Business Spotlight

EPIC Indoor Bike & Skate Park

By Devon Haworth

What’s an article about an “indoor” bike park doing in an “outdoor” magazine you say? Well, this story is about a company that brought the outdoors inside. Epic Indoor Bike & Skate Park (“EPIC”) is true to its name. The 4,770-square-metre (53,000 square feet) facility at 110 Bentley Ave. just east of the Hunt Club and Merivale intersection is a massive wooden bike, scooter and skateboard park for all ages. As you enter the forest-like lobby, you are greeted by the lovely scent of wood, 10 tractor-trailer loads to be exact.

One feature of the two-storey industrial building is a toddler area for kids under age six. If a child can walk, that child can ride. Pedaless bikes (aka striders) are used to teach a new rider how to balance and coast. Parents enjoy the squeals of their little ones as they glide down the little slopes and learn to make gentle turns with their newfound mobility.

For kids who are new to biking, they can practise riding on the two cross-country tracks that circle the perimeter of the facility. The lower level is smooth with a few rolling hills when you enter from the front, while the upper level resembles mountain biking, with the occasional bumpy log or ramp to manoeuvre.

Once a rider has good control of their bike, they’re ready for the big show! On one side of the park are the “box jumps,” three levels of them: beginner, intermediate and pro. The rider enters the course by going down a hilly slope and hops onto each box and continues to the next box in the U-shaped course. After mastering the easier course, the rider advances to the next level, which is steeper and longer. Over time – which could be days or months depending on the rider – one can leap over the boxes gracefully (“gap” the box). The motion is as graceful as a horse jumping over a hurdle, but the feeling for the rider is euphoric!

Equally fun and challenging is the other side of the park, which houses the “pump tracks.” The wooden structure looks like a roller coaster without rails. On this side there are three courses, the largest affectionately named “the big pump track” for the steepness of one of the hills.

Finally, the back section “vertical park” will blow our mind. With a huge foam pit, resiramp, two half-pipes, bowl, verticals, steps, ramps and rails, you could spend hours or days with your BMX, scooter and skateboard. This is where the pro riders like to hang out and practise freestyle skills.

Kids as young as age 2 have ridden the beginner tracks. So participation it is not a matter of age, but ability and desire.

What makes EPIC a special place is that families can enjoy something equally entertaining for all participants. It’s commonplace for moms and dads to ride with their young and teenaged kids. For the athlete, BMX riding is the best workout going. Our avid riders (aka “pros”) have memberships, and they look forward to spending time with friends at the park. It’s a healthy, happy and wonderful community of super nice people who help each other.

This summer, about 350 kids attended EPIC’s summer camp. It was consistently ranked “Best Camp Ever” by parents and kids alike for skills building, entertainment and learning. We watched shy unmotivated rebellious kids emerge with confidence and huge smiles after the first day!

EPIC Indoor Bike Park is very affordable. One hour or riding including bike rental is just $19.99!

EPIC is an extremely popular and unique choice for birthday parties and group events because our pro riders are available to provide riding tips and tricks.

So get off the couch and experience the great outdoors indoors. I’m sure you’ll agree that EPIC is a contagious experience! 

110 Bentley Ave, Nepean ON (613) 727-3742 www.EpicBikePark.com – www.facebook.com/epicbikepark