Glacier Bike in Saas Fee (Switzerland)

Every year in early spring, Saas Fee turns into the center of the Swiss mountain biking community. The most famous Snow downhill race takes place in the heart of the Swiss mountains.
Unfortunately the race was canceled this year, because of the bad weather conditions.

But there are some sweet pics of the Funpark session who take place, Friday before the race day!The charming, care free, little village, Saas Fee, in the heart of the Swiss mountains is the place to be for every mountainbiker, who even in Winter don't want to miss the feeling of a high speed run on your mountain bike or some sick slopestyle action.


For one week in early spring the slopes including the Funpark are open to all mountainbikers for practicing for the big race or having fun on the slopes and in the Funpark.

As in a usual ride over hill and dale this race goes rather over ice and snow down to the glacier village. Next to the revolving glacier restaurant, around 120 riders will start at the same time. Enthralling fights for positions during the first half of the run are guaranteed. The mass start is on the Mittelallalin station on an altitude of 3’500 m and goes down over the
snowy and icy slopes to the glacier village at 1’800 m. The riders have to manage 1’700 meters of elevation change over 8 km of distance. First they ride on a narrow trail along the Fee glacier, which leads to the panorama hill. For less experienced racers this is a real challenge. The hill is steep and has to be managed with high speed. High velocities of about 144 h/km have been measured per GPS on that part of the trail.

Following, the ride leads along the Restaurant Morenia before entering the Valley run. This is going to be a very exciting part with extremely steep passages, flat transits and narrow curves, a real assessment for the rider and their bike. The last part of the ride, a very flat passage, needs strength to be managed. The decision who is going to be the winner often clears out on this part of the race.


The race unfortunately was canceled this year, because of the foggy and stormy weather conditions, the cable cars were unable to bring the mountainbikers to the top of the mountain.

But another undisputed highlight of the one week of snow riding is the possibility to check out the so called Funpark, where usually the snowboarders and freeskiers are showing their tricks.


There have been numerous obstacles like kickers, Gondola Jumps and rails. Nearly feels like riding in the slopestyle park in summer!


For everyone who missed the event the next race will be on April 18th 2010!

More Info:

www.saas-fee.ch/en

The winners receive a weekend in Saas-Fee for two persons including ski passes. For the positions 2 to 6 a surprise gift will be provided!