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Blue Mountain Mid Season Update
by koneil
Posted: Aug 24, 2009
We are a little over halfway through the season and so far it’s been a good one. This year at Blue Mountain we’ve already seen 3 new/re-designed DH trails, a new XC loop in the south, the longest Ontario Cup Downhill and Super-D Course in history, the first of a 3 race by-weekly XC race series and Wade Simmons came to hang out for a weekend to teach our young and old dogs new tricks.
Here’s the scoop on what has been going on.
Here’s the scoop on what has been going on.
Trail Crew has been busy this summer with 1 new DH run and 2 re-designed DH runs and a new XC loop. The new trail is called Hoale (pronounced “how-lee”), don’t ask me what it means, but I know it’s fun. The trail resembles an old favorite, just a little further away from the lift than the other one. It's anywhere between 6 to 10 feet wide, flows super nice with some fun berms, has a couple of high-speed sections and you can get light in a couple areas. Check out the pics to get a sense of things.
As for the first re-designed trail it is Big Sleeze. This has been a work in progress since last fall with 4 phases to the trail. The Phases 1 and 2 of trail are open and have been totally re-cut, from what Big Sleeze used to be. In the next couple weeks the trail crew should have phase 3 open, followed by Phase 4. The new start of Big Sleeze is just off of Squeeker and opened just the other day. The trail has been designed by riders for riders and features lots of flow, some rocks, some steep sections and some roots. Basically everything that someone would be looking for in a technical trail. The 2 other phases of the trail will be totally new and will feature even more rocks, roots and flow. Check out the pics, these are only a taste of what the trail has to offer.
The second re-designed trail is the Collector. With the new XC trail that was built in the south on some of the old DH runs, the Collector needed to be shifted uphill just a bit. The change has not cut out any of the existing trails, just made the collector better. The new collector features a nice little table out on the ski hill and a huge down-flat-down bridge. Here are some pictures to tempt your taste buds.
That’s it for the new trails that you can ride on a daily basis, but the Ontario Cup Downhill Track for this season up a Blue was one to remember. The track was a combination of 3 different trails that Blue has to offer and the only time you could have ridden it was race weekend. The track started on Waterfall, and then about three quarters of the way down you turned left and headed over to Highway, yes a section of Highway was reopened just for the race. From there it popped out onto the ski hill for some flat turns and pedaling, then dropped onto the collector to finish. All this in 3:08 for the fastest man in the field, truly the longest and one of the most challenging races in Ontario. Overall the O-Cup weekend was a big success with the Provincial Super-D running on the Saturday, once again the longest track in Ontario at over 8 minutes, and the downhill running on Sunday. There was a total of 43 people testing their fitness in the Super D and 230 people enjoying themselves on the longest DH track in Ontario.
On July 28th the first of 3 bi-weekly XC races took place with 47 people turning up to ride the new XC loop in the South. The next two events are on August 11 and August 25. More information can be found here. Come on out and check out the trail and have some fun testing your endurance.
On the weekend of July 17-19 the legend of Freeride Wade Simmons was in town to ride with the young and old. Over the three days Wade rode with 6 different groups of people for 3 hours. Everyone was in for a good time and everyone learned something new. I had the opportunity to ride with Wade and the groups for two days and I know that I came out a better rider. Wade will be around next year and when he is, take the opportunity to get our and ride with him. It is definitely worth the money.
So far this year has been busy, and I am not sure what will be in store for the second half but don’t be left out. Get up to Blue anyway you can, I am sure you’ll be in for a good time.
Mike "MJT" Towers
As for the first re-designed trail it is Big Sleeze. This has been a work in progress since last fall with 4 phases to the trail. The Phases 1 and 2 of trail are open and have been totally re-cut, from what Big Sleeze used to be. In the next couple weeks the trail crew should have phase 3 open, followed by Phase 4. The new start of Big Sleeze is just off of Squeeker and opened just the other day. The trail has been designed by riders for riders and features lots of flow, some rocks, some steep sections and some roots. Basically everything that someone would be looking for in a technical trail. The 2 other phases of the trail will be totally new and will feature even more rocks, roots and flow. Check out the pics, these are only a taste of what the trail has to offer.
