Official Profile of the Whistler Blackcomb Mountain Bike Park in Whistler, BC, Canada.
If the summer temps and bluebird skis finally kicking in this week weren't the enough to prove the riding season is upon us... we've just launched our new park site to boot.
For a good time, check out
The new site will have fresh content all summer long - the latest park updates from Tom & the crew, frequent photo galleries, Dave's park videos and helmet cam footie, team rider bios, you name it. There's a bit of content already, but once the park opens next week, it's on.
Author: Tom "Pro" Prochazka
(OK busted, Tom wrote this May 8th, but here it is incase you missed it. You can tell, because ever since he wrote this it's actually been totally bluebird, warm & sunny. But atleast it gives you the run down of what the crew is up to. And indeed, his hopes for sunny weather didn't dissapoint)
Winter seems to be hanging around like a bad smell, making life for the Trail Crew difficult. It was especially bad that the forecast last week did not live up to itself and instead of warm sunshine we got cold, miserable rain. On Sunday, I was ready to commit acts of self mutilation, the weather sucked so much. Thankfully, I was saved by the tube which was broadcasting such fine programs as NASCAR, AMA Indoor Supercross and Canada vs. Czech Rep. hockey. I was caressing my new ROCO while watching Bubba slay his competition (Chad Reed) in the Supercross. I know that some people might find this twisted, but I was in the dumps and the ROCO was like my soother (is that wrong?).
Watching Bubba floating through the air made me think of riding A-Line, which lifted my spirits to the point where I was able to verticalize myself from the couch, get my ass out of the house and mount the ROCO to my shockless Stab. Couple of pumps from the shock pump, a twist on the compression knob, a twist on the rebound knob and I was tearing around my freshly seeded lawn. Enduring the wrath of my wife, I coolly blamed the damage on the kid. No amount of bad weather or bad wrath could wipe the grin off my face at that moment. I was ready to go...
Alright, here is the uncut, unedited, un-sugarcoated version of what is going on in the Bike Park. We started to dig out the trails last week and it seemed like it was going to be daunting task with up to 3' of snow in some places. Jay "The Savage" got his hands on a snow cat and cleared some of the critical spots where the bike trails cross the ski runs and the snowmakers got too snow happy. The Mini Excavators and a Track Loader are arriving this week and those diesels will never cool off. The plan is to push snow seven days a week on A-Line, B-Line which we'll get open for the 19th for sure.
The trick is to move snow without damaging the trails. Ideally, we'd like to see the snow just melt on it's own, but that may be wishful thinking. Although I was pleasantly surprised by how much snow has melted from last week to this Monday, even in the cold weather. There is hope! Most of the singletracks got dug down close to the dirt, so come May 19th, there may some snowbanks, but lot of the trails will be good to go. Here is a tentative opening plan, subject to change without notice, which means that we will do our best, but don't roast us if one or more of these trails aren't quite ready;
A-Line
B-Line
Schleyer
Upper/Lower Joyride
Angry Pirate
World Cup
Single-track
Crack Addict
National DH
Clownshoes
Smoke 'n Mirrors
Karate Monkey
Ho Chi Minh Trail
Lower Whistler DH
Monkey Hands
Heart of Darkness
Hornet
Old School
GLC Drops
Joyride Drop Zone
Devil's Club
We are going to provide you with more details next week, but if the above list does not cause you to have elevated heart rate, shortness of breath, goose bumps or welling up of tears in your eyes, you should dial 911 immediately and report yourself as deceased. Since we will not have the Village Gondola to fall back on in case the Fitz chair gets crowded, we are going to try a new weekend schedule.
The hours of operation for the opening weekend and next three weekends will be 9 am to 6 pm. Hopefully this will give you a broader options of when you want to ride. On Monday to Friday we will go 10 am to 5 pm. Starting June 16th we are on the regular 10 am to 8 pm schedule seven days a week. Feel free to let us know if these new times work for you, or not. We always listen.
