Munich, July 21st 2014 – One ski-pass for Europe? Unheard of! One bike-pass for the entire continent? The GraVity Card has you covered. The GraVity Card connects Europe’s 12 best bike parks and offers eager bikers a broad range of trails at a flatrate-price. The only thing left is to pack up your bike and hit the best tracks in central Europe.
Once your car is packed to the brim with bikes, gear and energy drinks a roadtrip is undeniably the jolliest way to spend this sun-blessed time of the year. But where do you go? Where are the most flowy freeride trails? Where are the most fun downhill tracks? With the GraVity Card in your pocket, you don’t have to think about it: just hit the road and explore the top bike parks.
1 continent, 4 countries, 12 bike parks. This extensive offer is one-of-a-kind throughout sport disciplines. Only the very best bike parks are members of the GraVity Card union. For downhill addicts this comes down to: frequently maintained tracks, top-notch infrastructure and a broad variety of trails. Rental bikes, washing stations, camping grounds and accommodation – you name it, these parks have it. If you would dare to pack all GraVity bike parks into one huge road trip, your car would roll about 2.140 kilometers (1.330 miles) across the continent. Sounds like a pretty sweet plan, right?
83 tracks. In other words, at least 83 reasons to have the GraVity Card in your pocket. The range of trails covers all riding levels, from challenging downhill tracks to broad and easy beginner trails with rollers and perfectly shaped berms. Slopestyle areas, air bags, pumptracks and training areas are the icing on the cake in most of the parks.
7,500 vertical meters (24,600 ft.). Even for a hardcore enduro rider that is a lot. But with the GraVity Card, the park gondalas will take you to the top of every mountain without even breaking a sweat. Perfect conditions to make sure you are in good shape to drop in and rip the trail. Once you’re behind the bars, ready to roll, you can choose from trails with 180 meters (590 ft.) of vertical drop to heart pulsing downhill rides covering more than 1,000 vertical meters (3,280 ft.). Either way, fun is guaranteed.
145 days. That is how long you could spend on the road and in the parks. For more than 20 weeks, you can hit the best tracks in the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Germany and Austria. But simply – you best get hold of a GraVity Card as fast as possible because summer is here and the bike parks are waiting!
The GraVity Card sells for 385,- euros (youth: 305,- euros, children: 195,- euros) and is valid until November 2nd, 2014. Please keep in mind the different operating times of the individual lift stations. The GraVity Card can be purchased online or at the participation bike parks.
Further information on: gravity-card.com.
An overview of all 12 GraVity bike parks:
Bike Park – Leogang
The bike region of Saalfelden Leogang and Bikepark Leogang were honored with the hosting of the UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships 2012 and the yearly UCI Mountain Bike Downhill Worldcups. Sensational competitions and thousands of fascinated visitors made these events absolute mountain bike fests! Get yourself on the trails and check out the demanding world championship course or have a ride on freeride and North Shore single trials! On the 9 different trails at Bikepark Leogang every rider, whether rookie or pro will find his favorite challenge.
Opening Times
May 15th – October 26th 2014
Top events:
August 10th to 14th: Rookie II & Freeride Camp for Youngsters
August 31st: 3rd MTB Hillclimb & 6th Asitz mountain run
September 19th to 21st: Biketember Festival
iXS European Downhill Cup Final Stop | Specialized-SRAM Enduro Series (Leogang & Saalbach Hinterglemm) | SCOTT Junior Trophy
October 3rd to 5th: Fan Weekend
October 3rd to 5th: Girls shred too ladies bike park and freeride camp
Further information on: www.bikepark-leogang.com
Bike Park – Saalbach Hinterglemm
Freeriding in its purest form
4 cable cars on 4 different mountains and a connected network of 400 km paths & trails as well as a great infrastructure – these are the ingredients for a biking paradise at its best. In addition to the wide range of trails for every age and skill level, the Freeride Region of Saalbach Hinterglemm attracts furthermore with pumptrack & technique area, bike & service shops, events & camps, guiding, etc. Special highlight: The BIG-5-BIKE Challenge guarantees maximum freeride feeling in one day.
Opening dates:
May 23rd – October 26th 2014 (Please note the different operating times of the cable cars)
Top events:
July 25th – 27th: Lake of Charity
September 4th – 7th: World Games of Mountainbiking
September 21st: Specialized-SRAM Enduro Series (Leogang & Saalbach Hinterglemm)
Further information on: saalbach.com/freeride
Bike Park – Zau[:ber:]g Semmering
Bikepark Zau[:ber:]g Semmering offers a wide range of trails for all age groups and skill levels. New in 2014: Recreation of the finishing area, a new flowy line with big berms and 2 tables. Drop Battery: New battery on the Sweet & Sexy line. With 3 different heights from 1 meter to 2,5 meters, it is suitable for beginners as well as for pro riders.
