Canyonsphere
7 May 2014
(photo credits to Canyons) (rider: Bryce Helbling)
Q&A: Canyons Bike Park!!
Who are you and what do you do at Canyons Bike Park?
Darren Muehlhaus, Marketing and Events Manager. I handle bike park partnerships, bike park related events, shoots, freeride team riders, and work closely with Canyons Bike Park Build/Dig Crew.
How long ago was Canyons Bike Park developed? Who or what was the driving force?
Our first season was 2011. We opened with our first trail in late August of that summer.
Steve Duke, Canyons Bike Park Manager, and myself had been pestering management for the chance to create a bike park. With such a strong scene of local and regional riders, the demand was there. If built correctly, while paying attention to rider feedback, we knew that offering lift served riding with jump trails would be a challenge, but ultimately a worthwhile and successful project.
(rider: Joey Foresta)
How many visitors do you get in a weekend/season at the bike park? What has been your biggest day on record?
Each year, our ridership grows, which is always a good sign.
Canyons Bike Park is open 7 days a week from June 12 – September 1, with extended hours on Wednesday’s until 8:00pm through Labor Day. After Labor Day, we move to 4 days a week, Thursdays-Sundays, with Closing Day October 5.
What is the most popular trail at your bike park?
Rally Cat
Will there be any new trails added this year or will you be re-developing any existing trails?
We will continue to enhance our existing bike park network of trails with tweaks and feature additions.
This season we will continue the work that started in the fall of 2013 on our first downhill trail!
(rider: Cody Kelley)
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)…
The majority of our trails take on the style of jump flow trails. We incorporate natural terrain as much as we are able, but also add manmade wood features for further enhancement and fun. As mentioned, we are in the process of building a DH trail, in the traditional style.
Canyons Bike Park trails depend on the aspect of the terrain. Some zones are rocky, while other zones offer more loamy material to work with. As we are in the high desert, mid-summer tends to be a bit dry, but late summer into the fall brings afternoon showers, which gives us that super fun, tacky dirt to shred on.
(rider: Eric Porter)
What is the mountain bike scene/culture like at your bike park?
We have a core group of local rippers from the Park City and Salt Lake Valley areas, both young and old. We also see dedicated, regional destination riders traveling from the Las Vegas area, southern California, Wyoming, Idaho, and Colorado.
Tell me a little bit about Canyons 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 hang?
Park City has been rated as the only IMBA Gold Level Ride Center in the world, so there are a variety of riding options and offerings for all ability levels. Park City is within 30 minutes of an international airport in Salt Lake City, so travel time and access to Park City and Canyons makes for morning flights, afternoon shredding.
Best to stay at Canyons, as we have world class lodging options in the Grand Summit Hotel, Sundial Hotel and Silverado Hotel, all in the Canyons Resort Village.
The Historic Main Street District in Old Town Park City has a great offering of restaurants, bars and nightclubs, with a combination of patrons being local and destination guests.
(rider: Eric Porter)
Tell us about any big events that are in store this summer at the bike park?
Stop 3 of the Enduro Cup Series; July 19
The final stop of the Go-Ride Gravity Series, with a DH race on Labor Day, September 1, complimented by a Super D on August 31
We host a stop of the Trek Dirt Series, an female only mountain bike camp that encourages development of skills, confidence and the fun of riding with others; July 26-27
We are also looking to create a big kick-off for Opening Weekend of Canyons Bike Park, June 13-15. Stay tuned for more info on Opening Weekend!
Do you have an opening day yet?
June 12
What does the future hold for Canyons Bike Park?
We continue to push for trail and lift expansion, incorporate relevant events that contribute to the bike park expansion and develop additional trail options for riders of all ability levels. We were fortunate to work with Gravity Logic to create a master plan for development and expansion and have been working within those parameters.
This season, we are collaborating with Vail Resort partners of Northstar and Keystone in offering a season pass with access to these bike parks, along with Kirkwood and Vail Mountain. Stay tuned for an announcement of this valuable bike park season pass option!
Ultimately, our goal is for Canyons Bike Park to become a destination bike park, complimented by the easy access of Salt Lake International Airport and the variety of dining, music, shopping and outdoor activities that the Park City area offers.
(rider: Cody Kelley)
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