north star mountain bike

Northstar Mountain Bike Park to open ahead of schedule

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Courtesy Chris Bartkowski A downhill rider catches some air last summer at the Northstar California Mountain Bike Park. The park opens Friday, a week ahead of schedule.

LESSONS and CAMPS

Group and private mountain bike lessons are available to all levels of riders, ages 9 and up, through the Northstar Bike Academy. The following packages are offered:

Bike 101: An introduction to all of the basic skills needed in the park.

Private Lessons: Two, three and six-hour private biking lessons give riders instant feedback and personal attention with professional bikers using elite-level coaching and training methods.

Trailblazer Teen Mountain Bike Camp: Providing young riders ages 10-16 with access to experienced local coaches, the Northstar Bike Academy aims to get teens familiar with the sport and advance their skills.

Bumps & Bends: For the rider who wants to work on jumping technique, high speed cornering and attacking the rock sections.

Helmets are required for all riders and can be rented along with bikes and other equipment at the resort or online in advance. In addition, all rentals will come standard with a full face helmet and gloves.

The largest lift-served mountain bike park in Northern California is scheduled to open Friday at Northstar California Resort. 

Light spring snowfall in the Sierra enabled crews to get a head start on trail maintenance, allowing the park to open a week earlier than planned. 

“We have made some big strides in early-season trail maintenance and I’m really pleased with the quality of product we’re rolling out this season,” said Bike Park Manager Forrest Philpot. “Our loyal riders can look forward to a few additions and improvements. Those new to the sport shouldn’t put learning off for another summer. In addition to the bike park, bikers can access some of the best cross-country trails in Lake Tahoe from here.”

Philpot says the park’s popular trail, Gypsy, is slated to become one of the best trails in Northern California this year thanks to recent upgrades. Crews expect to have the trail completely rebuilt by mid-summer. Other notable improvements include a new wood S-berm on Upper Mineshaft and a fresh feel in Zone 1 of Livewire after a machine resurfacing project.

Northstar Mountain Bike Park offers more than 50 miles of trails for both cross-country and downhill riders. Cutting-edge builds and world-class trails attract top athletes from around the world and Northstar Bike Academy helps riders of all levels advance their skills.

Northstar again will host a series of bike events and clinics this season. Northstar Cross-Country Bike Race Series will expand to Saturdays in addition to Thursday nights, and the Tahoe Trail 100, a Leadville Classic Qualifier, will return July 20. Participants are invited to a free race preview and clinic this Saturday. 

Other events include the LUNA Chix Women’s Specific Cross-Country Clinic on June 25, the Downhill Bike Race Series on Sunday mornings and a Specialized Women Sports Camp on Aug. 10-11.

HOURS OF OPERATION and PRICES

This weekend will feature a soft opening of the park with more than half of the bike and hike trails open Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. 

The remaining trails are scheduled to open in the coming weeks, conditions permitting. A complete trail report can be found online.  The Northstar Bike Park is open Friday through Sunday through June. Daily operations begin the first week of July and continue through Aug. 19.

Daily lift tickets will be available for purchase for $48 and discounted multi-day lift ticket options are available for $91. For those who want to ride all season, Mountain Bike Park season passes are available now for $329 and can be purchased at the Tickets and Season Pass office in the Village at Northstar, by calling 1.800.466.6784 or online at www.NorthstarCalifornia.com.

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