Opening dates:
May: Thursday to Sunday
June: Thursday to Sunday plus June 9th and 10th
July and August: daily
September and October: Thursday to Sunday until 26th of October
From 9:00am to 5:00pm
Top event:
August 16th to 17th: 8th 24 hours Downhill “race the night”. About 400 riders will heat up Zau[:ber:]g Semmering and provide hot racing action! The worldwide unique endurance downhill race already has an excellent reputation in the bike scene and attracts downhill experts as well as amateur thrill seekers.
Further information on: bikeparksemmering.at/
Bike Park – Wagrain
Centrally located, only 60 km south of Salzburg and conveniently close to the highway Tauernautobahn A10. In a few short minutes the Flying Mozart gondola will transport you to the start, where visitors can expect a complete selection of trails for all abilities. For example the wide flowing, machine built trails like “On Air” and the legendary “Symphony” or the old school single tracks “Angry Ants” and “Memories”. The cool variety of trails not only challenges professionals and satisfies adrenaline junkies, it also introduces newbies to the Gravity scene with a perfect playground. Lilly’s Treat – this super flowy trail is packed with berms and rounds off the diverse mix of tracks at Bikepark Wagrain!
Opening dates:
May 24th to May 25th, May 29th to June 1st, June 3rd, June 5th July 3rd, June 7th to 9th and June 12th: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, plus June 20th
July 5th to August 31st: Daily
From 9:00am to 5:00pm
Top event:
August 2nd to 3rd: Symphony Jam Session Weekend
Further information on: bikewagrain.com
Bike Park – Planai
1,000 vertical meters of pure adrenaline and 12 km of fantastic trails! Mountain bikers are going mad about Austria’s longest downhill course here. The start is at 1830 m, and can be reached by taking the Planai cable car. Then, it’s downhill for 4,5 km along fabulous trails. Different levels of difficulty cater for variety; the „Rookie Trail“, the „Flowline“ and the „Jack Lumber Trail“. Time and top speed measurement are included, so that you can see how you rate against your friends. The Alpreif bike centre provides bikers with the equipment they need and is also available as a guiding point with excellent advice.
Opening dates:
nonstop from May 29th to October 5th respectively October 11th/12th 2014
Top events:
June 18th to 22nd: Gravity Games
June 19th: Austrian Whip offs
June 21st: Pump the City
June 22nd: iXS European Downhill Cup
July 12th: Shoot in Thrill – Public Photo Shooting
August 23rd: Shoot in Thrill – Public Photo Shooting
Further information on: bikeparkplanai.at
Bike Park – Winterberg
Germany’s bikepark with the widest variety of tracks: 10 professionally shaped courses with a total length of 10 km. From downhillers to slopestylers, from beginners to pros, in Winterberg there is something for everyone. For the 2014 season, shaper guru Diddie Schneider will work over and optimize all the tracks and the all-new six-person chairlift makes queuing a thing of the past. The Bikepark Winterberg offers everything that a biker’s heart desires: top rental bikes & equipment, MTB lessons, DH camps, catering for every budget and cheap accommodation incl. a bikepark ticket discount at Hostel Erlebnisberg Kappe which is just 200 m away.
Opening dates:
Early April until November 2nd
Monday to Sunday, from 9.30am to 5.30pm
Top event:
May 29th – June 1st: iXS Dirt Masters – Europe’s biggest Mountainbike Freeride Festival: more than 35,000 spectators, 180 exhibitors in the expo area and 1,800 riders from 20 different countries. Contests: iXS German Downhill Cup, SKS Slopestyle, BikeUnit 4X Rumble, TSG Cash for Tricks, etc.
Further information on: bikepark-winterberg.de
Bike Park – Pohorje
The season at Specialized Bike Park Pohorje is already in full swing in early April! We open first and close last – Europe’s longest bike park season! Just 60 km from Graz, 250 km from Vienna, 350 km from Budapest and 450 km from Munich, you can descend 717 vertical meters and ride almost 15 km of: endless flowing, technical and rooty Freeride trails, a new slopestyle course, the legendary World Cup Trail (since 1998), a bike camp, good food & party atmosphere, bag jump and a dirt park & BMX line. Each trail offers a different flavor for all styles of riding!
