Downhill on the rebound - Gravity East Series

Source: Gravity East

Downhill mountain bike racing is rebounding in popularity almost as rapidly as its competitor’s race down mountains. This is especially true in New England and the Mid-Atlantic, where the Gravity East Series conducts the largest USA Cycling sanctioned downhill racing series in North America. Now entering its third year, Gravity East has quickly grown from an ad-hoc collection of races to a major series backed by some of the biggest ski resorts in the Eastern United States. This year’s newly released Gravity East schedule will see riders in 17 classes competing in 11 two-day Downhill Events.The first things that strike those unfamiliar with downhill racing is the quality of the venues and how commercially viable the gravity disciplines have become. Ski resorts have long turned to mountain biking in the summer as a profitable use of their otherwise dormant ski lifts. To the typical bike racer, however, this growth has gone unnoticed because it was built primarily on the foundation of non-competitive and recreational freeriding. While cross country and road racers were often happy to simply have access to a toilet that actually flushes, recreational gravity riders and freeriders were enjoying ski resorts designed to cater to their customer’s every need.

Using their well-established winter ski model, Ski Mountains opened bike shops and hired full-time staff to build trails that cater to every age and skill level. And, like recreational skiing, they also rent full-suspension all-mountain bikes and gear for novices and occasional visitors so they and their families can enjoy a day of riding together without the need to first spending tens of thousands of dollars on new bikes, gear and a vehicle to haul them. “Cost is a significant barrier to new participation in cycling,” says Mark Hayes of Highland Mountain Bike Park, in Northfield, New Hampshire. “It’s one thing to spend thousands on a new bike if you’ve been riding for a while. It’s another thing altogether to spend the money to outfit an entire family when you’re not even sure this is something they’ll all want to do regularly. Who buys skis and boots and bindings for the whole family before they even go skiing at least once? At our mountains, you call ahead of time so you can reserve rental bikes and safety gear. Then, when you get to the mountain, you get on a lift and go have a great time.”

As time has passed, competition for these mountain bike customers has increased and the resorts with the most and nicest facilities have once again tapped into their winter model and turned to the same source that they’ve used to get attention from skiers – racing. In only two years, Gravity East has established itself as one of the premier downhill series in North America. “Last year, our race at Massanutten Resort in Virgina drew riders from 12 states and Canada,” said Dan McDonald, whose DHD Promotions runs the series. Now in its third year, Gravity East’s stature has grown so much so that there are persistent rumors that some of the international World Cup stars are planning to come across the border to attend Gravity East stops between the Canadian World Cups this summer.

But Gravity East isn’t all about Elite Racing. There are 17 points classes, plus some additional non-points classes, designed to cater to all riders. In the end, McDonald sums-up the appeal of downhill for both recreational and competitive riders. “These bikes,” he says with a smile, “are just so much fun to ride.”

For more information on the Gravity East Series, see www.GravityEastSeries.com.

2009 Gravity East Downhill Series (all races sanctioned by USA Cycling):

May 8-9 Massanutten Resort, McGaheysville, VA www.massresort.com

June 5-7 Wisp Resort, McHenry, MD www.racersedgeonline.com

June 13-14 Seven Springs Mountain Resort, Champion, PA www.7springs.com

June 27-28 Windham Mountain, Windham, NY www.windhammountain.com

July 11-12 Highland Mountain Bike Park, Northfield, NH www.highlandmountain.com

July 18-19 Attitash, Bartlett, NH www.attitash.com

Aug 1-2 Sugarbush Resort, Warren, VT www.sugarbush.com

Aug 29-30 Whiteface 5K DH, Wilmington, NY www.downhillmike.com

Sept. 26-27 Blue Mountain Resort, Danielsville, PA www.skibluemt.com

Oct. 3-4 Mount Snow, West Dover, VT www.mountsnow.com

Oct. 10-11 Gravity East Series Finals, Plattekill Mountain, Roxbury, NY www.plattekill.com