International Downhill Track in HK

Hong Kong needs a real downhill track. A track where local riders can practice and where international competitions can be held. We are talking about a trail specifically designed for downhill riding. Not just a trail that is remotely suitable and unmanaged, like Tai Lam's Ho Pui trail.

The natural topography of Hong Kong is an ideal location for a world class downhill trail, its rugged mountains are easily accessible, offer no end of challenges, so why do we not have one?

To find out if this was a viable option we started to do a little digging, we poured over maps worked out what was needed and what was expected from a world class downhill trail, and this is what we've come up with.

Tracks Specs - what we want and should have on a real downhill trail

• The track’s start and finish area must be accessible by a shuttle system.
• The track must have all the features of international DH tracks: Fast trail sections with long flight jumps, narrow and rough sections, banked curves.
• It must be at least 2 km long with at least 500 meters of vertical descent. The average riding time for a top level rider must be above 3 minutes – 7ot 8 minutes for an average rider.
• The track must feature multiple lines to cater to all level of riders, some “expert” lines, some “intermediate” lines and some obstacle’s bypass lines (chicken runs).
• The track should be doubled by a pedestrian trail used for maintenance and safety access, also used for the public to watch riders during training and competitions.
• The track should have a management center, even a small one, where the track manager can oversee safety and management work.

Who pays for it?

Compared to the scale of regular public infrastructure a Downhill track would cost very little. For example: a downhill track that can attract an international cycling event would cost a fraction of a venue that could host an international track cycling event.

We would hope to get government support initially then rent the venue to a private management company who are used to dealing with outdoors sports. But there are many options to consider. We think that a downhill track could be financially sustainable. It has proved itself profitable in many regions of the world, even places without ski lift facilities like in the UK.

Where?

We’ve looked for a place matching the length and elevations specs and was also accessible to public vehicles on both, mostly out of the Country parks and not on any other kind of restricted land.

We found Diamond Hill.

The track could start in Ma On Shan Country Park on Mau Tat Peak and quickly exit the country park to get on public land. It could end on Tsz Wan Shan Estate Service Play Ground in Diamond Hill district.
Here again, anyone who knows a location where such a track could be built (with the specs described above) must let us know about it.

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How can you held making this project happen?

• You can help us by just talking with your friends about this project and giving us feed back and new ideas.
• You can help by finding someone within your contacts who can facilitate the projects with his contacts and network or financial resources.
• You can help is you can apply some of your personal capacities and expertise into making the project happening.
• You can help if you are an organization who would like to join this venture and be a partner of the Hong Kong international Downhill track.