About SwitchbacksDH
What does SwitchbacksDH offer?
Started by Michael Saunders, SwitchbacksDH is a Spanish registered company trading in Malaga, Spain. We offer fully guided riding on the best winter DH tracks in Europe. The location offers excellent Freeride and Downhill possibilities.
One of the best parts about riding with Switchbacks DH is that there are no queues, no braking bumps, no slow riders holding you up, no fast ones running over you. Just you on endless virgin bone dry singletrack.
For professionals or the very experienced, the climate and terrain of Southern Spain offers exceptional winter riding and a chance to get in several weeks extra training before the start of the season.
Your Guarantee
Switchbacks/SwitchbacksDH is a Spanish registered company constituted under Spanish law, licensed by the Ministry of Tourism (Registro de Turismo Activo/Junta de Andalucia) and complies fully with all legal, financial and insurance requirements. Our official registration number is AT/GR/00087.
We are also the only company in Spain who are externally moderated by N.V.Q. assessors every year (Youngs Instruction) to ensure the highest standards of guiding and coaching are delivered to all our customers throughout your stay. All 4 of our guides hold Mountain Leader Level 3 Advanced guiding certificates. No other Spanish MTB holiday company is as highly qualified to guide you.
Why is this important? Spanish police & authorities do not distinguish between the customer and the company. If caught riding with an "illegal" organisation, the customer in the eyes of the law is just as guilty and fines of up to €5000 can be handed out and a confiscated bike. In short don't take the risk – book legal.
SwitchbacksDH Crew
Michael is the crazy Canadian ex-pro downhiller whose highly suspect line choices are not to be followed - mostly due to them being non-intended. His most noted claim to fame is crashing into a crowded barrier doing 62mph througúh a speed trap in the Kamikaze DH in California - subject of many photos and film. Despite this he survived to ride many Norba, European and World Cup DH courses - even finishing some! Rides a Rocky Mountain Flatline to help fly the flag.
Isabel is the Viking brains behind Switchbacks. She is also Michael’s beautiful Swedish wife. Speaking just about every language there is to speak she organises everything about your trip from housing, food, transport, trouble shooting and emails. Rides a Rocky Mountain Element Team.
Henrik Martinsen what can you say about this guy? He is the only person I know who can ride (confirmed) 62kms in 60mins. Can jump more than 7 foot high off the step up on Rockadillo and get hungry while he is eating his dinner. Scarily fast, he will show you a thing or two about the meaning of speed.
Jason Wolfe-Daimpre. Riding and racing bikes of all shapes and sizes for the last 20 years, Jason is our newest DH guide. Uber helpfull both on and off the trails be it rebuilding your forks while explaining exactly the way they work (or how they could get better) to showing you the best line through the rocks on the SRAM track. Rides a Mondraker Summum
Luki our full time gofer is nick-named after cartoon character Lucky Luke. He's the one that will keep your bikes from getting shuttle burn and you a sore back. Throughout the week he will load your bikes in and out of the vans, collect you if in trouble out on the trail and is always there after you've had one too many beers at the end of the day to take you back to base.
