Reasons why every family should go mountain biking

...or just pedal turn after pedal turn. Skill courses, pump tracks, small jumps and neatly constructed curves offer the opportunity to learn basic techniques off-road without prior knowledge or under pressure. Even anxious beginners can build up their confidence here step by step. Families in particular can celebrate their successes together here, while parents or older children with previous experience continue to hone their technique or practise little tricks.

Once the practice course has been explored, you can take the gondola up in Serfaus Fiss Ladis. The majority of the trails here can be reached by gondola, which also makes it logistically easier should you ever decide to go your separate ways.

Anyone who has ever "surfed" a well-built flow trail will immediately remember the feeling of flow and the happy smile that the trail conjures up on your lips. Children will also discover the joy of trail surfing, and the magical connection between sporting experience and family time is created. Studies show that taking part in sporting activities together strengthens the family bond and provides a platform for shared experiences. These in turn promote family cohesion and mutual support.

Not only within families, but also among children and young people, something wonderful often happens when biking: full of enthusiasm, mountain bikers give each other tips. Experienced riders help less experienced riders choose lines or demonstrate difficult sections or jumps. This experience promotes important social skills. Children learn to support each other and it is not uncommon for new friendships to be formed while riding in the bike park. The WHO also emphasizes the important social components that this sport offers.

In Serfaus Fiss Ladis, for example, there is the very "photogenic" Hausdrop. Bikers stand here again and again to discuss how best to master the feature.

In such situations, older children with some biking experience can show what they have learned. It is not uncommon for young riders to show even experienced bikers how best to master the drop in places like the house drop. This boosts self-confidence and the children experience self-efficacy.

Of course, every bike park also offers more difficult routes, in Serfaus Fiss Ladis for example the downhill route and the "Hill Bill". As with skiing, the routes are classified into blue, red and black trails.

Those who really step on the gas on one of the black trails also do something for the cardiovascular system downhill and train the core at the same time. But even less experienced riders will work up a sweat on the blue and red trails. Mountain biking is also strenuous downhill - provided you don't just roll downhill on forest trails. For parents, this means that the children get moving, improve their fitness and have fun at the same time.

Numerous studies prove that mountain biking is a mood booster is. After a day in the bike park at the latest, it becomes clear how much fun this sport can be. Every rider will have a different sense of achievement - be it the new jump, the smoothly ridden steep trail section or the perfect flow through optimally ridden curves. Nevertheless, these experiences can be enjoyed together as a family.

Especially on fast trails and challenging downhill routes such as in Serfaus Fiss Ladis, concentration is required and the brain works at full speed.

The brain trains in these moments. Attention, memory and problem-solving skills are improved by biking, as the science confirmed. If there are not enough reasons for a vacation in the bike park, this is another convincing reason. After all, it can't hurt to train for school during the summer vacation.

Which should perhaps be added: I'm sure there are equally compelling reasons for other sports vacations like surfing, climbing or hiking. Maybe we'll look into that next time.