Panorama Bike Park 2014 - New Jumps and Escape from Alcatraz
Panorama Bike Park Update #3 - New Jump Line
It has been awhile since our last post, but that’s because we have been super crushing out new and improved trails for you to ride than to sit typing frustratingly at the computer. Here’s a quick recap.
Mercy Me – New Jump Line
The crew has been salivating to initiate this project since last fall. One of our most popular runs, Mercy Me, is receiving a major upgrade. 12 new blue jumps are being added after the dirt wall ride.
![Panorama Bike Park 2014 - New Jumps and Escape from Alcatraz]()
The wall ride before entering the new jump line.
![Panorama Bike Park 2014 - New Jumps and Escape from Alcatraz]()
Rich and Steph testing the upper line.
Our strategy has been to build a couple of jumps, test them for flow, make the necessary tweaks and move on. As of today we have built 3 new tables and a massive berm. Like Goldie Locks exclaimed as she invaded the home of the 3 bears, “they are just right”.
![Panorama Bike Park 2014 - New Jumps and Escape from Alcatraz]()
Steph over jump 3 before entering the berm.
![Panorama Bike Park 2014 - New Jumps and Escape from Alcatraz]()
Owen sends it.
The flavor of this run is decidedly blue in nature allowing progression for all levels of riders. If you have not hit jumps before this will be a great place to cut your teeth.
www.trailforks.com
This project is dovetailed with the continued development of our green trail, Let it Ride. The new jump line is being built on a road section that originally belonged to Let it Ride. Once the line is complete we will begin reclaiming a section of Mercy Me to continue the sweetly twisting Let it Ride experience.
www.trailforks.com
We are striving to have the jump line ready to go for the weekend of July 26th. This date is now a bit precarious as our supervisor and main architect broke his collar bone as of yesterday. The crew will pick up his gun and march on.
Alcatraz
Alcatraz is a major rock feature on Bender. This venerable section needed a little love to improve rideabilty. The green line flows much better and the ailing teeter totter has been replaced with a steep blue roll down.
www.trailforks.com
![Panorama Bike Park 2014 - New Jumps and Escape from Alcatraz]()
The new green line on Alcatraz
![Panorama Bike Park 2014 - New Jumps and Escape from Alcatraz]()
The foundation for the blue roll down.
![Panorama Bike Park 2014 - New Jumps and Escape from Alcatraz]()
Rich swings his hammer in a precarious place.
![Panorama Bike Park 2014 - New Jumps and Escape from Alcatraz]()
Just need to finish the catch berm and she’s good to go.
Canada Cup
The racers came and went as fast as they descended the track. We made a number of major improvements and additions to the track with you in mind. There is a new route on the Cliffs of Insanity that is reminiscent of A-Line rock. This leads to a sender with a long landing and then over to an area with new gappable rock gardens and senders. Make sure you check it out when you are here next.
![Panorama Bike Park 2014 - New Jumps and Escape from Alcatraz]()
The new Cliff’s route
![Panorama Bike Park 2014 - New Jumps and Escape from Alcatraz]()
Rock Garden
A major congrats to Panorama/ Back Door Riding team member, Matt Monod, for his second place at the Canadian National DH Champs at Sun Peaks.
![...]()
Matt Monod charging his way to the podium.
Happy Riding,
Pano Trail Crew
Panorama Mountain Village
www.trailforks.com
It has been awhile since our last post, but that’s because we have been super crushing out new and improved trails for you to ride than to sit typing frustratingly at the computer. Here’s a quick recap.
Mercy Me – New Jump Line
The crew has been salivating to initiate this project since last fall. One of our most popular runs, Mercy Me, is receiving a major upgrade. 12 new blue jumps are being added after the dirt wall ride.
Our strategy has been to build a couple of jumps, test them for flow, make the necessary tweaks and move on. As of today we have built 3 new tables and a massive berm. Like Goldie Locks exclaimed as she invaded the home of the 3 bears, “they are just right”.
The flavor of this run is decidedly blue in nature allowing progression for all levels of riders. If you have not hit jumps before this will be a great place to cut your teeth.
www.trailforks.com
This project is dovetailed with the continued development of our green trail, Let it Ride. The new jump line is being built on a road section that originally belonged to Let it Ride. Once the line is complete we will begin reclaiming a section of Mercy Me to continue the sweetly twisting Let it Ride experience.
www.trailforks.com
We are striving to have the jump line ready to go for the weekend of July 26th. This date is now a bit precarious as our supervisor and main architect broke his collar bone as of yesterday. The crew will pick up his gun and march on.
Alcatraz
Alcatraz is a major rock feature on Bender. This venerable section needed a little love to improve rideabilty. The green line flows much better and the ailing teeter totter has been replaced with a steep blue roll down.
www.trailforks.com
Rich swings his hammer in a precarious place.
Canada Cup
The racers came and went as fast as they descended the track. We made a number of major improvements and additions to the track with you in mind. There is a new route on the Cliffs of Insanity that is reminiscent of A-Line rock. This leads to a sender with a long landing and then over to an area with new gappable rock gardens and senders. Make sure you check it out when you are here next.
A major congrats to Panorama/ Back Door Riding team member, Matt Monod, for his second place at the Canadian National DH Champs at Sun Peaks.
Happy Riding,
Pano Trail Crew
Panorama Mountain Village
www.trailforks.com
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That's just my opinion though. I love riding natural tech but I rarely enjoy technical woodwork, so I'm obviously biased.
imo expert lines should stay that way, keep the beginners off trails where others are going much faster.
The new routes on Alcatraz are far from green or blue. Sorry that the wording caused confusion. Originally there were 3 levels of commitment/consequence and there still is. Maybe the straight shot that replaced the teeter is not that "creative" but it still requires skill and commitment to hit, and in the final analysis - fun. There is no desire to create a "flow trail" out of the Alcatraz section of Bender but there is a desire to put better flow into the trail.
The Pano Crew is trying to create the best riding experience they can for all levels of riders. They are avid riders themselves and are very committed to trying to create a world class park on the solid bones they were given. Progress is full of give and take. It creates both supporters and detractors. You lose some people and you gain others. We sincerely don't want to lose any of you and hope that you will be able to embrace the change. Constructive feedback is always welcome.
Come on out, give it a ride, and then let us know how you feel.
It's been quite a few years since I last rode Alcatraz. I always hated it. I think I was only able to clean the "green" line once. Threading the needle through those trees while turning was crazy difficult. And the drop line was never, in my mind at that time, a great option, because the trail below was always blown out with no real catch berm. So while I can see the point the dumbing down this feature, I glad that they at least did something with it. I'm not convinced that there is room in this sport for teeter-toter drops. Teeters, sure. But teeter drops? The risk spinal injury is too high, even for highly skilled riders who can clean them 95% of the time.