Tom ”Pro” Prochazka of Gravity Logic and former Whistler Bike Park Manager #80

Trail EAffect Episode 80 with Tom "Pro" Prochazka, of Gravity Logic and Former Whistler Bike Park Manager

• Tom “Pro” Prochazka Backstory
• How Gravity Logic as a company began
  • Tom is one of the Three original Founders of Gravity Logic
• Early Years of Gravity Logic and the Evolution of the Bike Park / Bike Park industry
  • Excavating B-line, first Machine Built Trail at Whistler
  • Adding Jumps, which created A-Line at Whistler
  • Becoming More inclusive to all rider abilities / adding more beginner and intermediate trails
  • Top of the World Trail / Expanding to the Peak at Whistler
• First Project outside of Whistler, 2007 – COB – Canada Olympic Park in Calgary
• Winter Park – Trestle Bike Park
• When work really started ramping up for Gravity Logic
• Where Gravity Logic Operations are based out of
• How the “Pro Line” Trail Rating came to be
  • 2009 / 2010 timeframe
  • What the Pro Line means for advancing Mountain Biking
• Client Requests and building larger features in terms of maintenance
• Drainage and Trails
  • Bike Park Trails vs Trails that are out in the bush
• Clients outside of Public Bike Parks
• E-Bikes and Bike Parks
• Trail Built by Popular Vote in Europe… and how that was a disaster
• Trail Features and Opinions
• Building in Austria and how planning is critical
  • Connecting with locals during the planning process
• Master Planning and how it’s important to layout the whole picture of potential up front
• Creating a “Brake Less” Trail – Doesn’t Exist
• Famous Failure / Learning Experience
• An example of how Bike Parks should be done from an ownership perspective
• Incorporating Mountain Biking into an existing ski / winter resort where there has never been mountain biking before.
  • Bike Park Placement and review of masterplans
  • Review of the original Trestle Bike Park and how Gravity Logic changed the plan
• Some Current Gravity Logic Projects
  • Mont Blanc Quebec
  • Bolton Valley, VT
  • Copper Mtn, Colorado
  • Lee Canyon
  • Brice, VA
• Lee Canyon, NV
• Where Tom would ride if he was doing a Mountain Bike Vacation
• Tom Pro Words of Wisdom
• Closing Comments

Links discussed in the show:

Gravity Logic: https://www.whistlergravitylogic.com/

Whistler Bike Park: https://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/explore-the-resort/activities-and-events/whistler-mountain-bike-park/whistler-mountain-bike-park.aspx

Trestle Bike Park: https://www.trestlebikepark.com/

Lee Canyon: https://www.leecanyonlv.com/

NSAA Bike Park Summit in Deer Valley: https://nsaa.org/NSAA/Events/MTB_Summit/NSAA/Events/MTB_Summit.aspx?hkey=55d81d07-fe5f-460d-9e1f-6640a1e35e8f

 

This Podcast has been edited and produced by Evolution Trail Services

 

Trail EAffect Show Links:

Evolution Trail Services: www.evotrails.com

Contact Josh at evolutiontrails@gmail.com

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