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Bike Park, Maybe?

Borneo

Turbo Monkey
Mar 22, 2004
1,010
0
Duvall
We can only hope.

Knowing the traditional winter rivalry with Stevens and their plan to move forward with lift served biking in the coming years (see the many threads on this here and elsewhere...) a little friendly competition between the two areas would be a good thing for all of us. I may actually have to buy a dedicated DH bike if that happens. But, I'm not sure if the region could support two adequate (compared to Whistler) local areas at this point.

Sure, people will post here that they will buy season passes, etc. But, this forum is still a very small segment of the greater mtb community.
 

Skookum

bikey's is cool
Jul 26, 2002
10,184
0
in a bear cave
But, I'm not sure if the region could support two adequate (compared to Whistler) local areas at this point.
i disagree. It didn't work back in the day, but in the current times there would be more support. There were some mistakes made in trail design that would be fixed by using the Whistler model. There are better designed bikes that enable people to ride over their heads without dying. And there are more and more people taking advantage of the technical side of mt. biking than there were back then.

i just think things would be done with a little better planning, information about getting help to build trail would be coordinated better, we're building a solid foundation with Colonnade and the Snoqualmie Parks, getting more people interested. Not to mention all the die-hards who don't need to be sold on the idea on this board who've been waiting for this for years. The support that will get the gravity lift parks to work is the new folks, the weekend warriors, the curious.

What we had at Snoqualmie before was rocky gnar and steep rooty terrain. Everything was steep and rugged. Still would be nice to keep that vibe, but as Trailhacker has mentioned it wasn't too inclusive to the newbs. New trails, technology with better big bikes (i mean my XC bike has more travel today than most DH bikes had back then), and a stronger infrastructure with the club and better refined communication through the webbe.

And Crystal trails just plain sucked and they only had the one lift take you a third of the way up... As i've said they have more potential there for better trails, better potential than Snoqualmie but....
 

Borneo

Turbo Monkey
Mar 22, 2004
1,010
0
Duvall
It's ok to agree to disagree.

IF Snoqualmie ever got anything halfway decent, there's no way Stevens could make any money with the planned trail system they have in their proposal (one run for each level of difficulty per chair.). It would get boring pretty fast. Which was part of the problem with Snoqualmie back when. People just won't drive that much farther from Seattle for a day fix for the same amount of vertical.

It would be interesting to find out what the percentages are of gravity using mountain bikers in the greater Seattle to those who use the lifts in the winter. I just don't think the numbers are there to support two local venues with Whistler nearby. I hope I'm wrong but...
 

muddy beast

Turbo Monkey
Nov 26, 2005
1,815
0
I'd check both out several times over the summer if they desided to get mountain bike parks going.

Sure, one run would get boring...but you could mix it up, and I can make a day trip out of stevens pass pretty easily...which makes me happy.
 

evilbob

Monkey
Mar 17, 2002
948
0
Everett, Wa
....People just won't drive that much farther from Seattle for a day fix for the same amount of vertical.
...
I would be one to disagree with that. That is because...are you ready... here it comes...not all riders are from Seattle...what how can that be? Some times we all tend to center everything we do around Seattle and King County. Back in the day a day trip to Snoqualmie for me was getting out of the Lazy "B" in Everett early during the week and BAM I was there. On the weekends two days of lift riding. Now with traffic I don't think I could make either location during the week but I know I could ride a bunch more DH at either Sno or Stevens for allot less than Whistler on the weekends. Besides there is the added BONUS of...NO BOARDER CROSSING, no long drive and no waiting to get back in the US, real easy to get out but a pain in the butt if you are comming back the legal way. I would still hit Whistler but ultimately ride more DH in state. Besides then we might be able to have a real race series going again, maybe alternating between Sno, Stevens and maybe Mt. Hood. Mmmmmm Snoqualmie Gnar and broken bikes mmmmmm now that's racing! No babies butt smooth WIM courses allowed... :weee:
 

muddy beast

Turbo Monkey
Nov 26, 2005
1,815
0
I'm with Evilbob on this one...races would be nice to have at a place so close as stevens.

P.S. Evil, have we ridden together? I notice you live in Everett...if we havent, we should.
 

muddy beast

Turbo Monkey
Nov 26, 2005
1,815
0
I ride a Black Demo 9 (rarely these days) and a red FOES FXR 2:1 mostly when I ride. Oh and I am probably much older than you...and slower these days :twitch:
I've probly seen you riding the bike or taking it out at the enterance, I know I've seen Demo 9s before, and I think I've seen one foes.

But no we havent ridden before...let me know when your avalible and I'll take you down the north ridge line, its been completely re-made by some local kids...the closest trail to whistler we have at the gultch.
 

carbuncle

Monkey
Dec 2, 2004
364
0
Edmonds, WA
I just finished reading the entire Stevens document, that's a very encouraging plan! It describes an approach remiscent to what was at Cypress in 2005 during the first few months, and that was pretty fun. The "beginner" line was silly, but they were running a couple of blue trails that were similar to what middle B-line and lower CIU are now and they were worth a day's ride (to me, anyway). Regardless of what they do I'll buy a season pass on spec: I'll support them just for trying so that we can have something decent eventually! Dang, would it be nice to have lift served riding in Washington.
 

