October 6 - October 12
Free
Once you mountain bike Italy once, you’ll forever want to return!
Tucked up along the Italian Riviera just down from Monaco is the spectacular coastal mountain region of Finale Ligure. The area is known for its white sandy beaches, delicious authentic cuisine, picturesque little towns overlooking the Mediterranean – and of course it’s massive network of trails. We’ve aptly named this trip Dolce Vita which means the sweet life, and we plan to deliver this every day of the trip! We are so excited for this inaugural trip and our partnership with Big Mountain Bike Adventures.
Enjoy a buffet of the region’s best enduro rides, food, lodging, and Italian culture. Sweet Skills will be coaching alongside with Big Mountain’s local guide Louise who is originally from Sweden and the 2019 EWS World Master Champion, mother of two, and a fantastic host.
Improve your skills over the 6 days as we ride and explore an endless network of mindblowing trails. The riding is mostly enduro 
style where we can enjoy daily shuttles along with options for a longer xc adventure ride through the beautiful coastal mountains. The terrain suits a strong intermediate to advanced level as there is a lot of challenging technical sections. Mixed in with the technical singletrack are natural berms and massive halfpipes in Europe’s biggest beech forest.
Each day brings the opportunity to enjoy post-ride swims in the Mediterranean, gelato and simply kicking back in the Finale Ligure’s main piazza and watch the world go by.
Sweet Skills coaching along with expert local guidingOn the coastal trails near Finale expect drier and rockier conditions that have seen considerable traffic with fixed and loose rock, rock gardens and steep sections. Inland trails are on compact dirt with more flowy sections. Most trails are in forested areas on this trip and all rides are downhill/ enduro style and accessed by shuttle vehicle with some short climbs. Our backside adventure day will include more pedalling than the other days.
Skill Level: IA-A Fitness Level 4+ This trip is open to strong intermediate to advanced riders, the terrain is quite technical, riders should be able to ride light black BC trails with loose rock and have 5+ years riding experience. Don’t worry about your jumping skills, we’ll have opportunities to learn and refine our air skills. This trip is a Level 3/6 for fitness. Most of the rides are accessed by shuttle, but the accumulation of multiple long days of riding will add up, as it is on all of our trips the fitter you are, the more fun you’ll have. Unsure if you’re fitness level and ability match this camp? Call Sylvie to discuss: 604-966-8330. See ‘more details’ and ‘itinerary’ link below for details.
$2895 USD (land costs) *includes most meals. 25% deposit to book, payment will be with Big Mountain Bikes
Fill in the registration form below by clicking +1 on the ticket, then we will contact you to finish the registration and deposit process with Big Mountain.
With a waitlist we will add another group!
Photo Credits: Lesley Kehmeier
7 days (6 days of riding), 6 nights accommodation in Finale
DAY 1: MORNING ARRIVAL IN NICE, FRANCE, TRANSFER TO FINALE LIGURE, ITALY.
This morning you’ll be picked up by your Big Mountain guide in Nice, France at 9:30AM at the Nice Airport. If you arrive a day (or two early) we’ll pick you up at your Nice hotel. Then we’ll drive 1.5 hours along the beautiful Mediterranean coast, through spectacular Monaco and into Italy. After building our bikes, we’ll go for a warm-up ride to loosen up the legs and get a feel for the area and review some skills to set us up for success for the week.
DISTANCE: 25 KM. 500M+. 500M
DAY 2-6: RIDE FINALE LIGURE.
Most days are Enduro shuttle days with 30km of singletrack on Finale’s best trails. Sweet Skills coaching along the trail to accomplish features and work on skills. This will be done mostly at the start of the trip so we can feel confident on the trails and enjoy lots of riding. The choices for trails in Finale is so vast we will be exploring new trails everyday and you’ll also want to repeat some of the favorites… there will be many as this is mountain bike paradise! We will have an option of a Finale ‘backside’ adventure ride weather and conditions dependant.
DISTANCE: 20-30 KM. 300M+. 2000-3000M
DAY 7: TRANSFER TO NICE, FRANCE. AU REVOIR!
This morning we will pack our bikes and drive an hour to Nice, France for you flight home. **Please make sure that your flight does not depart before 11:00 AM.** Bon voyage!
Within 1 week of registering, you’ll be emailed a ton of information including details on pack list, bike prep, directions, and FAQ sheet.
GETTING THERE
All guests must arrive to Nice, France and ready for pick up the morning of the first day. Flights are not included. Any accommodations prior to Day 1 are not included.
LODGING AND CUISINE
We’ll be staying in a lovely seaside hotel for the duration of the trip. There’s easy access to explore the town’s shops and cafes post ride and test out all the gelato and espressos you can handle. You’ll be treated to some delicious Italian cuisine, to say the food is amazing is an understatement.
CLIMATE
Generally the weather is hot and sunny on the Liguria Coast in the spring and fall. Expect cool nights and warm to hot days. Come prepared for anything.
GEAR
High-performance rental bikes mountain bikes are available on this trip. As it is on most of our trips it is recommended that riders bring their own bikes. A current full-suspension enduro bike with 150-160mm travel that’s capable up & down with a penchant for descending through rough terrain is suggested on this trip. Tires should be tubeless, 2.30” or above, aggressive tread designed for rocky terrain, one to two-ply casing for durability, puncture resistance and added control. Eye protection and knee pads that you can comfortably pedal in are highly recommended. Helmets could be either a half lid or enduro styles (with removable chin guard). A 16L backpack is recommended.
NOT INCLUDED
TRIP CANCELLATION INSURANCE
Our guest cancellation policy is firm and we recommend you purchase a trip interruption/cancellation insurance policy to avoid disappointment should you need to cancel your trip last minute. Travel insurance can be purchased through World Nomads, or your travel agent. Ensure your travel insurance covers you and your equipment and that your current health insurance covers the unforeseen like medical flights and back-country emergency rescue.
WAIVERS
Each guest will be required to sign a Release of Liability, Waiver of Claims, Assumption of Risks and Indemnity Agreement at time of registration, prior to start of trip. Click here to view and fill in the online waiver at time of booking. Participants are required to inform Sweet Skills of any allergies, medical conditions or injuries that might affect their riding or health and any medications taken.
AGE
Minimum required age is 18 for our camps and clinics. Requests can be made on a case-by-case basis. It’s recommended for youth between the ages of 14 and 18 to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
This trip is run in partnership with Big Mountain Bike Adventures. As they are taking payment, cancellation policy will be with Big Mountain. Please read their Cancellation Policy HERE
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