[MinorThreat]

Stevens Pass opened last fall for two weekends with just two trails; but it appears they've done a real good job (quality over quantity) and were very well-received. They of course have plans for more but this got them on the map - - to the point where the season finale for the NW Cup will be hosted there. A sampling:

 

[MinorThreat]

and another . . .

 

[kickstand]

one other thing to point out; re: beginner trails, is make sure there's also a good selection of intermediate trails. i've been to plays where its either super easy or super tech, with little in between. with intermediate trails, its ok to have stunts intermixed, but its important to have a go-around, and also that they are both well marked.

Agreed. I'd like to take my girlfriend and my 6 year old on more trips, which would equal more trips for me, but it just isn't possible at most bike parks.

Resorts should realize that most MTB'ers have girlfriends. MTB'ers would be able to go on more resort trips if they were able to get those girlfriends into MTB at the resort.

Some of us also have young kids. My girlfriend is getting better, but still isn't into the idea of gnarly rock gardens and road gaps.

Seven Springs 007 trail kept her happy for an entire weekend, but she would have loved to be able to hit a few different trails as well. She raced massanutten this weekend but wasn't able to finish the lower rock garden, she still had fun.

If that is true, why are most mtb events complete sausage fests?

.

Maybe because she doesn't find it very fun to spend 12 hours one way in the car to arrive at a trail she isn't skilled enough to ride enjoyably? so she stays home....

 

[MDJ]

(lNorthstar is especially guilty of this).

Resorts should realize that most MTB'ers have girlfriends. MTB'ers would be able to go on more resort trips if they were able to get those girlfriends into MTB at the resort.

Northstar is guilty of a lot of things.

Mammoth does a much better job on all fronts. My wife and kids love going there. After a day on the lifts for me, I get to ride Uptown/Downtown with the family. I spend a lot of money at Mammoth each year and only a few lift tickets a N*.

 

[DORO]

Well, you're mostly arguing semantics but I'll bite anyways. If maiden was the first trail every built, then fine, it will still go down in my book as arguably the worst "DH" trail ever built. It was the equivalent of something you might find at lynn woods or your friend's backyard. Everything since then has been a small upgrade until the re-work of upper hemlock, then the rework of NE style, then the rework of FF, then the addition of happy hour, then the addition of hellion, and so on. There was like one year where the trail building direction changed, and it's been better since then.

Anyways, IMO it wasn't necessarily that those trails created 'buzz' that promoted highland, but rather #1) Location, and 2) enormous investment. Highland is only 1.5hr from Boston, and is easily accessible from all of New England. That proximity makes it a prime destination vs. 2.5 hrs for Jiminy, 3 for SR, and 3.5 for Killington, which were all the closest options. I think the prime factor is the investment though, both financially and time wise. One thing that people may not realize is that since Highland is a bike-only park, the trails do not get plowed in the winter time. That's why Alpine was so successful, and what I think a lot of other mountains forget. Highland has the ability to make fantastic trails with no fear that they'll be gone by Spring. Add to that the operators and employees are die-hard committed to bikes, and you don't get the attitude that biking is a sideshow to bring a few more dollars in the summertime. Finally, they spend a ton of money on that place. The training centers, camps, facilities, shop, lift, trails, drainage, EVERYTHING is for bikes and it's all done right. No other mountain can boast that. I think that's why Highland succeeds...people want to ride there, and by treating bikers like customers, they keep going back.

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.

 

[norbar]

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]

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]

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?

 

[Sandwich]

Anywhere in the 30s depending on quality. Highland is at 38, pikll at 35.

 

[kidwoo]

1500 vert

Consistent drop within a single trail or two?


I'd pay 40!