Having been to World Cups in places like Windham, Snowshoe, and Placid, or other hard to reach or smaller venues without the name recognition for gravity riding, the investment is a massive undertaking and risk.
'27 WC schedule makes me sad. Curious to see how Beyond Gravity (and Cannonball festival given its so close time wise) goes. Maybe it proves there's space for another multi race series that can slot in between the European Cups and the 7 month off season.
This involves bikes and racing, but not bike racing. I've heard (albeit 3rd hand) that in 2027 or 2028, Semenuk is planning to build a line and film an edit at Arrowhead in Claremont, NH. This will be in conjunction with a Red Bull and Vermont SportsCar organized rally race of some sort in the Upper Valley region of VT and NH. At some point the plan was to drive a rally car up the access road, but it's a bit too narrow to go fast enough to look cool, so they'll be using local dirt roads instead. Arrowhead already has some of the best enduro race trails in the northeast US, and it will be sweet if they get a video part jump line and tone it down for us mere mortals after the fact.
This involves bikes and racing, but not bike racing. I've heard (albeit 3rd hand) that in 2027 or 2028, Semenuk is planning to build a line...
This involves bikes and racing, but not bike racing. I've heard (albeit 3rd hand) that in 2027 or 2028, Semenuk is planning to build a line and film an edit at Arrowhead in Claremont, NH. This will be in conjunction with a Red Bull and Vermont SportsCar organized rally race of some sort in the Upper Valley region of VT and NH. At some point the plan was to drive a rally car up the access road, but it's a bit too narrow to go fast enough to look cool, so they'll be using local dirt roads instead. Arrowhead already has some of the best enduro race trails in the northeast US, and it will be sweet if they get a video part jump line and tone it down for us mere mortals after the fact.
I heard this as well, from one of the shop owners at Arrowhead. Apparently initial visits have already taken place. I'm pumped for this and them. If it comes together. And yes, the trails there are incredible. My favorite place to ride in New England, even without a chairlift.
This came up in my youtube feed, but I haven't seen any official announcements yet.
Squad Enduro in Squamish on 5/1/2027. Looks similar to the old Trophy of Nations enduro races or Enduro 2 (+1). I had promoted the idea of this being a good "new direction" for Enduro to go to make it more spectator/viewer friendly (mainly due to followcam).
This came up in my youtube feed, but I haven't seen any official announcements yet.Squad Enduro in Squamish on 5/1/2027. Looks similar to the old...
This came up in my youtube feed, but I haven't seen any official announcements yet.
Squad Enduro in Squamish on 5/1/2027. Looks similar to the old Trophy of Nations enduro races or Enduro 2 (+1). I had promoted the idea of this being a good "new direction" for Enduro to go to make it more spectator/viewer friendly (mainly due to followcam).
Slight difference to enduro2 though, there the first rider starting the stage and the last ending it determines the stage time. This promotes people riding together.
With squad enduro individual times are added together plus the time spread between the three people starting, so it promotes everybody riding as fast as possible and just starting together...
Yeah, I think the UCI marketing model is: it'll cost you a fortune, but you'll make a fortune*. *No guarantee, your results may vary. Reminds me of a...
Yeah, I think the UCI marketing model is: it'll cost you a fortune, but you'll make a fortune*.
*No guarantee, your results may vary.
Reminds me of a saying: How do you make a million dollars in the restaurant industry? Start with 2.
I'm curious what happened to Champery in this respect. Because they invested in having a World Cup, building up to a World Championship and then... a 10+ year break. And then out again. What's the point of this? Honest question.
I've been there in 2011, witnessed Danny live and blew my lungs off, by the way. The small township was suffocated by tourists. Before it rained, we camped in the valley, in some bushes, next to some almost cliche brits-with-a-Transit-who-were-doing-Euro-bikeparks-and-lived-the-van-life. When it started pouring, we moved to the tourist center up in the village and we were hoping that the crowd there was going to go home to their hotels, but surprise! They were all like us and we camped on the tarmac, unde the extended roof, where it was dry.
My point is: does anybody know what the plan of Champery was or is? Because it's a fantastic venue, IMO, but it was criminally underprepared for those Worlds. Underprepared to make money, among other things.
