Bike Kingdom celebrates 10 years of Bike Park in Lenzerheide

The Bike Kingdom Park (formerly Bike Kingdom Park) is the heart of the Bike Kingdom and celebrates its tenth anniversary this summer. Reason enough for the release of a documentary film that looks back on the beginnings and development of the park and the sport of mountain biking in Lenzerheide itself, various attractions such as parties and workshops, as well as innovations in the park and extended opening hours during the high season.

Lenzerheide and mountain biking - they simply belong together. It was the entire holiday region that was one of the first in Switzerland to lay the foundation for successful positioning more than ten years ago. The potential of mountain biking, which used to be a marginal sport, was recognised and actively developed as a strategic business area with the support of politicians and the local population. A bike park was built, constant investments were made and the trail network expanded, mountain bike events for amateurs and professionals were organised, the World Cup and even a World Championship were brought to Lenzerheide. Today, the Lenzerheide holiday region and its neighbouring regions are known as the Bike Kingdom, a kingdom for mountain bikers and a meeting place for mountain biking professionals, advanced bikers, beginners and families with children - a success story that has attracted attention far beyond the country's borders and is far from over.

Beginnings and development of the bike park
In 2012, the starting signal was given for the Lenzerheide Bike Kingdom Park, which was to be realized on the eastern side of the Lenzerheide high valley. Trail builder Rafael «Tschäff» Rhyner (Trailworks), former downhill pro Steve Peat and Lenzerheide Marketing und Support AG were in the lead. After the first lines were built, it quickly became clear that something big was going to happen here. More lines followed in 2013, as well as a rescue concept and a permanent maintenance team in 2014, which finally professionalized the bike park. Already in the following year, Lenzerheide was allowed to host the first UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in the disciplines downhill and cross-country. The next boom followed, which resulted in the construction of the skills centre with a pump track and practice jumps at the Rothorn valley station, as well as the construction of new jump lines (2016/17). After three World Cups had been held, a highlight followed with the Mountain Bike World Championships in summer 2018, which is still very much present today - not least due to the world championship title of local Nino Schurter, who is now an ambassador of the Bike Kingdom.

But even after 2018, things did not go quiet in Lenzerheide: World Cups continued to be held annually (with the exception of Corona-2020), new lines were built or expanded, and the Bike Park was renamed Bike Kingdom Park as part of the repositioning of the mountain bike region. Today, the park offers five different lines between the Rothorn valley station and the Scharmoin middle station, from the simple FLOWline to the STRAIGHTline World Cup track, for which ten shapers and seven rescuers are on seasonal duty. On peak days, over 2,000 guests are registered in the Bike Kingdom Park.

In conversation with those involved from the founding period as well as loyal and new fans, we look back on the beginnings and development of the park and the sport of mountain biking in Lenzerheide itself.

Innovations from 2022
The new construction of the BIG DAISY jump at the Rothorn valley station is the highlight of the anniversary summer in terms of construction. However, Lenzerheide Bergbahnen AG also invested in the facility as part of the anniversary: additional new gondolas were purchased for the Rothorn 1 gondola lift, resulting in a 20 percent increase in capacity. And: The Bike Kingdom Park will now be open daily until 9.00 pm during the high season from 15 July to 14 August 2022. The Late Shred will kick off on 15 July with a DJ session and drinks. This will be followed by Public Photo Shootings, Photo Workshops, Jump Sessions, Adiletten Rave, Braap Off, Whip Off Session and much more.