Any recommendtions for someone who loves his dh but isn’t exactly a dh god?

Malaga would be fine, switchbacks or any of the others. The trails are not super tech and as they are not that long, time differences between slowest and fastest will not be that massive.

Portugal is also worth considering ( freeride Portugal in the algarve) the trails are harder but they have fewer customers so you get looked after better. Cheaper than switchbacks as well.

I’ll check Freeride Portugal out, thanks.

I’ve been with Switchbacks a couple of times on their xc/am holidays and I didn’t find the hospitality to be up to much.

I notice that there is also Freeride Spain – any good?

Not for downhill i think. There are a couple of other downhill operations in malaga now which might be worth checking out.

According to their website they do a lift-assisted dh holiday option now.

I could really do with names and recommendations, but thanks for the input.

Just one back in November from a 5 day trip with Switchbacks DH.
Had a great time with great riding, a lot different to back home fast and loose.
Drop Mike an email for info – michael@switch-backs.com

I’ve done switchbacks dh twice and loved it, so much so I’m going back in april. They have a new villa for accomadation now, looks awesome.

What was the apres-bike and the accommodation like with Switchbacks? The last time I went with them, the guides buggered off immediately after the rides and if you travelled by yourself, like me, you were left on your own. Plus the supplies at the chalet were a bit thin on the ground.

We had great time after the days riding.
Beers with Mike, Dave, Lucky and local guy who helps with trail maint.
Also meet 3 cool guys from Belfast so drinks were flowing.
Local bar 100yds from digs cheap food and €1 a pint cannot go wrong.

You are in a village (benalmedena) which is a suburb of malaga, lots of cafe/restaurants. New accom looks great. Its all self catering, there is a supermarket in the village and pretty much everything you need apart from a decent bike shop. Bring spares.

We always have a great social time there, sometimes mike comes out to play but he does have a family/life. The guides normally live in the same accom so you will see more of them, but you will probably just have to play with other guests.. We got on brilliantly with the guides, Dave, Danny, Rob the creep et al. All good guys, buy them a pint as they don’t get paid much.
What would you suggest it needs to meet your needs?

Very surprised at your comments regarding switch-backs AM, as been out to bubion with mike every year for the last 6 years, always found accom, guiding, food very good, have always gone out in a group so can imagine that going solo can be a bit of a lonesome affair if the others in the accom are not sociable.

Have also been out to switch-backs DH 3 times and a fourth planned with Toys19 and others in April, the accom and après biking is very good as everything is pretty close and if you can hook up with other guests a good meal/ pee up can be had, trails are superb and well worth a visit.

What would you suggest it needs to meet your needs?

Just a bit more of a social atmosphere than the last time I went with them. The first time I went it was great as Mike was around alot and we even went up to his pad and drank lots of booze. I realise he has a family now, and maybe I was just unlucky. All the others on the holiday were in their own little cliques and disappeared off on their own and barely spoke to others outside of their group.

Both times were staying in Bubion, by the way, and on the more xc//am package.

TBH switchbacks can hardly be blamed if you drew the short straw and met a load of unsociable gits. I’m sorry that happened to you but this could happen on any holiday, I guess its a risk if you travel solo.

My point is that if the guides had more of a social role in the holiday, individual holidayers wouldn’t be left in that position.

This is the reason why I have been back to Whistler with T2R many times, because if there is no one else around, you can always chat, watch films, go for a drink with the guides. It is a very sociable atmosphere.

Yeah, I think its a lot to ask though. I think you had bad luck, if you had landed on holiday with us, we would have folded you into our omelette.

Sounds like a right miserable bunch to leave someone on their own, to be honest there have been numerous groups out to Bubion when we have been and most of them didn’t want to socialise and made a real effort to be rude to other groups. First time out with switch-backs DH and we met up with 4 guys who had all come out on their own, ended up being a group of 10 of us and all mucked in together, reet good laugh.

Sounds like a right miserable bunch to leave someone on their own

exactly, I feel bad for you OP, twits they are.

I do find DHers to be a bit more sociable than alot of XCers so maybe I’ll give ’em a go.

Thanks for the input.

you know why, dh = lazy, therefore more beer.. (at least thats me)

Hahaha quite possibly, although quite alot of the DHers I know also do xc and are anything but lazy, but still they like to socialise.

In Malaga the social scene was good but didn’t involve the guides or mike ( they all live elsewhere). There was two of us who went on our own, and a big group of Finns, every one got on no problem. I guess it’s just a matter of luck what other riders are there, if you get a big cliquey group you will always be left out.
In Portugal you will be left on your own in the evening as well. People have families and stuff after they finish guiding.

The other companies around Malaga are roost dh and the bike shuttle if you don’t want to use switchbacks.

In Malaga the social scene was good but didn’t involve the guides or mike ( they all live elsewhere).

I know at the moment at least one guide is living in the malaga guest accomadation (Danny) he is an awesome rider and great company.

Malcolm & Ben @ RoostDH are really good guys.

The guides make bugger all money and what they do make, they need to spend on food and spares for their bikes, etc. I think you’re expecting a bit much if you feel they should spend what pittance of a wage they get on socialising with you.

Current Swicthbacks DH accommodation

Say whaaaaaaaatt!!!!!

Mike’s clearly trying to pass himself off as a Columbian drugs lord