Hero Dirt In The Aspens
17 Mar 2014
Who are you and what do you do for Bike Snowmass?
My name is Steve Rausch and I am the Manager of the Snowmass MTB Trails Crew and the Snowmass MTB Patrol. I have worked in the bike park at Snowmass for 16 years, been in my position of manager for 12 years, and I am extremely passionate about mountain biking at Snowmass. In the winter I work as a Ski Patroller on Aspen Mountain.
How long ago was Bike Snowmass developed? Who or what was the driving force?
Lift served mountain biking started in Snowmass in the early 1990's. We had our first NORBA DH race in 1997. The mountain manager at the time, Doug MacKenzie, the current mountain manager Steve Sewell, mountain operations manager Rich Burkley have all believed in the success of the bike park at Snowmass, and have all been incredibly supportive of the park, as well as the Town of Snowmass Village. The Snowmass MTB trails crew and rangers are extremely passionate about trail maintenance and providing an amazing riding experience at Bike Snomwass.
What is the most popular trail at your bike park?
Valhalla
Will there be any new trails added this year or will you be re-developing any existing trails?
Yes, we will be building a new beginner trail this summer, a full size beginner park and pump track at the top of the gondola, and adding features and re-routes to Easy Rider and The Vapor Trail. We also have two more new flow trails planned for summer of 2015. All these trails are designed by Gravity Logic, who are fantastic to work with.
Describe the predominant “style” of riding at your park? (Natural vs. Manmade, DH/Tech/Steep vs. Flow/Features) Typically, what kind of terrain do you have? (Rocky, Dry-dusty, Tacky, Roots)…
We have a bit of everything here, from our new flow trails, the classic Banzai world cup DH, and our classic xc trails.
What is the mountain bike scene/culture like at your bike park?
The scene here is dynamic. We have strong skiing, and xc roots here and it is good to see many of these folks enjoying and getting into the gravity scene. We also have many gravity riders locally who don't need to travel as far to ride in a park.
Tell me a little bit about Aspen/Snowmass town or city. Where do out-of-towners like to stay while visiting the bike park? Are there any restaurants or bars that mtb-ers like to spend their time?
Snowmass Village is 12 miles from Aspen. Many folks visiting the bike park stay in Snowmass Village or Aspen. In Snowmass Village the Base Camp and Ranger Station are great hang outs for apres riding in the park. Aspen has many options and a great nightlife scene. The Belly-Up offers great live music. There are great condos in Snowmass Village right on the hill, so riders can cook some of their own meals. In Aspen, the Limelight Hotel is a great option with big rooms, live music in the lobby, great food and an adventure concierge.
Tell us about any big events that are happening this summer at the bike park?
We have the Big Mountain Enduro Race June 21st-22nd. Details can be found here.
Also we have the Power of Four race August 2nd. Details can be found here.
Do you have an opening day yet?
We will open for the season on June 21st.
What does the future hold for Bike Snowmass?
The future is bright for Bike Snowmass. We currently have a 5-year expansion plan in place that we are working in partnership with Gravity Logic. We will continue to build great trails and keep the fresh offerings coming, and continue to keep our current trails maintained to the highest standard. Ride Snowmass!
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