So come out, the rain has stopped and I'm confident that the forecast of sun and warm weather will not let us down this week. I don't think that I can endure another weekend like last. NASCAR is like drinking beer - it's OK in limited quantities, but you will suffer if you overdo it. If there is going to be any self mutilation this weekend, it will be in the form of scrapes suffered while preriding (term for shuttling while working) the trails in the park. T
here is no more to say except maybe - tighten your headsets, lube up your chains, tune up your gears, Febreeze your armor and see you up here on May 19th.
Whistler Bike Park opens May long weekend 2007
FOURTH ANNUAL KOKANEE CRANKWORX FREERIDE MOUNTAIN BIKE FESTIVAL LAUNCHES JULY 21-29, 2007 IN WHISTLER, BC
Three new competitions including a women's only Pro/Am event expand festival line-up
WHISTLER, BC March 20, 2007, The world's best mountain bikers will roll into Whistler, BC for the fourth annual Kokanee Crankworx Mountain Bike Festival July 21-29. Whistler will be ground zero for nine full days of world class mountain bike events, free daily concerts and a wide range of action throughout the village for all ages including a legendary party scene.
Kokanee Crankworx has established itself as the most exciting freeride mountain bike event on the planet and cash and prizing totaling more than $50,000 will ensure a spectacle that has to be seen to be believed. The world's best riders will convene on the hallowed dirt of the Whistler Mountain Bike Park to push the limits of mind, body and gravity for crowds numbering up to 15,000 for events such as the Kokanee Slopestyle slated for Saturday, July 28. Spectators, whether young, young at heart, hardcore enthusiast or checking out the freeride mountain bike scene for the first time, are sure to be blown away by Kokanee Crankworx with something going on at every turn.
"Every year Kokanee Crankworx outdoes itself," says Rob McSkimming, VP of Business Development at Whistler Blackcomb. "This festival attracts the best riders in the world and they demand continuous progression from themselves and us. We are committed to providing the ultimate forum for the evolution of freeride mountain biking."
Kokanee Crankworx's athletic line-up has been expanded for 2007. Festival mainstays including the Kokanee Slopestyle, Air Downhill, Garbanzo Downhill and Biker X will be joined by three new events WomenzWorx, Dual Slalom and the Canadian Open Downhill.
Pro riders Katrina Strand and Lisa Lefroy have been enlisted to help develop WomenzWorx, a two-day event designed for the ladies starting on Monday July 23. Drop-in Spokeswoman clinics, special après events, and an exciting Pro/Am event called The Gala which will group amateurs with pros in teams to compete on a four or five stage course, are just a few of the exciting elements planned.
Other new events include a Dual Slalom on Friday, July 27 and the Canadian Open Downhill on Sunday, July 29 which will feature a new downhill course in the Whistler Mountain Bike Park. The entire event line-up, which takes place in Whistler Blackcomb's famed mountain bike park and throughout Whistler Village, also includes a massive outdoor expo featuring the latest in bikes and gear, pro riding demonstrations, free live concerts and entertainment.
"Integrating women into the WomenzWorx event is an exciting evolution of the Kokanee Crankworx experience," says McSkimming. "As we move into our fourth year athletes and spectators can look forward to jaw-dropping freeride mountain bike action and an unbeatable summer festival experience in the epicentre of the world of freeride mountain biking." Kokanee Crankworx is presented in partnership by Tourism Whistler, Whistler Blackcomb and the Resort Municipality of Whistler. At centre stage of Kokanee Crankworx is the Whistler Mountain Bike Park. With over 200 km and 3,855 feet of lift-serviced gravity-fed, adrenaline-fueled descending trails, the Bike Park is the unequivocal leader of lift-accessed mountain bike parks in the world. For more information about Kokanee Crankworx - Whistler's premier freeride mountain bike festival - please visit www.crankworx.com. Event information for Kokanee Crankworx 2007 will be updated by April 1. Whistler is a year-round adventure destination located 75 miles north of Vancouver, B.C., Canada, and site for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Consistently rated among the top ski resorts in the world, Whistler is a cosmopolitan and diverse community that welcomes travelers seeking recreation and natural beauty four seasons of the year. Whistler has the world's most diverse offering of mountain biking terrain, attracting all disciplines of mountain biking from cruising to cliffs. From 150 miles of singletrack trails and 200 km of lift-accessed downhill runs in the Whistler Mountain Bike Park, to trials parks and 20 miles of the paved Valley Trail system, there's something for every rider. Official Press Release For more information go to: www.crankworx.com
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
WHISTLER, BC, September 13, 2006
– Thanksgiving is around the corner and so is the return of
the Harvest Huckfest to the Whistler Bike Park. Harvest Huckfest
taking place October 7 and 8 and is the culmination of another unbelievable,
record-breaking season in the Whistler Bike Park.
