83 trails, 4 countries, one card - the ultimate roadtrip idea for this summer

Jul 21, 2014 at 8:35
by Bikepark Leogang  
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One ski-pass for Europe? Unheard of! One bike-pass for the entire continent? The GraVity Card has you covered. The GraVity Card connects Europe’s 12 best bike parks and offers eager bikers a broad range of trails at a flatrate-price. The only thing left is to pack up your bike and hit the best tracks in central Europe.

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Once your car is packed to the brim with bikes, gear and energy drinks a roadtrip is undeniably the jolliest way to spend this sun-blessed time of the year. But where do you go? Where are the most flowy freeride trails? Where are the most fun downhill tracks? With the GraVity Card in your pocket, you don’t have to think about it: just hit the road and explore the top bike parks.

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1 continent, 4 countries, 12 bike parks. This extensive offer is one-of-a-kind throughout sport disciplines. Only the very best bike parks are members of the GraVity Card union. For downhill addicts this comes down to: frequently maintained tracks, top-notch infrastructure and a broad variety of trails. Rental bikes, washing stations, camping grounds and accommodation – you name it, these parks have it. If you would dare to pack all GraVity bike parks into one huge road trip, your car would roll about 2.140 kilometers (1.330 miles) across the continent. Sounds like a pretty sweet plan, right?

83 tracks. In other words, at least 83 reasons to have the GraVity Card in your pocket. The range of trails covers all riding levels, from challenging downhill tracks to broad and easy beginner trails with rollers and perfectly shaped berms. Slopestyle areas, air bags, pumptracks and training areas are the icing on the cake in most of the parks.

7,500 vertical meters (24,600 ft.). Even for a hardcore enduro rider that is a lot. But with the GraVity Card, the park gondalas will take you to the top of every mountain without even breaking a sweat. Perfect conditions to make sure you are in good shape to drop in and rip the trail. Once you’re behind the bars, ready to roll, you can choose from trails with 180 meters (590 ft.) of vertical drop to heart pulsing downhill rides covering more than 1,000 vertical meters (3,280 ft.). Either way, fun is guaranteed.

145 days. That is how long you could spend on the road and in the parks. For more than 20 weeks, you can hit the best tracks in the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Germany and Austria. But simply – you best get hold of a GraVity Card as fast as possible because summer is here and the bike parks are waiting!

The GraVity Card sells for 385,- euros (youth: 305,- euros, children: 195,- euros) and is valid until November 2nd, 2014. Please keep in mind the different operating times of the individual lift stations. The GraVity Card can be purchased online or at the participation bike parks.

Further information on: http://www.gravity-card.com/

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An overview of all 12 GraVity bike parks:

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Bikepark Leogang
The bike region of Saalfelden Leogang and Bikepark Leogang were honored with the hosting of the UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships and the yearly UCI Mountain Bike Downhill Worldcups. Sensational competitions and thousands of fascinated visitors made these events absolute mountain bike fests! Get yourself on the trails and check out the demanding world championship course or have a ride on freeride and North Shore single trials! On the 9 different trails as well as in the Riders Playground at Bikepark Leogang every rider, whether rookie or pro will find his favorite challenge.

Opening times:
May 15th – October 26th 2014

Top events 2014:
August 10th to 14th: Rookie II & Freeride Camp for Youngsters
August 31st: 3rd MTB Hillclimb & 6th Asitz mountain run
September 19th to 21st: Biketember Festival
iXS European Downhill Cup Final Stop | Specialized-SRAM Enduro Series (Leogang & Saalbach Hinterglemm) | SCOTT Junior Trophy
October 3rd to 5th: Fan Weekend
October 3rd to 5th: Girls shred too ladies bike park and freeride camp

Further information on: www.bikepark-leogang.com

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Saalbach Hinterglemm - Freeriding in its purest form
4 cable cars on 4 different mountains and a connected network of 400 km paths & trails as well as a great infrastructure - these are the ingredients for a biking paradise at its best. In addition to the wide range of trails for every age and skill level, the Freeride Region of Saalbach Hinterglemm attracts furthermore with pumptrack & technique area, bike & service shops, events & camps, guiding, etc. Special highlight: The BIG-5-BIKE Challenge guarantees maximum freeride feeling in one day.

Opening times:
May 23rd – October 26th 2014 (Please note the different operating times of the cable cars)

Top events 2014:
July 25th – 27th: Lake of Charity
September 4th – 7th: World Games of Mountainbiking
September 21st: Specialized-SRAM Enduro Series (Leogang & Saalbach Hinterglemm)

Further information on: www.saalbach.com/freeride

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Bikepark Zau[:ber:]g Semmering
Bikepark Zau[:ber:]g Semmering offers a wide range of trails for all age groups and skill levels.
Bikepark Semmering is happy to announce that the German magazine awarded it with an outstanding rating. The bike park scored 8 out of 10 possible points and additionally received the FREERIDE-Bikepark-Tip. Source: FREERIDE-Magazin 02/2014.