Opening dates:
Early April until early November
Top events:
Early April: Spank MTB Weekend – Whipstar 2014 – Season Opening Weekend
May 9th to 11th: Slovenian National Downhill Championships
May 15th to 17th: iXS European Downhill Cup #1 Maribor – first season race!
May 23rd to 24th: Test the Best of Specialized
September 12th to 15th: “WHERE THE TRAIL BEGINS” Maribor Bike-Festival 2014
End of October: Season Closing Day
Further information on: bikeparkpohorje.si
Bike Park – Geisskopf
The MTB Zone Bikepark at the Geisskopf is the world’s first bike park and celebrates in this season its 15th anniversary. It is famous for its versatile and well-tended trails and offers for tracks and lines for every skill level. Rolling down the new “Flow Country trail” puts a smile on everyone’s face. Together with the surrounding Bayerischer Wald, the largest woodland area in Europe, the bike park guarantees (!!), brilliant conditions for “all-mountain” riders.
Opening dates:
April 18th to October 26th
From 9:00am to 5:00pm (last gondola ride at 4:45pm!)
Top event:
September 13th to 14th: Oldschool DH Race (only bike older than 2004), with special guest Rob Warner
Further information on: bikepark.net
Bike Park – Bad Wildbad
The bike park offers a total of eight routes with very different demands. The park is most famous for its spectacular downhill courses. One of them is repeatedly the location for the national championships. Both freeride trails will be shaped with new fun elements in 2014 again. The 4-Cross course, designed by Guido Tschugg is among the longest and most attractive courses in Europe. During July and August the Park offers the possibility on “long Fridays” to ride till 8pm.
Top event:
July 11th-13th: iXS German Downhill Cup including German Amateur Championships
Further information on: bikepark-bad-wildbad.de
Bike Park – Spicak
The Spicak Bike Park is situated in the Böhmerwald protected landscape area, on the border with Bavaria. Famous and renowned for its freeride-trails that intersect and connect with other trails and therefore you can choose from numerous variations of runs that suit you best. What would be a bike park without wallride? Bikepark Spicak offers a brand new wallride this season: Bigger, better and higher! Also in the jump park four new jumps were built. If going to Spicak, then on a bike! At the lower chair lift station you will find a bike renting point offering new AGang bikes this year. Additional facilities also include a bike servicing station, bike school and showers.
Opening dates:
May 31st to October 26th
Top events:
May 31st: Summer Start
June 7th to 8th: CUBE Stereo Test Tour
June 14th: Bikepark Opening Party
July 18th to 20th: iXS European Downhill Cup
September 21st: Specialized Enduro Series
Further information on: spicak.cz
Bike Park – Tirol
The mountain bike region Wipptal knows how to make mountain bikers’ hearts pump faster: in June 2014, the Bikepark Tirol starts its third season. The perfectly shaped trails, optimal traffic connections and a very well maintained infrastructure make this new bike hot spot interesting for all mountain bikers throughout Europe. From the freeride trails, to the slopestyle area and the downhill track – the new bike park guarantees pure fun for beginners as well as for pro riders.
Opening dates:
May 29th – June 20th: Friday to Sunday
June 19th – September 14th: Monday to Sunday
September 15th – September 28th: Friday to Sunday
Further information on: bikepark-tirol.at
Bike Park – Serfaus Fiss Ladis
Tyrol’s biggest bike park makes freerider’s hearts pump heavier. Three flowy beginner lines, suitable for little and big shredders, as well as speedy freeride lines guaranteeing massive airtime you will find everything here. Of course the bike park also offers natural trails, full of northshores and roots sections. It the healthy mix of trails that makes Bikepark Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis so appealing. In the high alpine region the Frommestrail baits with more than 1,000 altitude meters of descent. “Styler” will feel quite comfortable in the brand new dirt park and on the slopestyle area. For the youngest riders the kids park offers beginner-obstacles for pure riding fun. The bike park bar and the Chill area invite to come down after a great day of riding with some bbq-sessions. Who still is not completely satisfied should check out the pump track. New: Supernatural (Flow-line), DH-line and dirt park
Opening dates:
June 7th to October 19th daily
Top events:
June 7th to 8th: Season Opening
August 7th to 10th: Kona MTB-Festival Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis for bike young guns (including iXS Rookies Cup, iXS international Rookies Championships, Austrian DH Cup, O’Neal Rookies Slopestyle, Rookies Enduro Challenge; Pumptrack Session, Father & Son Challenge)
Further information on: bikepark-sfl.at/