Northern Ireland Launches Mountain Bike Strategy 2014-2024
Outdoor Recreation NI, one of the leading organisations behind the recent multi-million pound development of mountain bike trails across Northern Ireland, has this week launched a 10 year strategy for mountain biking aimed at further raising the profile of Northern Ireland as a world class mountain bike destination.
With ambitions for five new national trail centres, three new regional trail centres and six long distance rides alongside Phase II developments in Rostrevor, Castlewellan and Davagh Forest, this strategy aims to generate approximately £25 Million to the local economy per annum as a direct result of mountain biking by 2024.
Whilst these plans may sound ambitious to some, the team at Outdoor Recreation NI are passionate about harnessing Northern Ireland’s mountain biking potential and in the last 18 months have been involved in the opening of over 110km of trails across five locations including the country’s only official downhill trails in Rostrevor and dirt jumps park in Barnett Demesne.
Director of Outdoor Recreation NI, Dr Caro-Lynne Ferris, explains “Northern Ireland has an incredible natural landscape for trails and when coupled with our renowned hospitality we believe there is no better place to come and ride bikes.”
Dr Ferris continues, “It has been amazing to see Northern Ireland’s new trail centres being visited over 100,000 times since their launch in 2013. However never ones to rest on our laurels we want to build on the success of these current trail centres and we see development potential in Glenariff, Binevenagh, Lough Navar, Tollymore and Gortin Glen forest parks to name just a few.”
Events form another important strand to this strategy for mountain biking in Northern Ireland and Outdoor Recreation NI believe that the country’s current and future proposed trail centres can host at least two mountain bike events of international status by 2024.
Chris Scott, manager of Outdoor Recreation NI’s consumer brand, MountainBikeNI.com, explains “With international standard trail centres comes the opportunity to host international standard events. This is obviously an excellent way to drive out-of-state visitor numbers however events such as the UCI World Cup etc also offer significant PR opportunities which will help to positively raise the profile of Northern Ireland across the world.”
Mr Scott continues, “We make no secret of our ambitions to bring national and international standard mountain biking events to Northern Ireland and we certainly feel that our trails centres are worthy of hosting the world’s best riders.”
After so many barren years for mountain biking, Northern Ireland is now realising its potential and with the launch of this 10 year strategic plan, it suddenly now feels like the world’s fastest growing mountain bike destination. Visit www.MountainBikeNI.com for more information on Northern Ireland’s mountain bike trails and strategy moving forward.
Download the Mountain Bike Strategy for Northern Ireland 2014 - 2014
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replied to the wrong comment sorry
I have been riding/ racing since 1986 and before that skateboarding & BMX so understand how things should flow
Also currently working on sealed drive bikes, as this is how drives on mountain bikes should be
But you would really have to see the lines that are possible, but I am getting a bit old to really push what is possible in this small area, but it is about seeing the line in natural terrain, not cutting a road through a forest
The piece of ground I used was on a flood plane where the trees were distorted into natural lines that had never been ridden before
I do admit that the quality of the video clip was not great so did not show the full extent of the lines, I do plan to get some help to make a better clip that is edited but all my clips are done in one take not edited
But this is new,
Hears a link to some better clips that may show better vimeo.com/82279335
I've seen a bit of stuff about trail centres there, but nothing about the rest of the riding. I'd be unlikely to take a trip there for purely man made stuff.
Have a look at my Youtube channel for some of the videos (I use the same username as here but I can't link it via my work computer!)
Rode Rostrevor last week, check out the vid I made - www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsOvXdsgfOA
....i am saddened to see just how it is that we as people can still be so selfish, so conceited and narrow sighted.
For many many many years the sport of MTB in Northern Ireland received literally NO support at all - not a bean was spent on ths sport, no consideration whatsoever from any governing bodies at all, and now that we finally get our place on the map of international MTB, with some good trailcentres....
...and then some spoilt brats have to go on and cry "BooHoo its not good enough - make it better - change it now or else I am going to go on forums, be all negative and stuff, and leave a bad impression not just of the trails but of bikers in general in NI, I will be the reason why people stop coming here"
Well here's what I reckon - STOP THROWING THE TOYS OUT OF YOUR PRAMS BOYS - be more responsible - think laterally and think of the impact you are having on the future of NI's trails ! ! !