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6 COURTESY OF HIGHLAND BIKE PARK/BERT PERRY, AERIAL 51 STUDIOS

he growing number of lift-accessed bike parks downhill biking. For some, this means taking a serious look
BEST PRACTICES FOR GROWI I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I IN
BEST PRACTICES FOR GROWIN N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N NG
BEST PRACTICES FOR GROWING G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G
BEST PRACTICES FOR GROW are creating more opportunities for dedicated at their trails and operations, with the intent of making the
BEST PRACTICES FOR GROWI
BEST PRACTICES FOR GROW
BEST PRACTICES FOR GROW
BEST PRACTICES FOR GROW
BEST PRACTICES FOR GROW
BEST PRACTICES FOR GROW
BEST PRACTICES FOR GROW
BEST PRACTICES FOR GROW
BEST PRACTICES FOR GROW
BEST PRACTICES FOR GROW
BEST PRACTICES FOR GROW
BEST PRACTICES FOR GROW
BEST PRACTICES FOR GROW
BEST PRACTICES FOR GROW
BEST PRACTICES FOR GROW
BEST PRACTICES FOR GROW
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BEST PRACTICES FOR GROW
BEST PRACTICES FOR GROW
BEST PRACTICES FOR GROW
BEST PRACTICES FOR GROW
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BEST PRACTICES FOR GROWING
downhill riders to enjoy the sport in new and sport more accessible by putting in new trails and rebuilding
LIFT-ACCESSED MOUNTAIN BIKI I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I IN
LIFT-ACCESSED MOUNTAIN B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B BI
LIFT-ACCESSED MOUNTAIN BIKIN N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N NG
LIFT-ACCESSED MOUNTAIN BIK K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K KI
LIFT-ACCESSED MOUNTAIN BI I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I IK
LIFT-ACCESSED MOUNTAI I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I IN
LIFT-ACCESSED MOUNTA different locations. At the same time, more existing trails.
LIFT-ACCESSED MOUNTAIN N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N B
LIFT-ACCESSED MOUNTAI
LIFT-ACCESSED MOUNTAIN BIKING G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G
LIFT-ACCESSED MOUNTA
LIFT-ACCESSED MOUNTA
LIFT-ACCESSED MOUNTA
LIFT-ACCESSED MOUNTA
LIFT-ACCESSED MOUNTA
LIFT-ACCESSED MOUNTA
LIFT-ACCESSED MOUNTA
LIFT-ACCESSED MOUNTA
LIFT-ACCESSED MOUNTA
LIFT-ACCESSED MOUNTAIN BIKING
LIFT-ACCESSED MOUNTA
LIFT-ACCESSED MOUNTA
LIFT-ACCESSED MOUNTA
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LIFT-ACCESSED MOUNTA
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parks create more opportunities to grow and diversify the As Mark Hayes, owner and operator of Highland Bike
population of riders who want to visit and ride these trails. Park in New Hampshire suggests, “Build your bike park

to appeal to the masses by creating first-timer training pro-
In the past, the majority of the bike trails on the slopes
was nothing easy about these trails, unless you were on an out scaring them off. Then be ready for them when they
were rugged, built for committed mountain bikers. There
grams along with terrain and trails to build their skills with-
access road that the area opened to bike traffic. Maybe the
come back by offering more advanced riding options.”
Compared to the snowsports side of the resort indus-
area even deemed the road a “beginner” trail, even though
try, bike parks are having these critical discussions decades
these can also prove to be full of loose gravel, water bars, and
pitches too steep for learning. And, for the hard core bikers,
successful bike parks have developed and embraced in their
the gnarlier and harsher the trail, the more it was a badge of sooner. This article provides an overview of the strategies
STRATEGIES FOR GETTIN N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N NG G
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STRATEGIES FOR GE E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E ET T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T TTIN
STRATEGIES FOR
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STRATEGIES FOR R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G GE E E E
STRATEGIES FOR GET T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T TT TI TI TI TI TI TI TI TI TI TI TI TI TI TI TI TI TI TI TI TI TI I TI TI TI TI TI
STRATEGIES FOR G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G GE E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E ET T T T T
