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The Riding
There are a lot of mountain biking opportunities in Whistler. The resort is probably best known for the Whistler Mountain Bike Park. The International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA) describes Whistler as the "benchmark for lift-accessed mountain biking". With a vertical rise of over 1200m (4800 ft) the Bike Park offers 200 km of lift-serviced gravity fed, adrenaline fuelled descending trails. For experienced downhillers, the Bike Park offers steep rock faces, gnarly root strewn lines, and drop-offs. There is also a BikerCross course, which features huge banked corners, rhythm sections, and table tops. There is also single-track for intermediate riders and gentle cruisers for novices. The Bike Park also offers three skill centers, each catering to different ability levels. The Bike Park continues to grow in popularity with new trails and features being added each season. The highlight of the 2004 season was the Garbanzo Expansion, which tripled the vertical of the Whistler Mountain Bike Park. The Garbanzo Zone features four hand-built single-track trails and extends the Bike Park into Whistler Mountain’s subalpine area. The Bike Park is open everyday from mid May to mid September, with extended hours on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays beginning mid June.
Check out www.whistler-blackcomb.com/bike for more details.
Ride the Shore Inc. now sells discounted lift tickets available for the Whistler Bike Park. Contact us for more information.
The Whistler area also has numerous cross-country trails, which range in difficulty from moderate to extreme. Check out the work of WORCA, Whistler’s trail advocacy group. Whistler’s newest epic trail, Comfortably Numb, opened in 2004. Comfortably Numb was envisioned, designed and built almost single handedly by Chris Markle, one of Whistler’s most accomplished trail builders.
The Destination
Whistler, located in the Coastal Mountain range, is well-known as one of North America’s premiere ski resorts. Located 125 km from Vancouver (2 hours drive), Whistler offers a full range of summer outdoor activities. There are 5 lakes in the vicinity. Whistler Village is a charming pedestrian-only village with a variety of shops and restaurants. There’s a huge range of accommodation options available in Whistler and summer rates are reasonable.
*It is important that you are aware that riding on the North Shore, in Squamish, and in Whistler is very different than what you may be used to. Due to the climate and topography of the Coast Mountain range, trails can be very steep and rugged. Be aware that the risk of injury is considerable.
North Shore | Squamish | Whistler | Kamloops | Spruce Lake
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