| Have you ever actually ridden your mountain bike | | | | loop. |
| down a mountain? If most of your riding takes place | | | | In Les Gets over in the French side, there is a |
| in the UK, then the answer to this is probably "no". | | | | beginners' downhill track at the Grand Cry Park and 2 |
| However, this sport is called "mountain biking" for a | | | | beginners' MTB parks; the Kid'Zone and Mini Jump |
| reason. If you sit at the top of a mountain peak in | | | | Park. For the more experienced there is a dirt and |
| the French Alps, looking across towards jagged snow | | | | freestyle jump park, a four cross track, a freeride |
| capped Dents du Midi mountains, with a long descent | | | | zone in "Gibannaz Canyon", 4 downhill courses, and 6 |
| of twisty technical single track ahead of you; | | | | cross-country suitable for all riders. |
| suddenly it all starts to make sense. | | | | Chatel, which is right at the centre of the area, has |
| The Portes du Soleil region, in the northern French | | | | perhaps the biggest selection of purpose built MTB |
| Alps, has become a Mecca for mountain biking and | | | | areas with 15 MTB tracks (14 of which are downhill |
| not without good reason. Over the winter months | | | | profiled), 5 north shore zones, 1 four cross track, the |
| the area is famous for being the largest linked ski | | | | infamous freeride "La Face" mountain style zone, 1 |
| area in the world, but during the summer months it is | | | | kid's cross and a drop zone with jump pit, wall ride, |
| fast becoming recognised as the largest lift served | | | | quarter, step-ups and step-downs. |
| mountain bike trail area in the world. | | | | Despite having great trails for intermediate, advanced |
| The area offers something to suit all styles and levels | | | | and crazy riders, the Portes du Soleil area is also a |
| of mountain biking. For cross country riders, there are | | | | fantastic place to learn mountain biking, or to go |
| plenty of demanding climbs to challenge your fitness. | | | | riding with young families. There are plenty of places |
| For downhill riders, there are a huge number of | | | | where you can get chairlifts up to the tops of the |
| dedicated downhill tracks ranging from easy to insane. | | | | mountains, and then find your way around easy |
| For freeriders, the area really comes into its own | | | | tracks which don't tend to be too steep or |
| with mile after mile of varied terrain including technical | | | | challenging. |
| forest single track, bike parks, exposed steep faces | | | | One of the reasons why the Portes du Soleil has |
| and north shore style zones. | | | | become so popular for mountain biking is because the |
| In response to the growing demand from mountain | | | | sheer vastness of the area results an incredible mix |
| bikers from all disciplines, many of the resorts in the | | | | of varied terrain, and ensures that the trails never |
| area have invested heavily in mountain bike | | | | become too busy. Indeed, it is possible to ride all day |
| infrastructure. | | | | and see no other riders. Couple this with beautiful |
| In Switzerland, the resorts of Champéry;, Val | | | | alpine resorts, great value accommodation and the |
| d'Illiez-Les Crosets-Champoussin & Morgins boast a | | | | glorious back drop of the Dents du Midi mountains |
| four cross track, a north shore zone, a bike park, 3 | | | | and the Mont Blanc range, and it is clear to see why |
| downhill courses (including the infamous UCI world | | | | the Portes du Soleil is one of the best mountain |
| cup downhill course, and the UCI 15 km cross country | | | | biking destinations in the world. |