• Welcome to AlpineZone, the largest online community of skiers and snowboarders in the Northeast!

    You may have to REGISTER before you can post. Registering is FREE, gets rid of the majority of advertisements, and lets you participate in giveaways and other AlpineZone events!

Everyone's starting to get in on this downhill MTB thing.

deadheadskier

Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
Mar 6, 2005
Messages
27,921
Points
113
Location
Southeast NH
Debatable whether South Ridge can be considered "down hill". ;)

For those that do ride in Ludlow, there's a nice ride from Colby Pond down along Buffalo Brook. I used to ride it all the time and then go swimming at the cliff jump into Lake Amherst
 

WoodCore

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 15, 2007
Messages
3,241
Points
48
Location
CT
Debatable whether South Ridge can be considered "down hill". ;)


South Ridge at Okemo actually has a better rise/run ratio than the current lift served bike offerings of The Shelburne Express at Burke:


Okemo SRQ: 414 vertical rise - 2743 length = .15

Shelburne Exp: 563 vertical rise - 3807 length = .14
 

deadheadskier

Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
Mar 6, 2005
Messages
27,921
Points
113
Location
Southeast NH
Maybe it's good. I would think the Sachem Chair would be better to build off of out of that base area. It's been years since I rode, but I'd be heading to Killington over Okemo for lift served riding if in that area.
 

buellski

New member
Joined
Nov 18, 2010
Messages
592
Points
0
Location
Lake Sunapee Region, NH
I'm just happy to see there will be even more places to ride this summer! With Sunapee and Okemo coming online, I'll have 6 lift-served options within 90 minutes of me:

Sunapee 20 min
Highland 60 min
Okemo 60 min
Killington 60 min
Burke 90 min
Sugarbush 90 min

I think it's time to find a DH-only or all-mountain rig!
 

Farleyman

New member
Joined
Feb 21, 2013
Messages
127
Points
0
Highland is where it's at, place is insane. Went there last summer and now I'm hooked!


Sent from my iPhone using AlpineZone
 

dlague

Active member
Joined
Nov 7, 2012
Messages
8,792
Points
36
Location
CS, Colorado
Maybe it's good. I would think the Sachem Chair would be better to build off of out of that base area. It's been years since I rode, but I'd be heading to Killington over Okemo for lift served riding if in that area.

Okemo is probably trying to target a more easy going crowd. Seems like lift serve MTB is the cheapest way to provide summer activities.
 

catsup948

New member
Joined
Dec 6, 2007
Messages
1,026
Points
0
Location
Shelburne Falls, MA

BackLoafRiver

New member
Joined
Nov 19, 2008
Messages
1,608
Points
0
Location
Augusta, Maine
Anyone ride Sunday River? I'm wondering how steep the learning curve is. I'd like to try some lift served but most of it is well, well over my head.


Sent from my iPhone using AlpineZone
 

buellski

New member
Joined
Nov 18, 2010
Messages
592
Points
0
Location
Lake Sunapee Region, NH
Anyone ride Sunday River? I'm wondering how steep the learning curve is. I'd like to try some lift served but most of it is well, well over my head.


Sent from my iPhone using AlpineZone

If you really want to try it (and become addicted), I'd say make the trip to Highland. I know it may be a bit of a haul for you, but the place is geared around progression. I'd recommend doing the "Find Your Ride" program. It's relatively inexpensive and gets you a bike and as much protective gear as you want for less than simply renting a bike. You do have to take the lesson, though.
 

bvibert

Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
Aug 30, 2004
Messages
30,394
Points
38
Location
Torrington, CT
Berkshire East downhill trails are pretty gnarly from what I've heard. They have some easier options that run out by Outback but the expert trail is straight down the front of the mountain! I don't mountain bike due to the cost but I'm thinking of taking it up!

From what I understand they have a pretty extensive setup there. The DH trails are professionally built (same guys who did Whistler, I think) and they have a good cross country network that ties in with surrounding properties.
 

machski

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 5, 2014
Messages
3,702
Points
113
Location
Northwood, NH (Sunday River, ME)
Anyone ride Sunday River? I'm wondering how steep the learning curve is. I'd like to try some lift served but most of it is well, well over my head.


Sent from my iPhone using AlpineZone

SR has some great beginner terrain off the Chondi that is fairly tame and wide on ski trails. You can add in some banked turns and short single track off these wide greens ad you progress/get more comfortable. The blues can get a bit technical but Tango and Crash is a blast. The catch with SR is, the blacks can really be a step up so don't get suckered into riding one of those too soon.
 

Hado226

New member
Joined
Feb 14, 2011
Messages
96
Points
0
From what I understand they have a pretty extensive setup there. The DH trails are professionally built (same guys who did Whistler, I think) and they have a good cross country network that ties in with surrounding properties.
Opening this week. We'll have a dozen trails, ranging from machine built beginner to rake and ride double black expert only.
Some really nice jumps, nasty rock and roots and ever-changing loam.
 

bvibert

Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
Aug 30, 2004
Messages
30,394
Points
38
Location
Torrington, CT
Opening this week. We'll have a dozen trails, ranging from machine built beginner to rake and ride double black expert only.
Some really nice jumps, nasty rock and roots and ever-changing loam.

Thanks for the update. Are you involved with the trail building up there?
 

Hado226

New member
Joined
Feb 14, 2011
Messages
96
Points
0
You could say that... Opening weekend was awesome. The boys from northatlanticdirt.com did a nice review after riding a couple days and chatting with me on a couple lift rides. Nice photo of bike patrol (me) on my favorite trail.
 
Top