Ski icon finds his flow on a trail bike

- Norwegian alpine destinations are working hard to get skiers onto two wheels during the snow-free season. We caught up with skier Anders Backe to test the new floating trails at Geilo, and to find out how he feels about the transition from steel edges to rough tires. The jibber reveals what challenges his comfort zone.

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Smooth transition.

- "I've been cycling for 4-5 years. So it doesn't take much to get the rush that you get in the winter." Skier Anders Backe is one of the most high-profile Norwegian skiers in recent years and is known for his iconic skiing stunts. Among other things, Backe has jumped over the Nordkapp hill, railed the chimney of the Danish boat and skied backwards down the Vikersund hill. When there's no snow on the ground, the ski stuntman from Simonstranda has fallen in love with trail biking."Cycling and skiing, there are many similarities."

- "I felt that the transition was very smooth. It went pretty quickly. Maybe that's the thing when you're in the action sports bubble, the learning curve is quite steep at first. You get the hang of it and can join your buddies, who are cyclists, on trips."

-"Bikes and skis, there are many similarities."

But Backe admits that some aspects of cycling have been harder to learn, and surprisingly, it's when the tires leave the ground that the jib bars are out of their comfort zone. - "I think that jumping on a bike is a bit of a pain in the ass - even though I jump a lot and spend a lot of time in the air on skis!"

Anders Backe at full speed down Flow Motion with Hallingdal Rides on wheels. Photo: Lars Storheim

Summer's answer to the ski resort.

Over the past few years, Geilo has seen the development of lift-based floating trails, family-friendly laps along the Ustadalsfjord and one of the country's largest bike parks with pump tracks and jump lines. The offer can in many ways be compared to the winter sports product, where you can ride downhill, uphill or test your flying skills in the park, and everyone can choose challenges according to their level. In the new cycling facility in Geilo, there is ample opportunity for both experts and families to enjoy a complete range of trail bikes. Backe is impressed by the cycling initiative at the top of Hallingdal. "It's a totally awesome facility."

Anders Backe has spent many days on the slopes in Geilo during his long skiing career, but this was his first visit by trail bike. Unsurprisingly, it was the possibility of lift-based biking that excited him the most. "With a lift and a flow trail, you can just go for it." "In a way, everything is possible here: Both jumping a little, finding the transfer between the doses and the flow in the trails. Then you just have to make it work in practice. That's the thing."

"It's a huge, raw facility."

Backe is one of the many skiers who have been bitten by the trail bike bug over the last couple of years, and we're pretty sure we'll see him back on the flow trails in Geilo soon to find his flow and hone his jumping skills.

- "Practice makes perfect, says the old man!"

Photo: Lars Storheim

Check out Geilo on Trailguide