#02 - Mountain biking in Pila, Valle d'Aosta, ITALY.

The best riding spots always come from taking the path off the beaten track. This week we’ve been across the channel sampling some of the Alps best riding locations, most notably Pila! After leaving Morzine in a monsoon we headed over to Italy. 

Morzine was wetter than an otters pocket but a whole heap of fun!

The promise of dusty trails and blue skys looked pretty bleak as it rained all the way up to the Italian border….but as we left that never ending tunnel we were met by a blue bird day.

​The bike park itself felt like it hadn’t seen water all year. The berms were pasted in thick dust but were smooth as anything with not a braking bump in sight. Which meant you could feel like Joe Barns, exploding berms left right and centre.
                             Check this out if you haven’t seen it before -    https://vimeo.com/187167664.  

​With our hunger for the bike park berms and booters satisfied, we thew on our half lids and headed to find some single track goodness. We took the main lift up and took a right. Unfortunately the lift heading to the top of Couis was shut... Fuelled by our cooked ham and mozzarella panninies we hiked a bike up the ski piest. Two painful hours later and we had made it to the top.  Boy was it well worth the trek....The views were insane, Panorama baby! Mountain ranges towering above Aosta. At the top was the most insane ridge line that snaked its way across the ridge. Unfortunately to the left was a 2000ft sheer drop that neither myself nor the two Wills I was with fancied taking a trip down. Maybe another day with less tired legs we would have sent it but not today. I love leaving a location knowing there’s something to do next time. Gives you a reason to head back! 

Nailed it..

We found the start of the trail that snaked its way down to Aosta and it was awesome. The single track swooped through the valley, with plenty of natural kickers and rock drops to keep you entertained. 

We dropped into the trees and the roller coaster began,  the track was super-fast with tonnes of grip and not a straight line in sight….so good! Pila has tonnes of single track just waiting to be ridden and the bike park has so much variation. ​​

If you haven’t ridden Pila then I highly recommend the trip over. Its only 2 hrs from Morzine and home to some amazing tracks. Valley Aosta is also home to superb Pizza.. go to Pizzeria Mille Miglia its super cheap and has mouth wateringly good pizza, I recommend getting 2 of the honey cheese..you won't be disappointed!