The Saudi Mountain Bike Scene is Undergoing a Chain Reaction – Find out more
Across rocky ridgelines, along desert-vista descents, and amid mountain forests, Saudis are “shralpping,” “shredding,” and “sessioning.” No, these aren’t more truly Saudi phrases, they’re signs of a new, adrenaline-fueled sports scene in the Kingdom – Mountain Biking (MTBing).
Thanks to international events, professionally developed courses, and the DIY-energy of enthusiasts digging their own trails, mountain biking is fast emerging as a fix of adrenalin, fitness, and community in a Kingdom where sports both new and familiar are crazy popular.
Because, why not? Saudi Arabia has mountains in abundance – most notably the Hijaz and Sarawat ranges that cascade down the Kingdom’s Red Sea coast, near the cities of Yanbu, Jeddah, Abha and more to make access easy. And it also has diverse landscapes in and around its cities, including rocky hills, winding wadis, and open expanses ready for trail building. What’s more, variations in latitude and altitude mean you just need the attitude to get out there and do it all year round.
But before we hit these new trails, we need to address the squeak in the wheel – Saudi MTBing isn’t as established (yet) as destinations with famous bike parks like the Alps or Rockies. Instead, we’re at the blazing trails as riders themselves map out the Saudi MTB scene they want – just as it’s always been since the earliest days of MTB-ing in the California hills. In Saudi Arabia, mountain biking’s DIY culture lives on with a thriving community of riders discovering, building, and mapping their own trails and features that take advantage of Saudi Arabia’s unique and diverse landscapes – both in the countryside and in the cities themselves.
In Yanbu, for example, a group of friends have been making tracks and trails in the mountains just outside the city. What started as casual weekend exploration has grown into a thriving community that’s hitting big mountains both near home and across the Kingdom. A favorite local spot is Mount Radwa – only 45 minutes drive or so from Yanbu in the western province of Madinah. With summits rising to 6,000 feet (1,828 meters), the rewards for the long climb up some of the highest mountains around are mind-blowing views of the unspoiled landscape (like riding on Mars, as one of the rider tells it) followed by flat-out adrenalin peaking descents back down.
Even in a big city like Riyadh, enthusiasts are plotting routes that make use of modern mountain bikes’ ability to tackle pretty much any terrain their rider can (in fact, one could say the French name for these machines is the most accurate, “vélo tout-terrain” – All terrain bike). Check out the trails in Wadi Hanifa and the Diplomatic Quarter, for example – perfect for an after-work ride.
As these biking communities grow, they’re also venturing further afield to discover more routes across the Kingdom. One destination that riders we spoke to highlighted as one yet to be fully explored by bike is the lush mountain forests near the southern cities of Abha and Aseer – wild contrast to the deserts of Yanbu and AlUla.
With Saudi Arabia’s drive to offer more for visitors and residents, there are also projects and events springing up across the Kingdom to get more people amped about the Saudi sports scene.
In Riyadh, plans are already in place for Al-Rimal Sports Park to bring official biking trails to the city, and one iconic destination now has a dedicated trail designed to welcome every skill level: That’s right, AlUla now offers 14km (just under nine miles) of rollers, berms, and jumps for the experienced mountain biker, while newer or casual riders can choose gentler options. In either case, the trail has been carefully plotted to give every rider a new way to experience the dramatic sites of desert, wadis, and rock-carved tombs that make AlUla one of the Kingdom’s most legendary destinations.
Saudi Arabia has already hosted some incredible MTB events. Last year, Saudi Freeride ‘Flight 001’ brought serious airtime and some of the world’s most daring riders to Jeddah while also welcoming local heroes (hit the link to see some of the Yanbu crew we mentioned getting in on the international action).
Meanwhile, the Kingdom has also hosted two editions of Titan Desert, a staged MTB race that welcomes both international pros and amateur challengers. You can check out the highlight videos to get a sense of the unique trails – it’s not every day you find yourself up against a camel herd when biking – and you can still find the stage trails mapped out if you want to try them yourself.
How to hit these trails for yourself? First, you’ll need a bike – If you’re already into mountain biking, it’s probably easier to bring your own but there are some rental options in AlUla and Riyadh. It’s also good to prepare properly for the weather (whether its hot summer or cooler winter, remember this is a year round sport in the Kingdom), stay hydrated, and – given the rocky nature of most Saudi riding – seriously consider gloves and knee pads (a helmet goes without saying, right?).
As for finding the trails, the pros say one of the best ways to pre-prepare (and a good excuse for procrastination when you’re supposed to be working? – Ed.) is simply through Google maps, talking to other riders or checking their routes, and asking those who live there. Because, as we’ve often highlighted, Saudi and Saudis are welcoming, curious, and ready to help, even if it’s a dirt-encrusted mountain biker talking about shredding, shralpping, and sessioning.
Finally, although the scene is still quite new, what we keep hearing from Saudi riders is that all it needs to grow is more riders. So, what are you waiting for? Get out there and make a scene!
