So
@Smiker your recommendation of Verbier blew my puny little head clean off. I was lucky as I got there the day before they stopped all the lifts to the very very top for the season. About 3 in total above the bike park level. I think that made it an 5 lift ride from the valley floor to the highest point. The last being a tiny old rickety on person only car that lasted for about 15min.
After that it was just the 1 for the bike park but still a lot of access to high ups if willing to traverse and climb lucky I don’t at all mind a pedal.
The mix of stunningly built bike park with beautifully crafted flow trails to stupid steep and janky DH stuff was incredible in itself but up into the natural high up exposed trails next to the glacier all the way way down to the valley floor through hundreds years old villages was an experience I’ll never forget. Did it a couple of times from different routes. Couple thousand meters descending each time.
Jackass was also an experience after it had rained the previous day and night! I’m pretty sure I felt terror trying negotiate some of those tight switchbacks. Got better at it though although my my nose endo game needs work! Especially with a sheer cliff only feet to one side.
One thing I noticed in the park. Trail crews were everywhere. Also the trails were so well maintained and built there were almost zero braking bumps.
So I rode a bit of park but for me the natural trails and descending were the star of the show for me. I rode the red trails which I’d say equal a very dark black in Oz, poked my nose down some blacks but I think a full face would be essential at least and I didn’t have permission to get injured. So left those.
The yellow ‘race’ track was insane. Watching some of the pros hit the rock gardens at speed was a sight to behold. Sections were also near vertical.
I’m in Prato atm where my missus’s conference is. There are millionsof trails in the hills above and even a small DH park of sorts but couldn’t organise any of the shops or even the local ‘PratoFreeride’ FB page to help me out with any hire bikes or guides.
Anyway heading to Nice soon and I’ve been given a days leave pass. Do you or anyone else have recommendations for that region?
If anyone’s interested I’ll update this thread with some photos at trips end. Problem is I only took photos on the gondola or trails end. Too busy riding to stop and take shots. Got a few ok ones though.
I got a couple of shirts for
@Mattyp and
@frenchman but I left em on the train accidentally as I was still spellbound after staring in wonder at the Fondue and Racklett cheese vending machine! Ridiculously civilised.
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