The Ybrig wants to become a magnet for mountain bikers. A year ago, the Bahnentour opened, the first mountain bike tour in Central Switzerland where the steep climbs can be covered by mountain railroad. This early summer will see the opening of the first bike park in the canton of Schwyz. Representatives from tourism and politics, including cantonal councillor Andreas Barraud, gather for the ground-breaking ceremony. "Here, innovative people have the courage to take a chance. They believe in the future here and are building it," said the head of the Department of Economic Affairs, praising the investments made in Ybrig in recent years.

On the way to becoming a year-round destination

"The KABI Bike Park is a joint effort," says Alois Reichmuth, Oberiberg municipal councillor and President of the Ybrig vacation and sports region. It should not only be an experience for guests, but also a meeting place for locals. As the first concrete implementation of the Ybrig master plan, the "KABI Bike Park" also shows Alex Taugwalder, owner of Roggenstock Lodge, "that we can achieve something together". This will smooth out fluctuations in capacity utilization and secure jobs in Ybrig. The Ybrig master plan is a New Regional Policy (NRP) project.

According to Alex Taugwalder, the region offers "incredible potential". As part of the Ybrig master plan, ideas are being developed with the involvement of the local community to make the region more attractive for urban guests. The focus is on sensible promotion that preserves the naturalness of the area. Last year, the Swiss Landscape Conservation Foundation named the Ibergeregg moorland forests Landscape of the Year 2019. "But beautiful nature alone is no longer enough," said Walter Marty, Mayor of Oberiberg. Many second-home owners in Oberiberg are facing a generational change. And Ybrig wants to offer this new generation something so that they can also get out and about in summer and experience wonderful moments around their vacation home.

Grabbing the spade for the "KABI Bike Park" (from left to right).): Dominik Hug (Chairman of the Board of Directors of Einsiedeln-Ybrig- Zürichsee AG), Government Councillor Andreas Barraud (Department of Economic Affairs Canton Schwyz), Arthur Füchslin (Head of Advisory Bank SZKB Einsiedeln), Alex Taugwalder (owner of Roggenstock Lodge), Fränzi Taugwalder (Managing Director of Schweizer Bike Schule Hoch-Ybrig), Walter Marty (Mayor of Oberiberg) and Alois Reichmuth (Councillor of Oberiberg, President of the Ybrig Holiday and Sports Region)

KABI Bike Park - ideal for families

Children and mountain bike beginners will be able to use the "KABI Bike Park" free of charge from the end of June. It offers three difficulty levels to learn how to ride off-road: a baby loop, a kids loop and several skill trails. In combination with the new Swiss Bike School Hoch-Ybrig and the Roggenstock Lodge restaurant, it is an ideal excursion destination for families. The Swiss Bike School Hoch-Ybrig starts with three offers: Exploration tours in Hoch-Ybrig for adults with private guides, lessons to learn riding techniques for children and bike camps for kids.

The project sponsors and partners of the "KABI Bike Park" are Ferien- und Sportregion Ybrig, the municipality of Oberiberg, Roggenstock Lodge, Schweizer Bike Schule Hoch-Ybrig, Einsiedeln-Ybrig-Zürichsee AG, Schwyz Tourismus AG, Mountainbike Zentralschweiz, Amt für Sport des Kantons Schwyz, Schwyzer Kantonalbank, Skilift Oberiberg AG and Sportanlagen Oberiberg AG.

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