26TRIX Is Still Writing The Books – Ten Moments That Made It Into Bike History

Saalfelden Leogang in Salzburger Land, Austria, May 13^th 2015 – Since 2006 the worlds’ best riders have traveled to Bikepark Leogang to throw down their biggest tricks on the 26TRIX course. Over the years, spectators have seen numerous trick debuts, which have progressed the sport. In 2015, this FMB Gold Event will take place for the tenth time. To celebrate this occasion let’s check out the ten best moments: 

Out of nowhere, two Spanish brothers appeared in Leogang in 2006 and made it straight into the ranks of the top elite. The younger one, Andreu Lacondeguy stood out with outstanding tricks and style in his first international contest.  Andreu’s backflip, 360 and tailwhip all seemed to come with ease for this punk-rocking rider. Nearly a decade later, the freeride scene cannot imagine the sport without Andreu. In the same year, Greg Watts turned everyone’s head in the mountain bike world by pulling off the first ever double backflip in a mountain bike competition; Greg wrote mountain bike history at Leogang’s first edition of 26TRIX.

In 2009 little did we all know that the British rider, Sam Pilgrim, was going to be FMB World Tour Champion one day (2013). Six years ago, Sam embraced the new possibilities that the 26TRIX course offered with its big line. Without once riding the big airtime line during practice, Sam took the risk in his final run, landed a massive frontflip and took the win that day.

Two years later, progression once again returned to 26TRIX. Despite not making the podium in 2011, Cam McCaul did a squeaky-clean front flip superman. This stunt-like trick reinforced the message that 26TRIX is a home of world-class dirt jumping. In 2011, the Canadian athlete Brandon Semenuk added 26TRIX to his collection of victories. Brandon’s winning run back in 2011 included a backflip tailwhip followed by a double tailwhip and ended it with a frontflip over the last double - a progressive collection of tricks to lay down in one single run.

In 2012 the age of “combo’s” was born and technical riders like Thomas Genon took the stage. His astonishing run brought a whole new box of tricks like the Decade into the sport and from here nothing but airtime has stood in the way of progression.

Then, in 2013 more tricks dropped on the daily. The young Polish rider Szymon Godziek – currently booming on the best trick scene - landed a cashroll. A trick known in BMX but until then untouched in MTB contests. Szymon won the GoPro Best Trick that day in Leogang.

Staying true to the 26TRIX history – the best was still to come. Last year, the trick level was off the charts. Sam Reynolds landed his awesome bikeflip in his final run, and celebrated accordingly! But he was missing from the top spot because of Antoine Bizets double backflip nohand – the world’s first ever at a mountain bike contest! The Frenchman took Best Trick that day, but victory went to the dark horse of the season – Nicholi Rogatkin who established the level of the sport for the upcoming season. His winning run included a technical cashroll, massive lawn dart frontflip and a smooth triple tailwhip. Where will 26TRIX take the sport this year? On June 12^th and 13^th all will be revealed as the cream of the crop return to write more history in the books.

Bikepark Leogang Says Goodbye For The Winter

Saalfelden Leogang in Salzburger Land, Austria, November 5th, 2014 – Another remarkable year has come to an end in Saalfelden Leogang. A particular flat tire during the UCI Mountain Bike Downhill World Cup race in the Bikepark Leogang will go down in the history books and the action from White Style, the Out of Bounds Festival and the Biketember Festival will remain a season highlight for many visitors. Then of course, thousands of bikers decided to hit the trails in Leogang’s bikepark - these adrenaline pumping moments will see them safely through the upcoming winter months.
 
Saalfelden Leogang wastes no time getting the mountain bike season started. Already in February the snow covered resort hosted the first FMB World Tour event of the year - White Style. Eager to start rolling, the pros turned up to ride the slopestyle course made from snow. More than 3,000 spectators turned up to see the action. Frenchman Antoine Bizet became the first athlete to win a FMB event in 2014.
 
