Nevis Range Mountain Experience is delighted to announce a two-year commercial partnership with Commencal, the renowned international bike and ski brand based in Andorra, who have partnerships with 30 iconic bike park and trail centres in 15 countries throughout the world.

A statement from Chris O’Brien, Managing Director of Nevis Range:

Scotland has some of the most engaged, passionate, and committed mountain bike fans in the world! As the home of the Fort William Mountain Bike Downhill World Cup, we get to experience the energy and enthusiasm of the best crowd in World Mountain Biking every year! Next year will see the downhill stage of the UCI 2023 Cycling World Championships held at Nevis Range and an even bigger audience coming to ‘the Fort’ to soak in the incredible atmosphere that can only be seen in mountain biking!

Mountain biking at Nevis Range, Fort William, is about so much more than one event! With three downhill tracks, over 60 km of cross-country trails, and more tracks to come; we are providing biking all year round for all the family. 

As many of our customers and supporters know, we have committed a huge level of resources to re-developing our business through the construction of our new hotel, bunkhouse, bike shop, restaurant, gift shop, training academy, conference room, and activity centre – set for completion by the end of this year! 

We are already carbon neutral and continue our journey towards Net Zero, looking to achieve that goal by the end of 2023. Alongside our belief in sustainability is our will to win, our passion for sport, and our desire to bring people together through community and shared joy of snowsports and mountain biking! 

To secure a partnership with an incredible, innovative, team-led business like Commencal is a true privilege! Max Commencal is a revolutionary leader who truly inspires all around him! To be part of the Commencal family of bike parks and resorts is an honour and will help take Nevis Range to the next level. 

The partnership has many facets from events, staff attire, retail collaboration, sponsored trails, bike hire fleet, and much more, all of which will enhance the Nevis Range experience year-round for all our guests. 

Our entire bike hire fleet will be Commencal, operating out of a brand-new facility at the Nevis Range base station!

Our full team of bike track builders, patrollers and instructors will find themselves on incredible Commencal bikes and will inspire a whole new generation of riders to follow in the footsteps of downhill legends like Commencal downhill team rider Amaury Pierron here in Fort William! 

In the winter our Snowsports instructors and patrollers will be using the incredible range of Commencal skis and snowboards, the quality of these is mind-blowing and very nearly caused some conversations between some of our senior management and their spouses when we returned from Andorra after having a field day in the Commencal showroom! 

The Bike shop at our base station will also stock Commencal clothing for all age ranges. Again, this caused, for me personally, some interesting chats when I returned home with bags of gifts for my children! 

I can barely contain my excitement around this opportunity and what it means not just for Nevis Range but also for mountain biking in Scotland! I would like to extend my personal thanks to Max Commencal, Yannick Commencal, and Mathilde Bugnand who have made this dream partnership a reality! 

From Nevis Range, this partnership would not have been possible without the efforts of John Sutherland, Activities Director, and Carrie Ferguson, Brand Manager. 

Outside of the immediate headline-grabbing elements of this relationship are the other opportunities this brings to Scotland. 

Nevis Range will shortly be announcing details of our direct relationships with the Ski and Bike Park areas of Andorra. None of this would have been possible without the introductions from Max and his team! Soon you’ll see the Andorran flag flying along the saltire at Nevis Range!” 

Additional Partnership Quotes:

Max Commençal, Founder and General Manager of Commencal, said: “If there is one particular historical place when we talk about mountain biking across Europe, it’s Fort William!  Us ‘southerners’ have a special admiration for these rugged northern lands, where outdoor sport is almost a religion.

“So, imagine our excitement when the opportunity to partner with Fort William presented itself!

We will do everything we can and even more, to make this destination even more attractive, year after year.

“We hope that the combination between your magnificent region and our beautiful bikes will make dreams come true and be a constant source of fun and recreation.”

Yannick Commençal, Marketing Manager of Commencal, said:“Fort William and Nevis Range are widely known thanks to probably THE most legendary track in Downhill. So naturally, we have always wanted to partner with them! 

“When the discussions began, we also got to know the whole team behind this place, this track, and the many trails in the area.  It’s an understatement to say that we really fell for the place and quickly came to understand why this bike riding destination is so famous. 

“In fact, Nevis Range is much more than just a track. It’s a ‘four seasons destination’ in which all outdoor activities coexist. In perfect harmony with our vision of the outdoors. 

