The “GraVity” season card 2010 goes international

The “GraVity” seasonal ticket combined all season long access to the five „Austrian Leading Bikeparks“ in one card the first time in 2008. For 2010, the GraVity Card is joined by three additional “friends” from Germany and Slovenia: Bikepark Pohorje (Maribor/SLO), Bikepark Winterberg (GER) and MTB Zone Geisskopf Bischofsmais (GER). The GraVity card now unites eight parks in one seasonal ticket together with the five Austrian leading bike parks: Bikepark Leogang, Mountainbikepark Wagrain, Bikepark Zauberg Semmering, Planai-BikePark, as well as the Bike-Circus Saalbach Hinterglemm, including both adidas Freeride trails and the X-Line. Despite the new bike parks, the GraVity card is offered in 2010 for the same conditions like last year: 320 Euros for adults.

The advantages of a combined seasonal ticket are clear: purchased one time, you have fast and easy access to all the cable car lift stations without any stress – including huge savings compared to single tickets. If you are planning a trip to the best European bike parks for any length of time, the GraVity card must be your choice.

The committee of the Austrian Leading Bikeparks is proud of the new enlarged GraVity card: “We are looking back on two successful years and will go bigger than ever in 2010. The feedback and acceptance within the GraVity scene was already great, so we are very happy to offer the GraVity card fans a plus of bike parks, now even on an international basis. The GraVity card is not only a great choice for Austrian freeriders and downhill fans. It is also the perfect offer for vacationers on their trip around Europe. At the same time we are pretty happy to offer the GraVity card for the same conditions like last year. It pays off! Our main goals stay the same: we give added value to our customers as well as providing them the broadest bandwidth of tracks and sportive challenges as possible. The GraVity card is the synonym for pure and easy going riding pleasure.”

The GraVity seasonal ticket is running until October 26th 2010. Please note that visitors have to bear in mind the varying general opening dates and times of the participating bike parks. Adults can acquire the GraVity pass for 320 Euros, adolescents (born 1991-1993) for 256 Euros and kids (born 1994 -2003) for only 160 Euros. You need to bring a passport picture with you when purchasing a GraVity ticket that is available at all participating bike parks.

General information about the GraVity card bike parks:

Bikepark Leogang:
The Bikepark Leogang has got all you need or might imagine: Downhill-, freeride-, 4X-, dual slalom-, single trail-, northshore- and dirt jump-tracks. Including even a Mini-Kids Bikepark, all levels of riding skills are covered. Brand new for 2010: The official UCI World Cup track, modified sections on the Hangman and Flying Gangster trails, as well as a new foam pit next to the Gondola Station. Events 2010: May 13th–16th Magic Opening Weekend – Abra Cadabra; June 18th–20th: UCI Mountain Bike 4X & DH World Cup; June 24th–27th: Out of Bounds Festival including 26TRIX, iXS European DH Cup & European 4X Series; July 17th & 18th as well as September 11th and 12th: The Gap Camp; August 1st – 7th: Youth camp FREERIDE Magazine; October 1st -3rd: Closing Weekend; www.bikepark-leogang.com

Bikepark Zau[:ber:]g Semmering:
The Bikepark Zau[:ber:]g Semmering is presenting a dazzling range of tracks in this year’s bike season. The new “weedy’s cork”, a wooden corkscrew style bridge, and other features make the “Raiffeisen Club Roller- and Family-Trail” the best place for young and old to gain first experiences in mountain biking. The Specialized Freeride-track got new trails called „sweet & sexy“ and „bunny way“. The adidas Evil-Eye Northshore-line and the Northshore-park are the perfect playground to get his personal dose of flow and adrenalin. The airtime cracks can practice their tricks at the superior slopestyle-park. Events 2010: August 7th-8th: Race the Night powered by Almdudler, 24 Hours Downhill; www.bikeparksemmering.at

Bike-Circus Saalbach-Hinterglemm:
Saalbach Hinterglemm – Freeriding in its purest form: Over 400 km of paths and trails set the pulse of every true mountain biker racing in anticipation. Special highlights include the X-Line at the Schattberg in Saalbach, one of the longest and most unique freeride courses in Europe, as well as the adidas Freeride with PRO & BLUE Line at the Reiterkogel in Hinterglemm. For everyone who wants to experience that special freeride feeling to the max, all in a single day, we highly recommend the BIG-5-BIKE Challenge: the adrenalin-fuelled 5 gondola XXL-Tour with over 5,000 meters in altitude of pure biking pleasure. New for 2010: Road gap, additional northshore elements and step downs. Events 2010: May 21st-23rd : MTB Season Start; July 9th-11th: Dakine FREERIDE Festival; September 9th-12th World Games of Mountain Biking; September 30th to October 3rd: “Cool Down” closing weekend; www.bike-circus.at

Mountainbike Park Wagrain:
The Mountainbike Park Wagrain offers beginners and advanced bikers a cool mix of trails, jumps, tables and berms. Tracks like “On Air” or “Symphony” satisfy all the freeriders’ and downhillers’ needs. The “Comin`fast” is peppered with various wooden obstacles and drops, where everybody can find his own challenge. The “Flying Mozart” gondola brings the riders to the top of the mountain. Events 2010: May 22nd: Season Kick off; July 31st – August 1st: Symphony Jam Session Weekend; www.bikewagrain.com

Planai Bikepark:
The Planai Bikepark offers you one of the longest downhill tracks in Austria with 1,000 meters (3,500ft.) altitude difference and 4,5 kilometers (3 miles) length in a natural environment with various routes for all rider levels. The 4 cross trail with best shaped jumps and banked curves as well as freeride tracks with Northshore sections and single trails make sure that you will never get bored. The brand new “Golden Jet” lift makes the way uphill easy and fast. Events 2010: June 3rd-6th: Alpentour Trophy; www.bikeparkplanai.at

The new GraVity Card parks:

Bikepark Winterberg:
The Bikepark Winterberg is one of the most visited bike parks in Germany. Nine kilometers downhill tracks are available. The different trails and the slopestyle park is packed with small and big jumps, banked curves, gaps, tables and doubles. New for 2010: 17 additional obstacles are waiting to be shredded. Due to the variety of the trails, everybody from beginner to pro will find the right lines. All jump ramps are made of wood, now, and a new pump track next to the bike station promises easy going fun. Events 2010: April 24th: Season kick off; May 21st-24th: IXS Dirtmasters Festival; www.bikepark-winterberg.de

MTB Zone Bischofsmais:
The MTB Zone Bischofsmais at the Geisskopf offers a whole variety of trails and challenges to guarantee pure riding fun and adrenalin kicks: downhill and freeride trails, a dual slalom track, a hardcore slopstyle line, jump trails as well as a trainings- und kids track for all the ones new in the sport. An additional „Evil Eye“ trail is coming soon. Events 2010: June 5th and 6th: Free Ride Festival, ride for free both days! www.bikepark.net

Bikepark Pohorje:
The Bikepark Pohorje next to Maribor is well known since its first downhill World Cup back in 1999. Two downhill trails are leading from Bolfenk to the Pohorje-Valley: But there are also a lot, even more countless freeride options and big mountain lines to choose. So riders of all levels can be sure to have fun as well as an extra dose adrenalin. The 8-persons gondola brings all the riders and bikes to the start of this unique freeride resort. Events 2010: UCI May 15th and 16th and Mountain Bike Worldcup. www.pohorje-events.si

To get more detailed information about the leading Austrian bike parks and especially their opening dates and times, please visit the concerning bike park websites.

Photos by Martin Donat, Yorick Carroux and MattiasFredriksson.
Courtesy of www.rasoulution.com