Climate change forces ski village to shift tourism focus to mountain biking

Mountain biker Marine Cabirou during the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in Leogang, Austria. The sport is gaining traction in the Austrian Alps. — AFP

A village in the Austrian Alps known for its family-friendly ski resort has been forced to adapt to waning snow due to climate change, turning to a new downhill sport – mountain biking.

Bikers as young as three ride over landscaped jumps and curved forest trails, breathing new life into Sankt Corona am Wechsel, around an hour’s drive from Vienna, and offering a model for other struggling resorts.