Alpine Tracks Summer Mountain Bike Programme 

With 15 years experience in the Alps, we have spent countless hours on skis and in the saddle, exploring and discovering ‘mind blowing’ tracks in some of the most breath taking scenery in the World. Putting together a programme for 2008, we hope there is something for every level of rider, from novice to budding racer.

Our base for operation is Champery in Switzerland, the picture post card Swiss town, nestled at the foot of the dramatic Dents du Midi Mountains. We see Champery as the next big thing for mountain bikers. Its in the heart of the Portes du Soleil region, and is hosting the 5th Pass ‘Portes du Soleil’ in June 2008. There are new lifts, bike parks, free ride zones and more trails than you can shake a stick at.

To compliment Champery we also have accommodation in the riders favourite, Morzine. The town really needs no introduction, a mecca for bikers worldwide. Riders make the pilgrimage year after year, enticed by fantastic permanent trails and easy access to the whole Portes du Soleil area. For many though, it’s merely the town’s fun element, its friendliness and the infamous bikers refuge ‘Bar Robinson’, where you have the chance to share a Mutzig with like minded enthusiasts and international racers alike. 

Portes du Soleil

The Portes du Soleil is unquestionably the largest mountain bike area in the world. Boasting thousands of kilometers’ of marked trails served by a fast lift system and full time trail maintenance team.

In Champery there is an array of new cross country trails along the base of the famous Dents du Midi mountain range and from Champoussin to Champery as well as the world class DH and XC track from Les Crosets that was built for the 2007 Mountain Bike World Cup. Many upgrades are also afoot to improve the bike parks in Morgins, Les Gets, Les Crosets, Les Linderets and Chatel.

Guiding

The array of trails and piste maps covering the vast Portes du Soleil can appear a little complex and often bewildering to the newcomer and experienced alike! Here at Alpine Tracks, we take the stress out of planning routes and rides. We offer a unique 5 day a week complimentary guiding service to help you get the most out of your time on holiday.

Whether you want to prove your ‘metal’ on World Cup level DH tracks or test your legs and lungs on epic XC routes, or simply cruise some of the most beautiful single track in the world, our guides can help you achieve your goals. With a first hand knowledge of the area, our guides can help.

Each of our guides is a resident in the area and selected for their experience and expertise in their particular discipline. All have a huge knowledge of the region and are qualified first aiders and also competent mechanics. Our head DH guide is Petra Wiltshire, a Professional racer with 10 years racing experience on the World Cup circuit. She has raced for Pro teams like Raleigh, Giant, Kona and this year Trek Bikes. She has a wealth of riding expertise, a wicked sense of humour and even National, European and World DH titles to boot!! Petra is a pocket rocket and more than happy to point downhillers new and old in the right direction!

Cross Country Epics

There is something for everyone – whether a gnarly mountain goat or mountain bike debutant, the Portes du Soleil has it all. Monster climbs, mountain refuges, epic descents and sweet single track to blow your mind!

Take a day cruising the shores of Lake Montriond and the River Dranse, followed by a leisurely dip in the Lake at Les Gets. Or, why not tackle one of our favourites? A legendary lung busting climb through stunning terrain to the frontier post on the Col du Cou. Often topped with snow, this peak offers scintillating views from the ridge, of Switzerland and the daunting Dents du Midi mountain range. Catch your breath and then hold tight for a fast, free flowing descent down the Grand Paradis to Champery and the Rose des Alpes for a well earned ice cold beer. You tell us what you want and we will do our best to accommodate!!

Freeride Adventures

Not quite into the ‘big bike/big kit’ DH scene, but still enjoy the thrill of screaming descents? Prefer to ride with three rings and single crown forks? Still hanker after climbing to earn the right to descend? Well, if the answer is yes to any of these, you like many visitors to Alpine Tracks are looking for our Freeride adventures. You don’t need to take out a second mortgage for a forty five pound ‘bouncy’ beast to enjoy this type of riding. 

Downhill Rapidly

Speed merchants and thrill seekers this way. Don your helmet and pads, take a deep breath and let go……!  With so many professional racers making this area of the Alps their base and manufacturers using the terrain for research and development on their equipment; what better advert for the quality of the tracks? With high speed lifts to get you and your steed to the top, its downhill all the way!
Test your metal on the Anne Caro track in Chatel or, why not try Puncture Alley? In excess of 10 km long, peppered with unforgiving rocks, fast gravel corners and an occasional mountain goat to negotiate. 

When it’s all done, hook on your bike, sit back on the lift and cruise effortlessly back to the top and do it all again – harder and faster!! There are more than twenty purpose built downhill tracks in the resort, with lines and grades to suit every level of rider. 

Both Morzine and Champery have a number of bike rental shops kitted out with all the latest equipment.

A word of warning……..riding in the Portes du Soleil can seriously damage you love of riding anywhere else!!

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