There's More to Morzine - Video
Morzine needs no introduction, it is an absolute banger of a destination for riding downhill bikes, drinking beers and lapping up the high Alpine air and this looks set to continue well into the future. This old farming town nestled in the Northern French Alps is once again growing rapidly with more tourists visiting each year, new trails, new facilities and some huge events such as Crankworx coming to town.
Morzine has always been known for its savage downhill trails and the Pleney takes the crown. Some of the local tracks on that hill are - for want of a better word - crazy. Steep, steep gullies, roots more mangled than the Amazon and step downs that scare the bejesus out of you. The Pleney secret trails are not for the faint-hearted, yet this is exactly what brings those seasoned Morzine holiday makers back year on year, that and the 600km of trails spread across two countries connecting 12 resorts with 50 official downhill trails and enduro loops over 80km in length. One week is never enough.
Morzine is not just about downhill, more enduro loops have been popping up over recent years and they seem to have become very popular with the tourists - and for good reason. Alongside the Passportes enduro event, where 5000 riders descend on Morzine during the last weekend of June to ride the 80km loop, there are more trails tucked away that cater for the shorter travel bikes.
One of the enduro loops, the Tour de Plateau de Loex starts in Les Gets, is accessed via the Nauchettes lift and brings you back down into the Les Gets village. Marked (F) on the map, this is a 14km loop with an 800m vertical drop and some decent climbing. Singletrack, loam, roots, rivers and epic views of MT Blanc all play a part in this awesome trail that takes you away from the main bike park. There many other sections that shoot off the main trail, the most famous being Colorado, so get your Strava out if you fancy a bash at these.
If it’s enduro you are after, Morzine certainly caters for that type of riding - you just have to work a little for it. There are a few great guiding companies out there now, we can't recommend MCF highly enough, ask for Stevo.
Crankworx came into Les Gets for the first time in 2016 after the Les Deux Alps contract finished, Les Gets worked flat out on the Slopestyle course, pump track, dual slalom and the downhill track on Mt Chery and it was all looking awesome, with chat from the pits that the DH track was one of the best built in years. That was until the heavens opened and the rain started pouring in true Les Gets style. Here’s looking forward to the 2017 event and some dry weather, Crankworx Les Gets is on from the 14-18th June 2017.
Riding bikes is what brings people to Morzine and new developments like high-speed Pleney lift, multiple new tracks on Super Morzine and the Pleney, plus the new pump track in town, are all adding to the appeal of the resort. However bikes are not the only activity on offer these days, with more money being pumped into developing Morzine as a multi-activity destination. The snow seasons are looking more uncertain year on year and with the summer season providing essential income, we hope these developments continue. Just check out the new skate park in the centre of town.
The skate park was finished at the end of 2015 and has proved very popular, be it little rippers on their BMX's or the old school skateboard crew, there is always someone down there, drinking a stubby, doing some power slides - check it out. There is a new indoor Olympic size swimming pool and Spa area, so something for the ladies or fellas to enjoy and soak those bruised muscles in after a full day on the hill. The list goes on and includes white water rafting, paragliding and climbing to name a few.
Head over to the website www.mtbbeds.com for much more info on MTB holidays, activities and events in Morzine. The Morzine mountain bike area opens on the 9th June and full Portes du Soleil lift linked area opens from the 23rd June, closing around the first week in September. Get that holiday booked up, save those beer tokens and get out here.
Video @Nanglevideo
MENTIONS: @mtb-beds
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So far we've been staying in Chatel, Les Gets and Morzine. What makes this area so incredibly outstanding is that it's so widespread. But if you're staying in let's say Chatel and want to experience Les Gets or Champery and maybe grab some burgers at lunch you are basically just on transfer, and if you have some mechnicals you might not catch your transfer back (which is catastrophic in the case of Chatel because you'll be f*cking stuck or you'll have to push your bike up some 500 meters of altitude). So please, at least leave some crucial ones like "Chaux Fleurie" open a bit longer. Or the whole area which would of course be even more awesome.
Some of the lads have splashed the cash and are paying £350 for a week in aava hotel?? Think thats what its called anyway, own room double bed to themselves etc..
Unfortunately there's a few only able to do a week but with the time difference and time of the flights they'll still get a solid full 6 days riding in!
Just a case of counting down the days till it happens now haha, if you need anymore info fire away...
Im sure you'll have no problem selling out ;-) and the bike seasons starts earlier and finishes later out there!! lol
Cheaper than taking it to France on easyJet...
Are there a lot, and are we missing out if we didn't hit them yet?