Threadbo or Buller

[mchammer]

I want to go on a 7 day downhilling spree. But have'nt been to either venues.
IS there a difference in tracks and terrain?
Which one has the most runs?

[W2ttsy]

cant comment on thredbo, but buller has 2 main DH runs, several XC runsand then there is a track down to the bottom of the mountain orsomething?

you will get heaps of action over seven days, but you are going to have sore arms for a week or so after.

plus chairlift access will mean you get the top faster. im not sure howoften the tracks will be open tho, as i have a feeling they are runningthem only on weekends from end of jan. i could be wrong tho.

W2ttsy

[mchammer]

that sounds cool, sore arms=lots o riding :D
I've been to the RAWnrg site for Threadbo and they only talk about the Cannonball.

[Rik]

I've only been to Thredbo, and can say that 7 days there will get a bit monotonous... when it comes to variety, it sounds like Buller has it, not to mention the pricing sways in favour of them as well.

[gnarly_rider]

You can get a copy of the Buller map (now including the downhill runs) here

http://www.mtbuller.com.au/activities/biking.html

[sundy]

thredbo has one main dh trail and it is much longer than the buller trails, it also has more cruisy open sections between the tech stuff, so you get plenty of opportunity to just go flat out fast.

the buller trails, in comparison, are shorter and less open. i haven't been up there yet this year, but i think in general, it is more technical than thredbo.

[Slave]

I've done 6 days riding at Thredbo this summer, and two at Buller.

My vote is Buller for the track, hands down.

Thredbo for the infrastructre.

[VicRiders]

yea im thinkin of goin up there for like a week, when i get my bike.... (there being, Buller...)

[S.]

yea im thinkin of goin up there for like a week, when i get my bike.... (there being, Buller...)

Correct me if I'm incorrect, but isn't Buller only open weekends as of now?

[gnarly_rider]

I believe so, weekends and public holidays from February on. That is, the lift will be running on these days only. I'm sure Buller is still open outside of this, but no lifts.

[mani(a)c]

yer it was open every day from the 26 dec to 26 jan now only every weekend until march/april sometime. I was going to go up on the 26 jan with trev but then some arse stole his bike, wallet and phone from his car.

[demo man]

hey guys,

i spent a week up in buller 2 weeks ago and i loved it!
the two trail are awsome! ABOM is an awsome track, it's simple, but if you work hard at it and find the good lines it can be a really fast track. it has a couple of 60+ kmp/hr sections.

The international is scary! it includes a difficult wall-ride to 1-2metre drop, a north-shore berm that kickes you out at over 60kmp/hr, a sweet little rock garden, and a awsome steep section leading into a ski-jump, which the riders on the insane side of skiled canm turn into a 3-4metre verticle drop and 4 metre gap.
both buller tracks are 3.5 minutes at pro speed, and the chair is pretty quick.

thredbo has just the one track (i have been there many times) and it's awsome too.

it lacks the single amazing section, but the whole track is really flowy, and ridning the 6 minute + track for a week is great, you can really find some awsome lines, and as you get more confident end up at 70 + kmp/hr. you can also drop some sections, and really get some serious airtime.

thredbo has a bit of everything, and just before the awsome rock garden, there is a little play area, including the sliding see-saw from the Red Bull ride 2 in Jyndy, and some north shore stuff, plus a couple of jumps.

chairlift tickets are $35 a day in buller, and $50 a day in Thredbo (because they are re-sold through Raw NRG).

if you haven't been to thredbo before you have to do a 'initiation' corse which is where they charge 100 bucks for a chairlift pass, show you how to use a chairlift and take you once down the track. Rae run the mtbing at thredbo, so check out their site (www.rawnrg.com.au) and vicmtb has info on buller on their site (www.vicmtb.com.au).

the guys at vicmtb in buller will sort out any mechanical, and if worse comes to worse they have rental bikes @ $110 A DAY. thredbo also rents bikes, but they're much mre expensive. both places you can hire full body armour.

thredbo has more stuff open, it's a small town (but better) in summer. whereas buller has very little else to do.

you can stay in buller for $20 a night, and i'm not sure how cheap thredbo gets.

BUT

as someone said, buller is no longer open on week days (the chairlift is shut so it's ALL shut).

it is open on saturday and sunday from 10am until 3:30pm though.

thredbo is open from 10am until a 1 hout lub=nch break at 12:30 and then 1:30 till 4pm.

thredbo is also much more supervised, with regular sweep runs (compared to one at the end of the day at buller) by guides who have first aid and radio's if a helicopter rescue is needed (or a car).

so,
my adcvice is to go to thredbo for a week or so this year, and then next year head off to buller. the mtb plan in buller os one new track every year for another 5 years, so there will be 3 tracks next year for you to shred.

hope that helps,
and enjoy your trip!

tell us what you end up doing,
Sam

P.S.
i'll answer any other question no worries

[Samos]

Hey you should have gone up to Buller a week ago, when I was there the Porsche rally was on, so after riding the ski lifts you can watch the race! I havent been up to Thedbo but I can definitely vouch for Buller, $35 a day at Buller for 20+ DH runs, can't get any better!

[HARRY()()()()()]

hey i know u can stay at a place in thredbo called the yha. Its for all the back packers n shit but its great for a cheap and cheerfull week or so. Its only liek $20 a day, and has a good place to keep ur bikes, in like a ski warming area. go to http://www.yha.com.au/hostels/details.cfm?hostelid=34 , and u can read all about it.

cheers

harry

[roasted]

if you were to do the above, I would advise bring several locks.

[mchammer]

thanks for all the info, I will let you know the outcome of my investigations. And no doubt ask more questions
Matt