What a weekend...mountain biking madness

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Gyrojets headlining 'Party in the Fort'
Youngsters enjoy the skills loop

A jubilant Tracey Moseley after winning the Women's Downhill race on Sunday 8th June.

A cross country rider on the 'Failte' section of the course - a tricky rock section which means welcome in Gaelic!

The sun continued to shine in Lochaber as the Outdoor Capital welcomed the 7th Mountain Bike World Cup to be held in Scotland, to town. The great weather and tip top organization we have come to expect from Rare Management meant the event didn’t disappoint.

First off was the 4 X on Friday night, the X Country was held on Saturday and saw the Swiss men do particularly well, things were rounded off on Sunday with the Dowhnill. The races here were very exciting with Tracey Moseley jubilant to win again at Fort William and Steve Peat (the crowds favourite) being beaten by Greg Minaar who flew down the course. For full results and news go to the UCI site.

http://www.uci.ch/templates/UCI/UCI5/layout.asp?MenuId=MTI1OTU

If you forgot your camera or didn't make it along the event then there are great pics on the Nevis Range website

http://www.nevisrange.co.uk/summer/mountain/gallerydisplay.asp?id=364

and some brilliant video coverage at http://www.freecaster.com/.

To be truly terrified go to the helmet cam footage of rider Matti Lehikoinen in training

http://www.freecaster.com/live/1000006_1004825

But it’s not all thrills and spills – its a great event to go to even if your idea of a nice bike ride is a pootle down the canal towpath. There is lots to see and do in the event village, such as the VisitScotland and Forestry Commission skills circuit for youngsters.

There was lots to do in town too with free music being provided in Fort William headlined by the Jyrojets with a World Cup Ceilidh following on at the Nevis Centre. Ever seen 250 people do a Strip the Willow (a particularly rowdy Scottish dance)? Well, neither had I until Sat night; and I think that dance alone meant I got my exercise for the day. Great fun, I can not wait till next year!

Anna

Labels: Ben Nevis, fort william, mountain biking, uci

posted by Outdoor Capital of the UK @ 10:55 AM  0 comments

Good ski-ing in the Outdoor Capital

Monday, April 14, 2008

Views from a lift queue at Glencoe Mountain Sunday 13th April 08

Pic of Ben Thorburn by Kevin Thomson taken up at Nevis Range 12th April 08

The Outdoor Capital is enjoying great weather whilst it seems that the rest of the country gets all the rain.

We are enjoying great spring ski-ing with both Nevis Range and Glencoe busy at the weekends.

I went to Glencoe ski-ing on Sunday, with most runs including Flypaper open and complete, it was only a bit thin ski-ing back to the chair at the end of the day. However the snow was in good nick higher up the mountain. As we came down at about four the BBQ was on and the music was pumping and there was a great atmosphere.

A friend Ben was at Nevis Range all weekend, getting up to some gnarly tricks off the back corries; in his words '... I had some cracking turns down Spikes and into the back bowl from Easy Gully.'

Make the most of the spring snow....and have fun

Labels: Ben Nevis, Glencoe, Nevis Range, Scottish Ski-ing

posted by Outdoor Capital of the UK @ 2:37 PM  0 comments

Cold Climbs in the Outdoor Capital

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Right Edge, in the Lost Valley, Glencoe

On Ledge Route, Ben Nevis

An early Easter and wintry weather from the north meant the Outdoor Capital was packed with snowboarders, skiers, climbers, walkers and all kinds of visitosr all making the most of the cold spell and the long weekend.

Here at the Outdoor Capital office staff got out into the great outdoors. Some took friends and family sledging at Nevis Range, others went ski-ing and reported good conditions on Aonach Mor with the back corries open too.

I went climbing. On Friday we did the first pitch of Right Edge in the Lost Valleyin Glencoe, and then on Saturday we did Ledge Route on Ben Nevis . Saturdays weather was great and conditions were perfect. We met Dave Macleod on the way up to the CIC hut - he looked pretty fresh considering his amazing repeat earlier in the week with local film-maker Jo French, on 'Don't Die of Ignorance' . See our news page for a full update on that or go the Sunday Herald article.

Anna

Labels: Ben Nevis, climbing, Glencoe, Scottish Ski-ing, walking

posted by Outdoor Capital of the UK @ 11:38 AM  0 comments

Easter on the slopes...

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Steve with Carn Mor Dearg and Ben Nevis lurking behind, 15 March

If sitting around waiting for the Easter Bunny to come isn't your idea of an exciting Easter holiday weekend, why not head up to the Outdoor Capital of the UK for some fantastic spring skiing and boarding at Nevis Range, outside Fort William. We popped up for a few hours at the weekend and it was lovely... we stuck to the main Summit Run and the Goose but the back corries were looking fab too (as pics below show).

Boarder in the back corries, 16 March

Weather conditions for the long Easter weekend look pretty good, with Saturday and Monday shaping up to be ideal ski days, with dry days and low winds.

Have a look at http://www.nevisrange.co.uk/ for latest news, conditions and live web cams of the slopes and check out the conditions on the go, with snow reports direct to your mobile at http://winterhighland.com/

Labels: Ben Nevis, Carn Mor Dearg, Nevis Range, skiing

posted by Outdoor Capital of the UK @ 10:20 AM  0 comments

There is snow at Nevis Range

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Swampy from Ski Patrol out enjoying boarding at Nevis Range on 16th Feb 08

Skier up at Nevis Range Terrain Park with Ben Nevis in the background.

The last 10 days have been really dry but there is snow at the top of Nevis Range, runs are narrow but with sunshine and blue skies it's worth a visit, with the views alone making the trip. Stevie Mckenna took these pics on Saturday 16th. He noticed chairs being put onto the Braveheart lift so when the next dump comes there will be lift access to the back of the mountain!

People get ready....with the Mountain Festival on until the 23rd Feb why not visit the Outdoor Capital to get some homegrown sunshine

Labels: Ben Nevis, Highland, Scottish Ski-ing

posted by Outdoor Capital of the UK @ 11:16 AM  0 comments

A lunch with a view

Friday, February 15, 2008

OK, so it's not one of our usual Outdoor Capital action shots, but I thought I'd put up this pic of glorious Glen Nevis taken yesterday. Even though I was slaving away in the office all day, the beauty of living here is that it's easy to nip out to a gorgeous spot to have your packed lunch!

Labels: Ben Nevis, Glen Nevis

posted by Outdoor Capital of the UK @ 10:56 AM  0 comments

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