VERBIER
VERTIGO KEEPS US MOTIVATED
by António Abreu
“Shoes off boys, socks and loose feet inside the
chalet please” says Lucy, Bike Verbier owner, welcoming us with three kisses, French style as she
says. Sixteen years ago Lucy visited Verbier region
in the course of winter holidays and ended up
falling in love with Phil, her boyfriend and business
partner. We soon understand that they complement each other. Lucy is the true organiser but
Phil... well “it’s just like working with a naughty kid
at school”, says James, one of the guides. Even so,
that’s what makes this week so special. It shows
during breakfast, uplifts and riding some serious
singletrack delightfulness.
As soon as the first rays of sun directly strike my
chest, face and legs, I feel alive once again,
thankful for beginning another week of riding,
curious about the unknown. 15 minutes warmup pedalling from Etiez to the first lift, Le Châble,
takes us from 800 meters to 1500 meters, Verbier city centre. From Verbier we go up again to
Croix-des-Ruinettes, at 2200 meters high, which
perfectly places us where action takes place. We
soon realise that there are so many options for
all different tastes and riding styles. During Summer you can go even higher by lift, but in Autumn
pedalling is your only option from 2200 metres up.
Verbier Bike Park offers a lift-base system where
All ways lead to the front yard garden where we can drop down some serious downhill tracks
mountains emerge massively in front of the cha- and the surrounding mountains gives us the
let. I feel small in the middle of these mountains chance of starting fresh singletrack adventures.
but I feel freedom as well, that’s all I care. A round
just-baked cake is on top of a huge kitchen table After a couple of downhill runs, Phil takes us to one
- “is that all for us Lucy? We have some pedalling of his favourite trails, Vertigo, a 1400 meter vertical
tomorrow”, she smiles and cuts a big slice of fluffy descent from the top of Croix-des-Ruinettes back
blueberry high calorie cake for me and Rui, with to Le Châble, on the edge of steep switchbacks
a big cup of warm coffee. I’ve never felt so wel- and technical rock sections. As I struggle and put
come.
all my focus on making it to the next corner, Phil
pops his back wheel side to side. “Did we bring exWine, cheese and brake pads
tra brake pads for this trip?” - asks Rui while hitting
another sharp switchback - “Yes, just one set as
Cold Autumn mornings mix perfectly with the mys- we usually do” - “I don’t think it will be enough...”
terious massive peaks that surround us.
- he says.