The second re-designed trail is the Collector. With the new XC trail that was built in the south on some of the old DH runs, the Collector needed to be shifted uphill just a bit. The change has not cut out any of the existing trails, just made the collector better. The new collector features a nice little table out on the ski hill and a huge down-flat-down bridge. Here are some pictures to tempt your taste buds.
That’s it for the new trails that you can ride on a daily basis, but the Ontario Cup Downhill Track for this season up a Blue was one to remember. The track was a combination of 3 different trails that Blue has to offer and the only time you could have ridden it was race weekend. The track started on Waterfall, and then about three quarters of the way down you turned left and headed over to Highway, yes a section of Highway was reopened just for the race. From there it popped out onto the ski hill for some flat turns and pedaling, then dropped onto the collector to finish. All this in 3:08 for the fastest man in the field, truly the longest and one of the most challenging races in Ontario. Overall the O-Cup weekend was a big success with the Provincial Super-D running on the Saturday, once again the longest track in Ontario at over 8 minutes, and the downhill running on Sunday. There was a total of 43 people testing their fitness in the Super D and 230 people enjoying themselves on the longest DH track in Ontario.
On July 28th the first of 3 bi-weekly XC races took place with 47 people turning up to ride the new XC loop in the South. The next two events are on August 11 and August 25. More information can be found here. Come on out and check out the trail and have some fun testing your endurance.
On the weekend of July 17-19 the legend of Freeride Wade Simmons was in town to ride with the young and old. Over the three days Wade rode with 6 different groups of people for 3 hours. Everyone was in for a good time and everyone learned something new. I had the opportunity to ride with Wade and the groups for two days and I know that I came out a better rider. Wade will be around next year and when he is, take the opportunity to get our and ride with him. It is definitely worth the money.
So far this year has been busy, and I am not sure what will be in store for the second half but don’t be left out. Get up to Blue anyway you can, I am sure you’ll be in for a good time.
Mike "MJT" Towers
31 Comments
- + 2
mserko
(Aug 26, 2009 at 0:15)
Looks sweet.
love hoale it must be the fastest trail there i like how the berms are so small but u can rail them at a high speed would be nice with some more jumps tho
this place seems kinda lame now that they took all the jumps and drops out . the trails seem ok i guess, but it dont seem worth a 2.5 hours drive to me anyways
Agreed. I was under the impression that Blue didnt care about the Dh crowd anymore, did they finally realize that the gravity sector are the most likely to spend at Blue and the only ones to buy a lift ticket? I'll drive 3 hours when they put the jumps and character back in.
I agree completely. I don't even know why I bought a seasons pass this year. The drive for me is about 2 hours, which isn't much, and I'll definately drive that often if the trails are good but Blue's trails are just weak now. There is no life in them...
Remember long ago when they did have all those fun jumps features? Like that long big booter at the end of Autobaun?
Remember long ago when they did have all those fun jumps features? Like that long big booter at the end of Autobaun?
Aww it's still fun once or twice a season but yea I wouldn't want a season pass. I drove up 5 hours for the first time this year and it was worth it.
Missing the old runs like High way and autobahn like from 2006
Missing the old runs like High way and autobahn like from 2006
There is more to DH than jumps and drops. Anyways, you could count the jumps and drops that blue took out on 2 hands. The trail crew at blue have done an amazing job this year, and if everyone starts to put a bit of faith in them, it can only get better.
haha I couldnt agree more with what you guys are saying, not worht the 2.5 hour drive, or the money for the lift when you are basically paying for lift access XC, sure theres more to DH then jumps and drops, but really who wants to ride lame tech for a day or supposed steep sections. Ive stopped going, especially since my brother has to do a ride test and wear full armour... to ride nothing special, sry nothing mediocre
I was pissed that they made me wear skimpy body armour instead of my leatte, because I'm under 18!? They should change it so I can wear either.