One of the most spectacular events happened a few months later at the Out of Bounds festival and thanks to Aaron Gwin’s incredible performance it will not be forgotten. Rolling in to his UCI Mountain Bike Downhill World Cup race run, his tire blew after a few meters. Despite the massive technical disadvantage he kept racing and rode his bike all the way to the bottom of the course. Watching from the sidelines 11,000 spectators were gripped by his amazing run and rewarded his efforts with roars and cheers in the finish area. That day the 2014 UCI Mountain Bike Downhill World Champion, Josh Bryceland took his first victory of the season. The women’s race was no less exciting. All season long, Rachel Atherton and Manon Carpenter have been going head-to-head but the duels began right here in Saalfelden Leogang. In the end, it was Manon Carpenter who triumphed down the Speedster racetrack to take her second world cup victory. You can see Gwin’s race here: http://win.gs/OnFire
 
Hosting a UCI Mountain Bike World Cup is somewhat of a logistical masterpiece. Did you know, that on the downhill track:
-      There is about 10km/6mi course tape connecting 555 marker poles
-      about 20,500 rocks on course
-      5,000 screws
-      hundreds of cable straps
-      and millions of brain cells where used
-      14 jumps where built
-      32 marshals with 70 radios ensured that everything ran smoothly
-      167 journalists reported about the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup
 
Between the downhill Speedster track and 26TRIX dirt jump course, four cross racers went elbow-to-elbow round loose hairpins and over massive doubles. Katy Curd went on to beat Anneke Beerten in the women’s final and once again the unstoppable Tomas Slavik place first ahead of his fellow Czech rival, Michael Mechura. See the highlight clip here: http://youtu.be/JpmjBdQ_RcI
 
FMB World Tour athletes showed no mercy at the ninth edition of the dirt jump contest 26TRIX. Reaching deep into their bag of tricks, the official Gold level event will be remembered as one of the most progressive events of the FMB season. Antoine Bizet threw down a new world premier’s trick – his double backflip tuck nohand. But the biggest surprise might have been the young American Nicholi Rogatkin. Sticking an amazing run featuring signature tricks such as the cashroll, lawn dart frontie and triple tailwhip – he climbed to the top of the podium and stamped his name in amongst the pro’s. See the highlights here: http://youtu.be/bBrZJDy5fy0
 
After a day cheering next to the tape, spectators also made the most of the onsite side events. An evening premier of “Brandon Semenuk’s Rad Company” was a fantastic way to keep the stoke going through the night. The Red Bull Media House and NWD Films production earned a strong applause from the audience.
 
After all of this, Saalfelden Leogang is only half way through its season. To keep the momentum going and ensure visitors could make the most of their trip to Bikepark Leogang, a brand new festival called Biketember was introduced in September. Downhill and Enduro racers as well as nipper shredders in the SCOTT Junior Trophy, took to the mountain. Spectators could watch trackside as 220 Enduro riders fought their way over a 55km/34mi power-draining track, over a 2,000m/6,562ft ridge leading to Saalbach Hinterglemm. Tobias Reiser and Anneke Beerten reigned victorious that day.
 
2014 was a big year for Bikepark Leogang for more reasons than the events. It celebrated the opening of the Riders Playground. An area dedicated specifically to amateur bikers, inspired and motivated to reach the next level. The biggest beginner’s bike park worldwide is packed with various terrains, obstacles and features, all designed to prepare riders for the fun that awaits them further up the mountain. Saalfelden Leogang also extended its extensive network of e-bike stations to allow cyclists to discover even more of this beautiful region.
 
While 2014 is now behind us, Saalfelden Leogang is already looking forward to 2015. Confirmed dates for the upcoming year include:
 
30.01.                   White Style
23. – 25.05.           Bikepark & Freeride Camp
23. – 25.05.           Ladies Bikepark & Freeride Camp
30. – 31.05.           Trail Safari
11. – 14.06.           Out of Bounds Festival including UCI Mountain Bike Downhill World Cup and 26TRIX
13. – 14.06.           Man on Trail Enduro Camp
27. – 28.06.           Trail Safari
18.07.                   Biberg Auffiradler
19. – 20.07.           Stage of BIKE Transalp
19. – 23.07.           Bikepark & Freeride Camp for Youngsters
25. – 26.07.           Trail Safari
09. – 13.08.           Bikepark & Freeride Camp for Youngsters
23. – 27.08.           Bikepark & Freeride Camp for Youngsters
29. – 30.08.           Trail Safari
05. – 06.09.           Enduro & Single Trail Camp
06.09.                   Asitzgipfelberglauf
18. – 20.09.           Biketember Festival incl. iXS European Downhill Cup, Scott Junior Trophy
26. – 27.09.           Trail Safari
03. – 04.10.           Bikepark & Freeride Camp II
 
Saalfelden Leogang would like to say thank you to its partners Volvo, SCOTT, GoPro, SalzburgerLand, Stiegl, Brauunion, Maxxis, Gloryfy and Raiffeisen and wishes all mountain bikers and friends of the region a great winter season.