Park City, UT – With five flow trails, more than 20 miles of singletrack, multiple lifts, a European-style Enduro race and the all-new Canyons Resort Mountain Bike Academy, the expanded Canyons Bike Park opens its 2012 summer season in Park City this Thursday. Canyons Bike Park now provides trail access via Red Pine Gondola, Short Cut and High Meadow lifts, challenging riders of all abilities.

New this summer is the Dark Hollow flow trail (more difficult) that connects Lookout Peak to the Red Pine Mid-mountain Adventure Area; and the White Rabbit trail (easiest) in the Red Pine area. This trail will be accessed via the Short Cut lift, adding a third lift to Canyons Bike Park offering. The existing Flying Salmon (less difficult), Wild Mouse (more difficult) and Rally Cat (very difficult) trails will undergo re-routes and expansion, adding even more territory to the broad system of flow trails.

The lifts also provide access to the 25-mile Mid Mountain Trail, one of just 51 “Epic” rated trails in North America according to IMBA (International Mountain Bicycling Association).

“Last summer, Canyons Bike Park introduced the flow park to Utah – and riders loved it,” said Canyons managing director Mike Goar. “There’s nothing like it in Utah.  If you can ride a bike, with proper instruction you can ride a gravity trail. Experienced riders attack the rollers, berms and jumps, while more casual riders enjoy a fun, exciting mountain descent without pedaling or braking.”

Also new this season, riders will spend more time on the trails and less time in lift lines thanks to new bike trays fabricated by Deason Built. High Meadow lift will be outfitted with trays handling three bikes and Short Cut lift will carry two bikes.

Another addition to the park this season is the Canyons Resort Mountain Bike Academy, which offers riding instruction for all abilities with a focus on gravity and singletrack terrain. Group clinics and private coaching will be available seven days a week for adults and youth, ages eight and older. The clinics are designed to maximize enjoyment of the sport while building skills and confidence within a safe and progressive learning environment.  A comprehensive Bike 101 clinic costs $99 ($89 for youths 8-12) including instruction, lift ticket and rental bike.

With $12,000 in cash and prizes on the line, the inaugural Bell Wasatch Enduro race promises to be the most exciting event on the Canyons Bike park calendar.  Professional and amateur riders will compete on Saturday, July 21, in an event featuring a combination of 17 miles of grueling uphill “transfer stages” and timed downhill “competition” stages.

In partnership with GT and Cannondale, Canyons Bike Park introduces a high-performance, full-suspension bike rental program this season. The GT Fury and Cannondale Claymore are the featured bikes in the rental fleet at Canyon Mountain Sports in the Resort Village. A complete line of bike components is available for purchase, as well as gear from retail partners Dakine, Fox, Oakley, SixSixOne and Teva.

For the 2012 season, daily lift tickets start at $27 and season passes start at $149.