Westridge at Snow Summit - oh, yeah

Hey folks,

Summit did not choose to stop building trails this season, lets just say some fine print with the usfs stopped them dead in their tracks until a survey of the land is finished (1 yr survey), once that's done they will have the freedom to build what they'd like. Until then how about just being stoked we've got some fun lift assisted trails to ride what ever bike we personally choose to ride!

The map is not accurate as they we're only allowed "x" amount of trails to build due to this "fine print". The ones that care are fully aware they don't have a TRUE green or blue run for the true beginner but they can not do anything about it except send you off park on trails that beginners have been riding for years.

So to be clear, it's not Snow Summit that is making these choices it's a heavy hand of the USFS. Snow Summit will be something great but it's not going to happen overnight!!

So hang on and enjoy what you've got and be excited for what's to come in the future.

 

There was a guy out there taking pics yesterday whilst doing some trail work - anyone got an idea where they get posted??

 

I've seen quite a few pics they've taken end up on their Facebook page, so if you don't follow SS on FB, add it to your Like list

 

my assesment of Westridge....

The trail starts off of Cruiser in the berm section before you get to the Cruiser Step-UP. You can't miss it...you veer to the right onto a wood bridge that has a 2-ft drop onto a 30º degree wood ramp. With speed you can go further off the drop, maybe 5-10 feet but its hard to carry speed onto the bridge and off the "drop". Once you land there is a right paver berm that goes immediately into two table tops that are no more than 10' but they are lippy with a steep-ish landing that matches the lip. After that the trail is a lot of berms and flowy sections. Next you will meet an 8-pack of 1 1/2' whoops...or if you do it correctly...a 4-pack of small doubles. After a bit you will come to a left 180º paver berm...keep your speed for 2 Step-Downs in a row that are about 10' to 15' in distance but only about 3'-4' down. Once you land... more flow leads you to a couple more small jumps and 1 final table. The final table is no more that 8' but it pops and or bucks you.

Overall... Westridge is flowy and fun. Once you learn to keep your speed...this trail gets really fun. You will need to keep your speed for the tables as well as the step-downs. This trail is marked as "Blue" which means advanced-level at Snow Summit. I feel that the trail rating is accurate. Once Westridge starts, it is fairly smooth and manicured with no real chunk or gnar to speak of. The only difficult features are the jumps which could and should be adjusted to make easier for beginner jumpers. Again Keeping your speed is key.

Its great to see that Snow Summit has been diligently working to add trails and features as well as improving the trails. The trails are getting worn from a lot of use but SS has added pavers and fixed sections. Miracle Mile has gotten more technical since it has opened due to the erosion from use. It is evident to me that Snow Summit works on all the trails and does what they can to maintain them.

Now that there a few trail options...Snow Summit has gotten really fun and make for a great day of riding. The trails do get very crowed on the weekends but most people tend to flock to the "easier" trails (cruiser and westridge). You can easily see which direction most of the riders are going towards and chose to go to the less crowded trail, which is usually Miracle Mile.

A lift ticket costs $32...which is a bit pricy compared to other bike parks...but its the only option we have in SoCal. For $7 you can add-on a lunch...which is a great deal...the $7 lunch is anything on the menu plus a drink, its a great deal. The lunch without the voucher would cost you $10-$12 plus $3 for your drink equaling about $15

 

Frikkin USFS! Why couldn't the sequester cut them....

 

But I am extremely grateful for what SS has built thus far...just finished a 3 week trip to the NW, and knowing Summit has done all this work definitely took the edge off the letdown from returning!

 

Politics and $$$ go hand in hand. It is what it is i'm just thankful for the effort they've put in and will continue to.

 

Landing is awkward!! But didn't get thrown off like I thought I would have. Tricky part is having enough speed. At the bottom of the bridge I am pumping. The bike compresses at the bottom of the of the bridge. I only need a little more speed and think I may clear.

 

I thought the guy shooting photos was one of those professionals who shoots pictures of everyone, then posts proofs and sells them to you. I saw him (7/5/13) at the turn at the last split of Miracle Mile and Cruiser, then at the wooden drop/turn on Cruiser, then the drop onto Westridge, then at the entry to the bridge on Westridge. He shot a picture on each of those passes. As I rode past him on the bridge to Westridge, I asked him where I could view the proofs, but I didn't catch his answer as I dropped off onto the trail. Oh well, I figured I could find them online. Nope.

