With one of the largest trail systems in the East, a certified IMBA Ride Center, and a lineup of noteworthy race events, there’s a lot of love, passion, and hard work that goes into this West Virginia mountain biking destination. It takes an army…well a crew or 12 people and volunteers…to build, rehab, and maintain the trails pre-summer and throughout the summer.
Maintaining the Bike Park
Once the slopes have closed for the winter season and the snow starts to melt, the Snowshoe Bike Park Crew kicks it into high gear. What does it take to get the trails ready for opening day after they’ve laid dormant under a blanket of snow for the past 5 months? A whole heck of a lot.
The Best Bike Park in West Virginia
First, they must assess the trails to see how much damage was done throughout the winter and how much rehab will be needed to get the trails ready for summer.
Next, the crew sets out to rock rake, leaf blow, rebuild, reshape, clear drainage systems, create new features….and rock rake some more. This process takes the crew of 12, months to complete and they must upkeep and maintain the trails throughout the season, as well.
Trail building is an art form. Especially when working at Snowshoe, as our bike park is known for its legendary roots and rocks. It’s imperative to keep the park natural and “forever wild,” while also holding safety, fun, and flow in the highest regard.
Building New Trails
Along with keeping the Bike Park in tip-top shape throughout the season, the crew stays busy building new trails. Last September, a new blue trail named Dirt Beaver opened. It’s full of deep berms linked with some sweet flow sections and is great for beginners that are ready to progress from Easy Street. This summer the crew is working on Whistle Pig, a green trail, that’s set to open later this summer. By adding more green and blue lift-served downhill trails, we hope to be able to introduce more people to the sport of mountain biking.
Prepping for Race Events
And don’t forget about prepping for race events – someone has to put up all that race tape! This summer our schedule is packed with race events. Starting with Downhill Southeast happening June 12-13, 2021, the W.V. Enduro series going down October 2-3, 2021, and the Mercedes-Benz UCI Mountain Bike World Cup slated for September 18-19, 2021, and July 29-31, 2022. From racing to spectating, we guarantee you don’t want to miss a race day at 4,848′.
2021 Snowshoe Bike Park Opening
The Snowshoe Bike Park is now open for the 2021 Summer season, daily through October 17. A partial park will be open Monday – Wednesday with only the Basin trails being accessible. A full park will be open Thursday – Sunday and holiday Monday’s with the Basin and Western Territory trails being accessible. Grab a 2021 Snowshoe Bike Park Season Pass for a summer of unlimited riding and pass perks. Or get a day lift ticket to get a taste of the best bike park in West Virginia.
Thank a Bike Park Crew Member!
Next time you see a Snowshoe Bike Park Crew member, be sure to fist bump them. The amount of strenuous effort they put into getting the trails ready and maintaining them throughout the season is impressive. It’s not easy to maintain one of the largest trail systems in the East, but their passion for the sport really shines through!
