More than 50 keen mountain bikers, including guest of honour former junior world downhill mountain bike champion Scarlett Hagen, celebrated the opening of the first full season for Queenstown Bike Park on Saturday.
The bike park offers the only gondola-accessed downhill mountain biking in the southern hemisphere and features more than 30km of purpose-built tracks.
Miss Hagen, who is now studying in Dunedin, said the trails in the Queenstown Bike Park were right up there with the best in the world.
"These trails are as good if not better than those in Whistler, or Morzine in France."
Setting up for the first run of the day, she admitted to having some nerves.
"I am really excited to be riding downhill for the first time since the trial finished in May."
Skyline chief engineer Ross Davidson was delighted to welcome the opening contingent of riders.
"Local mountain bikers have been pushing me to get it happening up here.""It's been a labour of love for many people."
Mr Davidson said given the support of the town, Queenstown had what it took to become a major mountain biking destination.
"As people get behind mountain biking as a visitor activity, we're going to start seeing bike racks everywhere."
The Queenstown Bike Park season will end in April.
