Bikepark Bellwald launches crowdfunding for the construction of new mountain bike trails | Ride MTB

Bikepark Bellwald launches crowdfunding for the construction of new mountain bike trails

The Valais mountain village of Bellwald has big plans for the implementation of its "Bike Park Vision 2024". Once realized, seven new trails will be available. A partial success can already be celebrated in 2023. Four of the seven planned trails will be fully completed by the opening on 1-2 July. Crowdfunding was launched at the beginning of December for the final work in spring 2023 and to partially finance the "Scarry Shotter" enduro trail.

The bike park is just one of several visionary mountain bike projects that have been tackled in Bellwald: The first asphalt pump track in Upper Valais was built here and the "Stoneman" marathon series, which has since become established throughout Europe, did not opt for a renowned mountain bike destination, but also found its way to the small Valais municipality. In 2017, the master plan for Goms was adopted, creating the basis for the entire mountain bike tourism development in the region (mountain bike routes and connections to the Aletsch Arena and Gotthard region). However, the long-awaited expansion of the bike park was held up for a long time by the lack of permits and the enormous financial outlay for a small municipality.

Funds exhausted

It was not only the permit issued in 2019 that got the ball rolling, but also an infrastructure support program for mountain bike projects launched by the canton of Valais and the Upper Valais Regional Chamber of Commerce (RWO). This made it possible to build the first Vision 2024 trail - the Forest Bump Trail by "die Mobiliar" - in 2020. However, after opening in 2021 and an extremely successful season (more overnight stays in summer than in winter), the bike park was shut down again. The outdated two-seater chairlift was replaced by a six-seater chairlift in summer 2022. Ongoing income to finance Vision 2024 was therefore lost. The support contributions from the canton have also been exhausted. The sponsors of the Bellwald Bike Park are now reliant on new sources of income in order to be able to press ahead with the construction of further trails. The one-year bike break was used and construction work continued diligently. The bike park will reopen in summer 2023 and the new "Slider Man" by "Raiffeisen" and the "Into the Wild Single Trail" are awaiting their official opening.

Crowdfunding for two trails

The four-kilometre-long Rocky Trail, a mix of flow, jump and single trail, is probably the biggest highlight and is due to open in 2023 as the third trail in the group. This will open up the mountain station of the second section (Furggulti 2562 m above sea level), from where you can enjoy the panorama of the main Alpine ridge from the very top. The 3.5-kilometre enduro trail
will also start from Furggulti. "Scarry Shotter", the construction of which is planned for 2023. The crowdfunding is now being used to raise the necessary funds for the two new trails. Supporters will be rewarded with cool "Mercis", including an excavator course, a bike park riding course or bike park subscriptions.

localhelden.ch/bikeparkbellwald

bikeparkbewald.com


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Note: This content has been automatically translated from German. Please report any incorrect translations.