Bikepark Wales founder Rowan Sorrell reveals secret plans, trail building insights and more!
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- čas přidán 21. 07. 2024
- Rowan Sorrell is the founder, director, and head of trails at Bike Park Wales.
In this episode, we sit down with UK mountain biking legend Rowan Sorrell to discuss everything from the evolution of mountain bike trail centres to becoming a World Champion downhill racer. Rowan shares stories from his early years, racing downhill in the sport's early days, and how modern bikes have dramatically improved the riding experience.
We explore the founding and development of Bike Park Wales, drawing inspiration from the iconic Whistler Bike Park. Rowan provides insights into the intricate process of building and planning trails, addressing the early challenges of creating flow in trail design, and emphasising the importance of sustainable trail building. We also delve into the "no dig, no ride" ethos, the future of trail design, accommodating e-bikes at trail centres, trail advocacy, and more.
Rowan shares his experience of becoming a Masters Downhill World Champion and unveils some exciting secret plans for Bike Park Wales.
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Chapters
00:00:00 Introduction to Rowan Sorrell
00:06:48 First mountain bike specific trail centres
00:14:30 There were NO BERMS!?
00:23:30 How do you plot trail locations?
00:29:45 AG1
00:32:10 Racing early downhill world cup races
00:36:38 The Whistler bike park inspiration
00:43:40 Is 'No Dig No Ride' valid?
00:55:34 How the Bikepark Wales founders met
01:05:06 DREAM COFFEE COMP
01:07:50 The first trails at Bikepark Wales
01:12:45 Do people respect bikeparks?
01:20:19 The future of MTB trail design
01:29:29 Rowan's dream yard
01:34:37 UK Trail advocacy situation
01:42:24 Becoming Masters World Champion
01:52:50 Bikepark Wale HUGE announcement!
01:58:17 LIKE & SUBSCRIBE!
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Edited By: Doug Tucker, onlyflightdispatch.com
#TheRideCompanion #mountainbiking #mtb - Sport
![Jumping Sketchy Gaps On [SECRET] MTB Trails At Bike Park Wales!](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/6D12oRu847g/mqdefault.jpg)
another top guest boys, as a 20 year trailbuilder on forestry land (put my first berms in by hand in 1999 and progressed to machine built sections and beyond) its good to hear our sport from a trail builders perscpective, great episode
Big thanks Mick!
Awesome interview guys - a real journey through UK mountain bike trail history, all the way from Dafydd Davis to the UK MTB Trail Alliance!
Big ups!
After running a Forestry Commission backed bike park for 10 years, last year they changed all the rules and said we had to now lease the land from them and fully insure it ourselves. After spending some time and money investigating how feasible it was, we had to accept that the place would never be the same again. We didn't mind committing our time to building, but were unable to also commit all our money. Health and safety has gone way too far. I understand we need to know trails are built for purpose, but there needs some acceptance of liability from the rider that will hold in court.
This is a big problem for indoor skateparks to. We all know these sports we do are dangerous and that if we participate it's on us
Another awsone interview, great to see someone have a vision and see it come to fruition, BPW has been massive for the area and UK bike parks in general. On a separate note, when olly and davy agree and find something amusing, they remind me of beavis and butthead. Hu hu hu hu. .👍👏👏👏🍻🍻🏴 apologies if youve heard that a millions times before .
Big love thank you!
Today's random fact - I sent the trail name 'Bonneyville' to Rowan for a trail naming competition he was running (probably on FB?) - it didn't win, but he used it for another trail build very soon afterwards - and for those who don't get the reference - it was named after Michael Bonney who did so much for MTB - both in industry but also in rider terms #rideformb
Awesome that mate!
What he did at Gawton with AJ and the others in 2007 was mindbending for built stuff!
Fantastic interview. Rowan you are a legend. Great to hear the plans for the BPW trails and your thoughts on e-bike specific tracks
Built many a trail all over the world BECAUSE
No dig no ride!!
Haha yewwww
This triggered a memory from a deep fold in my brain. In 2012, I was in Jamaica with Rowan at the Rambo Olympics. Racers did 4 laps of a grass track, picking up objects after the first lap. On his final lap, Rowan carried a beer crate, a propane tank, and a weed wacker when a kid ran head first into the weed wacker, launching Rowan over the bars. Roawn chipped his tooth on the propane tank, and the kid got several stitches to his cheek and mouth. True story. Worst race ever.
- Matt
Hahaha just had confirmation from Mr Sorrell himself that this is a TRUE story!!!
Amazing comment, LOVE your guys work 🙏🏼
Great episode! Swung many a winter/spring pick and shovel over the (many!) years… Got to! 👊😁
Building is life. If you havent built one yet get out and do it. Whether its a 5 minute run or 30 seconds. NOTHING beats the thrill after the hard work you have put in. And then! The joy of looking after something or changing something up. Its the recipe for a good life. Create and enjoy. Its sadly an art that is slipping away though 😢
S4P.... not really owned so... great interview boyos
Rowan - quick question - what is the place in Czech Republic that you mentioned helping shaping?