Pro GRT Set to Get Wild in Tennessee - Course Preview

Feb 17, 2017 at 5:54
by Sean Leader  
Windrock Bike Park Pro GRT Course Preview

Windrock Park has been a downhill training grounds since the early 2000's. This year Neko Mulally and Sean Leader took on the project of turning the small trail system into a full access, shuttle assisted bike park. Windrock features some of the toughest terrain in the country and now a wider variety of intermediate terrain and beginner trails on the way.

The Pro GRT track may be the steepest sustained grade of any trail in the country. We want to push the sport forward and make something really special for the Pro riders. This track will make the transition to international racing easier for US riders.

The goal of the event is to give riders a chance to compete on a real race track pre-season. Our schedule suits both Pro and Amateur schedules, giving Pro's a full day of uninterrupted practice Thursday, qualifying Friday, and their own day of racing Saturday. Amateur practice starts Friday afternoon, practice again Saturday and racing Sunday allowing them to get the most out of their weekend without feeling like they are missing out on weekday practice.

Views: 10,823    Faves: 37    Comments: 2


Windrock Bike Park Pro GRT Course Preview
Dakotah Norton riding the fresh cuts on the amateur track.

Windrock Bike Park Pro GRT Course Preview
Windrock Bike Park Pro GRT Course Preview

Windrock Bike Park Pro GRT Course Preview
Windrock Bike Park Pro GRT Course Preview

Windrock Bike Park Pro GRT Course Preview
An intermediate trail was built and will be used as spectator access.

Windrock Bike Park Pro GRT Course Preview
Windrock Bike Park Pro GRT Course Preview

Windrock Bike Park Pro GRT Course Preview
The majority of the track is raw with a few catches added.

Windrock Bike Park Pro GRT Course Preview
Windrock Bike Park Pro GRT Course Preview

Windrock Bike Park Pro GRT Course Preview
Dakotah Norton getting fresh tracks on the Pro course.

Windrock Bike Park Pro GRT Course Preview
Windrock Bike Park Pro GRT Course Preview

Windrock Bike Park Pro GRT Course Preview

Views: 2,715    Faves: 8    Comments: 4
Views: 1,855    Faves: 8    Comments: 4

Windrock Bike Park will be open Monday, March 6, Tuesday, March 7, and Wednesday, March 8. Race courses will be closed.

Downhill Southeast racing at Bailey Mountain Bike Park in Mars Hill, North Carolina, will take place the weekend prior, Just 2 hours away from Windrock.

Tennessee Opens The Devil s Racetrack
Tennessee Opens The Devil s Racetrack

Come ride Knoxville's public flow trails at Baker Creek -- Tuesday March 7th at 5 pm.




Windrock Bike Park Pro GRT Course Preview



Event Registration
Event Schedule
Windrock Bike Park Website
Instagram
Facebook
Downhill Southeast Website
Photos By Sean Leader
Video by Rob Parkin
Track Design By // Neko Mulally, Sean Leader, Dakotah Norton
Additional Builders // Gunny Bailey, Travis Davis, Patrick Tait


MENTIONS: @seanleader



Author Info:
seanleader avatar

Member since May 29, 2013
20 articles

56 Comments
  • 111 1
 Finally someone knows how to build on the fall line!!!! Looks great! IMBA, get with current bike geo!
  • 23 1
 Comments like this make me wish I had unlimited up votes.
  • 4 0
 Sean we gonna see you? Gonna be a good time!
  • 10 0
 IMBA smoothing and flattening Trails for baby strollers since day one don't forget to remove your rocks and roots
  • 1 0
 @Danfennis: I wish!!!! Tear it up Dan!!
  • 24 1
 You guys rock. As usual video can't capture how steep it really is. Not to mention how hard it is to ride when it's that cold .
  • 9 0
 2nd that, I've ridden all over. Windrock is like taking the steepest sections from all the trails I've ever ridden, and then combining them. Super awesome people too, all so kind.
  • 1 0
 Just rode there yesterday. Steep and gnarly!
  • 12 0
 To allow those thinking any of that riding was tame or any of those two trails are simple, you just watched 3 top 10 World Cup racers.

I FREAKING LOVE WINDROCK. @leadersean or Neko....you guys got a helmet cam of Southern Rocks up yet?
  • 15 0
 Do you smell what the Windrock is cooking? Yep, brakes...
  • 1 0
 Nothing's better than the smell of hot brakes first thing in the morning
  • 4 1
 Pain. Windrock cooks pain
  • 2 0
 @bizutch: only if you get off before making it to the bottom
  • 9 1
 You just watched 3 top 10 World Cup racers in those 2 videos. NEKO, LUCA and Sik Mik. @Seanleader. I've ridden there for almost 15 years now. Keep digging brother!