In its fifth year, the Harvest Huckfest
is traditionally held during the beginning of October and is the last
chance to rip it up in the Bike Park until next spring. In addition
to the biking events, Freeride Entertainment’s New World Disorder
will premier its Flying High Again film along with the Crankworx TV
special on the big screen at the Air Dome celebration Saturday night.
This years’ Harvest Huckfest will see
the introduction of the Jump Jam held at Whistler Blackcomb’s new
Air Dome, an 8500 square foot training facility located at Base II.
Other events include the Earn it and Burn it event, Super D and Slopestyle.
“This years Huckfest is a little different
from last year. We’re incorporating an indoor event at our new Air
Dome which will be a great addition to an event that in the past has
been all outdoors. The Jump Jam is going to bring great urban style,
showcasing this sports progression while celebrating another great season
behind us” says Rob McSkimming, Whistler Blackcomb’s Vice President
of Business Development.
Event and Registration Details
All events will require an entry fee
of $25 per person. This will include bike park ticket for the
day of the event. All participants will receive 50% off tickets
for training days October 5 & 6. Registration is prior to the event
at Guest Relations or by calling the Res Centre.
Mandatory day of event registration in
front of G1 Rentals at the base of Whistler Mountain between 10am –
11:30am on Saturday and 8:30am -11am on Sunday. Number plates and waivers
will be available at the registration desk. Minors will require
a guardian present to sign waiver.
Awards ceremony held at 5:00pm Saturday
and 6:00pm Sunday at the Garibaldi Lift Company Bar and Grill at the
base of the Whistler Blackcomb Bike Park.
Friday October 6
Air Dome Jump Jam “New”
Event Start: 5pm-9pm
Categories: Groms (13-15yrs), Junior
(16-18yrs), Open Men (19+), Open women
Total number of riders is 60 or 15 per
category
Format: Rider judged event
Saturday October 7
Earn it or Burn it (teams of two compete
with one rider riding down and one rider climbing up)
Race start : 12:30
Categories: Team format mandatory
- all categories are Open (male, female, junior, mixed, jr/sr)
The course will take riders up Easy Does
It to the ExpressWay containers. After the relay, the downhill portion
will be from No Joke, to Ho Chi Min to finish on Monkey Hands to the
GLC Drops.
Format: Mass start
Air Dome Party: Saturday night,
two shows-5:30pm and 8:30 featuring “Flying High Again” a Freeride
Entertainment production and Foam Pit Demo (5:00 show only). DJ Vinyl
Ritchie following the 8:30 movie showing.