Most ski resorts are not really bothered by biking. Yes, the Portes des Soleil is full of bikers, Yes Verbier is so busy almost year round going between biking and skiing (it opened last weekend to skiers and I don't think anywhere is open in france) yet still no passion. You can imagine a core group of Champery bikers managed to persuade the rest of the Commune & Lift company to operate the occasional competition. It's much easier to have a luge for kids, run a few lifts for tourists, hikers and a few bikers. If it keeps everything ticking over in the village then thats a win. Minor cost in the grand scheme. No dig team and constant trail maintenance costs. The joke we have is that many smaller resorts claim to have a bike park with their one blue flow trail when in reality it's insufficient.
I'm curious what happened to Champery in this respect. Because they invested in having a World Cup, building up to a World Championship and then... a...
I'm curious what happened to Champery in this respect. Because they invested in having a World Cup, building up to a World Championship and then... a 10+ year break. And then out again. What's the point of this? Honest question.
I've been there in 2011, witnessed Danny live and blew my lungs off, by the way. The small township was suffocated by tourists. Before it rained, we camped in the valley, in some bushes, next to some almost cliche brits-with-a-Transit-who-were-doing-Euro-bikeparks-and-lived-the-van-life. When it started pouring, we moved to the tourist center up in the village and we were hoping that the crowd there was going to go home to their hotels, but surprise! They were all like us and we camped on the tarmac, unde the extended roof, where it was dry.
My point is: does anybody know what the plan of Champery was or is? Because it's a fantastic venue, IMO, but it was criminally underprepared for those Worlds. Underprepared to make money, among other things.
Mx
I wonder if @buckoW would be willing to answer that, in the end he is the guy who runs the place/race... If its already happening I'm also curious if UCI was of any help considering this is their home race (their HQ is just down the valley for people who dont know that)
This came up in my youtube feed, but I haven't seen any official announcements yet.Squad Enduro in Squamish on 5/1/2027. Looks similar to the old...
This came up in my youtube feed, but I haven't seen any official announcements yet.
Squad Enduro in Squamish on 5/1/2027. Looks similar to the old Trophy of Nations enduro races or Enduro 2 (+1). I had promoted the idea of this being a good "new direction" for Enduro to go to make it more spectator/viewer friendly (mainly due to followcam).
Slight difference to enduro2 though, there the first rider starting the stage and the last ending it determines the stage time. This promotes people riding together. With...
Slight difference to enduro2 though, there the first rider starting the stage and the last ending it determines the stage time. This promotes people riding together.
With squad enduro individual times are added together plus the time spread between the three people starting, so it promotes everybody riding as fast as possible and just starting together...
Yeah, I think the UCI marketing model is: it'll cost you a fortune, but you'll make a fortune*. *No guarantee, your results may vary. Reminds me of a...
Yeah, I think the UCI marketing model is: it'll cost you a fortune, but you'll make a fortune*.
*No guarantee, your results may vary.
Reminds me of a saying: How do you make a million dollars in the restaurant industry? Start with 2.
I'm curious what happened to Champery in this respect. Because they invested in having a World Cup, building up to a World Championship and then... a...
I'm curious what happened to Champery in this respect. Because they invested in having a World Cup, building up to a World Championship and then... a 10+ year break. And then out again. What's the point of this? Honest question.
I've been there in 2011, witnessed Danny live and blew my lungs off, by the way. The small township was suffocated by tourists. Before it rained, we camped in the valley, in some bushes, next to some almost cliche brits-with-a-Transit-who-were-doing-Euro-bikeparks-and-lived-the-van-life. When it started pouring, we moved to the tourist center up in the village and we were hoping that the crowd there was going to go home to their hotels, but surprise! They were all like us and we camped on the tarmac, unde the extended roof, where it was dry.
My point is: does anybody know what the plan of Champery was or is? Because it's a fantastic venue, IMO, but it was criminally underprepared for those Worlds. Underprepared to make money, among other things.
Mx
It was my understanding (from around 2014' ish) that the local authorities were not thrilled with the construction of the track and the process by which holding the race was authorized. Possibly there were legal implications. Think similar but different to what went down in Lake Placid. To paraphrase a conversation with Ben at the time, "there will never be an event at Champery ever again."
Clearly something was done to resolve the issue over the course of the last 14 years, at least enough to hold another World Champs, but makes me wonder if that was just a one-off event.
Is IXS actually doing all the organizing of this series, or are they just a sponsor? They seem like a small company, I rarely see anyone using their stuff, but it's a huge series to put on.
