True Blue Trail Rounds off Mt Buller as a MTB Mecca
Stonefly, a worldclass 11.4km blue loop of sweet sweet singletrack has just opened up on the flanks of Mt Stirling, rounding off a forward thinking project that has been underway for several years within the Mt Buller resort in Victoria.
Globally renowned trail builder and MTB legend, Glen Jacobs, is the genius architect who Mt Buller turned to when they first conceived their masterplan to make the snow resort a summertime Mecca for mountain bikers. At 11am on Saturday morning, Glen and Mt Buller and Mt Stirling CEO, John Huber, cut the ribbon and declared Stonefly open.
“With Stonefly, we basically went out and found the must stunning spots on the mountain and joined the dots,” said Glen, as the ribbon was cut and the champagne poured.
“Here at Mt Buller we have been very lucky to work in some of most picturesque terrain in the country. Our design policy at World Trails is to leave riders with a smile on their face. You might be swearing a little on the way up, but just wait until you get on the downhill.”
And he wasn’t lying. The ascent is technical and demanding, with some harrowingly tight and steep switchbacks setting the tone early in the piece, but even on the upward stretch, the surrounding and features are guaranteed to put a grin on your yin. There are 19 open-sided bridges crossing creeks on Stonefly alone, as well as a waterfall crossing, rock gardens and long stretches of twisting, turning, undulating wilderness singletrack.
Near the apex of the trail, riders emerge from the snowgums to be confronted with a view over the Alps that would be breathtaking (if only you had any breath left to steal after tackling that ascent). Glen has named this spot Willo’s Breeze – a tribute to the much-loved and greatly missed World Champion 24-hour rider James Williamson. Glen and his crew were building this section of the track when they learned of Willo’s passing last year.
And then, just past Bluff Spur Hut and right under the peak of Mt Stirling, the descent begins. It’s one that no rider will ever forget. All that height, earned over about an hour of riding for most people, is knocked off in under fifteen furious minutes of non-stop, eye-popping excitement, flying around beautiful berms and dashing down delightful drops.
When at last you pop back out at Howqua Gap, where you started about 90 minutes earlier, it’s hard to comprehend the diversity and intensity of what you’ve just experienced. If you’ve got the legs, you might just have to go and have another look.
Stonefly is named after an insect, one particular variety of which is found only in this part of the Australian Alps. The same could be said of the trail – it is a one-off.
“We make the trail,” says Glen. “But it’s you guys, the riders, who turn it into singletrack when you ride it.” Want to contribute your fat tyre treadmarks to a process of evolution that’s married to intelligent design? Click here for more details.
LOOKING FOR SOME ACTION?
Mt Buller’s mountain biking event calendar is looking more action-packed than ever this year, with the resort set to host the Jayco National Mountain Bike Series on 5–6 February. This event, managed by Mountain Bike Australia, will see the best cross-country and downhill mountain bikers in the country convene on Mt Buller for a massive weekend of riding over a number of stages.
Just a month later, the Bike Buller MTB Festival will return to the mountain for the third time over the weekend 5–6 March. This premier event, brought to you by Rapid Ascent, will see riders battle it out over four stages: a 25km and 50km XC race, the Mt Buller Super D Descent and the 4hr Brakeburner Enduro – a gruelling multi-lap stage that incorporates a flowing XC-downhill course serviced by the Horse Hill Chairlift, plus the cracking Delatite River trail, finishing at the bottom of the mountain.
If it’s personal instruction and an introduction to the fun of fat wheel riding that you’re after, then there are several MTB clinic and courses taking place on the mountain.
Following on from a highly successful women’s-only mountain biking clinic last summer, Mt Buller will host a number of specialised clinics again this summer season, from ladies-only weekends to action-packed downhill skills camps.
The team from mtbskills.com.au will be joined by Australian 24 Hour Solo Champion Jess Douglas to conduct three ladies-only clinics in January, February and March, giving women the opportunity to enjoy an entire weekend of mountain biking action in a safe, supportive and progressive teaching environment with like-minded women. The clinics cost $527 and include two nights’ accommodation, some meals, coaching, show bag and more.
Mansfield’s All-Terrain Cycles are also running several mountain biking clinics this summer, including Gravity Camps with World Cup rider Shaun O’Connor ($796 per person including two nights’ accommodation, meals, expert coaching plus a three-day downhill mountain biking lift pass). All Terrain Cycles will also host a women’s clinic with Elite Women’s XC rider Jenni King during the Bike Buller MTB Festival.
