Plan de Corones, the ski paradise becomes an international bike park – Corriere.it

Plan de Corones is a skier’s paradise. The holiday area has twenty-five thousand beds, just under four million overnight stays (half summer) between San Vigilio di Marebbe, Chienes, Brunico, Valdaora, Valle Anterselva and Skirama Plan. Those who ski (there were 1.5 million first accesses last season) can move on 32 lifts, 120 kilometers on 47 slopes always kept in order by 250 people who work with 34 snow groomers and 650 cannons.

The new trend that is establishing itself is the growth of the summer market thanks to hikers, lovers of extreme sports (paragliding) and in particular downhill and enduro mtb enthusiasts. Our bike park is growing year after year – explains Thomas Reiter, director of Skirama Plan De Corones -. In summer we have five open lifts that allow bike lovers to have fun on 35 kilometers of trails: nine different routes, which become 18 with the variations. Moreover, we are connected by train to the Val Pusteria cycle path, even for those cyclists we provide single trails, rapid curves, jumps and spectacular stretches of flow trail. From the forest dotted with roots to the wider open spaces where parabolic curves and jumps dominate, you live immersed in nature. Our goal now is to expand the catchment area towards a less expert and familiar clientele.

The results are not lacking, last year there were accesses 165 thousand and as soon as the snow left, work began to create a new section of trail, but also the second “skill area”, a small gym for those trying these descents for the first time. This season has already got off to a very good start, also thanks to the entry into the Gravity Card circuit, the international network of bike parks in Europe, which includes 28 locations. Now Plan de Corones joins iconic destinations such as Leogang, Saalbach Hinterglemm, Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis, Slden and Lenzerheide, as well as the Italian Mottolino in Livigno and Dolomiti Paganella. And to present the new project dedicated to tourists who love descending mountain trails, a three-day event was organized with industry journalists and influencers, supported by the technical sponsors gathered by Gonuts Communication: One Way, Ritter Sport, Osprey, Hydro Flask, Michelin, Mons Royale, Falke, Garmin, Haibike, Boa, Columbia, 6D, Alpinhotel, Barts, Smith.

was an opportunity to experience the Plan De Corones bike park, but also for trekking on the paths and to enjoy a few trail runner climbs, alternating the right food and wine breaks (there is no shortage of offer: even a malghetta where you can prepare butter together with the baker who bakes the bread). On the other hand, we are in Alto Adige, immersed in the Dolomites, between Val Pusteria and Val Badia, in one of the most beautiful and evocative areas of the region. There are three slopes of Plan del Corones dedicated to mountain bike trails: north towards Riscone and Brunico; to the east on Valdaora; to the west, the most scenic, on the Furcia Pass, upstream of the characteristic village of San Vigilio di Marebbe from which the Piz de Plaies area can be easily reached. The most famous trail is there‘Herrnsteig, the first of the area: it starts from the top of Plan del Corones and reaches Riscone after 8 kilometers and 1,350 meters of negative altitude difference, with a varied and tortuous route. Another popular route the Furcia Trail, a 5-kilometre track that starts from Plan de Corones and descends on the southern slope towards Passo Furcia, characterized by jumps, but also by 124 curves and walkways. The east side instead characterized by the succession of Dragon and Gassl Trail. The first, 2 kilometers long, starts from a scenic dragon’s mouth located near the top and reaches the line of the forest, with artificial structures (the walkway over the unforgettable lake): a simple trail that everyone can try. The second, a dive of over 6 kilometers and 900 meters in altitude, develops from the intermediate station down to the valley, along the woods that line the ski slopes in winter.

With any trail you want to try, one rule always applies: you need to be harnessed with all protection and with your helmet well fastened, you may fall. For the rest, adrenaline rushes and majestic landscapes.