Downhill Mountain Biking with a Mediterranean View
The grassy ridge of the Audiberg mountain dominates the Mediterranean sea, 20 km away, from its 1642 m altitude. In the winter this small family ski station is the region’s closest to the sea. In the summer months, from June through September, its sunny slopes offer downhill thrills for mountain bikers.
From the 1642m summit at the top of the Moulières chairlift riders enjoy a superb view. To the south the Mediterranean coast and the blue sea. To the north an orientation table identifies the jagged summits of the Alps of southern France and Italy.
A Dozen Downhill Tracks
After admiring the view you can choose from over a dozen downhill routes. The trails average a little over 1 mile in length for over 650 ft of vertical descent. Five colour coded levels of difficulty - green, blue, red, black, double black - help the rider to choose the challenge.
From the green “Easy Road” through the black “Dead Sheep” to the double-black “Rasta Rocket” there is plenty of fun and technical challenge. Even the easiest routes require some skill so start out with something “easy” and work your way up to your limit.
There are almost no high-speed tracks carved out by bulldozers at the Audiberg. Instead, test your bike handling skills on narrow twisting trails that integrate perfectly with the natural terrain. Indeed, the routes don’t seem to have been created artificially at all.
Choose your trajectory carefully to descend between rocky limestone outcrops, juggle with the brakes to keep traction in dry earth sections, and weave through fragrant pine trees in the forest on the lower slopes.
Refreshment Stop
After some hard descending take a refreshing break on the sunny terrace of the snack hut. This is the ideal place to swap tales of tricky bends and jumps in the forest and choose the trail for the next descent.
Will it be “Far Away”, “The Wall”, “The Rally”, “Frappadingue” (shaken crazy) or another?
Access and Prices
A one day chairlift pass for bike and rider offers unlimited access to all the trails for 13e. You can also find downhill mountain bikes for hire next to the snack hut. Access the station is by a 1 hour drive from coastal towns such as Cannes or Antibes or by bus from Grasse.
Visit the Audiberg to enjoy the thrill of challenging downhill mountain biking trails and a beautiful natural setting. Leave the beaches to the crowds for a day and enjoy the calm and fresh air of this mountain haven.
For information and enquiries http://www.stations-greolieres-audibergue.com/index.php.