STRATEGIES FOR GETTI TI TI TI TI TI TI TI TI TI TI TI TI TI TI TI TI TI TI TI I TIN N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N
STRATEGIES FO
STRATEGIES FOR GETTING G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G honor that they were riding and surviving them. This “hard efforts to welcome and develop new riders. From trail design
STRATEGIES FO R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R G G G
STRATEGIES FO
core” attitude still exists but, as areas have discovered, if you
and programming to marketing and messaging, many of
MORE RIDERS INTO THE SPORT
MORE RIDERS INTO THE SPORT
MORE RIDERS INTO THE SPORT only cater to the committed, the pool of participants is shal- these strategies will be familiar to what NSAA promotes
MORE RIDERS INTO THE SPORT
MORE RIDERS INTO THE SPORT
MORE RIDERS INTO THE SPORT
MORE RIDERS INTO THE SPORT
MORE RIDERS INTO THE SPORT
MORE RIDERS INTO THE SPORT
MORE RIDERS INTO THE SPORT
MORE RIDERS INTO THE SPORT
MORE RIDERS INTO THE SPORT
MORE RIDERS INTO THE SPORT
MORE RIDERS INTO THE SPORT
MORE RIDERS INTO THE SPORT
MORE RIDERS INTO THE SPORT
MORE RIDERS INTO THE SPORT
MORE RIDERS INTO THE SPORT
MORE RIDERS INTO THE SPORT
MORE RIDERS INTO THE SPORT
MORE RIDERS INTO THE SPORT
MORE RIDERS INTO THE SPORT
MORE RIDERS INTO THE SPORT
MORE RIDERS INTO THE SPORT
MORE RIDERS INTO THE SPORT
MORE RIDERS INTO THE SPORT
MORE RIDERS INTO THE SPORT
MORE RIDERS INTO THE SPORT
MORE RIDERS INTO THE SPORT
MORE RIDERS INTO THE SPORT
MORE RIDERS INTO THE SPORT
MORE RIDERS INTO THE SPORT
MORE RIDERS INTO THE SPORT
MORE RIDERS INTO THE SPORT
MORE RIDERS INTO THE SPORT
MORE RIDERS INTO THE SPORT
MORE RIDERS INTO THE SPORT
MORE RIDERS INTO THE SPORT
MORE RIDERS INTO THE SPORT
MORE RIDERS INTO THE SPORT
MORE RIDERS INTO THE SPORT
MORE RIDERS INTO THE SPORT
MORE RIDERS INTO THE SPORT
MORE RIDERS INTO THE SPORT
MORE RIDERS INTO THE SPORT
MORE RIDERS INTO THE SPORT
MORE RIDERS INTO THE SPORT
MORE RIDERS INTO THE SPORT
MORE RIDERS INTO THE SPORT
MORE RIDERS INTO THE SPORT
MORE RIDERS INTO THE SPORT
MORE RIDERS INTO THE SPORT
through the Beginner Conversion Cookbook. After all, there is
low. Without bringing a broader range of people in, your
bike park may not be sustainable. no substitute for delivering a great experience for every cus-
Similar to the challenges we face in growing snowsports tomer, regardless of age or ability. Our hope is that by adopt-
(AND KEEPING THE ONES WE HAVE )
(AND KEEPING THE ONES WE HAV
(AND KEEPING THE ONES WE HAV
(AND KEEPING THE ONES WE HAVE ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
(AND KEEPING THE ONES WE HAV participation, growing the number of mountain bike par- ing and customizing these strategies for your area and your
(AND KEEPING THE ONES WE HAV
(AND KEEPING THE ONES WE HAV
(AND KEEPING THE ONES WE HAV
(AND KEEPING THE ONES WE HAV
(AND KEEPING THE ONES WE HAV
(AND KEEPING THE ONES WE HAV
(AND KEEPING THE ONES WE HAV
(AND KEEPING THE ONES WE HAV
(AND KEEPING THE ONES WE HAV
(AND KEEPING THE ONES WE HAV
(AND KEEPING THE ONES WE HAV
(AND KEEPING THE ONES WE HAV
(AND KEEPING THE ONES WE HAV
(AND KEEPING THE ONES WE HAV
(AND KEEPING THE ONES WE HAV
(AND KEEPING THE ONES WE HAV
(AND KEEPING THE ONES WE HAV
(AND KEEPING THE ONES WE HAV
(AND KEEPING THE ONES WE HAV
(AND KEEPING THE ONES WE HAVE E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E
(AND KEEPING THE ONES WE HAV
(AND KEEPING THE ONES WE HAV
ticipants is critical to the health of lift-accessed biking. It is customers, you will grow riders that will come back to your
exciting to see that over the past four years that NSAA has park time and again.
By Earl Saline, NSAA Director of Education Programming, hosted the Downhill Bike Park Summit, discussions around
Nate Fristoe, Director of Operations, RRC Associates growing the sport and growing participants have been prom- THE CURRENT MARKET
inent. Park builders, managers, and owners have recognized Mountain biking has its origins in Northern California in
& Dave Belin, Director of Consulting Services, RRC Associates
that they are competing with other activities such as hiking, the late 1970s, but even as early as 1896 bikes were being
zip lines and coasters—easy fun versus the harder fun of tweaked for cross-country and mountainous travel. In the
SUMMER 2018 | NSAA JOURNAL | 27