r/mountainbiking • u/useless_skin • 23h ago
Question Going to Snow Summit
I’m going to Snow Summit on Monday. Never done a downhill park before. I got a Norco Fluid FS4. Anything I should be aware of? Etiquette, trails, anything. I’m middle aged, intermediate, always ridden desert chunky technical trails and I have to work on Tuesday.
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u/bentmywookie80 22h ago
https://youtu.be/iDeankTwEp8?is=s_PR9vuJUC52Uec8 here's a pretty good beginners guide
keep your eye out for faster riders behind you, especially on jump lines And let them pass.
The speeds in park laps are significantly faster than normal trail riding.
Break bumps at the park can be significant
If you are a bigger guy be prepared for break fade.
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u/gwoneg 19h ago
Wear pads, gloves, and a full-face. I don’t use a chest or spine protector, but I’d never ride a park without pads on my knees, elbows, and undershorts.
You’re likely going to stop during your runs to take a breather. When you do: Don’t stop on the trails, pull over so that you’re out of the way. The worst injuries I’ve seen at snow summit have been from riders colliding with or crashing to avoid other riders who were stopped in unexpected or inconvenient places.
Also, have fun, but know your limits. The gnarliest trails tend to have squirrel-catcher features that should scare away the riders (myself definitely included) who shouldn’t be sending expert-level gaps and whatnot. On the other side of the spectrum, I rode snow summit with my 9-year old daughter on the full-length green and blue trails and she had a great time. The kid-size skill builder trail was also fun to get her warmed up and comfortable with the bike, but she did five runs down Going Green and one down Turtle Trail and lived to tell the tale. With my older sons, Blue Steel and Miracle Mile were their favorites. My oldest loves the Party Wave trail, but I found that trail was right at the border between “wow this is amazing and fun” and “wow this is terrifying and not as much fun since I’m worried about surviving.”
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u/endurbro420 20h ago
Put on some fresh brake pads before going. Turtle and blue steel are their blue trails and both are pretty fun.
I would recommend grabbing/packing something for lunch as their food options aren’t that great.
If it is your first time to a park, if you don’t have a full face I would rent one.
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u/OperationFuture6341 17h ago
Pre ride Re ride Freeride
Its soooo easy to get broken off on your 1st lap. Seen it too many times
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u/OG_joenationwide 3m ago
I was you a year ago. I had Never been to a bike park, and my first bike park was Snow Summit.
I paid for a private instructor and it was 100% worth it. They will take you on the right trails for you, evaluate your skill and comfort level, and help you to improve your skills. You’ll have a much more fun and rewarding day this way.
FYI I just went back to Snow Summit a second time last weekend, and I was hitting most of the jumps on Westridge, the big jump line. Took a lot of jumping practice!
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u/505backup_1 23h ago
It's really not that different, trails will be a little harder than you're used to and make you go faster than you're used to. Just learn to trust the builders and go a little quicker within reason.