Downhill Family

Summer planning (Choosing a resort)

On this page I will discuss choosing a downhill resort or park. Below is a brain dump of all the aspects that our family takes into account when picking a destination.

Regardless of where we go, I am usually running through this list while we are discussing plans to go to a park:

It’s important to note that our older kids have had many years of instruction. They have always attended Cutaway Camp in Crozet, Virginia. Most of the parks we visit, they have already had formal training at that park and they already know the trails by heart. But, occasionally we visit new parks. At Cutaway, they learned from camp owner and director, Andy Guptil, to “pre-ride, re-ride, free-ride”. So when we visit parks that are brand new to them, we talk it out and go over safety and Andy’s mantra to pre-ride, re-ride, free-ride. Always safety is my main concern. But when going to a new park for the first time, safety is the highest priority.

Ok, so it’s early summer and we’re all excited to make some downhill mountain bike trips. When we are considering a downhill mountain bike trip, we’ll take the data points in the list above and talk it out. The details help make the decision and also help me plan, pack and mentally prepare for the trip. Here is an example: Our daughter has her favorite resort which is Bryce Bike Park in Virginia. I asked her once why that park is her favorite and she immediately replied, “The trails.” She likes this park because the trails are “flowy.” My son loves the park as well. He explained why Bryce is one his favorites this way: “The jumps are quality constructed, they are serious jumps and the speed you have to get for one jump leads you right into the next. It’s so fun.”

For me, that park is a bit of drive from our house, so I consider the time and cost of gas. Bryce is roughly 4 hours away from our house so its a bit far for a day trip but we can stay with family in Charlottesville, VA which is 2 hours away or book a condo at Bryce for an overnight stay. My next thought is, is the park open on the days we are able to go? Some parks open only partially in the first part of the season. They may only be open Thursday – Sunday. Or they may only open a portion of trails. So I need to verify if it’s open, is it running lift service to my daughter’s favorite trails? Last, can I book private lessons for our youngest child?

So, going to Bryce is a little complicated, but I happily take them when it’s possible. The park is lift serve and the tickets are reasonably priced. Bryce has a building where I can spend the day while the kids bike. The building is open to visitors and has a large empty dining hall that is quiet and has water fountains and nice bathrooms. I can be comfortable reading books there for hours while the kids ride. It also has a small rental shop which I like because I know we can rent equipment if we have any forgotten or broken items while we are there. Also, there is a restaurant that has a great service and a nice menu. But I need to check the hours of the restaurant and also check to see if we can pack in snacks and coolers. In the past, our youngest daughter had a wonderful instructor for a private lesson so I know I can get her out on the trails but I need to see there are any lessons available. Bryce is sort of remote and it is a serious park. Several years ago, our oldest son broke his elbow while riding at Bryce. I always think, ok what’s my plan if someone gets hurt? Where is the nearest ER? Do they have a patrol? Last, we don’t buy season tickets at Bryce so when we go, we have to be intentional about checking the weather, considering plans to stay over night and understanding the refund policy so we get the most value from the expense of the trip.