill. You have to wait forever to get 5 people up.

Finally, the lodge area should have basic accoutrements like bathrooms and hopefully some kind of food stand, even if it's a guy on a grill. Selling beer is a great idea though. Camping is awesome, if it can be done, as people can make a cheap weekend of it. You should have some kind of a shop, mostly to sell spare tires, tubes, brake fluid, and a few random parts so people can get back on the mountain. I wouldn't bother stocking a variety of apparel and such, but just some bare necessities that people forget or break.

That's how I'd do it, anyways, after riding 90% of the east coast's resorts.

I agree with you oin 90% but the numbr of trails should depend on the manp trackower. Im in Maribor right now and they have 3 trails + some extra lines and thats more than enough for most of the riders because they are awesome trails. You have the blue track - easy bermy but one that can be ridden fast and has some great wooden trail offshoots, red track - berms but steep and so fast it's hard not to brake with a few bigger jumps and a series of road gaps and a black track which is basicly he wc track to test yourself. Instead of having a ton of tracks they made a few but vvery good ones, I think they also rode to other places looking for good trail ideas. Though probably on a mountain with <6km trails you can build more.

**Sandwich** · 05-01-2012, 07:46 PM

Originally Posted by DORO

I take it you don't like Lynn woods? My opinion Lynn is the best riding in and around bean town. The reason why Maiden resembled something you found in Lynn is because the top two guys from Highland had been riding Lynn woods for the last 15 years prior to Highland. You have to remember this was a one man show, local rider and organic start up. My opinion is Maiden is the raddest trail in that place. I agree to your points about location, investment etc...blah blah blah....ride Highland have fun.

Sorry man, my prerogative, but 6ft drop-to-flats followed by 90 degree turns immediately after is not my opinion of good trail design. I understand why it works at places like nam and lynn woods, but I don't want to pay 38 bucks (unless it's to NEMBA) to ride it. I'd much rather have a trail that links its stunts together with good flow/harmony, like trails featured at other places and almost every other trail at highland.

but this is what the OP is looking to tease out...different strokes for different folks. It's also what, IMO, makes a park successful, listening to its customers and addressing those needs. That's why I think four trails to start with is a range to be in. Then you build your next trails to address customer wants.

**SinatorJ** · 05-02-2012, 05:20 PM

Thanks for the imput. Looks like a decent sampeling of trails between 4 and 6 catering to all varieties is the consensus. What is a fair ticket price these days? Consider 5 trails 1500 vert with quality uplift?