Everything from a single source:
The bike shop at the valley station offers everything from bike trainings to rental bikes from Ghost and Giant.
The experienced team from Bikestore.cc is happy to service your bike and assist you with spare parts. Furthermore, you can choose from a broad range of bikes, parts and fashion as well as accommodation including bike packages and book online.

Top event 2014:

August 16th to 17th: 8th 24 hours Downhill “race the night”
About 400 riders will heat up Zau[:ber:]g Semmering and provide hot racing action! The worldwide unique endurance downhill race already has an excellent reputation in the bike scene and attracts downhill experts as well as managers and the mayors.

Opening times:
July and August: daily
September and October: Thursday to Sunday until 26th of October
From 9:00am to 5:00pm

Further information on: www.bikeparksemmering.at

Logo Wagrain

Bikepark Wagrain Salzburg | Wagrain | Flying Mozart
Centrally located, only 60 km south of Salzburg and conveniently close to the highway Tauernautobahn A10. In a few short minutes the Flying Mozart gondola will transport you to the start, where visitors can expect a complete selection of trails for all abilities.
For example the wide flowing, machine built trails like “On Air” and the legendary “Symphony” or the old school single tracks “Angry Ants” and “Memories”. The cool variety of trails not only challenges professionals and satisfies adrenaline junkies, it also introduces newbies to the Gravity scene with a perfect playground.
The countdown is running… on August 2nd and 3rd, the legendary Symphony Jam Session Weekend will take place again at Bikepark Wagrain. SIGN UP NOW The Symphony Air Race with a downhill and style run is happening on Saturday. On Sunday, lots of style will be shown at the Public Photo Shooting, whilst fierce battling will be going on at the Chainless Race on Lilly’s Treat. Party? You bet!

Dates of operation:
July 5th to August 31st: Daily, from 9:00am to 5:00 pm
September 2nd to 28th: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday

Top event 2014:

August 2nd to 3rd: Symphony Jam Session Weekend
SIGN UP NOW

Further information on: www.bikewagrain.com

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Bikepark Planai – 1,000 vertical meters of pure adrenaline!
Bikepark Planai is one of the most versatile in the Alpes and offers diversity for riders of all skill levels. Starting at 1.830 meters above sea level, 11 different trails lead down to the valley.
The Alpreif Bikecenter in the finish area provides everything riders need and are happy to lend a helping hand. As additional service, “Guidings” for beginners and advanced riders riders are provided. Race-proven guides introduce bike newbies to the downhill sport and help to improve skills quickly in intense, but playful trainings.

During the two “Shot in Thrill” Public Shootings on July 12th and August 23rd 2014, a professional photographer will take action pictures at marked spots in the Bikepark Planai. Make sure to not miss out on this opportunity: first, because you will get professional action pics, which can be downloaded from the Bikepark Planai website for free. Second, because there is a online voting after each shooting on the Bikepark Planai Facebook fanpage with awesome prizes up for grabs! One of the rewards for example is a downhill package for 2 people, sponsored by aQi hotel Schladming, including 2 nights for 2 people in the aQi Hotel Schladming with half-board and tickets for the gondola. It’s worth taking part!

Opening times:
nonstop from May 29th to October 5th respectively October 11th 2014

Top events 2014:
August 23rd: Shoot in Thrill – Public Photo Shooting
October 11th: Shaper Games

Further information on: www.bikeparkplanai.at


Logo Winterberg

Bikepark Winterberg – Germany’s bikepark with the widest variety of tracks: 10 professionally shaped courses with a total length of 10 km. From downhillers to slopestylers, from beginners to pros, in Winterberg there is something for everyone. For the 2014 season, shaper guru Diddie Schneider will work over and optimize all the tracks and the all-new six-person chairlift makes queuing a thing of the past. The Bikepark Winterberg offers everything that a biker’s heart desires: top rental bikes & equipment, MTB lessons, DH camps, catering for every budget and cheap accommodation incl. a bikepark ticket discount at Hostel Erlebnisberg Kappe which is just 200 m away.

Opening times:
Early April until November 2nd
Monday to Sunday, from 9.30am to 5.30pm

Top event 2015:
May 22nd – 25th: iXS Dirt Masters – Europe’s biggest Mountainbike Freeride Festival: more than 35,000 spectators, 180 exhibitors in the expo area and 1,800 riders from 20 different countries.
Contests: iXS German Downhill Cup, SKS Slopestyle, BikeUnit 4X Rumble, TSG Cash for Tricks, etc.

