Ski Run Revamp
Ski Run is getting a makeover. For many of you, Ski Run needs no introduction. It’s one of the oldest and most loved trails on the hill, and it’s got a pretty special place in Forest of Dean MTB history.
But after years of riders, weather and a fair bit of abuse, it needs some love. Erosion is a major issue, and while we absolutely want to respect what makes Ski Run, well… Ski Run, we also want to bring it firmly into the future.
Our ambition is to create a world-class double black trail that delivers more progression, more challenge, more fun and a proper race-ready experience for riders who want to push themselves.
And we want to do it the right way. That means respecting the history of the trail, making it sustainable for the future, building it with the MTB community at its heart, keeping its race pedigree and bringing it up to the same level as GBU.
What Are We Planning?
And why we need your help.
We are aiming to add the following feature:
- Start ramp – because every good trail deserves a good entrance.
- Qualifier – with the potential for a wooden lily pad feature.
- Mid-section makeover – drainage repairs and a choice between an epic rock garden or North Shore with a gap jump.
- Fire road roll-out – the erosion here is currently slightly out of control! We’ll restore it to the original line, firm it up and create something that feels like the Boneyard roll dialled up to 11.
- The Gully – a rock garden unlike anything else on the hill, with the potential to bring in some seriously big rocks.
- The iconic Roots Roller – repairing the erosion back to the original line, adding rocks to firm up the top and closing off the second line.
- Double jump – added into the long straight for a bit more airtime.
- Double diamond wooden drop – because we want this to be challenging!
- Wall ride – a brand-new feature that we’re VERY excited about.
- Technical jump line – finishing things off at the bottom with a proper technical finale.
Our plans and the mock ups shown are there to wet your appetite for what we can achieve.
The final designs will be led by budget, so get donating!
Also, all volunteers can expect to have an input into what gets built, so sign up on Eventbrite!
HOW YOU CAN HELP
We would like the new Ski Run to launch in Autumn 2027, with contractors planned to be on site in early 2027.
And this is where you all come in. We need our amazing DTV and MTB community.
A project this big takes more than just dirt, diggers and questionable amounts of coffee.
We need people from the MTB community to help make it happen.
This isn’t just about building a new trail. It’s about taking one of the Forest of Dean’s most iconic trails, respecting what came before it and creating something that riders will still be talking about years from now.
Ski Run has history. Now we want to give it a future.
DONATE
We can not build anything without donations to pay for all the new materials and the contractors.
You can help us by donating to our Crowdfunder here.
We will be able to get match funding, so every pound counts!
VOLUNTEER WITH DTV
Fancy getting your hands dirty?
We’ll be setting up Ski Run-specific dig days through our Eventbrite. If you’re keen to grab a shovel and get stuck in, we want you there.
Got CDM experience?
If you have CDM qualifications or experience and can help with the larger build and design side, we’d love to hear from you.
CAD whizz?
We need someone with CAD experience to help put together plans for the wooden features.
Professional carpenter?If you know your way around timber, tools and building features that need to survive thousands of bikes, we need you.
Fundraising superstar?
If fundraising is your thing and you fancy helping us find every possible source of funding to get this project over the line, we want to hear from you too.
WANT MORE INFO OR TO VOLUNTEER?
Drop a note to our Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson at admin@deantrailvolunteers.org.uk