Charming the serpent
There is a remarkable resemblance of the Copperhead, a venomous elapid snake native to Australia’s fertile south, and the adrenalin addicted sportsman. Both remain active after most have become dormant in the winter season, and are the first to resume activity in spring. And, both are drawn to the summit ridge of Mt Buller.
But, while the Copperhead is shy by nature, seeking shelter in the scrub, the MTB and downhill community is always holding out for the next adventure and does not mind a clash in the wilderness. And, the Copperhead trail on Mt Buller has all the potential to please the crowd.
Just like the eponymous snake, the new track is of medium size and moderate build, catering for a wide variety of bikes and riders. The copperhead’s venom, however, is toxic, and the trail has all it needs to challenge experienced riders, too. It is the most recent development in a five-stage mountain bike trail development project that has seen Mt Buller cement itself as Victoria’s first address in alpine mountain biking.
Officially a “flow down” trail, Copperhead was designed and built by mountain bike trail guru Glen Jacobs and his team from World Trail, and incorporates several of Jacobs' innovations to create a new style of riding that has never been seen before in Australia.
Like a snake lurking in the grass, the trail is cutting its way through the bush, ready to attack when you least expecting it. The fast, gently flowing start section is followed by a rocky passage that challenges both man and material, leading to a steep downhill section full of tight corners, crossing a spectacular skywalk and an obstacle or two along the way.
After a fast, fire trail-like connecting road, the snake is crawling away into the forest, offering some stunning jumps for a fair share of airtime and even more steep, slippery turns that are reminiscent of Mt Buller’s skiing DNA, before it is phasing out after a last, steep drop into the valley.
"We have been working here at Mt Buller for five years now, and it's just great to see how far the place has come and what it now has to offer for riders of all levels,” says Jabobs. “We're thrilled to be working with a mountain management that is so proactive in the mountain biking space and is keen to try new things - for us it is the perfect fit.
"We are very proud of Copperhead, as it represents a few of our innovations from over the years and has elements that will appeal to all types of riders. This is the first time a trail like this has been built in Australia, and for it to be at Mt Buller is really exciting.”
Mt Buller and Mt Stirling Alpine Resort Management Board CEO, John Huber, officially launched the trail on the weekend. "To date, our combined efforts have been focused on the cross country offering, but the launch of Copperhead now marks a new era for the resort management as we enter the gravity fed, downhill mountain bike space – a product area that has traditionally delivered by Buller Ski Lifts,” he says.
"The development of Copperhead is significant for a number of reasons, namely the link it creates between the cross-country and downhill trails networks, and, being the first of its kind in Australia, this trail allows Mt Buller to maintain its position as Victoria's premier mountain bike destination.”
Copperhead will be open to the public once the downhill mountain biking season commences on December 26.
