Indoor bike parks probably have something in common worldwide: apart from the approach to the jumps, these halls have no height differences and are usually only designed for pumping and jumping. Nothing against pumping and jumping, it's great fun and attracts many young athletes.

Mountain bike halls are seen as complementary to outdoor mountain biking, as is the case with the most recent example in Sarnen. So it doesn't necessarily have to offer mountain biking in the classic sense. And yet I wonder whether these facilities are missing the mark, not least because the majority of mountain bikers have nothing to do with jumping.

It has to go downhill

Of course, you can't compare indoor mountain biking with your beloved outdoor sport. And yet I ask myself, why has a bike hall with a slope never been built before? Indoor ski centers have been doing it for a long time, because nobody can do anything on skis and snowboards on flat terrain. For these sports to be fun, they have to go downhill. And mountain bikers mainly want to ride single trails, and downhill if possible. That doesn't rule out jumps, just as some indoor ski slopes offer small slopestyle elements.

If halls can be built on a slope for indoor skiing, why shouldn't a bike hall with an incline also be possible? The use would be much more versatile, offering clubs, racing teams or private users better winter training opportunities, with short circuits, for specific technique training uphill and downhill, or simply to have fun. Such a hall would not have to be quite as grandiose as Dubai. A drag lift would be enough, or you could just rely on calf power to get to the trail entrance.

Well, a facility like the Wheelpark Sarnen, a covered, heated and illuminated mountain bike infrastructure, is a great thing. A lot of love has been put into making the most of the possibilities of the hall, which will soon bring joy to many mountain bikers. I am well aware that in all previous indoor bike facilities, existing halls were repurposed, which is clearly more cost-effective than a new build.

However, if you want to attract other target groups that are more oriented towards "normal" mountain biking, you need a different concept. Wheelpark initiator Robin Gilli said: "If you look at other trend sports such as skating, BMX or climbing, they have always established themselves outdoors first and only then indoors. Mountain biking is no different." I only agree with this statement to a limited extent. If indoor mountain biking wants to have a chance of establishing itself and not remaining a niche, then only if indoor bike parks offer proper descents - just like indoor ski slopes.

More blog posts by Balz Weber

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