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New ride reviews in process for: Mohican Wilderness (OH), Windrock (TN), Mt. Creek (NJ)!
Ward Wilson - Bromont, Quebec Select to enlarge
Plattekill, NY, Blue Mountain, Ontario, Snowshoe, WV, Blue Knob, Penn, and Bromont, QC are all ski resorts offering DH/Freeriding within a reasonable days drive from Michigan. Weekend riding is from approximately April thru October.
Bear Creek has riding Wednesday thru Sunday. Bromont has daily lift service June thru August. Blue Mountain will have daily hours beginning in April.
Plattekill and Blue Knob both have outstanding summer DH racing. Races are at least once a month. See the Events Calendar on our Message Board for 2004 dates.
Best of all, these areas all have a lift service. No walkin' or pushin' your bike. Check the links for directions, ride and race dates.
Estimated drive time from Detroit area- Blue Mountain - 4 - 5 hours Snowshoe - 7 - 8 hours Blue Knob - 7 - 8 hours Bromont - 9 - 10 hours Plattekill - 9 - 11 hours |
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EAST COAST REVIEWS Caveat - these reviews are based on the collective opinion of some of Michigan's top riders. The basis is to help answer the on going question, where to ride? Additionally, the review should help indicate how hard the locations are compared to Michigan riding. The intent is to provide a fun entertaining tool for riders to use when deciding where to ride. REMEMBER THEY ARE OPINIONS ONLY. Rating System 0 to 5 stars 0 = Where's the downhill? 5 ***** = Hold on to the brakes, World Cup course.
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Plattekill, New York - ***** Of course, this place gets 5 stars. The best pro riders in the east train here. The terrain is slick shale rocks that move underneath you and roots. Although the mountain is not that big, est. 1275 ft., it has plenty of vert and straight drops. Most DH runs are about 4-10 minutes long but you are on the brakes most of the time trying to control the bike. This place will work all your DH and freeride skills, bring your sticky rubber tires.
Only downfalls: try finding a decent meal, the food sucks, and the water smells.
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Bromont, Quebec - ***** Bromont has a World Cup and World Championship course you can ride, plus great exchange rate and a water park. The terrain is big rocks and roots, but can get amazingly dusty during the dog days of summer if there's no rain. Pick your poison at this mountain. There are plenty of runs for all levels of DH riders. Bonzai is probably the hardest as it incorporates the World Cup/Masters Worlds course lots of big rocks through the woods. There is also a North Shore style run with drops, jumps and ramps. DH runs are between 4-20 minutes. Once again bring your sticky rubber tires. Don't worry the local food is good.
Michigan Pro John Leslie the breakfast highly recommends the buffet at the Chateau Bromont.
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Mt. Snow, Vermont - **** The NORBA National course is incredible, however the other riding on the mountain is tame by comparison. The mountain itself is one big rock which can make for some slick riding. Of course, once you get into the tree line there are some nice size roots to throw you off. DH runs are about 4-15 minutes.
Don't plan on spending more than a day riding here, unless the National course is open. Good news is Bromont and Plattekill are both about 4-5 hours away
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Camp Fortune, Quebec - *** Not as big as Bromont, but plenty of those east coast rock and root sections. The riding opportunities are spotty. This place was only open for a couple races in 2002 adn 2003. DH runs are about 3-8 minutes long
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Snowshoe, West Virginia - *** The new NORBA National course was cool, but this is still XC country. There is plenty of freeride opportunity, and a shuttle service. The terrain is similiar to Plattekill in that the rocks will move underneath you, but it is not as steep a Plattekill. The are some rough root sections and if it rains watch out for the slick nasty mud. DH runs are about 5-20 minute long.
Three problems with this place: 1) No grocery store, except in the next county. 2) The shuttle service sucks, it picks you up like once an hour limits your runs. 3) Not as many DH only runs as you would think, many trails have climbs or traffic climbing up. The pluses, good resort amenities and well run DH races with great courses and lift service.