“Our bikes, skis and lifestyle clothing range will be available in their brand-new Showroom, meaning that the local community and visitors alike can test or buy our products. 

“And the icing on the cake is that the DH World Championships will be held in Fort William next year! Count on us to organise a great party!”

Frazer Coupland, CEO of Lochaber Chamber of Commerce, said: “Now more than ever businesses are needing to diversify, innovate relationships and service delivery in a changing world where varying pressures are mounting. This development is a great opportunity to deliver a one-stop product to a committed customer base and will energise Nevis Range to fulfill their sustainability targets, building key relationships as an export, bringing an increased experience and resilience to Lochaber’ Adventure destination.” 

Ian Blackford, MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber and SNP Westminster Group Leader, said: “I am delighted at the commencement of this partnership with Commencal. Nevis Range have invested heavily in enhancing their offering and making sure that Nevis Range is a first-class year-round destination. This latest venture enhances the offering in bikes, in clothing, and in accessories. We can all be proud of the attractions that Nevis Range have built in Lochaber, making it a world-class must-visit destination with a preeminent visitor experience.” 

Mathilde Bugnand, Partnership Manager at Commencal, said:  “First time I came to Nevis Range for the Fort William Downhill World Cup, I fell under this resort’s spell. Landscapes, atmosphere, people, facilities…  

“It was obvious COMMENCAL must be part of the resort, with strong links.  And moreover, when our rider Amaury won on this insane DH track, in front of the crazy crowd!  Let’s now write our common story.” 

Carrie Ferguson, Brand Manager at Nevis Range, said: “As brand manager at Nevis Range it is an incredible privilege to work with the world’s leading sporting brand.  What really excites me is the undeniable power and quality of the lifestyle apparel that Commencal creates. It is these products that are going to take us to new heights.  

“Spending over 10 years of my career in the textiles industry has trained me to pick up on the attention to detail that Commencal go to within all their products! From the garment cut, use of organic materials, and design led prints Commencal are a brand that enthusiasts and athletes will want to wear all year round.”  

 John Sutherland, Activities Director at Nevis Range, said: “My passion for adventure has been developed from a lifetime spent in mountain adventure!   

“I am delighted to be partnering with a brand like Commencal who share my obsession with outdoor life and gravity sports! At Nevis Range we take our role in providing the opportunity for athlete development very seriously. Working with Max could be the difference that turns Nevis Range riders and skiers from great competitors to winners.”  

Ends

Media contacts:

Paddy Cuthbert | Littlehouse Media | E: [email protected]| M: 07913 951717

Images can also be downloaded from Dropbox https://www.dropbox.com/sh/5ny977a4m3v150g/AADIVkze7Rg2gvy8k53GMvDka?dl=0

Notes to Editors:

The Nevis Range Mountain Experience lies 7 miles north of Fort William, and south of Spean Bridge. 

It was opened in 1989 to develop a skiing/tourism facility on the mountain of Aonach Mor in the shadow of Ben Nevis. The development was undertaken due to a demand for skiing in Scotland that was inadequately served by existing facilities.

Nevis Range Mountain Experience is a year-round mountain resort comprising:

• All-year-round mountain gondola visitor attraction
• Winter snowsports area with equipment hire and Snowsports School.
• All-year-round mountain biking with 48km of cross-country mountain biking as well as downhill mountain bike trails with gondola access.  Home to a round of the Mountain Bike World Cup
• Self-service Snowgoose restaurant & bar (gondola top station) and Pinemarten café bar (gondola base station) serving locally served produce prepared on site.
• Mountain walks to scenic viewpoints
• Forest walks
• Gift shop

The Nevis Range Mountain Gondola, unique in Britain, was originally constructed to transport skiers and snowboarders to the slopes.  Today, the gondola whisks some 200,000 visitors each year to 650m where they can eat at the Snowgoose restaurant, walk out to the mountain viewpoints, or simply enjoy the stunning highland scenery.  The gondola is also widely used by hillwalkers, climbers, paragliders, and hang gliders on their journey to the clouds.  There are 74 Gondolas in total and each one takes up to 6 adults.

Nevis Range has significantly diversified, creating a world-class downhill mountain bike track together with a series of world-renowned cross-country mountain bike trails in the Leanachan Forest.  As a result, the venue has hosted UK and international mountain bike events including several award-winning rounds of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup since 2002 and a UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in 2007.