Stevenspass

Monkey
Sep 6, 2007
103
0
Leavenworth, WA
I will say that we are currently, as we speak, working with the FS on our plan. The timeframe for construcition is still in their hands. It could be as fast as 6 months for approval it could be 12 months. We are preparing right now a construction plan that will get approved internally this month so we can start as soon as we get approval.

I would not get to hung up on the one trail thing. We are planning one excavated trail per level with multiple single track abound. Even so I could ride Dirt Merchant alot before I got tired of it. Granted it will take us a couple of years to build out. But even Whistler was not created over night.
 

Stevenspass

Monkey
Sep 6, 2007
103
0
Leavenworth, WA
Make sure you let us know that people are interested... whether through email or via this or other forums. We are keeping emails that are sent into info@stevenspass.com that are bike realted so we can call on you when the time is right. Keep posting because I am interested in what people have to say
 

AZRacerX

Monkey
Mar 4, 2003
254
0
Kent, WA
I for one am very encouraged to see someone from Stevens posting here on Ridemonkey about their plans. I have not had time to read the development plan, but those who have do you know if they are planning to build a slalom or 4X course as well, or just DH trails? Either way, I will definitely buy a season pass and be up there many weekends. Especially since I don't know too many of you locals yet and don't know where any of the unspoken locations are for other trails.

Stevenspass, please keep us updated!
 

Borneo

Turbo Monkey
Mar 22, 2004
1,010
0
Duvall
Personally, given the popularity of City League at Snoqualmie during the winter months, I've been really surprised that they have not turned Summit West into a 4x and dual slalom park and have weeknight racing.

Seems like a no brainer to me and a great suppliment to the other sorts of lift served riding.

Maybe with Boyne running the place now, someone will come to their senses.

One run of each "ability" is better than nothing, but the lines may get pretty crowded early on and the possibilty of the associated wrecks from mixing rider ability and speed. it will show a need for more options though to spread the riders out.
 

coiler7

Monkey
May 30, 2005
133
0
Kent, WA
hell, to get that place going sooner than later next season, i'd be even willing to provide some time, somehow, volunteer trail bldg, etc in June or so...
at least for some cold Henry's Dark. mmmm
:clapping:
 

carbuncle

Monkey
Dec 2, 2004
364
0
Edmonds, WA
Well, you can count on my wife and I for season passes! I'll shoot an email to the listed address from my home account later, but seriously this is a very exciting prospect for local riding. Keep up the good work and keep us all informed, great to see someone from Stevens on here interacting with the riders.
 

muddy beast

Turbo Monkey
Nov 26, 2005
1,815
0
Like I was saying before, If stevens pass gets a bike park and holds like 4 DH races in the summer (When I'm off school) I'd gladdly get a season pass and go there every week if possible.

I fully support the idea, and it would be cool to have some lift access single track, along side the DH trails.

Just let all of us on Ridemonkey know whats going on...plenty of people here (including myself) are willing to help with w/e you need!
 

SnowboardinWA

Monkey
Feb 23, 2007
880
0
Tacoma, WA
LOL.... Could you imagine, a race series that used Stevens Pass, Snoqualmie, and Mission Ridge. WOW... Who do I have to kill to make that happened?
 

bent^biker

Turbo Monkey
Feb 22, 2006
1,958
0
pdx
I'm definitely in for a season pass if I don't sell my soul to the government next year. you can chalk me up as a trail crew/bike patrol member to if you need some of that variety.
 

allsk8sno

Turbo Monkey
Jun 6, 2002
1,153
33
Bellingham, WA
i would be down, a short race series would definitely help bring people in since nothing DH has really happened in the last couple years

ps- the link is broken to the pdf
 

SnowboardinWA

Monkey
Feb 23, 2007
880
0
Tacoma, WA
I'd be willing to run the race series, how hard could it be? My Cousin ran Cycle Cyndicate, built it from nothing, put on a World Cup event at Angel Fire, then sold it to Yeti cycles. I mean, he's only gone through 6 years of college. So it should be easy.
 

Stevenspass

Monkey
Sep 6, 2007
103
0
Leavenworth, WA
Also Stevens would not be opposed to a race series. We want to get somthing like this going. I will say it may start small so we don't bit off more than we can chew but we will see.
 

mutton

Chimp
Sep 2, 2004
31
0
Seattle
This is totally awesome news to read. Stevenspass - I would suggest doing what you have already hinted at...and that is "making the most of the advice / thoughts of the local riding community". I am relatively new to the region and am totally impressed with the committment and knowledge of the riders / trail builders around here. I think that if you foster a relationship (two way communication) with a dedicated bunch of folks who will offer a ton of ideas if you have a couple of think tank sessions...then you are going to end up with an awesome bike park and something more important..which is loyalty and a sense of involvement from your locals.

Look forward to reading further