One of the few trail centers in Switzerland

The "Trailcenter Thusis" project was first conceived a good five years ago. After a great deal of planning work, the implementation phase was then relatively short and many hands were needed to be able to open this extension to the offer before the summer vacations. In addition to the implementing company Allegra Tourismus, association members and private individuals put in around 600 man-hours so that the trail center could be opened on Saturday, 20 June 2020.

After Bülach, Gränichen and the Swiss Bike Park in Bern, the Trailcenter Thusis is still one of the few in Switzerland. It is also the first of its kind in the canton of Graubünden - a training ground for everyone. It is designed to make it easier for beginners to access the single trails, give older people riding confidence, youngsters can benefit from targeted technique training and even experienced bikers can learn something new in the wooded area near the Vita-Parcours Thusis.

"Not so easy at all"

In the spacious entrance and lounge area of the trail center, a large overview board provides information about the center and its individual elements and routes, which together make up around 3.5 kilometers of trail. The QR code catches the eye, telling us more about the technical elements and how to master them. How to jump, balance, ride hairpin bends and much more is described simply and clearly in the respective tutorials. We think we can do it and skip the reading.

Seven tracks and lines, peppered with technical elements plus a practice area are available to ride. The "Main Loop" winds its way through the small wooded area and small rock gardens, wooden bridges and berms are regularly lined up, always marked with the appropriate difficulty level. Perfect for gradually approaching more challenging terrain.

The question of whether technically experienced mountain bikers are really challenged is answered by the "Balance Line". Whether it's the balancing act on the tire-wide bridge or the wobble board, simple is different and a safe jump is trained in passing.
The "jump line" is also more difficult than it looks. It does not open: If the first jump is still short and can be mastered relatively quickly, the table jumps become increasingly longer. It takes a very good jumping technique to master all four jumps without additional pedaling - we didn't manage it.

Please more of this

The enthusiasm and attention to detail that went into the construction of the Trailcenter Thusis are tangible. For mountain bike beginners, it really is a great training ground to prepare for their first off-road tour. The trail center even has a pasture fence passage.
Young racers have practically all the elements for training that can be found on modern cross-country trails and there is also plenty of fun to be had. This is already evident on the day after the opening: many children and young people, but also adults, try their hand at the various lines. Even older people take a curious look at the latest sports infrastructure in the municipality of Thusis.

At the opening, the Thusis municipal council emphasized that the Trailcenter is a leisure asset with supra-regional appeal. However, its appeal should also extend beyond the borders of the canton. Trail centers in this or a similar form are a welcome addition to the bike trails, pump tracks and other local leisure facilities. They are a kind of modern Vitaparcours from which recreational and everyday cyclists of practically all ages and skill levels can benefit. Especially with the growing popularity of mountain biking, imitators are to be welcomed.

www.trailcenter-thusis.ch