A brief update on the 2027 schedule for Downhill Southeast. One of the races will be at Snowshoe, and they're asking for input as to which track to run there.
Is IXS actually doing all the organizing of this series, or are they just a sponsor? They seem like a small company, I rarely see anyone...
Is IXS actually doing all the organizing of this series, or are they just a sponsor? They seem like a small company, I rarely see anyone using their stuff, but it's a huge series to put on.
I assume IXS is the title sponsor, but they are part of Hostettler (moto distribution company), as is Sports Nut (bike distribution company). I believe the Sports Nut founder was also involved with Spank and the Gravity Cartel.
I assume IXS is the title sponsor, but they are part of Hostettler (moto distribution company), as is Sports Nut (bike distribution company). I believe the...
I assume IXS is the title sponsor, but they are part of Hostettler (moto distribution company), as is Sports Nut (bike distribution company). I believe the Sports Nut founder was also involved with Spank and the Gravity Cartel.
The company that organises the various iXS series and some other races is called Racement
A brief update on the 2027 schedule for Downhill Southeast. One of the races will be at Snowshoe, and they're asking for input as to which...
A brief update on the 2027 schedule for Downhill Southeast. One of the races will be at Snowshoe, and they're asking for input as to which track to run there.
I think a lot of people were traumatized by the Basin side mud-sling in ‘24.
I assume IXS is the title sponsor, but they are part of Hostettler (moto distribution company), as is Sports Nut (bike distribution company). I believe the...
I assume IXS is the title sponsor, but they are part of Hostettler (moto distribution company), as is Sports Nut (bike distribution company). I believe the Sports Nut founder was also involved with Spank and the Gravity Cartel.
The company that organises the various iXS series and some other races is called Racement
Yep, iXS is the title sponsor, and the actual organisation behind the various iXS race series is Racement GmbH, a German company founded in 2009 by Peter Effenberger and André Baumbach. Both have been involved in the German downhill scene for years, well before Racement was established.
The iXS Downhill Cup dates back to 2006, with the European Downhill Cup following in 2008. They’re also behind events like Dirt Masters in Winterberg, which started in 2007. So there’s nearly 20 years of history behind the iXS series and plenty of experience in running downhill events beyond the Hostettler connection.
Is IXS actually doing all the organizing of this series, or are they just a sponsor? They seem like a small company, I rarely see anyone...
Is IXS actually doing all the organizing of this series, or are they just a sponsor? They seem like a small company, I rarely see anyone using their stuff, but it's a huge series to put on.
already covered but iXS is the title sponsor, and the actual organisation behind the various iXS race series is Racement .
iXS is probably a much bigger brand in Europe than you'd realise from the US. It's been around since 1979, entered the MTB market in 2001 and is part of the Swiss Hostettler Group, which employs over 950 people across its various businesses.
In terms of European market presence, iXS is a well-established name alongside brands like Troy Lee Designs, particularly in German-speaking markets. I wouldn't claim iXS outsells TLD as I dont have access to any sales figures, however it's certainly not some small company sponsoring a race series beyond its means.
There's also an interesting connection between the two. Hostettler distributes Troy Lee Designs in Switzerland, so they're involved with both brands.
Life Time increases Grand Prix purse to US$800,000
Life Time Fitness, owners of the Grand Prix off-road series, announced it is making a significant increase to the 2027 prize purse, which across the series overall and its seven individual rounds will now be US$800,000, a 36% increase from 2026.
As in the past, prize money will be split equally between the men's and women's fields. The overall series prize purse will now be $400,000, paying 10 deep. The series winner takes home $40,000, while the 10th-place finisher gets $10,000. Places 11-25 get a $2,500 finisher bonus, a structure that carries over from the 2026 season.
The LTGP purse is only offered to athletes who are in the overall series, but any elite/pro entrant is eligible for race-specific prize purses, which make up the other half of the $800,000 pot. Life Time offers two structures: Flagship events (Unbound, Leadville Trail 100, Big Sugar) each pay 10 deep starting at $10,000 for the winner and $500 for 10th; the Sea Otter Classic, Chequamegon MTB, Rad Dirt Fest and Little Sugar each pay $5,000 to the winner and down to $250 for 10th.
meanwhile, in the gravel world:Life Time increases Grand Prix purse to US$800,000Life Time Fitness, owners of the Grand Prix off-road series, announced it is...
meanwhile, in the gravel world:
Life Time increases Grand Prix purse to US$800,000
Life Time Fitness, owners of the Grand Prix off-road series, announced it is making a significant increase to the 2027 prize purse, which across the series overall and its seven individual rounds will now be US$800,000, a 36% increase from 2026.
