The back-and-forth weather throughout the winter here in Ontario has meant that biking has never been far from our minds. With the Toronto Bike Show coming up this weekend, and Opening Day less than 80 days away, we thought it was prime time for an update.
After a few summers of continued expansion that saw the addition of three new trails built in cooperation with Gravity Logic, the focus has turned to making sure that our existing trail network is up to par. Trail Crew unleashed their creativity on Shot Glass and Squeeker last summer, breathing new life into trails that hadn’t seen much change since they were originally built. The plan is to continue this revamping trend throughout the summer, opening up new lines throughout the mountain.
We also have some exciting news coming to the Blue Mountain Bike Park this summer in terms of events. The East Coast Open has been our feature downhill race for the past few years, and we’re excited to announce that this year it has gained status as a sanctioned Canada Cup Downhill race! In addition, to the East Coast Open we’ve also confirmed the return of our Skills Camp, this year featuring Geoff Gulevich as the Head Coach. Geoff will be at the Blue Mountain Bike Park for, not one, not two, but seven full days of coaching in July for our classic Adult Camp, and an all new Teen Camp.
Of course, your key to it all is a 2016 Blue Mountain Bike Park Season Pass, and passes go back on sale starting Friday, March 4, 2016, at the Bike Show Special rate of $219 +HST. If you didn't pick up your Blue Mountain Bike Park Season Pass at the end of last year during the Fall Renewal period, this weekend is the time to do it as rates go up on Monday, March 7. Season Passes will be
available online and from our booth at the Toronto International Bike Show.
MENTIONS:
@bluemtnbikepark
Also, on a side note, hosting and running a race series is extremely time consuming, expensive, and shows next to no return unless its on the World stage.
As well, I fully understand the the time and cost of running a race series, but if they ran it on a better day, I believe that they may actually increase the ridership. As for cost, Blue wouldn't be running the park if they weren't making a profit, as they could replace biking with something more profitable if desired. My point is , if you take the events away that drew the racers, they eventually will go somewhere else. I would love to see the scene flourish, but racing won't flourish if there is no racing. As for people helping with the event, last year blue asked for help on their Facebook page, and then wouldn't even reply to emails offering it.
Meanwhile the bike park has continued to improve. New trails, including beginner flow trails that have made it possible for younger riders and noobies like my girlfriend to experience how awesome lift accessed riding is, jump trails that my friends and I want to lap all day, and updating existing trails like Shot Glass last season, turning it innto one of the most challenging tracks Blue has had. Blue has also taken a 2 day adult skills camp with a pro rider and expanded it to a full week, including dates for teens.
While the race scene (directly in Ontario at least) has diminished in the last few years, based on all the post and photos I see on social media from riders across Southern Ontario, the "gravity scene" is alive and growing. And from what I can tell Blue Mountain is at the centre of it all.
Those were the days!
I get that they run it on Tuesday nights being Tuesday probably isn't traditionally very busy, but it just means that there is no way that we can make the race without taking a day (or more) off of work just to drive there, race and drive home. 7 hours of driving plus entry, plus food equals not worth it.
It might great for locals, but for the rest of us that don't live close, its not feasible.
That said... think my Stump jumper is gonna be under gunned at this place?