MTBparks.com – the comprehensive online guide and rider resource to North American bike parks –has launched its 4th annual ‘Best Bike Parks Riders’ Choice Awards’ survey, embarking on its annual mission to crown the North America’s best bike parks according to riders.
The results will identify the top lift-served mountain-bike parks in eight separate regions across North America: Western Canada, Eastern Canada, Northeast, Mid-Atlantic/Southeast, Midwest, Southwest, Northwest and Rocky Mountains.
More than 3,000 riders participate in the online survey annually, with that number expected to grow. Riders vote, rating bike parks they’ve visited in more than 20 categories covering a variety of aspects from ‘Best Machine Built Flow Trails’ to ‘Best Technical Trails’ to overall ‘Best Bike Park’.
New for 2017, the survey will also acknowledge the best Shuttle Accessed Downhill Mountain Bike Parks.
“The bike park industry just keeps growing,” said founder MTBparks.com Michelle Good. “Traditionally downhill bike parks have relied on chairlifts and ski resort infrastructures in the summer months, but we’re seeing an increasing number of bike-specific parks cropping up across the continent, many shuttling riders to the top. They deserve to be acknowledged too.”
While expanding beyond the lift-served definition, parks must be open to the public and offer paid shuttle access to purpose built and maintained downhill mountain bike trails. Contenders in the new category will include Bailey Mountain Bike Park in North Carolina, Windrock Bike Park in Tennessee and Coast Gravity Park in British Columbia.
Michelle Good also aims to use the information gathered to provide valuable feedback to resorts and parks about rider preferences to help them continue to improve the rider experience. “Every downhill mountain bike park offers something different, and no one knows what makes each resort so unique better than the rider,” she said.
“Some parks have great flow trails while others specialize in old-school technical gnar. Some offer an assortment of trails for every level of rider while others only cater to riders looking for that big mountain experience. What about best base area amenities? Top-notch beginner program? Cross-country and enduro trails? What is it that makes your favourite mountain bike park so great?”
Survey participants will also be eligible for prizes including products from Yakima, Canfield Brothers and MTBparks. The survey is available online at BestBikeParks.com through to 5 April 2017. Results and prizes will be announced no later than 30 April 2017.
MTBparks.com is billed as North America’s most comprehensive guide to mountain-bike parks and resort destinations. Developed to be a one-stop guide to all of North America’s best bike parks, MTBparks.com provides news and event info, trail descriptions, maps, reviews, ticket prices and helps riders discover new bike parks and plan their next adventure, ‘whether it’s a weekend in the nearby mountains or an epic road trip across the continent’.