As in the past, prize money will be split equally between the men's and women's fields. The overall series prize purse will now be $400,000, paying 10 deep. The series winner takes home $40,000, while the 10th-place finisher gets $10,000. Places 11-25 get a $2,500 finisher bonus, a structure that carries over from the 2026 season.
The LTGP purse is only offered to athletes who are in the overall series, but any elite/pro entrant is eligible for race-specific prize purses, which make up the other half of the $800,000 pot. Life Time offers two structures: Flagship events (Unbound, Leadville Trail 100, Big Sugar) each pay 10 deep starting at $10,000 for the winner and $500 for 10th; the Sea Otter Classic, Chequamegon MTB, Rad Dirt Fest and Little Sugar each pay $5,000 to the winner and down to $250 for 10th.
Which funnily enough is nearly identical to the UCI prize purse for all disciplines and categories of off road world cup (excluding EDR).
I worked out the 2026 total prize purse for XCO, DH and XCC, all categories as $790,000.
Don’t know what Whistler cost but estimated revenue was $25-30 mil. Hotels were almost fully booked out on what is normally a slow weekend.
Yeah, I think the UCI marketing model is: it'll cost you a fortune, but you'll make a fortune*.
*No guarantee, your results may vary.
Reminds me of a saying: How do you make a million dollars in the restaurant industry? Start with 2.
For those that don't regularly listen to @Downtime Podcast this is an interesting episode https://www.downtimepodcast.com/leogang-world-cup/
I'm not saying your numbers are wrong, but if they are correct, it blew away the previous estimates and is a testament to the value of the upfront costs. https://www.piquenewsmagazine.com/local-news/whistler-council-backs-200k-investment-for-uci-world-cup-debut-12209870
Having been to World Cups in places like Windham, Snowshoe, and Placid, or other hard to reach or smaller venues without the name recognition for gravity riding, the investment is a massive undertaking and risk.
Is that the number for Whistler itself, or the total for the greater Whistler area?
'27 WC schedule makes me sad. Curious to see how Beyond Gravity (and Cannonball festival given its so close time wise) goes. Maybe it proves there's space for another multi race series that can slot in between the European Cups and the 7 month off season.
Would have been sick to see a new US venue. Would also have been sick to see Champery on the calendar again.
Is Durango hosting world champs or something in like 2030?
Durango is hosting world champs in 2030, and most likely a world cup in 2029 from what I remember.
This involves bikes and racing, but not bike racing. I've heard (albeit 3rd hand) that in 2027 or 2028, Semenuk is planning to build a line and film an edit at Arrowhead in Claremont, NH. This will be in conjunction with a Red Bull and Vermont SportsCar organized rally race of some sort in the Upper Valley region of VT and NH. At some point the plan was to drive a rally car up the access road, but it's a bit too narrow to go fast enough to look cool, so they'll be using local dirt roads instead. Arrowhead already has some of the best enduro race trails in the northeast US, and it will be sweet if they get a video part jump line and tone it down for us mere mortals after the fact.
I heard this as well, from one of the shop owners at Arrowhead. Apparently initial visits have already taken place. I'm pumped for this and them. If it comes together. And yes, the trails there are incredible. My favorite place to ride in New England, even without a chairlift.
This came up in my youtube feed, but I haven't seen any official announcements yet.
Squad Enduro in Squamish on 5/1/2027. Looks similar to the old Trophy of Nations enduro races or Enduro 2 (+1). I had promoted the idea of this being a good "new direction" for Enduro to go to make it more spectator/viewer friendly (mainly due to followcam).
Slight difference to enduro2 though, there the first rider starting the stage and the last ending it determines the stage time. This promotes people riding together.
With squad enduro individual times are added together plus the time spread between the three people starting, so it promotes everybody riding as fast as possible and just starting together...
I'm curious what happened to Champery in this respect. Because they invested in having a World Cup, building up to a World Championship and then... a 10+ year break. And then out again. What's the point of this? Honest question.
