A Vision of Mountain Biking

The nostalgia associated with Lance Armstrong’s comeback from cancer still resonates as you pass “Go Lance” on the grueling 1600 ft. climb up Beech Mountain. This symbol quickly reminds us of the days of the Tour Du Pont and the epic NORBA mountain bike events, which were held in Beech Mountain with great pride in the 1990’s. These fond memories, combined with the continued success of two local, nationally known, powerhouse collegiate cycling teams, unite the Town of Beech Mountain, with a common goal of advocating recreational, competitive and safe cycling. Â

Over the past two years, the Town of Beech Mountain, as a whole, including the Beech Mountain Parks & Recreation Department, the Beech Mountain Club, Beech Mountain Resort (BMR), private businesses, and citizens have made a valiant effort to establish Beech Mountain as not only a recreational cycling destination, but as a competitive one. Â

Although the passion for cycling in the area never subsided, competitive cycling has long since been a recreational staple of the area, and racing has been nonexistent for over a decade, since the last NORBA event. However, in 2009, our community began to see change with the creation of the “Beest” Time Trial and Beech Mountain Resort Triple Crown Mountain Bike Race Series. In 2010 Beech Mountain was also fortunate enough to play an active role in hosting two USAC sanctioned stage road race events, the Tour Du Life and Cycle 4 Life Mountain Top Race Weekend, a USAC sanctioned downhill series. In addition, Beech Mountain hosted the Three Peaks Race -“America’s Hardest Cyclocross Race”, and conceived the first event of many more to come on the international XTERRA series.

With the success of the USAC sanctioned events, Beech Mountain Resort sought USAC gravity nationals. The acceptance of the bid has brought Beech Mountain Resorts dream of summer operations closer to reality. Beech Mountain Resort is proud to host the 2011 USA cycling gravity nationals, knowing the event will grant Beech Mountain extensive exposure in the cycling community, as well as providing the perfect opportunity for Beech Mountain Resort to open a bike park.

Currently, the southernmost bike facility, with lift access, is located at Snowshoe Mountain Resort, in Snowshoe, WV. Beech Mountain, NC is located six hours south of Snowshoe. The implementation of a bike park at Beech Mountain Resort will provide a more accessible cycling destination in the southeast.

The diagram below shows eight major cities in the southeast, their population, their distance to Snowshoe Mountain Resort and their proximity to Beech Mountain Resort.

Collegiate cycling has grown greatly in the southeast and more importantly in proximity to Beech Mountain. In addition to the nationally renowned cycling programs at Lees-McRae and Appalachian State, Lees-McRae College recently implemented an academic minor in bicycling studies.

The diagram below shows four colleges and universities with cycling programs, their distance to Snowshoe Mountain, and their proximity to Beech Mountain Resort.

Mission

The mission of the Beech Mountain Resort Bike Park is to provide users with a unique, diverse system of sustainably safe trails for recreational and competitive mountain bike use.

Beech Mountain Resort is proud and excited to work with Christopher Herndon on the construction of the facility. We believe that Christopher Herndon will provide an innovative design, combined with a flawless build, enabling the resort to maintain it’s standard of perfection. www.gromracing.com (Take a look at his junior developmental team and his bio)

The facility will cater to the most advanced riders, but the main focus will be toward a beginner trail system. The idea is for a beginner rider to be able to ride the lift up with the most advanced rider, rolling their bikes off the trays, only to take a separate route to the base of the mountain. Beech Mountain resort will provide a unique atmosphere, driving the most competitive racers to the mountain, but more importantly, a facility that caters to the all beginner enthusiast. We will produce a facility that can introduce people to the sport, while maintaining the interest to the advanced. We will produce a beginner trail system that is easy enough for someone to take part on his or her first day.

Damascus, Virginia is 45 miles from Beech Mountain Resort. Damascus is an extremely small town, not much to offer, with very little to no lodging or restaurants, however they do have a 32-mile mountain bike trail system, the Virginia Creeper Trail. I spoke with Jerry Camper, the co-owner of the Virginia Creeper trail bike shop. Each year, the Virginia Creeper Trail has 250,000 visitors. He estimated that the shop rented anywhere from 80,000 to 100,000 bikes per year. With this trail system being only 45 miles from us, I know we will take over the beginner market. I have been on the Virginia Creeper Trails. They are pretty, but the panoramic view from Beech Mountain (where you can actually see Damascus, VA in the view) is unmatchable. The lift ride alone, and easy roll on bike trays, are a huge advantage over the Virginia Creeper trail.

Currently, Beech Mountain has over ten miles of trails, including cross-country and downhill, with a majority of our terrain un-touched. The land is seemingly endless and diverse, enabling us to offer something truly unique. In addition to our downhill, cross-country, and beginner trails, we will offer a 4x and a pump track. This will enable us to also cater to BMX. Each year, we will expand in these areas.

The Three-Year Vision

Year 2011

Construction will start in early summer in order to be ready for our grand opening and qualifier, scheduled for August 20, 2011. This will be a qualifier for nationals, in correlation with the grand opening of the facility. This event will include music, beer and wine tasting, and other entertainment for all ages. The Tourism Development Association of Beech Mountain has agreed to contribute a matching 15k towards our initial marketing dollars for the facility and events. This will also greatly increase the visability of the park and Monster Energy. Our digital media kit is almost complete. The media kit will highlight our resort, the bike park, the Monster Energy Detachable Quad lift and Trays, Grom racing, Christopher Herndon, and our vision for the future. To say we will take an aggressive PR approach will be an understatement. A media tour will take place on August 20, 2011. Currently, we have seven journalists attending. I would like to attack the media nationwide, ensuring ample exposure for the facility and also for Monster Energy.

Year 2012

With the success from 2011, the bike park will operate on weekends in June, July and August. Beech Mountain Resort will reintroduce its race series leading into USAC nationals, making it a part of the PRO GRT series. The partnership with Christopher Herndon will provide a continued expansion of a unique trail system. An innovative marketing approach combined with aggressive public relations will bring the park added exposure and traffic. Beech Mountain Resort will offer an unmatchable product that will surpass its competitors leading into year two of hosting USA Cycling MTB nationals.

Year 2013

Park Operation will expand to a minimum of five days a week, opening June through September. The continued expansion of the trail system will provide press worthy information to media outlets, ensuring interest from the gravity community. A Specialized rental fleet and opening of a bike shop will compliment the park as well as providing a more inviting atmosphere to beginner enthusiasts. Beech Mountain Resort will expand their race series and continue to offer unique events and unmatchable terrain to the gravity community.