After getting outfitted with full-face helmets, protective elbow and shin pads, and burly GT Fury downhill bikes, we headed out with our pro mountain biking instructor Kristie, for a womens-only lesson in downhill mountain biking and feature riding.
Kristie took us first to the Resort Village Skills Park where we learned how to go over wood features, rock piles, wood bridges, and teeter toters. This park helps beginners gain confidence on features before riding the higher consequence terrain in the bike park. After mastering the beginner's area, we took our bikes on a gondola ride to the Red Pine Skills Park. Located near Red Pine Lodge, this park has more advanced features to improve your skills. Here we took on A-frame bridges and rolling dirt trails...then even braved a jump. Melissa got some great air too!
After we finished practicing skills, Kristie graduated us to one of the three currently open downhill flow trails via High Meadow Express Lift, Flying Salmon. This beginner trail gets new riders used to downhill riding without being too advanced. It has novice features like large rollers and berms, which beginners will find challenging, but doable. A wide, rolling wooden bridge is the highlight of this trail!
The other two open trails are intermediate Wild Mouse and advanced Rally Cat. More trails will continue to open as they're completed. What I liked best about the Canyons Bike Park is that each trail is labeled to explain what level of rider it's made for and what kind of features you will encounter. This ensures beginners and advanced riders will have a positive experience and not end up in a dangerous situation. Go here for more info about individual trails in the Bike Park. I also love that the park is accessible for all skill levels, so it's a great way to check out downhill riding if you haven't before.
Caitlin Martz from Canyons, Winna Sturgeon from City Weekly, Melissa McGibbon, and Jenny Willden after our ride.
In fact, Canyons offers a Bike 101 course through its new Mountain Bike Academy that teaches newbies skills like proper body position, balance, and braking. The lesson is two hours long and costs $99 for adults and $89 for anyone under 13, which includes instruction, lift ticket, and rental bike. A max of 4 students are allowed in each class, so you'll receive personalized instruction throughout the lesson. A 201 level clinic is also available for riders who want to advance their skills.
If you're just looking to try out the Bike Park out for yourself, head to Canyons from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. through October. A day pass is $27 for adults and a season pass to the Bike Park is $249. While you're at Canyons, check out other adventures like zip lining tours, hiking, pedal boating, fishing, putt putt golf, and live summer concerts. Get all the information on these summer activities here.
Have you been to the new Canyons Bike Park yet? If so, let us know what you think! Leave a comment with your thoughts on the the new bike park.
Image Courtesy of Canyons Resort.
Trail map for bike park.
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