 

This guy was there on Sat.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stillmrg-Photography/473124739403011

 

If you look at his photos you can see how the table tops on Westridge aren't flat across the top, but dip down in the middle so that the far lip is more abrupt than it has to be.

Surlygal: Thanks for the update. It would be nice if SS would let everyone know what was going on so that there wasn't so much dis-information floating around. But at least we can get some of the information from people like you who know what's really going on.

And I'm totally psyched on the trails. I don't think they are perfect, but they are darn good. And since some folks like the steep lips, it's obvious that it's going to impossible to completely satisfy everyone.

 

i dont think they are misamarked at all. intermediate, means intemediate downhiller, not intermediate mt biker.
also what is a lip on a landing? i think you guys mean knuckle.

 

Blake.. I don't disagree, but just looking for consistency. I don't feel Cruiser is black either, but it seems if they would label Cruiser black, wouldn't Westridge be just as "black". I am not thinking of me or my son, just thinking of others who will get into those trails a bit over their heads thinking something may be easier than it really is..

 

Not if you find Ho Chi Min Trail.

Tough crowd here. My thoughts: The way things are today, I would tell a beginner to buy a Adventure Pass and drive up to Skyline Trail. Maybe the lift price for those not using the trails in the park should be lowered thus getting some of the folks "over their heads" off the runs. This is all new to BB and hopefully they are reading forums like this to get feedback.

Dean

 

i see you point. valid!

 

OK I totally get what you mean.As I had a few questions after riding it. The answers I got make perfect sense.

Per Snow Summit ~ According to IMBA trailbuilding guidelines, a black trail is a certain length across in inches (single track), even further across for a blue (we'll call it double track), etc. So According to the IMBA guidelines they are following, Westridge is wide enough with a less than steep pitch and everything is rollable there-fore it is a blue ( BTW blue is intermediate - NOT beginner). Nothing on Westridge is die if you don't clear (lol) and if your looking Tech wise is actually isn't nearly as tech as MM or Crusier -

Now don't get me wrong i'm not a jumper and i'm not comfortable on WR as i'm rolling everything but it does now make sense to me why it's a blue. We took Maddie on it 1st run 1st day it was open and she didn't like it. She crashed in a corner - however now that we know what to expect, I think she'll love it. She's never jumped before either and hit the 1st two jumps FAST nose casing them. Neil gave her the lecture go slower on your first run. Then pick up speed after you know what's coming.

I think we/I get confused as Gravity Logic is the consultant and so it gets compared to Whistlers more buff jumps on their blue trails, they don't have the knuckles so as a intermediate you can see what your going to jump or roll. With the knuckle for someone who is not used to jumping and learning a knuckle is intimidating as you can't see what is behind it and you might slow down. I personally think a blue run shouldn't have the knuckles and black runs should. Intermediate runs are good leaning runs for black jump runs. Perfect example is A-line (black) and B-line (blue). I also understand we've got 3 trails and with those 3 trails we've got what we've got - until we've got a full DH park with many trails we won't see HUGE the progression between blue & blacks like we do in other Gravity Logic type parks.

Also I know it'd be great if SS would reply to every post BUT honestly I think they have so much on their plate. Our feedback is appreciated and listened to so take the time to talk to someone while your there. They are still learning and are sponges.

 

I was up there on Saturday and loved riding Westridge! Can't clear the tables yet but the small rhythm section was a blast. I rode up with a ss roving medic and he said 10 miles a year due to environmental restrictions. I'm glad they started with these trails and not the beginner one. Miracle Mile is hammered right now with lots of deep holes. I'm glad the guys are done building that way they can tune the other trails. I can't wait o go back.

 

Miracle Mile is hammered and needs repair. But Cruiser has roughened up nicely! It was really fun. It has a little more chunk to plow through than before but it's not totally sketchy and blown out everywhere. I still think it is their best trail so far.

 

just tried to take some laps, WR is closed for maintenance. gonna head back over in a bit. i avoided that place all weekend for obvious reasons. its a ghost town today!

 

Thanks for your posts, Surlygal.

I haven't had the pleasure of riding the park yet, but agree with this concept. After watching the videos, I think Westridge would be more of a ripper if the tables were softened and more forgiving. I mean, lower angled ramps with rounded landing areas. That way non-jumpers could get the feel of being airborne and hit the things at virtually any speed, while the flow would be directed down trail, as opposed to up in the air. I'd also think about making that last jump a little mellower because riders might be fatigued by that point. Otherwise it looks amazing!

Also, is there dedicated jumping area in the works? That'd be another way for riders to learn more skills and see good riders in action.