Snow Bike Festival 2016 - Get Fat!
Do you have a fat bike? Do you use it to its full potential - or just to stand out? Our resorts are opening up to the idea of fat bikes on snow, but they're well ahead in Europe.
Ski villages in Australia have adopted fat bikes this year, but it’s taking a little while to take off. In Europe and the USA, they got the ball rollinjg a couple of years ago, and are getting set for a big winter in 2016. Is this where we’ll end up in coming years?
The second edition of Europe’s first Snow Bike Festival will take place in GSTAAD from January 22 – 24, 2016 and will feature a 3 Day Stage Race, Eliminator Night Race, Fun Ride, Snow Bike Party & Fat Bike EXPO. Gstaad, Switzerland is becoming the destination of choice for Fat Biking in Europe. The picture perfect landscape, mountain peaks, deep valleys and abundance of snow all contribute to the excitement and fun synonymous with Snow Biking.
The second edition of Europe’s first Snow Bike Festival will take place in GSTAAD from January 22 – 24, 2016 and will feature a 3 Day Stage Race, Eliminator Night Race, Fun Ride, Snow Bike Party & Fat Bike EXPO. Photo by: SNOW BIKE FESTIVAL/Stephan Boegli“Mountain biking is an all year sport and the new Fat Bikes are the perfect match for winter. I am very pleased that GSTAAD is the host of the Snow Bike Festival. A beautiful destination with the combination of traditional and modern, the perfect fit for this event,” says Swiss MTB Legend Christoph Sauser, Swiss Champion and MTB World Champion.
The GSTAAD Sport Centre will be turned into the Snow Bike Festival Race Village featuring a dining hall, the Fat Bike EXPO, race briefing area, covered Bike Park, shower facilities and two heated swimming pools, providing riders with much needed comfort after hours of Snow Biking through the Swiss Alps.
Photo by: SNOW BIKE FESTIVAL/Nick MuzikThree Day Stage Race
Stages will be 35km to 50km in length with 600m to 1000m of climbing. Riding times ranging from 3 to 5 hours. The stage race also includes an Eliminator Night race adding even more fun to the event. No previous Fat Bike or Snow Bike experience is needed to compete in the Stage Race. Mountain Bike riders with an average fitness and moderate skills level will find the Fat Bikes easy and enjoyable to ride.
Photo by: SNOW BIKE FESTIVAL/SportografGolden Pass
The Golden Pass Package for the Stage Race includes rider accreditation, participation in the stage race, Eliminator Night Race, a GSTAAD Guest card and a Gift pack. Accommodation in 4 star hotels and all meals are included for the duration of the event. Those riders wishing to bring along the entire family may book a Supporter Package for each additional guest. The hotels are all family friendly and children under the age of 6 stay for free.
Snow Bike Festival Gstaad 2016 – Teaser from world of freesports on Vimeo.
For other options visit the website
Gstaad
Fun Ride
Mountain Bike enthusiasts looking for a one day Snow Biking experience in the Swiss Alps should enter the Fun Ride. This event offers the fun and excitement of the Snow Bike Festival all compressed into a single route and will be held on Sunday January 24, 2016. Riders entering the Fun Ride may use any kind of Fat Bike but will also be allowed to use normal Mountain Bikes. Riding time should be around 2 hours.
Snow Bike Party
The Snow Bike Party will kick off on Saturday evening January 23, 2016. Race participants, supporters, Fat Bike enthusiasts and the general public will all be welcomed at the Race Village for an evening of fun and entertainment “Snow Bike- style”!
The Alpine Region of GSTAAD
Referred to as the “Last paradise in a crazy world” by British actress Julie Andrews (Mary Poppins), the Alpine region of GSTAAD consists of several well preserved villages located in valleys between 1000 and 1400m above sea level. Mountains and glaciers rising up to 3000m provide an imposing valley backdrop to the forests, streams and lakes, creating the postcard image of Switzerland.
Conveniently positioned halfway between the Swiss German and French parts of Switzerland the region has an international flair and English is widely spoken. Tourists and visitors are greeted with the slogan “come up – slow down”.
