Big news for South Wales as plans for the UK’s first commercially operated bikepark are announced.

Will Gethin Woods become the Whistler of Wales? We hope so. And judging by the photos supplied in this press release there could be a hint of a chair lift too!

Gethin Woods, Merthyr Tydfil is the venue designated by Forestry Commission Wales and Merthyr County Council for the UK’s first commercially operated gravity bikepark.

Rowan Sorrell together with the Back on Track trail team and a select syndicate of professionals from within the bike industry and beyond have been working on their concept and business plan for this groundbreaking bike park for over 2 years. The team hope to bring their experience of racing and riding around the world together with their knowledge of trail building in the UK and beyond in challenging conditions to their bid to create a product that is accessible, fun and caters for all, from the novice rider to the World Cup Racer. The team has been handpicked to represent what we consider to be the ultimate group of experienced and passionate individuals who can deliver the goal of creating the UK’s premier mountain bike facility. The Bike Park Wales team includes members who have worked at the renowned Whistler bike park, project managers, marketing experts, surveyors, brand managers and accountants. The team are now in discussions with development partners to finalise the bid.

The final bidding process is approaching, with all interested parties entering a tender process to decide the eventual developer and operator of the site.
The successful bidder will be awarded the contract by the end of 2011 with the project completion and park opening date of December 2013.

If this is a facility that you would use, you can show your support for this huge new development and step forward for UK mountain biking by signing up to the official facebook page of Bikepark Wales, where you can leave your comments on this exciting new project.

Join here: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Bikepark-Wales/199924540047704

Clearly whatever the outcome of this process, gravity assisted mountain biking in the UK is set to get a whole lot better over the coming years.

Photo Credits: Andy Lloyd