I have to agree there are flowy trails elsewhere for free and the 3 hour drive for a steeper xcountry trail doesn`t justify a tank of gas and full suspension. but that might help explain why we only have one great new canadian racer in the wc "keeper goin smitty" lol
obviously you guys don't push your limits then. If you drag your tires down the run then obviously its a waste of time, but if you push yourself and ride as fast as you can the trails are really quite fun and get harder and harder and you try to ride them faster. Plus there's tons of places to catch air ( 30 foot natural table on haole) but you guys are quick to put Blue down. my 2 cents
we obviously aren't going to have a whistler style hill in Ontario, we purely don't have the terrain for it. They do what they can, you don't like it don't go.
haha youve never been to diablo, they have a very similar hill with similar soil and they have 100 times what blue has for riding. hell some of there trails are better then whistler. Or how about the old COP, they had great trails on a smaller hill. I know its a matter of insurance, but blue should have forseen this stuff and made better preporations so they could keep the good riding there. For example puting obsticales infront of trail sections that if a rider cant complete they would know to stay off the trail. Blue and some rookie riders f*cked up so now everyone has to pay the price
so true each run i do a little less brakes and makes the trail harder and faster that 30foot natural table really fun so is the jump on the collector and the bridge
blue is rad, all the valley trails are mad fast and flowy. people shouldnt be as quick to put it down
[Reply]
Sure Blue has made some mistakes and instituted controversial policies but this is bound to happen when the operators of the hill have had so many issues with liability, insurance, and riders not taking responsibility for their choices while riding.
Beyond this, the trailer crew has been out there this year killing it. They're building trails that are flowy, fun, challenging, and at the same time (relatively) safe. They are also beginning to build back up some jumps and drops. And there are some great trails that already exist (especially in the valley)- rooty, rocky, flowy - that only get better with speed.
There are a lot of great riders that are at Blue week in week out that are ripping and having a great time. Dh isn't all about hucking big. Get out there, get off the breaks, go fast, get loose. Show your support for downhilling at Blue and they will be more inclined to tailor their operations towards the downhill experience.
Beyond this, the trailer crew has been out there this year killing it. They're building trails that are flowy, fun, challenging, and at the same time (relatively) safe. They are also beginning to build back up some jumps and drops. And there are some great trails that already exist (especially in the valley)- rooty, rocky, flowy - that only get better with speed.
There are a lot of great riders that are at Blue week in week out that are ripping and having a great time. Dh isn't all about hucking big. Get out there, get off the breaks, go fast, get loose. Show your support for downhilling at Blue and they will be more inclined to tailor their operations towards the downhill experience.
really doesn't matter how many rocks or roots on the trails as long as there is no immediate tree right in front of my face when I try to find a nice spot to move forward like Waterfall is so dangerous because it is steep and lot of switchback + super slippery. that's why it's called Waterfall. Sometimes I wonder if it is designed for XC riders who like to test their technical skills on steep sections.
waterfall is my 2nd favorite run at Blue( new big sleeze being #1) I ride it pretty fast, its a fun trail in my opinion.
love bookin it over that new bridge on the collector it sends you and you land oh so soft.
blues great, cant go there without doing showcase as much as i can.
bring back AUTOBAHN Kay?
blues great, cant go there without doing showcase as much as i can.
bring back AUTOBAHN Kay?
I read in the paper that Blue Mountain had a drowning in one of the pools recently...... I guess they will be taking out all the water with in a 10 km area... LOL
What a joke!
What a joke!
Went back in 06, funnest place ever when they had all the jumps, drops and Autobahn. I road that trail the most. I just wish I can go again since I was 14 at the time :/ But now I gotta do all this bullshit 1 hour course shit when I've already been there. So pointless.
its in collingwood. i havent made it up this year but im wondering if they ever gonna build a new progression park? ever since that kid died they took out all of the fun stuff... and the whole course thing they make you do now is just f*cking dumb lol
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