Rohrwang MTB: New Riding Hotspot by SSV

Farewell to tennis, departure on two wheels: SSV Aalen is renovating – and creating a new hotspot for mountain bikers in Rohrwang.

Aalen. Where yellow felt balls flew over the net for decades, mountain bikers will take off in the future: SSV Aalen is drawing a line under a piece of club history on its tennis courts in Rohrwang – and making room for something new. Instead of red sand and squeaky shoe soles, rolling tires, jumps and bike tricks soon dominate the scene. The traditional club is swapping tennis for mountain biking – and, just in time for its 125th anniversary this summer, is showing what change can look like in sport.

Tennis courts are being dismantled

The schedule is set. “The two tennis courts will be dismantled from April,” says Alexander Fritz (32), head of the SSV Aalen mountain bike department, which was founded just three years ago. Together with his deputy Markus Riedel, he explains in an interview with our editorial team what will be built on the existing tennis courts by the summer: It is a dirt park that will be inaugurated in July to celebrate the 125th anniversary of SSV Aalen. A project that makes the change in the club visible. And one that would be unthinkable without the mountain bike department. It has only been around for three years, but it has now had a noticeable impact on the club.

After three years, it is already the third largest department in the SSV

This is shown by the development of the department: the MTB division now has around 150 members – and the trend is rising. “We are now the third largest department in SSV Aalen,” says Riedel. All age groups are represented, from three-year-old children in the balance bike group to children and youth groups right up to adults. “Our oldest mountain biker is 63 years old. We represent the popular sport,” explains Fritz.

Launch ramps on a 12 meter long shipping container

The dirt park is being built on an area of 1,370 square meters – which is about a fifth of the size of a football field. The centerpiece will be several launch ramps on a twelve-meter-long shipping container – including one up to four meters high for the trick jump line. The dirt park is modeled exclusively with earth; Construction excavation, about 80 to 100 truckloads full. “Areas will not be sealed,” emphasize Fritz and Riedel. “It’s all nature. In the worst case scenario, everything can be rebuilt.”

Three trails with different levels of difficulty

“We are building something that is just as suitable for MTB beginners as it is for advanced riders and experts,” says Markus Riedel. Three so-called dirt jump lines are planned, i.e. three different trails of artificially created jumping hills, especially for mountain biking: a route for beginners, a route with jumps, ramps and obstacles and a challenging route for experts. “In skiing you would say: a blue, a red and a black slope,” says Riedel. There is also a separate practice trail with wooden ramps and a “soft fall” on bark mulch.

No comparable offer in the region

For Alexander Fritz, the construction of the dirt park is the logical consequence of the high demand from club members. “There is no comparable offering of this size and professionalism within a radius of 70 to 100 kilometers,” he says. Anyone looking for something comparable would have to go to Stuttgart or Ulm. The interest is correspondingly great. “We are creating a hotspot for mountain biking here,” Riedel is certain. The aim of this offer is primarily to appeal to young people between the ages of 12 and 35.

Funded by the city of Aalen

The project will cost up to a maximum of 200,000 euros – depending on the extent of the work. The city of Aalen has promised funding of 40 percent (maximum 80,000 euros) through the city’s sports funding, spread over three years. According to Fritz, the club raises the rest – through its own contributions, income from management activities at various festivals and events and through the full support of the SSV board. “The necessary interim financing will be covered by the club’s liquidity.” He adds: “Without the support of regional companies and additional private donations, the project would not be possible.”

Regular open trial offers planned

The dirt park should be usable primarily for SSV club members. “For liability reasons,” explains Fritz. “But also because we want to prevent vandalism.” The aim is to build a community that identifies with the facility and cares for it “with passion”. Because: “Without such a community, such facilities quickly fall into disrepair,” says Fritz. Nevertheless, regular open trial offers are planned to enable those interested to get started in mountain biking and – of course also – to attract new members.

SSV tennis department remains

The tennis department is supporting the farewell to tennis. After all: the tennis department with 20 to 25 members will continue to exist. “You showed understanding,” say Fritz and Riedel. The mountain bike department and the club are helping to find alternative venues and have promised to financially support the tennis players with court or hall rentals in the future.

The change from a tennis course to a dirt park will be symbolically initiated on April 25th – with a demolition party from 7 p.m. on the old SSV tennis courts. Alexander Fritz: “Everyone who is interested in the project is welcome.”