Verbier is world renowned for its incredible skiing terrain during the winter months. But what do we do to stave off boredom in the summer months? The Academy is, of course, up on the glacier of Zermatt skiing during July and August.
Back home in the Val de Bagnes however, the Mountain biking is incredible, some of the team who will remain nameless, might actually prefer riding bikes. Verbier is home to some world class Enduro trails and a great bike park , which flies somewhat under the radar keeping queues to a minimum and the tracks in good condition.
With the lift infrastructure running during the summer months and accepting bikes its possible to gain 1000’s of metres of elevation with marginal effort, saving your energy for descents of multiple 1000’s of metres down to the valley floor. With other iconic areas on our doorstep why not make a whole trip of it and combine Verbier with some of the other great riding in the Alps.
For Summer ’24 we have launched The Bike Academy. Whether you are a seasoned mountain biker who wants to truly experience some of the best mountain biking in the Alps, or you are relatively new and want to explore the gentle forest roads and hamlets of the Val de Bagnes by electric mountain bike, or anywhere in between we have you covered.
Here at the Academy our background is in coaching skiing. With our love for riding bikes and coaching we want to give you the best chance of succeeding and realising your potential on a bike too. During the days we will not only be guiding you to the best and most appropriate trails for your level but also helping you out with technique and choices whilst on the bike. This might be when and how to brake properly on a mountain bike, how to corner on flat, bermed or ride tight alpine switchbacks. We aim to give you the skills to feel comfortable and the tactics to choose the best lines and approaches.
Which mountain bike do I need? well there is a question.
To get the most out of the riding in the area it is recommended to ride a full suspension bike in the region of 150/160mm of rear travel equipped with a thick casing tyre. Whether you wish to pedal under your own steam or use an ebike the choice is yours.
The advent of the electric mountain bike has opened the doors to those who maybe have been somewhat daunted by pedalling a bike in the Alps, with the motor assist big alpine climbs become more of a stroll in the park. These incredible things also make challenging and technical uphills just as interesting as the down.
Our partner shop in Verbier, Mountain Air, carry an extensive range of both electric and human powered bikes for rent so you can take your pick safe in the knowledge you have the right tool for the job.