I've been there in 2011, witnessed Danny live and blew my lungs off, by the way. The small township was suffocated by tourists. Before it rained, we camped in the valley, in some bushes, next to some almost cliche brits-with-a-Transit-who-were-doing-Euro-bikeparks-and-lived-the-van-life. When it started pouring, we moved to the tourist center up in the village and we were hoping that the crowd there was going to go home to their hotels, but surprise! They were all like us and we camped on the tarmac, unde the extended roof, where it was dry.
My point is: does anybody know what the plan of Champery was or is? Because it's a fantastic venue, IMO, but it was criminally underprepared for those Worlds. Underprepared to make money, among other things.
Mx
Most ski resorts are not really bothered by biking. Yes, the Portes des Soleil is full of bikers, Yes Verbier is so busy almost year round going between biking and skiing (it opened last weekend to skiers and I don't think anywhere is open in france) yet still no passion. You can imagine a core group of Champery bikers managed to persuade the rest of the Commune & Lift company to operate the occasional competition. It's much easier to have a luge for kids, run a few lifts for tourists, hikers and a few bikers. If it keeps everything ticking over in the village then thats a win. Minor cost in the grand scheme. No dig team and constant trail maintenance costs. The joke we have is that many smaller resorts claim to have a bike park with their one blue flow trail when in reality it's insufficient.
I wonder if @buckoW would be willing to answer that, in the end he is the guy who runs the place/race... If its already happening I'm also curious if UCI was of any help considering this is their home race (their HQ is just down the valley for people who dont know that)
That sounds so fun. Epic idea for a race format
It was my understanding (from around 2014' ish) that the local authorities were not thrilled with the construction of the track and the process by which holding the race was authorized. Possibly there were legal implications. Think similar but different to what went down in Lake Placid. To paraphrase a conversation with Ben at the time, "there will never be an event at Champery ever again."
Clearly something was done to resolve the issue over the course of the last 14 years, at least enough to hold another World Champs, but makes me wonder if that was just a one-off event.
2027 iXS EDC Calendar below - more here https://www.racement.com/en/vorschau-rennkalender-2027
That's almost more spread around the world than the world cup is...
Is IXS actually doing all the organizing of this series, or are they just a sponsor? They seem like a small company, I rarely see anyone using their stuff, but it's a huge series to put on.
A brief update on the 2027 schedule for Downhill Southeast. One of the races will be at Snowshoe, and they're asking for input as to which track to run there.
I assume IXS is the title sponsor, but they are part of Hostettler (moto distribution company), as is Sports Nut (bike distribution company). I believe the Sports Nut founder was also involved with Spank and the Gravity Cartel.
The company that organises the various iXS series and some other races is called Racement
I think a lot of people were traumatized by the Basin side mud-sling in ‘24.
Yep, iXS is the title sponsor, and the actual organisation behind the various iXS race series is Racement GmbH, a German company founded in 2009 by Peter Effenberger and André Baumbach. Both have been involved in the German downhill scene for years, well before Racement was established.
The iXS Downhill Cup dates back to 2006, with the European Downhill Cup following in 2008. They’re also behind events like Dirt Masters in Winterberg, which started in 2007. So there’s nearly 20 years of history behind the iXS series and plenty of experience in running downhill events beyond the Hostettler connection.
already covered but iXS is the title sponsor, and the actual organisation behind the various iXS race series is Racement .
iXS is probably a much bigger brand in Europe than you'd realise from the US. It's been around since 1979, entered the MTB market in 2001 and is part of the Swiss Hostettler Group, which employs over 950 people across its various businesses.
In terms of European market presence, iXS is a well-established name alongside brands like Troy Lee Designs, particularly in German-speaking markets. I wouldn't claim iXS outsells TLD as I dont have access to any sales figures, however it's certainly not some small company sponsoring a race series beyond its means.
There's also an interesting connection between the two. Hostettler distributes Troy Lee Designs in Switzerland, so they're involved with both brands.
Right on, props to both of those companies then. It's cool to see some stepping up and growing the sport even in this economy.
meanwhile, in the gravel world:
Which funnily enough is nearly identical to the UCI prize purse for all disciplines and categories of off road world cup (excluding EDR).
I worked out the 2026 total prize purse for XCO, DH and XCC, all categories as $790,000.
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