Knights, tricks and fat bikes: This was Livigno’s bike season

28 Nov 2014

(NineKnights MTB 2014 - DAY 3- action-Geoff Gulevich - David Malacrida)

Knights, tricks and fat bikes: This was Livigno’s bike season

Livigno (ITA), November 25th 2014 – With the winter months drawing in, the mountain bike season in Livigno comes to an end. Once again the Italian resort has given mountain bike fans incredible highlights and memories. It began with BIKE Festival Riva and the Nine Knights contest, then travelled to Eurobike in Friedrichshafen for a live Danny MacAskill Drop and Roll show and finished with the Funny Fat Festival.

The Italian “Little Tibet” startet its event season in May, when it travelled to the BIKE Festival Riva and brought a free workshop with Nine Knights photographer Markus Greber and a signing session with MTB pioneer Hans Rey, freeride pro Andi Wittmann and 4X legend Guido Tschugg to Lake Garda.

At the Suzuki Nine Knights MTB, Livigno was searching for the ruler of the realm and invited the giants of the mountain bike scene. Top pros like Martin Söderström (SWE), Yannick Granieri (FRA) und Sam Pilgrim (GBR) were part of the illustrious circle. The scene’s best photographers accompanied and captured the spectacle. The result were great shots in front of Livigno’s mountain panorama, including the wooden castle and this year also a giant crossbow. The German photographer Christoph Laue won the award for best action shot with a picture of the “ruler of the week” Geoff “Gully” Gulevich (CAN) doing a massive tabletop.

(NineKnights_2014_Andi Wittmann_by_KlausPolzer)

You can see all the winners here:

Check out the highlight clip.

Also besides the knight’s castle, things in and around Livigno were very busy. Trials legend Danny MacAskill is a big fan of the Italian resort and two years ago, Livigno’s testimonial Hans ‘No Way’ Rey invited him for a bike weekend to the town. In August, Danny brought Livigno’s flair to the Eurobike in Friedrichshafen. The Scotsman performed his tricks four times in front of a total of 1,600 stunned visitors, while Livigno pampered the audience with local specialties. After the shows, the fans could get Danny’s and the team’s autographs in Livigno’s tent.

(Drop and Roll @ Eurobike 2014_by_Rasoulution)

In the end of September, very special bikes were the centre of attention in Livigno. Even sand or snow are no problem for so called Fat Bikes because of their thick tires with 26 inches. At the Funny Fat Festival, visitors were able to try their specific qualities. Together with Miss Grape, the biggest group of Fat Bike fans in Europe, Livigno invited bikers to the region. The program included tours, bike tests, a mutual dinner and a lot of fun.

(Livigno_Giacomo Meneghello_FatBike)

Also, in the upcoming year riders can be looking forward to countless highlights. Right now, Livigno is working on a new “Flow Country” trail in the area Carosello 3000 which will be opened next summer season. Furthermore, Livigno plans the construction of even more purpose-built bike trails. Also the Nine Knights will once again be guests in Livigno. In winter, the knights (April 5th – 10th) show their tricks on snowboards and from August 30th until September 5th, mountainbike athletes pull out their best tricks in front of the alpine panorama of Livigno.