WHERE THE TRAIL FOLLOWS THE TERRAIN

Sustainable Trail Building at Maiskogel

The Maiskogel Trail is ideal for mountain bikers looking to ease their way into the more challenging descents from Kitzsteinhorn. Over 3.7 kilometers, the trail leads from the upper station of the MK Maiskogelbahn to the Stanger mid-station, featuring a moderate gradient, rollers, and banked turns. Roland Hofer from the trail-building company Shape Syndicate takes us out on the trail and explains why sustainable construction is so important to him.

“Now that’s some serious flow,” I think as I crouch in the meadow beside the Maiskogel Trail and watch a rider who has just set off from the upper station. He smoothly rolls over the gentle rollers, leans his bike into the berm, and comes to a stop in front of me. Even before he removes his helmet, I can see a broad grin beneath his full-face helmet.

It is trail builder Roland Hofer, whose Shape Syndicate team maintains the Maiskogel Trail.

“I did the morning inspection ride myself today so I could clear the trail for operation,” he says with a smile. The passionate mountain biker clearly enjoyed his early ride down the trail. Bike, helmet, and protective gear are quickly set aside, and the Pinzgau trail-building veteran joins me and a group of peacefully grazing cows in the flowering meadow.

1) Spectacular views await at the start of the trail. 2) Trail builder Roland Hofer on the section that crosses the ski slope. 3) Wide turns make the trail easy to ride for beginners. 4) The stone edging around the drainage channel prevents soil from blocking the outlet.

The Upside of Going Negative

The first section of the trail is located right where skiers and snowboarders make their way down the mountain in winter.

“Um, where exactly?” I ask, because when I look uphill, I cannot see the trail at all.

“Mission accomplished,” Roland laughs. “From a trail builder’s perspective, a truly good trail blends into the landscape so well that you can no longer see it from below.”

We walk a few steps uphill across the ski slope, and Roland explains:

“Here on the slope, the trail was constructed using a negative-build method. This means that the trail lies below the level of the ski run. That allows the slope to be covered with machine-made snow efficiently and with minimal use of resources in winter.

“It also helps the trail blend more harmoniously into the terrain. Farther down, the route returns to the forest, where we were able to build the rollers, turns, and moderately sloping sections above ground level.”

Built to Last

The trail looks as though it has only just been completed. There are no washed-out channels or braking bumps in sight.

“That is partly thanks to the maintenance work,” Roland explains. “The trail supervisor, Sladjan Zaric, is out here every day, inspecting the route during the morning control ride. Particularly after severe thunderstorms or storms, the trail must be made safe before it opens, and the water drainage channels have to be cleared.”

We are standing beside one of those drainage channels as Roland continues:

“But the real secret behind a trail’s durability lies in the planning and construction. This route has only a slight gradient, so it is less susceptible to erosion. Drainage channels guide the water directly away from the trail, while stone reinforcements prevent the slope from sliding into the drainage inlets.”

1) The trail immediately after construction was completed. 2) A vibratory plate compactor was used to consolidate the trail surface. 3) The excavator operators demonstrate remarkable precision during construction. 4) Many sections are repaired entirely by hand. © Daniel Ross

For me as a trail builder, the best trail is one that is not only great to ride, but also blends perfectly into the surrounding landscape.

Roland Hofer, trail builder

1) Cattle guards were installed where the trail enters the alpine pasture. A specially installed frog ladder allows frogs to climb out of the cattle guards on their own. 2) The trail area was carefully restored and revegetated.

From a freerider’s perspective, the trail is all about flow, rollers, and banked turns. But hikers looking across the flowering alpine meadows as they make their way uphill can barely make out the trail. And that is exactly as it should be, Roland explains:

“The trail was built by my Shape Syndicate team in September 2020. We all have a background in agriculture and a strong awareness of sustainability.

“We also brought Martin Kyek from the Institute of Ecology on board to keep a watchful eye on the construction. He was pleased with our approach during the site inspections. When replacing the turf, the excavator carefully lifts the grass layer and immediately places it back into the slope. This allows it to take root again quickly. With the addition of some grass seed typical of the region, the terrain already looks undisturbed by the time the trail opens in spring.”

1) The trail builders are also responsible for the signage. 2) The edges of the trail regularly have to be cleared of excessive vegetation using handheld mowers.

When Winter Does the Heavy Lifting

A few berms farther along, we meet two employees who are mowing the trail.

“The trail has been revegetated so successfully that we constantly have to remove the tall grass from its edges with handheld mowers,” Roland says with a laugh.

Behind the electric fence, a cow looks over at us curiously.

“We also inspect the fences to keep the cows out of the trail here in the forest,” Roland explains. “We take great care to balance alpine farming with the trail’s recreational use.”

Roland Hofer has more than 15 years of trail-building experience, and his extensive expertise produces excellent results.

“For the Maiskogel Trail, we mixed soil with gravel and compacted it using a vibratory plate compactor. But much of the trail’s durability comes from the frost and pressure of the snow in winter. That is why we build in the fall whenever possible and give the trail until spring to settle.”

We head back, as the bikes are waiting. With broad smiles on our faces, we ride together to the end of the trail at the Stanger mid-station.

While Roland records his inspection ride in accordance with regulations, I take advantage of the early hour to ride the cable car back up and enjoy the trail’s flow one more time.