French Bike Park with Flow Trails – a Flowing Ride in La Plagne
Heard about my thrilling bike park adventure in La Plagne? It was friggin' awesome, man! On my last day in the French Alps, I needed a new rush, so I took a gander at that bike park in the 3 Valleys and decided to check out La Plagne instead. I ain't gonna lie, it was the best decision I made on the trip!
La Plagne might not match the sheer number and length of trails in the 3 Valleys, but what it lacks in quantity, it more than makes up for in quality, especially for me. There are only 3 lifts servicing the relatively smaller sized bike park, but it's still worth a visit if you're in the neighborhood. After all, it's all about getting the most bang for your buck, and with a one-day bike pass priced at just 19 euros, you can't beat that!
The longest lines in La Plagne are the green ones and they stretch up to 4-5 km. While I got a taste of them during the access trails to the blue lines, I suspect these bad boys are primarily smooth, easy rides. The remaining trails, whichrun for about 1.5 - 3 km, had me giddy with excitement.
Let's Talk about the Blue Trails
One of the coolest blue trails in La Plagne Bike Park is Blue Tomato. This trail is littered with wide berms and tabletops that make your adrenaline rush like never before! I also enjoyed D'Ana and Blue Canyon. Although they're marked separately, they flow together like one route, almost 3 km long. The first one is perfect for jumping, while the second one boasts an interesting narrow gorge. I couldn't help but admire the beautiful nature aspect of La Plagne. Riding amidst low trees and bushes was a refreshing change of pace.
The rest of the blue trails didn't have much to write home about. The Chinook trail was just a flow trail with berms, while the Comanche trail served as a connecting path between lifts without much interest.
Time to Bring on the Heat: Red Trails
La Plagne has two red lines to choose from, and let me tell you, they're the real deal. The more interesting one is Thunderbolt. This trail was a blast, and I regret I didn't have more time to master it. There's no shortage of obstacles on Thunderbolt that could challenge me and make me jump a bit higher.
The shorter Redskins trail runs partly together with Blue Tomato. I'm sorry to say that my ride was not recorded, but based on what I remember, it was steep with huge, annoying washboards. Washboards ruinned the vibe a bit, but the rest of the ride was pretty epic!
Brace Yourself: The Black Trail
La Plagne's black trail is called X'trem Canyon. I didn't even attempt to ride it because from the lift, it looked fricking intimidating. With gaps that seemed impossible to bypass, it's definitely for pros with serious jumping skills. Here's a video to give you an idea:
And that's the ins and outs of La Plagne Bike Park. If you're into flow trails to jump on, you're gonna have a ball there. However, if you're seeking downhill trails with roots and stones, La Plagne might not be yourcup of tea. But hey, every ride has got its own charm, and I ain't gonna disappoint you on this one!
P.S. If you're looking for more adventure, check out these other bike parks: Breithorn, Haid-Steig, Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Leogang, Fieberbrunn, and KitzSki Bike Trails.
[1] Source: LaPlagne.com and various bike park review websites.
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Despite the lesser quantity of trails in comparison to the 3 Valleys, the sports of hockey and skiing took a backseat as I was captivated by the thrilling bike park experience in La Plagne. The blue trails, such as Blue Tomato, D'Ana, and Blue Canyon, provided a rollercoaster ride of adrenaline with their wide berms, tabletops, and challenging narrow gorges. Even the red trails, like Thunderbolt and Redskins, offered an exhilarating experience with their steep drops and intricate obstacles. However, the black X'trem Canyon trail, with its intimidating gaps, seemed better suited for pros with exceptional jumping skills. For those seeking alternate bike parks, options like Breithorn, Haid-Steig, Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Leogang, Fieberbrunn, and KitzSki Bike Trails await.
