Credit: Reuben Krabbe
GREASING THE GEARS
BY JOSH LASKIN
When the necessary elements align, downhill bike parks can take off.
Trail networks benefit from a mix of flow trails, like this steep one at Sun Peaks, B.C. (top), and technical trails,
Credit: Josh Bogardus
like this rock garden at Cranmore, N.H. (bottom).
A GROWING COMMUNITY In 2019, the realignment of a popular mountain biking trail near the center of North Conway sparked a new age of trail development in New Hampshire’s Mount Washington Valley. Many of the new trails were con- structed on Cranmore Mountain Resort’s property. These were hand built, with some machine-built sections, by local organization Ride NoCo and the White Mountain chapter of the New England Mountain Bike Association (NEMBA).
In the past decade, mountain biking’s growing popularity has pushed many ski areas to add it to their roster of summer activities. Yet, while some bike parks flourish, others quickly pe- ter out, with resort operators citing high costs, lack of interest, and a low return on investment. According to several ski area bike park operators and consultants, there are some clear make-or-break consider- ations that can lead to a park’s success or failure.
When the trails began garnering the attention of New England riders, the tim- ing couldn’t have been better for Cran- more, says general manager Ben Wilcox. “North Conway is a busy summer des- tination, and we already had established summer activities,” he says. “But our aeri- al park was flattening out on business. And right before we decided to get into
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