Between its diversity of trails and alpine summits, the Portes du Soleil is Europe’s most extensive MTB area, which makes Morzine the perfect summer holiday destination for mountain bike enthusiasts.
Exploring the Portes du Soleil MTB area, the biggest in Europe.
The Portes du Soleil MTB area has 12 mountain biking resorts on the French and Swiss sides of the border, with a total of more than 600 km of trails and 21 lifts. Here, mountain biking is second nature.
The “MTB Culture” oozes from the Portes du Soleil trails, with a multitude of MTB schools, instructors, rental and sales outlets, not forgetting the “après-MTB” that’s so popular among mountain bikers.
As for Morzine itself, the resort stands at an ideal location in the heart of the Portes du Soleil MTB area. This means mountain bikers can quickly reach the trails of Les Gets and Avoriaz.
MTB disciplines
Mountain biking novices should understand that there are actually several different categories to this sport. There’s something to appeal to every taste among the main disciplines, which are as follows:
- Downhill MTB, as the name suggests, involves riding down a slope as fast as possible.
- Freeride MTB also entails riding downhill but negotiating obstacles encountered along the way, be they natural or manmade
- Enduro MTB is about riding not only downhill but uphill as well. Think of it as a kind of mountain hiking by bike!
- Cross-country MTB, on the other hand, calls upon the mountain biker’s physical fitness and technical skills
- The principle behind the electric MTB is to make downhill mountain biking easier thanks to its powered assistance.
So which of these disciplines are you tempted by? Whichever you choose, you can enjoy it on the MTB trails of Morzine and the Portes du Soleil area.
Ride safely by choosing the right bike
Mountain biking is even more enjoyable when you’re properly equipped, and safer too. Take advice from the experts at the MTB shops of Morzine and the rest of the Portes du Soleil area, to find the most suitable bike for your level and your chosen discipline.
In many cases, it’s more practical to rent a bike once you’re here. Otherwise, it can quickly become a burden and cost you more money when you have to transport your bike.
Bikes can be rented by the day, half-day, or for a whole week. Renting out a bike is as simple as renting skis.
Don’t hesitate to call upon the services of a qualified instructor
Like ski slopes, MTB trails are graded for difficulty, from green to black.
For MTB novices, the trails are marked out in green. These are designed with only a small degree of difficulty and gentler slopes, to help you build confidence as you work on your technique. Just about anyone knows how to ride a bike. But that doesn’t mean they can handle a mountain bike, especially in a mountain environment. For this reason, we strongly recommend you call upon an MTB instructor for lessons or just a supervised excursion. This way, you’ll avoid disappointment and be sure to grasp the basics, which will boost your mountain biking confidence.
More experienced mountain bikers can take to the blue, red and black trails. Steeper and more technically challenging, these require greater control. Thrills galore!
We wish you a great summer holiday in the mountains and fabulous MTB adventures!
Thematics
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