WHISTLER/BLACKCOMB BIKE PARK
WHISTLER BIKE PARK & TRAILS 2006/2007
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Whistler
Reservations Call Now |
08-4557 Blackcomb Way Whistler, B.C
What's New at Whistler's Bike Parks
Open Daily from May 13, 2006
The majority of trails in the lower park will be open, including A-line, B-line, Crack Addict and Heart of Darkness.
Crews are working hard to get Joyride, Dirt Merchant, Schleyer and Angry Pirate ready for opening day as well. Early season conditions can be expected.
New this season, the Bike Park will be open 10am - 8pm every day starting June 17, 2006. Two new intermediate trails will be added to the Garbanzo Zone, with advanced and expert off-shoots offering something for everyone. The much anticipated Crank It Up trail will also be completed - a mini A-line/Boneyard combo sure to please.
It all starts on May 13
"We've been anxiously awaiting the arrival of spring in Whistler in order to get the bike season fully underway," says Tom Prochazka, manager of the Whistler Blackcomb Mountain Bike Park. "With all the snow that Whistler has received late in the season, we've had to help Mother Nature out to clear snow off the lower trails ourselves. The riding is going to be good though – it will be worth the wait as this season's ready to go off."
The majority of trails in the lower park will be open as of May 13 including A-line, B-line, Crack Addict and Heart of Darkness. Crews are also working hard to get Joyride, Dirt Merchant, Schleyer and Angry Pirate ready for riding by the 13th. Early season conditions can be expected.
Gearing up for another record mountain bike season, the Whistler Blackcomb Bike Park crew has made a number of improvements to ensure that the Park keeps pushing the envelope to deliver an unmatched experience. New this season the Park will be open from 10am to 8pm seven days a week starting June 17, giving riders a chance to hit the park after work by offering more flexible hours.
Two new trails will be added in the Garbanzo Zone. The new trails will be mostly blue (intermediate) trails with black (advanced) and double black (expert) off-shoots, offering a variety of riders more to choose from. Previously the Garbanzo Zone has only offered black and double black trails, so intermediate riders are in for a treat this summer as more trails open up for their ability level.
The completion of the much-anticipated Crank it Up trail will also add another new dimension to the variety of riding experiences for intermediate riders. Crank it Up is a mini version of A-line and the Boneyard rolled into one thrill-a-minute trail, perfectly tailored for intermediate level riders.
A brand new Triple Play Card will launch this summer offering three days in the Park for $99CAN or $89USD. Each additional day is $33CAN, a savings of $12CAN per day based on regular season rates. Riders can also go directly to the lift by attaching the Triple Play card to their credit card.
Earlier this year, Summer Gravity Camps at Whistler Blackcomb announced the introduction of the Air Dome, a massive covered mountain bike facility that will also open this summer. The Air Dome features a foam pit, resi ramp and trampoline. Located at Base II on Blackcomb Mountain, the Air Dome is the first mountain bike training facility of its kind in Canada and will make Whistler Blackcomb the ultimate training ground for summer campers. Construction on the Air Dome began in late April.
"This will be a great addition to our Park," comments Prochazka. "This facility will give our campers the ability to practice innovative tricks in a controlled environment and will help to establish the Summer Gravity Camps among the most progressive anywhere."
Whistler Mountain remains open for skiing and riding until June 4. With a snow base of over 260 centimetres (105 inches), and 80 runs open for spring skiing and riding, the options for great times are endless. For the ultimate outdoor enthusiast, May 13 and onwards is the perfect time to get up to Whistler to ski/ride and mountain bike all in the same day.
Garbanzo Zone Update
If you have not been up in the Garbanzo Zone lately, you should not wait another day and get up there. There are lines to be had and drops to hit. No matter what the weather is doing, Garbanzo does not disappoint. It flows and you can rack up some sick vertical.
Of course, you will need a board or skis right now, because we are having an epic winter. Just because there is snow on the ground does not mean that our chain lube soaked brains are hibernating. Far from it! The wheels are in motion and we are planning for another kick ass summer in the Whistler Bike Park.
In the forefront is the Garbanzo Zone, where the riding is raw and challenging. The sheer length and variety of the trails coupled with the alpine weather will challenge any rider. That is why we like it! This year will not be different. It will be challenging for the trail crews as they will be dealing with the construction of the Women’s Olympic Downhill which will run right through the middle of “No Joke”. The fun part of this is that now the trail crew has an excuse to build a new trail, because that is what they love to do.
Where is this new trail going to be, you ask? Under the Garbanzo Chair itself, The Lift Line (that is not the official name, but it sounds cool). We are so stoked about this, we can barely sleep. The terrain there has it all: slick rock, spectacular vistas, deep woods and flowing lines. It will be long, but the idea is to make it a blue run so the ripper girls can bring along their new boyfriends fresh from Ontario. But there will be the mean lines and drops for those willing and able (the ripper girls). Yes, it will take some time to complete, but we’ll get it done.
Of course the Lift Line is not the only project. “Freight Train” is going to get our attention depending on the progress of the Olympic work and “Sidetrack” will be open in July. There are some tasty new lines in the lower Garbanzo zone we want to explore. We will be busy and you, the riders, will be enjoying the fruits of our labor. For now, get your skis or board and head up here.
Enjoy the snow while it lasts.