TRAIL MAINTENANCE UPDATE

After our first update on the maintenance work carried out by the Finale Outdoor Region team and local associations (check it out HERE), we are super excited to share what has been accomplished so far, thanks to your incredible support!

Between November and December, our trail builders have been working hard on two key fronts:

Repairing October rain damage – Many issues were identified only in the days following the fundraiser, thanks to reports from our team, visiting riders, and patrol groups.

Routine trail maintenance – Essential after a busy high season and to get everything ready for the Christmas holidays. The focus areas? Base Nato, Melogno, and Madonna della Guardia.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE TRAILWORKS

• Toboga di Canova: fully restored with improved drainage systems and other structural upgrades to ensure better water management.

Maintenance on Toboga di Canova

• Ranzi (Pietrese area): emergency repairs were followed by refinements on Dolcenera, Foresto, Blu Pervinca, and Scoglio di Venso to ensure safety and smooth riding.
• Madonna della Guardia area: trails Madonna della Guardia and Cacciatore got extra attention, including improved water drainage on the Cacciatore exit to boost safety. The popular Fast and Furious trail is also back in action!

Maintenance on Madonna della Guardia and Fast & Furious

• Little Champery and Cà Bianca: heavily impacted by rain and heavy use, these trails needed extensive work hours. To minimize the impact on nearby homes, riders are now required to exit with bikes in hand.
• Manie area: a hotspot for this season, saw significant work. The DH Donne trail, already in rough shape pre-storm, has been reopened, and the historic strada dei Ponti Romani, crucial for connections, has been repaired. While more work is needed, we have done all this entirely by hand, with no excavators or heavy machinery. This approach minimizes environmental impact, but it means that repairs may sometimes be partial or temporary for larger-scale damage. Other trails like the 24H route and uphill Radici also saw improvements.

Maintenance on Ponti Romani and Radici

• Vado Ligure Area: key work on Roaldo trail to make it more sustainable and accessible. The trail lines have been softened where possible to improve durability and rider experience, ensuring a smooth connection to the town.

Maintenance on Roaldo

These projects required over 1,200 hours of work from the trail builders, in addition to the hours dedicated to routine maintenance.

From the Carmo di Giustenice area, now fully rideable (seasonal leaf buildup aside), to plans for spring projects like Aleluja, Dogheatdog, and Isallo Extasy, our trail builders have been relentlessly committed. Winter makes some repairs tricky due to frozen ground, but we are strategically planning to tackle these challenges as conditions improve.

CAREFUL PLANNING FOR A MASSIVE NETWORK

Managing a trail network as vast and varied as the Finale Outdoor Region is no small feat. Decisions about where to focus repairs are carefully made by our coordinators, who weigh factors like terrain, weather, and visitor patterns. It’s natural that certain areas take priority during specific seasons—for example, lower-altitude trails in winter when high-altitude sections may be inaccessible. This strategic approach ensures we use our resources wisely, keeping trails safe and enjoyable for everyone year-round.

THANK YOU!

As 2023 wraps up, we reflect on a year filled with both achievements and challenges. Early in the year, our team underwent a reorganization, welcoming two new coordinators who now work closely with area managers to optimize our efforts.

The autumn storms hit us during a critical time—right in the middle of peak season and at the end of the year when most maintenance resources were already allocated. Despite these obstacles, the support we have received—both financially and morally—has been nothing short of amazing.

Managing this incredible outdoor region isn’t easy, but we are deeply committed to ensuring it remains accessible and enjoyable for all. Your support allows us to continue welcoming visitors, boosting the local economy, and keeping this breathtaking territory in its best shape and protected.

Merry Christmas & Happy Riding on Finale Outdoor Region's trails from our Trail Building Crew! A heartfelt thank you to them for their incredible work and boundless passion!