Whistler Mosntain Bike Park: Rookie Ready
Don’t be afraid of the Whistler Mountain Bike Park. Yes, it’s true the area most visible from the bottom is an assortment of giant jumps and obstacles affectionately nicknamed, “The Boneyard.” And sure, so many park videos and photos depict riders with superhuman athletic abilities and the air sense of a hummingbird, but that is just the hype machine selling the dream of flight. Here on the ground, in the real world, there’s never been a better time to drop in and learn how to rip.
“The experience of the bike park is changing a bit,” says Bike Park manager Brian Finestone, “so what we want is to ensure that someone who comes from a cross-country or BMX background, or even a paper route back in the day, can find something to ride. We want trails with a logical progression from novice to expert.”
This doesn’t mean the park has been dumbed down. The classic trail A-line—perhaps the most ridden bike trail on the planet—was upgraded this year, offering a more fine-tuned expert ride, with other trails being downsized slightly to encourage progression. “We actually took a popular trail, ‘Crank it Up,’ and cranked it down a bit,” Finestone says. “We made the jump shapes a bit less technical, and the trail progresses in difficulty as you get to the bottom.”
Along with a special introductory “Bike Park 101” two-hour coaching program to teach Bike Park basics, another significant upgrade for entry-level riders is the new Learning Centre at the top of Fitzsimmons Chair, where Bike Park staff offer tips on everything from riding posture to how a high-performance rental bike works and what trails to hit next.
“We can check in with you after each lap,” Finestone says. “Hopefully by the time you have high-fived us three times you have a good feel for the park and are well on your way.”
The hot, dry summer also means there is more park to ride, as Whistler’s infamous Top of the World trail is snow-free and open as of July 1, 2015. Just having a bike atop Whistler Peak (elevation 2182 metres) feels incredible, but dropping into Whistler’s longest and highest trail is one of those bucket list experiences that is beyond description.
Hone those skills and confidence in the new evolution-friendly Whistler Mountain Bike Park, and we’ll see you at the top.
Find lessons, lift tickets tours and more at Whistler.com/activities/biking