Mountain Bike / 21.07.2015

Hans Rey and Danny MacAskill open new trails in and around Livigno

Livigno is expanding: as of last week the Italian bike resort has three new trails on its extensive bike map. On Thursday, a new route was opened in Val Minor, an important link between Livigno and Switzerland. On Saturday, Livigno’s longterm testimonial Hans Rey and friend, Danny MacAskill took the chance to test the two new flow trails located on the Carosello 3000 mountain.

Up and over: the new mountain pass from Livigno to Switzerland is 5.8 km/ 3.1 mi long and starts at the top of the Forcola Pass on the Swiss-Italian border. Riders can enjoy a last refreshment at the mountain hut before taking on the new trail with its 180 m/ 590 ft climb which takes about 50 minutes to reach the famous Ospizio Bernina station. Livigno and the two Swiss municipalities Poschiavo and Pontresina have successfully added a new mountain pass to the old demanding trails which took up to 4 hours to complete. This magical route is surrounded by untouched nature and stunning views of the glacier Vadret da Palu and its lake.

Having tested the new connecting trail with a bunch of bikers earlier in the week, Hans Rey took part in the official opening of the flow country trail at Carosello 3000 with non other than friend and fellow trials rider, Danny MacAskill. It is the first time Danny has come back to Livigno since 2012 when he last rode here with Hans “No Way” Rey. Together the two biking icons took laps on the new "Coast to Coast" (6 km/ 3.7 mi) and "Rollercoaster" (4 km/ 2.5 mi) trails. Their fine tuned sequence of rhythmic jumps and berms give cyclists the feeling of ultimate flow and enjoyment.

In cooperation with Hans Rey and the flow country expert Diddie Schneider the local Alberto Clement and his crew have shaped a route that is ideal for both beginners and advanced riders. At the opening day, invited guests were impressed by the fun factor and readiness of the trails. "We worked hard but I’m really happy about the way Carosello 3000 have built the trails”, says Hans Rey. “You can recognize it’s a real flow country because you look at the people’s face and they are smiling when they arrive at the bottom. We already have 10 km and it’s just the beginning. Livigno is one of the best places in the world for mountain biking and now we have all kind of trails." Danny MacAskill also liked the two new trails: "For me it’s always awesome to be here in Livigno. I rode already with Hans all over the valley and now riding the flow country trails as a pro rider I had the same enjoyment. I hope to be back again soon."

The flow trail project is far from over: further sections are in the planning. Another 4 km/ 2.5 mi trail will be already completed in mid-August. Check out that clip to get a taste of the new flow trails: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BQsQH2mu1g

Eager bikers should not waste any time coming to Livigno: the first event on the new trail takes place on August 2nd. As part of the Adventure Awards Festival (July 27th – August 2nd ), the 3K Up & Down race is presented by the Adventure Awards, Carosello 3000 and crankbrothers. The principle is simple: 1 Pro-Rider, 100 participants, 2 lifts, a 13 km/ 8 mi long trail and 7 hours to ride as much as possible. How many times can you take the lift up and bike down in 7 hours? So gear up and we look forward to seeing you in Livigno!

Also, from July 31st to August 1st European Bicycle Adventure Meeting (BAM!) will offer workshops, group bike trips and yoga classes, as well as afternoon concerts and parties to keep mountain bikers entertained. The (BAM!) program is full of attractive activities. More information about the Adventure Awards Days is available atwww.adventureawards.it .

The National Park Bike Marathon on August 29th will take bikers across the beautiful Swiss National Park. The 66 km/ 41 mi long "Livignasco track" will climb up the Chaschauna pass, reaching an altitude of 2694 m/ 8838 ft. From the peak, an awesome flow trail will descend to Alp Chaschauna and another one towards Scuol, bringing the riders back down the mountain. For more information visit www.bike-marathon.com/home.html . Enduro fans can look forward to the Enduro Cup Lombardia on September 13th, where the sixth and final stage will end in Livigno. More details will follow shortly.

The high flying highlight of the season will be the Suzuki Nine Knights, at Mottolino Bike Park, from August 31st to September 5th. It is the 5th edition of this mega-freeride event in Livigno and the event organizer Andi Wittman has tweaked the set-up to ensure another amazing contest. The castle will get an incredible facelift and airtime is guaranteed. 18 of the world's best freeriders are already invited plus the wildcard winners of the "Become A Knight Video Competition". Anton Thelander, Peter Henke, Sam Reynolds, Sam Pilgrim, Szymon Godziek, Geoff Gulevich and Tobi Wrobel don’t want to miss this spectacle and have already confirmed their participation. Four photographers who are among the best in the bike scene will cover their best moments at sunrise and sunset shoots, a heli session and a photo competition. On September 5th, "Public Freeride Contest" will be held. More information can be found athttp://nineknightsmtb.com/ .



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