Slovenia's Kope resort opens second Flat Out Days festival
The second edition of the Flat Out Days festival has opened in Slovenia, drawing dozens of international riders and highlighting the growing commercial appeal of niche mountain bike tourism.
Flat Out Days 2026 began its week-long run at Slovenia’s Kope mountain resort on 13th July, bringing a mix of elite freeriders and recreational riders to the Alps.
The event’s infrastructure required a substantial logistical effort. Course creator Jan Perše and the Batt Crew logged over 600 excavator-hours this year reshaping the four-gap jumpline, which features distances ranging from 24 to 30 metres. A severe thunderstorm struck the venue just before the festival, forcing the crew to rebuild damaged sections to meet the opening deadline.
The festival’s return highlights the economic potential of niche sports tourism for smaller European mountain destinations. The event has drawn a network of sponsors that blends local Slovenian businesses with international brands. Regional entities like Občina Mislinja, Radenska, and Spar are listed alongside bike manufacturers Nicolai and Union.
To grow its audience, the organisers have departed from the Fest Series' traditional invite-only format. Through the Robeta Wildcard event, four riders—Lukas Baumgartner, Tom Bourouba, Emilie Peizerat, and Victor Cuzin—earned the right to ride the main course and secured official athlete invites for next year.
The competitive field reflects a wide cross-border draw, with over 70 riders arriving from more than a dozen European countries, including Germany, France, Belgium, Italy, and Poland. Build crew members Pascal Kobl, Lorenz Kogler, and Filip Dian were the first to test the dirt, though rainy weather has delayed full test runs on the final two jumps.
Beyond the professional-level riding, the festival’s commercial model depends on keeping visitors on-site for the full week. Hotel rooms and the campsite are filling up, supported by a daily schedule of secondary events. These include MTB workshops, dual slalom races, and best trick contests designed to drive engagement beyond the main jumpline.