Further information on: www.bikepark-winterberg.de

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Specialized Bikepark Pohorje – A ride to remember!
The season at Specialized Bike Park Pohorje is already in full swing since April! We open first and close last – Europe’s longest bike park season! Just 60 km from Graz, 250 km from Vienna, 350 km from Budapest and 450 km from Munich, you can descend 717 vertical meters and ride almost 15 km of: endless flowing, technical and rooty Freeride trails, a new slopestyle course, the legendary World Cup Trail, a bike camp, good food & party atmosphere, bag jump and a dirt park & BMX line. Each trail offers a different flavor for all styles of riding!

Opening times:
Early April until early November

Top events 2014:
September 6th to 7th: European Enduro Series #5End of October: Season Closing Day

Further information on: www.bikeparkpohorje.si

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The MTB Zone Bikepark at the Geisskopf is the world’s first bike park and celebrates in this season its 15th anniversary. It is famous for its versatile and well-tended trails and offers for tracks and lines for every skill level. Rolling down the new “Flow Country trail” puts a smile on everyone’s face. Together with the surrounding Bayerischer Wald, the largest woodland area in Europe, the bike park guarantees (!!), brilliant conditions for “all-mountain" riders.

Opening times:
April 18th to October 26th
From 9:00am to 5:00pm (last gondola ride at 4:45pm!)

Top Event 2014:
September 13th to 14th: Oldschool DH Race (only bike older than 2004), with special guest Rob Warner

Further information on: www.bikepark.net

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Conti Bikepark Bad Wildbad – more than one way down!
The bike park offers a total of eight routes with very different demands. The park is most famous for its spectacular downhill courses. One of them is repeatedly the location for the national championships. Both freeride trails will be shaped with new fun elements in 2014 again. The 4-Cross course, designed by Guido Tschugg is among the longest and most attractive courses in Europe. During July and August the Park offers the possibility on “long Fridays” to ride till 8pm.

Further information on: www.bikepark-bad-wildbad.de

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Bikepark Spicak
The Spicak Bike Park is situated in the Böhmerwald protected landscape area, on the border with Bavaria. Famous and renowned for its freeride-trails that intersect and connect with other trails and therefore you can choose from numerous variations of runs that suit you best. What would a bike park be without wallride? Bikepark Spicak offers a brand new wallride this season: Bigger, better and higher! Also in the jump park four new jumps were built. If going to Spicak, then on a bike! At the lower chair lift station you will find a bike renting point offering new AGang bikes this year. Additional facilities also include a bike servicing station, bike school and showers.

Opening hours:
May 31st to October 26th (please note the operating-times)

Top events 2014:
September 21st: Specialized Enduro Series

Further information on: www.spicak.cz

Logo Bikepark Tirol

Bikepark Tirol
The mountain bike region Wipptal knows how to make mountain bikers’ hearts pump faster: in June 2014, the Bikepark Tirol starts its third season. The perfectly shaped trails, optimal traffic connections and a very well maintained infrastructure make this new bike hot spot interesting for all mountain bikers throughout Europe. From the freeride trails, to the slopestyle area and the downhill track – the new bike park guarantees pure fun for beginners as well as for pro riders.

Opening times:
June 19th – September 14th: Monday to Sunday
September 15th – September 28th: Friday to Sunday

Further information on: www.bikepark-tirol.at

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Bikepark Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis
Tyrol’s biggest bike park makes freerider’s hearts pump heavier. Three flowy beginner lines, suitable for little and big shredders, as well as speedy freeride lines guaranteeing massive airtime you will find everything here. Of course the bike park also offers natural trails, full of northshores and root sections. It’s the healthy mix of trails that makes Bikepark Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis so appealing. In the high alpine region the Frommestrail baits with more than 1,000 altitude meters of descent. “Styler” will feel quite comfortable in the brand new dirt park and on the slopestyle area. For the youngest riders the kids park offers beginner-obstacles for pure riding fun. The bike park bar and the Chill area invite to come down after a great day of riding with some BBQ sessions. Everyone who has still energy left, should check out the pump track to really empty the tank.

New in 2014:

Supernatural (Flow-line), DH-line and dirt park
From July: extension of the easy+ line Morning Glory – pure flow on 677 meters of finest berms and little jumps – ideal to improve your riding skills

Opening hours:
June 7th to October 19th daily at stated operating hours

Top Events 2014:
August 7th to 10th: Kona MTB-Festival Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis for bike young guns (including iXS Rookies Cup, iXS international Rookies Championships, Austrian DH Cup, FMB-Bronze O’Neal Rookies Slopestyle, Rookies Enduro Challenge; Pumptrack Session, Father & Son Challenge)

Further information on: www.bikepark-sfl.at

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