The Hkt Podcast

Rowan Sorrell is the founder, director, and head of trails at Bike Park Wales. In this episode, we sit down with UK mountain biking legend Rowan Sorrell to discuss everything from the evolution of mountain bike trail centres to becoming a World Champion downhill racer. Rowan shares stories from his early years, racing downhill in the sport's early days, and how modern bikes have dramatically improved the riding experience. We explore the founding and development of Bike Park Wales, drawing inspiration from the iconic Whistler Bike Park. Rowan provides insights into the intricate process of building and planning trails, addressing the early challenges of creating flow in trail design, and emphasising the importance of sustainable trail building. We also delve into the "no dig, no ride" ethos, the future of trail design, accommodating e-bikes at trail centres, trail advocacy, and more. Rowan shares his experience of becoming a Masters Downhill World Champion and unveils some exciting secret plans for Bike Park