14 Sep 2015
Grand opening of Divinity Downhill Flow Trail draws hundreds of mountain bikers. Video!
Purgatory Resort lured a large crowd of mountain bikers into riding its new Divinity Downhill Flow Trail for its grand opening day, where a Forest Service official at a ribbon-cutting ceremony said that it might be the beginning of freeride trail projects that get approved for the mountain.
Riders got themselves to the top on the uplift, some rode up a trail or the road, and many others shuttled with a vehicle up the Forest Service Road that runs through the resort once they found out that wait times at the uplift took as long as an hour due to a lack of cam straps needed to affix bikes to the lifts.
Divinity Downhill is a 1.5-mile trail of table-top jumps, berms, rollers, wide ladder bridges, and an optional wall ride. Most of the trail was built by excavator operator Grady James, and Purgatory’s Trail Manager Josh Hamill, which took most of the summer.
If you see these two guys, give them a high five and a thank you for building this fun trail.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony at the base area was led by Purgatory’s Mike McCormack, Purgatory’s Trail Manager Josh Hamill, Forest Service District Ranger Matt Janowiak, Forest Service Recreation Staff Officer Jed Botsford, Trails 2000’s Executive Director Mary Monroe Brown and her family, and some famous mountain bike champions.
Purgatory’s Trail Manager Josh Hamill cuts the ribbon at the grand opening of the Divinity Downhill Flow Trail.
Janowiak gave an uplifting speech that received applause when he said that it was just the beginning of something big.
“My challenge back to you folks is, if you really want to make this just the beginning, is take care of this, cause then it’s going to be so much easier for us to say yes to the next request, cause we know you demonstrated that you can do it right,” said Janowiak.
A giant crowd gathered for the ceremony cheered as Hamill cut the ribbon.
Throughout the day, people rode the trail on all-mountain trail bikes, downhill bikes, cross country bikes, fat bikes and hard tails.
Spirits were high, and people pondered the future of trails up at the mountain.
By the end, it was time to sit down for a barbecue sandwich and a drink at Purgy’s to celebrate a day of riding new trail with friends on a mountain with endless potential to contend with some of the finest bike parks of the west.
Great article and video. Thanks for sharing, Adam!
Julie Birkle
October 14th, 2015 at 4:05 ampermalink
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks!
Adam Howell
October 14th, 2015 at 11:31 ampermalink