Entry Fee: $10 for 5:30 show, $15 for
8:30 show
Sunday October 8
Super D (Downhill race with climbing)
Race Start: 10:30am
Categories: Junior male (18 and under),
Open male (19+), Master (35+) Open female
Format: Time Trial
Sunday October 8
Slopestyle
Training in the AM
Race start: 1pm
Categories: Groms (13-15 yrs), Junior
(16-18yrs), Open men (19+), Open women
Format: Two runs per rider
***Please direct all volunteer inquiries
to Caroline L'Heureux at 604.905.2008
The Whistler Bike Park is the unequivocal
leader in lift accessed Mountain Biking with over 800 acres of downhill
adrenaline to thrill even the most hard core rider. With a wide
variety of trails from beginner to crazy the Whistler Blackcomb Bike
Park has something for everyone. To check out what’s going on
in the Bike Park or for info and deals on the upcoming winter season
visit www.WhislterBlackcomb.com.
consistently ranked as
North America's top ski and snowboard resort, Whistler Blackcomb elevates
summer adventure to new heights. On-Mountain activities include high
alpine hiking and sightseeing via the Peak Chair on Whistler, epic riding
in North America’s number one ranked lift-accessed mountain bike park,
and summer skiing and riding on Blackcomb’s Horstman Glacier. In the
valley, sparkling mountain lakes and beaches, four championship golf
courses, and Whistler’s vibrant pedestrian village filled with restaurants,
patios, cafés, shops, galleries and spas are all surrounded by breathtaking
scenery. Whistler Blackcomb continues to raise the level of mountain
excitement for its guests, and has unveiled plans for a new high speed
quad accessing Whistler Mountain’s spectacular high alpine for the
06/07 winter season. Located a scenic two-hour drive north of Vancouver
up the spectacular Sea to Sky Highway, this four season resort is truly
spectacular by nature. Check it out at www.whistlerblackcomb.com.
Intrawest Corporation
(IDR:NYSE; ITW:TSX) is a world leader in destination resorts and adventure
travel. The company has interests in 10 resorts at North America’s
most popular mountain destinations, including Whistler Blackcomb, a
host venue for the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. Intrawest
owns Canadian Mountain Holidays, the largest heli-skiing operation in
the world, and an interest in Abercrombie & Kent, the world leader
in luxury adventure travel. The Intrawest network also includes
Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in Florida and Club Intrawest – a
private resort club with nine locations throughout North America.
Intrawest develops real estate at its resorts and at other locations
across North America and in Europe. Intrawest is headquartered
in Vancouver, British Columbia. For more information, visit www.intrawest.com.
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Proud to be a venue for
the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games
Here's Bike Park Guru Tom Pro's update from earlier this week...
The other day, I spent most of the morning in meetings, which were important, but I kept looking out the window at the mountains most of the time, day dreaming. It brought back memories of High School. My phone was on vibrate and it was going off, so I knew that the messages were piling up.
Right after the meetings, I grabbed my bike and headed up Garbanzo. I stopped on Original Sin at the rock bluff with the picnic table and the spectacular view down the valley and dealt with my messages. Of course, I had to call people back, so got to rub in where my office was located and the view I was enjoying. The best one was Naz from Marzocchi. He called me a few choice names after I told him where I was hanging out.
It took me about half hour to take care of business and then I cruised down Original Sin. My stress was gone and the feeling of riding was almost therapeutic.
If you are trying to decide on how to spend a relaxing weekend, I would recommend riding Garbanzo. Sure, No Joke is gone and we are still sad about that, but if you take your time and enjoy the views, the riding up there is great. Of course, if you want to pin it, that is good too. The morning air has a bit of a bite to it and you can feel that the fall is just around the corner. You might need a long sleeve jersey for the ride up.
Don't forget that to get to Upper Freight Train, you will need to stay on Bear Cub after Goat's Gully to get back to Creekside Mid Station. If you want to get to Lower Freight Train, stay on Original Sin into In Deep and hang a left after the Triple Step. At this point you can hang a right and go down Fatcrobat to Too Tight or D1. These are all great lines and if you have never been up there, hook up with people that know the trails and go for it. Most of the hard sections have ridearounds.
In the lower park, I would sample Crank It Up as we will have more of the trail open. This has been one of the most difficult builds we have ever done. We apologize for the delays and appreciate everyone's patience. A-Line and Dirt Merchant are getting constant attention from our Trail Crews, and even though the weather is very dry, these favorites are in good shape. Be careful riding Dirt Merchant in the late afternoon. The late sun can temporarily impair your vision on the first step-ups and step-downs.