Oh and post up video of Southern Rocks
  • 5 0
 Surprised to see Sik Mik riding in the US when it is summer in his home country. That says good things about what is going on at Windrock.
  • 2 0
 @Gttroy: That was filmed weeks ago. He moved to Colorado a few weeks back. I think he mentioned that he was or is headed back to Austrailia right after that for a bit.
  • 7 0
 Pro and Amateur videos (at the bottom) looks reversed? Pro looks steeper but the amateur looks quite a bit more technical/tight. Either way can't wait to check them out...way to go Knox/Lenior crew!
  • 5 0
 Not reversed. Give that pro course a few more days of getting ridden in, then a few days of practice, it will be far steeper and far more technical than the Amateur course is.
  • 1 0
 @kickstand1: When the rocks come out to play
  • 1 0
 That's what I was thinking...the amateur track looks more gnarly than the pro!
  • 6 0
 Love the smooth riding by Luca Shaw!
  • 9 0
 So smooth. At first I was like... "he's just going slow..." but then I realized he is just a jedi...
  • 5 0
 And those v10s always seem to be the smoothest on video.
  • 1 1
 So relax on the bike
  • 2 0
 Windrock is outfuckingstanding!!!, steep, raw, and gnarly and its only gonna get better. We are constantly building new trail and the weather here is good enough for year round riding. If you have not ridden here put it on your to-do list
  • 3 0
 So what are the steepest park trails?

I think the steepest dirt I've "ridden" is Revenge at Big Sky or Goat's Gully in Whistler.
  • 3 0
 Windrock has come a long way! Video's do no justice to just how steep these trails are. WINDROCK ROCKS!!!
  • 3 0
 Thats a NATURAL track !!! These are the best ever!! Every WC should be hosted like this on new spots all the time!
  • 3 0
 i thought Bailey was steep...but fuck me, Windrock looks way past my comfort zone.
  • 1 0
 We had a lot of people quit DH racing the first time we put a race on there.
  • 1 0
 @bizutch: how does WR compare to the black trails at Bailey? Or even the double black (Ole Gregg)?
  • 4 0
 @plume: Everything at Windrock, except that new berm trail, is steep and technical, much rockier in terms of just the soil itself. The new berm trail at Windrock is actually really steep for a jump trail, fast as heck too.

There is not one trail at Windrock you need a chain for. They are WIDER in width than Bailey for certain and lots and lots of natural terrain. If you can ride Welcome to the Jungle to Jumanji, you can ride Windrock.

Bikes are a lot more advanced now than when we first started riding there so that everyone's suspension and brakes will hold up (I recommend taking an extra set of pads though). But used to, the bikes and the riders weren't up for the challenge yet and there were very few riders who got to ride that kind of terrain, except maybe on a race weekend.

Now, parks like Bailey have made DH skills a little more ready to come by. Windrock is 100% worth the trip for most anyone who likes to go downhill. Just check your speed and if you get tired...back off, or take a rock roll.
  • 1 0
 @plume: The thing that makes Windrock get talked up as so gnarly is that it can be and it is if you are foolish. It will straight up break a stupid rider in a heartbeat. But anyone who knows their limits and can ride technical trails can go there and get all they bargained for.

It's just that people get really tired there really fast. They don't back off the speed or take a break or maybe just call it a day. That's when suddenly you realize how steep it is, how fast you're going and how bad the landing hurts.

I tell people my worst wreck EVER happened there. I flew further down the mountain from higher off my bike than I ever have and skipped through the gnarliest boulders, landed covered in briars head to toe shaking almost pissing myself...but got up and just walked away unharmed. I was being ESPECIALLY foolish at the time and just got lucky. Big Grin
  • 2 0
 I'd say the steep sections at Windrock are 2-3 times the length of the steep sections at Bailey, but they don't seem much steeper IMO. If you can ride Bailey pretty comfortably then you'll be OK at Windrock.

It's super easy to get off line in the Windrock steeps, especially if you're riding the brakes.

I'll second what @plume said about not needing a chain. I take maybe 7 pedal strokes per run, top to bottom, and none of those is really necessary.
  • 1 0
 @bizutch: nice. Welcome to the Jungle to Jumanji is why I ride Bailey. Ole Gregg is over my skill set although I want to take another shot at it. The blue flow trails are fun but not really my thing. Neko's Blue DH trail is an exception!
  • 3 0
 That trail looks so sick, drifts for days
  • 2 0
 Another reason to head south. Going to have to make my way down one of these days.
  • 2 0
 This course looks amazing! And the format sounds fantastic, too. I can't wait!!
  • 1 0
 Wanting to go check this pace out in a few weeks.. are there any good jump lines like Hellion on Hawleywood there? I don't see a lot of jumps showcased.
  • 1 0
 There is one flow trail with jumps, the rest are real trails with steeps and rocks. If highland bike parkie slopestyle free ride mellow trails are your thing windrock isn't the place. If rocks, steeps, and raw trails are your thing then you'll enjoy windrock. I love the place.
  • 2 0
 Phuck yeah! Tennessee Downhill! Windrock has been there for a bit and deserves it's props!
  • 1 0
 No place had made me question my decision to sell the downhill bike and go full enduro quite like Windrock.
  • 3 0
 East Coast steeps!
  • 1 0
 You should get on a plane and see it. Do it!!!
  • 3 0
 brake drag everything!!!
  • 2 1
 He's really making it look rather slow...guess I watch too many videos of immortals Fun looking course tho
  • 1 0
 It looks slow because of how steep it is. If you let off the brakes you will fly off the mountain. You can see them pick up a lot of speed at the end of the pro course preview video, so you know those guys can rip when they want to. It gives you some idea how gnarly the steeps are!
  • 2 0
 Steep
  • 1 0
 How are your forearms bro
  • 1 0
 Definitely the steepest lines I have ever ridden.
  • 2 1
 Really incredibly bummed I'm missing this. Track looks proper.
  • 1 0
 Hope to see you all there.
  • 1 0
 That amateur track looks like mad fun to race!!!
  • 1 0
 STEEP!







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