There’s always a sense of thrill, excitement and anticipation on the first uplift of a visit to Morzine. The novelty of riding in gondolas and chairlifts surrounded by towering mountains never wears off. For as long as we can remember, a pilgrimage to the Portes du Soleil – the network of bike-friendly resorts spanning the French-Swiss border, which also includes Les Gets, Avoriaz and Châtel – has been a rite of passage for UK mountain bikers. In fact, the first permanent downhill track (which was also France’s first public DH trail) opened here in Morzine way back in 1997.
Over the past 26 years, the area has come on in leaps and bounds. Except for the locations of the ski lifts, the town layout and the route of the Mt Pleney ‘Main Line’, not much is recognisable from all those years ago. The townsfolk have been busy building new trails, improving infrastructure and creating a destination designed to appeal to all abilities, from novice riders hiring bikes for a day on a family holiday to seasoned pros who still turn up here every year between races to get their fix of the resort’s best riding. Morzine can be everything to everyone.
The place hasof one of mountain biking’s holy grail destinations. We swing by one of their chalets and are greeted with coffees, while the guys get ready for a day on the trails.