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Blue Mountain, Ontario - *** This place has finally gotten its insurance problem straight. Although not a big mountain, actually more a big hill, they have put in a lot of runs. Both North Shore runs with stunts and DH only runs. Surface is very Michigan-like. Brown dirt some roots and little to no rocks. Short vertical, runs are 2-3 minutes.
This is a good place to train, spend a day or short weekend. Decent amenities around the mountain as well.
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Blue Knob, Penn. - N/A Still working on this one. Our friend and NORBA semi-pro rider BJ Tregilia is helping to develop trail here and hopefully get us a full report.
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Hardwood Hills, Ontario - **1/2 Like the old Mt. Holly course these guys try to make the most of a small ski area. Another good place to start. Short runs 3-5 minutes long. Terrain is similiar to Michigan brown dirt riding and some trees. Big plus is this is near Toronto. Decent races.
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Searchmont, Ontario - *** High Gear Racing has developed DH runs and a race series. This place has a lot of potential and the ownership sounds committed to summer operations. The terrain is like a small Bromont big rocks and roots with some decent vert. Runs are 3-8 minutes in length.
Best of all not far from the Michigan border.
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MICHIGAN/MIDWEST RIDE REVIEWS Reminder these reviews are not meant to be a harsh criticism of Michigan downhills, ok some of them are. These reviews are to assist in comparing the level of riding outside Michigan, and hopefully provide some inspiration to keep improving Michigan DH.
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Boyne Mt. - Boyne Falls, MI The boyz at High Gear put in a challenging course for their races. They finally started running the lift on weekends, and there is so much potential. Terrain is brown dirt interspersed with sand and roots. Short runs, 2-5 minute long. This place could be a destination point for the Midwest. However, the lame ass management and Fun Promotions has kicked all the other user groups out for 2003, looks like expansion for DH will be quashed. This spells two giant steps backwards for Michigan downhill. The Fun Promotion DH runs are used as XC trails by everyone else, no challenge involved just lots of uphill pedaling.
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Mt. Holly - Holly, MI The rating is reduced as the memory of the 1999 course starts to fade, and nobody there seems to know what's going on. They don't run the lift, there are two downhill runs and there is so much potential. The ARM was suppose to have some races in 2002. Like Boyne Mtn. we'll have to wait and see what happens.
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A2 - Ann Arbor, MI (University of Michigan Campus) If only we could add another 500 feet. This is a good place to start if you want to get an idea of what downhill is about, or want to try out that new DH/freeride rig. Not big on vertical, this run does provide a decent romp through the woods. Hard packed brown dirt with down logs, some off camper and a small stair case at the end. Short runs 1-2 minutes. Word is the local hikers are working on keeping the bikes off the trail.
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Z2 - Kalamazoo, MI (Markin Glen County Park) An all new course, similar to A2 in that the builders made the most of a small hill. Again, if only there was another 500 feet. Not much vertical plenty of rocks and logs to keep it interesting. Short runs 1-2 minutes long. Great urban location.
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Bloomer Park - Rochester, MI Loose brown dirt with some roots, some XC trails that are decent to ride on your DH bike. You have to know where to find them since they are not marked, and its a pain in the butt pushing your bike up the trails. The worst of all, the damn bugs in the summer time. If you must ride downhill, you can always go here. For freeriders, there were some stunts added on the lower XC pirate trails, but they keep getting vandalized. Plus side is downtown Rochester is 1/2 mile down the trail good urban opportunities.
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Pando - Grand Rapids, MI The ARM boyz built a new course. Very short goes downhill, little uphill, 1-2 minutes. Packed dirt with some sand, trees and rocks added for interest. Unsure if they will have any events in 2003. Better than the existing Fun Promotions lame ass XC course that's called a downhill. Hopefully, more can be developed. Just like Bloomer, if you must ride downhill, you can always go here.
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Cannonsburg, Grand Rapids area - 0 stars You'd be better off riding your bike at a BMX track. You'd get 40 seconds of riding with no climbing or walking uphill. Nothing of interest here just sand. No challenge involved.
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MORE EAST COAST AND MICHIGAN RIDE REVIEWS TO COME |
