French rider Florent ‘Flo’ Carreyron spends summers in Whistler (top) and in Queenstown (above)
Queenstown is luring increasingly large numbers of mountain bikers from around the world as they chase an endless summer.
Dozens of competitive and leisure riders from Europe, United States and Canada are escaping the snow in their home countries to set up temporary home in the resort.
Attracted by Queenstown’s booming mountain bike scene, they’re on the opposite leg from the snow bums – boarders and skiers who follow the winter worldwide.
About 50 per cent of Queenstown Mountain Bike Club’s 300 members are internationals and many complete back-to-back seasons in the likes of Whistler, Canada, and then Queenstown.
And with the range of downhill and cross-country tracks expanding each year, together with more facilities and race events, Queenstown is fast becoming the default southern hemisphere choice.
French rider Florent ‘Flo’ Carreyron, 26, says: “I came two months ago to chase the summer into the southern hemisphere.
“Queenstown is definitely the place to go – it’s like a small Whistler.
“It is growing and has a ton of potential. I think more people will come from Whistler and Europe, as it grows, just to do another summer and keep riding bikes.
“I have a bunch of friends here now who are travelling back and forth each year. The bike community is smaller here but I think as strong in the way that people are passionate.
“People are helping each other building trails, cross-country, and with the gondola Queenstown is number one in New Zealand.”
Carreyron has spent five summers in Whistler, racing in the British Columbia Cup last year. He planned to race the national downhill series here but is recovering from shoulder surgery.
Skyline’s decision to allow riders to use the gondola to access Queenstown Bike Park has been the catalyst of the influx.
Queenstown Mountain Bike Club is also a driving force behind the sport’s local expansion.
Its members have put in hundreds of volunteer hours digging tracks.
Club president Tom Hey: “There’s definitely a bike season now as much as a ski season.
“There’ve been people coming over for a while but the gondola has attracted more and more, especially general tourists riding.
“It makes sense to follow the summer rather than winter – nice weather, more stuff to do.
“That’s what I started doing – I did five summers in Whistler and here, back to back.”
The first round of the NZ MTB Downhill Cup takes place in the resort early next month. Races will be held on the new grass downhill track at the Remarkables on January 8-9.
Hey: “There’s a lot going on, although we’re not directly involved with the Remarks track.
“We’re trying to get the whole package here and then we’ll get more [overseas riders] over here for training.
“It’s good we’ve got the gondola. Everyone was screaming for 10 years for lift access for downhill.
“One thing we’re trying to develop more through the club is cross-country single track-style riding – that’s one thing we think is lacking here. We’re seeking funding and businesses to sponsor tracks.”
Carreyron lives with three other riders, including Swede Jon Bokrantz who produces his own TV show about the scene.
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