Munich, May 9th 2013 – The season has just started and mountain bikers are about to swarm back to the bike parks. For a fair price, the GraVity Card offers all the excitement, fun and riding diversity mountain bike enthusiasts need. Spread throughout Europe, the 12 bike parks include the best bike-spots in central Europe. Bikepark Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis is the newest member to join the union this year. Check out the teaser to get a taste of the action awaiting you this season with the GraVity Card:
Tired of polishing your bike and double, triple checking the setup? No worries, because the time has finally arrived to roll out and hit the bike park. Actually, 12 bike parks to be exact. 12 of Europe’s leading bike parks are opening for the 2014 season and you can have flat-rate-riding all year long!
From April 19th to November 2nd (validity: please consider the actual opening hours of the particular member parks) you can enjoy endless flowy tracks and freeride trails. For just 385 Euro (€ 305 for teenagers, € 195 for children) you can get unlimited access to all of the 12 union bike parks. You can buy the GraVity Card at one of the participating bike parks or order directly online, just visit: gravity-card.com.
Founded only last year, Bikepark Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis has quickly become a mountain bike hot spot and is now the newest member of the Gravity Card union. Situated in the middle of the Austrian Alps, it will reinforce the GraVity Card portfolio, offering everything a real bike park needs.
Even though we all love a good shred, the GraVity Card offers so much more. Its validity will also grant you season long access to some of the most thrilling mountain bike events hosted by the union bike parks. Let’s make our way through the 2014 calendar, so you can already start planning your next trip to a GraVity Card bike park.
Specialized Bike Park Pohorje in Slovenia is kicking off the European Downhill Season with the first race of the iXS European Downhill Cup from May 17th to 18th. Also coming up in May is the iXS Dirt Masters Festival from May 29th to June 1st. So why not enjoy a good rip through the forest at Bikepark Winterberg and then stop by to check out the festival. Alternatively, take a short trip over to the Czech Republic and shred Bikepark Spicak. The official opening takes place on May 31st, but on June 7th you have the chance to test all the newest CUBE models during the CUBE Stereo Test Tour, don’t miss it!
Naturally, there is one bike park that you cannot ignore this season: start planning your next trip to Saalfelden Leogang during the Out of Bounds Festival from June 12th to 15th. Bikepark Leogang will once again host the freeride pros during the 26TRIX dirt jump competition, as well as the best downhill riders for the UCI Mountain Bike Downhill World Cup and the world’s finest Four-cross racers for the UCI Four-cross World Championships. All this action packed into one awesome weekend!
Looking slightly further ahead, why not journey over to Bikepark Planai on June 19th – 22nd? The Gravity Games features another entertaining weekend with pumptrack eliminator action during the Pump the City race. Bikepark Planai’s flowy trails are also the perfect playground for the fun orientated Austrian Whip-Offs. It is also an official stop on the iXS European Downhill Cup!
Entering July, if you love a good party after a day at the park, then the Bikes and Beats Festival in Saalbach Hinterglemm from July 3rd to 6th is the perfect place for you! Shortly after, the iXS German Downhill Cup will then stop over at another GraVity Card bike park, Bikepark Bad Wildbad. From July 11th to 13th Germany’s best downhill racers will be speeding through the beautiful Black Forest in Germany. If you think you are up for the challenge then sign up for the amateur race during the German downhill amateur championships the same weekend.
Crossing the half waypoint, in August, fat tricks and the finest downhill action will be presented in Bikepark Wagrain during the Symphony Jam Session Weekend (August 2nd to 3rd). Young shredder should definitely check out Bikepark Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis this season. The new Kona MTB-Festival Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis will be Europe’s biggest youth-event of the gravity scene. It features the iXS Rookies Cup and the iXS International Rookies Championship from August 7th – 10th. To round off the month of August, Bikepark Zau[:ber:]g Semmering is hosting the only endurance downhill race: “Race the night” is a 24 hours downhill race. The “Iron Man” of mountain biking!
Specialized Bikepark Pohorje will launch its new endure event: “WHERE THE TRAIL BEGINS” during the Maribor Festival from September 12th to 15th. On the same weekend, Bikepark Geisskopf will present a unique race for the ‘old timers’. If you have a downhill bike no younger than from 2004, you can join the Oldschool DH Race with special guest Rob Warner. This race has fun for everyone guaranteed!
Before the season is over, head back to Leogang and Saalbach Hinterglemm for the final stop of the Specialized-SRAM Enduro Series. As part of Leogang’s “Biketember Festival” also the iXS European Downhill Cup final and the Scott Junior Trophy take both place from September 19th to 21st.
You can take part in all of this action for the single cost of the GraVity Card. More information about the GraVity Card can be found 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:
June 4th to 7th: Bike four Peaks / starting stage in Leogang
June 12th to 15th: Out of Bounds Festival
UCI Mountain Bike Downhill World Cup | UCI Four-cross World Championships | 26TRIX
September 19th to 21st: Biketember Festival
iXS European Downhill Cup Final Stop | Specialized-SRAM Enduro Series (Leogang & Saalbach Hinterglemm) | SCOTT Junior Trophy
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 3rd – 6th: Bikes and Beats Festival
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/