PRE-RIDE. Know the trail before you let off the brakes

But before you go full send, there’s PRE-RIDE.

Your first run on a trail isn’t about setting records. It’s your chance to check out what’s waiting for you along the way - even if you already know the trail from your last visit.

Slow down. Look around. Check the trail.

Conditions at the Gravity Park can change from one day to the next - or even from one hour to another. A trail after rain rides differently than a dry one. Loose gravel, mud or exposed roots can appear on a section you know well. That’s why your first run should always be a reconnaissance run.

What does PRE-RIDE mean?

On your first run:

• keep your speed down - give yourself enough time to react and take a good look at the trail,
• check the features - jumps, drops, tabletops, berms and the condition of the trail surface,
• don’t send the more difficult features yet - safely ride around them or roll through them if the feature allows,
• pay attention to sections that require extra control.

This run helps you work out where you can pick up speed later, where you need to back off and which features are within your limits today.

The trail may be the same. The conditions aren't.

Just because you rode a feature without any problems yesterday doesn’t mean you can hit it exactly the same way today.

Weather, moisture, rider traffic and the natural wear of the trail all affect riding conditions. So knowing Gravity Park well doesn’t mean you can skip your PRE-RIDE. Quite the opposite - experienced riders know that a good run starts with checking the trail first.

PRE-RIDE is only the first step.

Get to know the trail, assess the conditions and see what you’re dealing with today. Then comes RE-RIDE – repetition, learning and building confidence. And only after that comes FREE-RIDE, when you can put your skills to work and get maximum fun out of your run.

We’ll come back to the next stages soon. Because good riding doesn’t start with speed. It starts with control.

Know the trail. Ride safe.

Because the best day at Gravity Park isn’t the one where you pull off one spectacular run. It’s the one that lets you come back and do it all again tomorrow.

Helmet and pads? Always.

Whether it’s your first run or you know the line by heart, make sure you’re properly equipped. At Gravity Park, we recommend a full-face helmet and knee and elbow pads. Before riding, check that your bike is in good working order and choose a trail that matches your skill level. You’ll also find these rules in the official Gravity Park Rider Rules.