Northbound and Down do Europe – Morzine

Part 1- Morzine

Boarding the flight to Geneva, I realized that this would be the 6th time that I visited Morzine either for 2 week holidays or summer seasons. What surprised me most of all was that my excitement was just as strong on this return as it was on the first visit with the exception of knowing what fun lay ahead of me for the 2 and a half weeks to come. This fun was to include great weather, nights out and most importantly amazing riding.

Arriving at Chalet Nantegue late at night, I arranged to go riding the next day with some mates who were already out there enjoying the many benefits of spending the whole summer out here. Having already spent 3 summer seasons in Morzine myself, I knew what tracks I wanted to ride but was keen for a gentle first day to ease myself into the abuse that the alps afflicts on both body and bike. This plan was obviously ignored as I was chucked into the deep end within the first couple of runs which landed me one of the gnarliest and wildest unofficial tracks on Plenney side, namely “Step up” and “Step down”.

Morzine is famous among UK riders for its “secret” Pleney singletracks that are brake burning, ball-shrinking and technical. Over the years these tracks have been discovered and forgotten, promising new lines every year thanks to the locals and seasonaires that spend part of their inter-season or summers combing the mountainside scoping new lines and searching for trail potential. The old favourites such as “Up your bum”, “Step up” and “Step down” obviously remain with repairs and improvements made by these trail fairies.

The addition of another black run down Pleney may be old news since my last visit here 2 years ago, however new to Morzine this year were the new tracks on Super Morzine side. These “new” official tracks turned out not to be new, but old tracks built by seasonaires and spruced up and signposted by the local VTT council. Many hours of my trip were spent attempting to drift the newly built up and improved corners on “DA trail” and “Hattok”.

Chalet Nantegue is like a second home to me. Having stayed here every time I’ve come to Morzine, again and again I’m reminded why I enjoy it so much. I think it’s safe to say that for all us mountain bikers, that food is one of our priorities when riding bikes. So after spending hours on the mountain it was a relief to get back to the Chalet and have a delicious, filling, 3 course meal cooked for me. Every day started with a cooked breakfast before riding to the lifts and ended with a quick bike wash and maintenance session using the Nantegue’s bike stand and jet wash. Before dinner we would relaxed in the garden with a cold beer from the Chalet’s honesty bar.

Apart from the attraction of awesome tracks found in Morzine, the fact that it is the main base of “Portes du Soleil” just adds to its appeal as a downhill biking holiday destination. With one liftpass that grants lift access to 12 resorts and ski lifts that carry you on a comfortable sofa in the sky all the way to Switzerland and back, I recommend spending some time out here as it is truly awesome!