To be honest Ben, the crux of this issue is not "how long the lifts will turn this summer" but really what sort of maintenance/upgrades will be done prior to the lifts opening on the exhisting DH trails??????
If BSL/RMB decides to not partake in any trail maintenance or upgrades to their DH facility then it doesn't matter how long the lifts will run as I doubt anyone wants to come up and ride flogged out tracks that haven't had maintenance or any work done since last summer, especially if the lift ticket prices have risen again. If this is the case it'll be a very quiet summer at Buller for DH which will make the people who care less feel justified in their decision to not invest in upgrading and maintaining the trails, which is really disappointing.
I do hold hope that the "Bike Buller" brand and the DH program is going somewhere in the next couple of years but they need to INVEST now. If they don't invest soon all the patronage and good will they have built up will be gone.
I am so sick of seeing countless vids of km after km of buffed singletrack and enormous Whistler style venues all around the world and that's what we get dished up here in Aus........?
Right on, Wisey, I certainly won't waste my money on flogged out tracks like what Buller has on offer. Its a shame to feel this way about the place that I have ridden so many times over the past ten years, but after seeing overseas offerings, there is no choice.
I have just come back from Hafjell in Norway, and let me tell you it is amazing. 13 lift accessible tracks and a pro level shop (that I worked in during my stay) with a rental fleet of 50 DH bikes. They also have big events like ANTI Days of Thunder there to boost their profile.There is a total population over there of around 4.5 million people, with an average of 50-60 riders turning up to provincial races (equivalent to our state rounds). This is considered to be a good number for a race in Norway. our state rounds in vic are getting 200 plus riders at every event, and many more for National rounds. So their population has a far greater number of chairlifted tracks per rider... What are we doing wrong?
So what do we get for our money? Not a lot I say. Poorly maintained tracks, and now a severely limited season. Great. No more Buller for me. To the people up there I would suggest that they look at Hafjell.no for a look at what a real mountain bike park can be. Or, closer to home, You Yangs (I walked the new track down there and it looks amazing, good job guys!). There is some real commitment to the future of mountain biking going on down there, and that only means less people going to buller this summer. Good on 'em I say!
Also worth a mention is Barjarg, the new stuff up there is going to rock out, so bring on the ride days I say!
Hopefully there is someone from BSL watching this thread (wishful thinking I know), then they might take note of the disgruntled long term customers who have been going there and spending their hard earned for years, walking away from the place. I will be riding Youies this year. Sorry Buller, but enough is enough. No love for you.