Downhill Mountain Biking 101 with our Partner Resort Berkshire East
Spot has been partnering with Berkshire East to provide their riders with injury insurance for years, and with my recent travels taking me from my homebase in Austin to New England for the summer, I had a chance to check out Thunder Mountain to try downhill mountain biking for the first time. I took their 101 Learn to Ride Lesson, which is an incredible program for anyone who wants to try mountain biking—it’s an all-inclusive entry package to the sport that includes a lift ticket, rental bike, body armor, helmet and a two-hour lesson.
The Resort
Nestled in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts, the aptly named Berkshire East Mountain Resort offers skiers and snowboarders 180 acres of skiable terrain that caters to all experience levels. The resort also features a downhill mountain bike park, Thunder Mountain, with trails ranging from introductory greens to advanced jump trails. The Deerfield River flowing alongside the mountain offers guests the opportunity to go whitewater rafting, plus the resort features six ziplines, a mountain coaster, aerial adventure park and camping. With Boston to the east and New York City to the south, Berkshire East is a recreational haven for city denizens and locals alike. Its relaxed, family-friendly vibe—reminiscent of the local Western Pennsylvania mountains I frequented as a child—can be attributed to the Schaefer family, which has run the resort for nearly 50 years.
The 101 Learn to Ride Lesson
I arrived at the bike shop in the main lodge to meet Connor, my instructor for the day. He got me fitted with the appropriate gear—the resort offers a full selection of rental bikes and gear—and put me on a Scott Gambler 920 Bike. Before hitting the hill, he brought me to a designated skills area at the base of the mountain to show me the basic fundamentals of downhill mountain biking, like body positioning, braking, shifting, descending and cornering. The goal of the lesson is for riders to successfully complete one lap on their green trail, Sugar Line. Riders who excel have the option to ride blue terrain, with the exception of their blue jump trail—though they do offer jumping clinics and private lessons if that’s more your speed.
Once I had the basics down, we ascended swiftly up the mountain thanks to their newest high-speed quad lift traveling 1,000 feet per minute. On reaching the top, I found plenty of trails snaking down the 1,180-ft vertical drop—more than enough options for riders of all skill levels to explore, from the mellow and flowy to the steep and technical—plus the Fort Hill pro line, which features mandatory gaps, drops and large wooden features reserved for the most experienced riders. A giant wind turbine nestled behind trees also caught my eye, and Connor let me know that Berkshire East generates 100% of their power from on-site renewable energy—the first ski area in the world to do so—thanks to a 500 kWh solar facility and a 900 kWh wind turbine. Recognizing the importance of preserving the very mountains that we cherish, the resort stabilizes their electrical expense through renewable energy so it can put more money toward enhancing the on-mountain experience for its guests.
Connor then guided me to Sugar Line, which turned out to be more intimidating than I was expecting. A few seconds in, I was faced with navigating a tight berm, and as we progressed, there were a good amount of steep turns and rollers. If the prospect of tackling this type of terrain makes you uncomfortable, just know that your guide will take time throughout the ride to stop and check in with you, as well as prepare you for any tricky stretches that may lie ahead. Plus, they’re right there with you if anything were to happen and there’s no pressure to go too fast. I was encouraged to ride at the speed I felt comfortable with, and this eased my worries immensely.
Arriving at the bottom feeling exhilarated and proud that I had tackled my first trail unscathed, I was ready to give the other green trail, Tackleberry, a shot. About halfway through the run, I started feeling more confident, enjoying the wind in my face as I leaned into the flow. I began to trust the bike’s suspension to do its job in smoothing out bumps and providing traction across slippery roots—much different than a road bike. My lesson with Connor ended when we reached the bottom of Tackleberry, but not before he gave me a park map with some recommendations for trails I could try on my own. By the end of the lesson, I felt acclimated to the basics of the sport and stoked to ride solo.
But first, lunch at the Thunder Mountain Taqueria. I grabbed a taco salad and coffee and took a seat on the patio, dubbed the Backyard. Perched above the Backyard is the resort’s second restaurant, the Crazy Horse, which serves lunch and dinner inside the main lodge, including seating on a deck overlooking the mountain. Feeling sufficiently rested and refueled, I made my way back up the hill.
Post-ride thoughts
After a few mellow post-lunch laps, and in the throes of some minor mental and physical fatigue, I decided to call it. I shed my gear and wrapped up the day by sipping a Brewski New England IPA by Progression Brewing from the comfort of one of the Adirondack chairs in the Backyard. I gazed up at the mountain and reflected on a newfound sense of confidence and accomplishment that comes from trying something that slightly terrifies you. The 101 lesson is an incredible introduction to downhill mountain biking and takes away the fear of trying something totally out of your wheelhouse. It’s worth the trip if you're in the New England area and want to give downhill mountain biking a shot.
When it came time to leave, I told the bike shop staff that they helped me unlock a new hobby—and that another mountain biking trip to Berkshire East is definitely on the books.