As the sun is setting earlier now, we have moved the closing time up to 7:30pm. This change is so that we can do our sweep before darkness sets in. The Air Dome is still open until 8:00pm. If you have a DJ bike and you have not been to the Air Dome yet, you have to give it a try. It's the most fun since the invention of the water bed. You can safely work on that trick that you have always been scared to try on dirt.
Magic Chair is open until September 4, so introduce someone to mountain biking. It's the perfect place to start.
Beers are cold at the GLC. See you up here.
WHISTLER, BC, August 2006 – Trails Open, Trails Closed We will make this report quick and to the point. If you have ridden up here in the last week, you would have experienced some of the best riding conditions in some time. It's amazing what a bit of rain will do for the trails. Rain is not enough to get the trails in shape, but the trail crew has been super busy with the maintenance. The overnight temperatures drop down to 5 degrees Celsius, which means that we get moisture on the trails at night and the riding in the morning is nice and cool. You might have also noticed that we have had a lot of closures and/or detours in the bike park due to the VANOC work. It is what it is and our crews have dealt with it as best as they could. We apologize for the inconveniences, but we are happy to report that most of the work in the lower park will be done soon and most of our trails will be open this weekend. Our resident battle axe, Peter Jean - liason between the Bike Park and VANOC - makes sure that our operation runs as smooth as possible given the amount of construction. Peter has prepared the following trail report: Open for Friday, Aug 18 @ 10:00 A.M. All of A-Line: Zones 1-5 Lower Angry Pirate Crabapple Hits Easy Does It connector to Zone 3 A-Line Lower Easy Does It @ Zone 5: both summer road section and the S turns. Open for Saturday, Aug 19 @ 10:00 A.M. HoChiMin: All World Cup Single Track Closed For Monday, Aug 21 @ 7:00 A.M. No Joke: below Bearcub (falling for Women’s Downhill commencing). Here it is, unedited and without sugarcoating. And yes, you have read it right (most likely two or three times); your eyesight is not failing you and your hangover is not that bad - No Joke is closing for the year as of Monday. We always knew that this was going to happen, but it's hard to believe that it is actually happening. It's kind of like taxes - you know it's coming, but you still can't believe that you have to pay. So, as I dab the moisture from my eyes, my twisted mind kicks into overdrive and think to myself that we need to have a party. That is what you do at Whistler when you lose a close friend. On Sunday night, GLC will be the place to gather and remember "No Joke". Let's call it the "No Joke" - June 25, 2004-August 20, 2006 R.I.P. Gathering". We will meet for the sweep of Garbanzo Zone at 6:30pm and the first 30 participants will receive a beer ticket to be redeemed for a pint of Kokanee at the GLC at the end of the ride. We hope to see a lot of you there for the festivities. (Note - this has already happened so don't show up at 6:30 on Sunday August 27th ready to rip down one last time). The first part of "No Joke" will remain open to "Bear Cub" and "Original Sin" will be alive and well for the remainder of the season. The Magic Bike Park is open, so don't hesitate to take you kid brother or sister, or your parents there to introduce them to the fun of DH biking. The action at the Air Dome is in full swing. Everyone is having fun, challenging the gravitational forces, so check it out. I would recommend hard tails, but I have seen some people hucking their 50lb DH bikes into the pit. About Whistler Whistler is a year-round adventure destination located 75 miles north of Vancouver, B.C., Canada, and site for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Consistently rated among the top ski resorts in the world, Whistler is a cosmopolitan and diverse community that welcomes travelers seeking recreation and natural beauty four seasons of the year. Whistler has the world’s most diverse offering of mountain biking terrain, attracting all disciplines of mountain biking from cruising to cliffs. From 150 miles of singletrack trails and 200 km of lift-accessed downhill runs in the Whistler Mountain Bike Park, to trials parks and 20 miles of the paved Valley Trail system, there’s something for every rider. Proud to be a venue for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games
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