[Closed] Whistler Bike park. A biker paradise.

Oh, you b'stard. I was there a couple of years ago, and loved it. Helps that I have a mate (of a mate, really) over there, which made it even awesome-er.

Agree on blue velvet, tried a-line to say I'd done it, but it scares me! Loved the Zappa trails, too.

Favourite park trail was In Deep - Duffman for me. Prefer the tech, natural stuff.

Going again in 5 weeks, for the 4th time, don't think I could ever get bored there.

Love crank it up, can't wait to try the new changes!

I'm heading there next week actually, and as you'd imagine - cannot wait!

Favourite trails from last year were Blue Velvet, A-line, and In Deep for the tech. We rode during a massive heatwave (39c) though so were forced up into the Garbo zone for most of the time to avoid the worst of the heat.

Aso looking forward to seeing the changes on Crank it up - it looks to be a better bridge (skills wise) between B-line - A-Line.

I returned from my fifth trip last week.

The new bit of crank it up (c-more) isn't really bedded in yet. it does have a few larger jumps in (lets say a foot or so bigger than crank it up) but doesn't really flow yet so its tricky to clear everything (unless you're really cranking). They've tweaked bits of a-line this year, which is nice, but the tombstones got smaller.

I think my best run is freight train -> dirt merchant -> a line - got to be 100 large jumps on that run. I don't think I've cleared everything on a single run, but I have cleared the lot individually. For those who like the techy, the creekside trail (bc's trail?) is quite nice, although I don't really rate the french-style bomb to get there.

last run of my last day in the park I cleared the funbox on crank it up. That takes a lot of cranking but is a giggle 🙂 If you're out there try to get out to silverstar, sun peaks and coast bike park - all empty compared to whistler and (whilst smaller) a lot of fun. I think the park on vancouver island's re-opening this year too. Plus of course the float plane and heli-biking trips - both once-in-a-lifetime sort of stuff 😀

Been 4 times. Had my 40th birthday there, would kill to go again. It's my favourite place in the world. If I had the money I'd move there tomorrow.

Favourite trails? Frieght Train is great fun. Personal favourite would be Karate Monkey. Don't know why, just love it. Loved it so much I bought the t-shirt!

Going for my first time in a couple of weeks. Sadly only for 2 days as part of another trip, but I'm soooooooooo excited.

I've never been, but is this the bike park where they have a newish trail very high up the mountain? I saw a few video clips of one well up above the tree line which looked just fantastic.

Edit: Think it's called "Top of the World".

Lucky enough to be living in Whistler at the moment, so 25 days in the park so far this year. Favourite lower level lap is Fade to Black to A-Line for jumps and Schelyer to Clown Shoes/Detroit Rock City for tech. Not sure about the upper mountain, it's all so good up there. O-Sin to Fatcrobat is good fun.

Yup, Top of the World opened a couple of years ago. Stunning views, but the trail is best used (imo) for getting to the top of Khybers Pass which is an 'XC' trail off the back of the mountain. It can be used to link a few sweet trails together finishing either Creekside or Cheakamus. Absolutely awesome fun on the trail bike.

The new Crank it up section has potential but a few up hill berms and the super soft conditions means it's a bit rubbish at the moment 🙁

It's not all about the park ! If you are over there you MUST get up over the Hurley Pass ( that's an experience on it's own ! ) and do a Float Plane trip up at Tyax . The Alpine up there is just out of this world , you almost need both your eyes to work independently , one on the trail and one on the view ! Riding carrying bear bangers and the guide singing out loud to tell the bears we are in their backyard is just so surreal ! I've been lucky and privileged to do that twice now , and staying at Tyax Lodge wowser !
Mind you one of the most bonkers days on a bike I've ever had was a heli drop on Rainbow Mountain just mad ! The parks fantastic but the back country is out of this world .

Mind you one of the most bonkers days on a bike I've ever had was a heli drop on Rainbow Mountain just mad ! The parks fantastic but the back country is out of this world .

Pft, the real men cycle up 😉

Just to make you feel better we are in Whistler now. In the park then cranked it up and blue velvet. The best trails are out of the park if you don't mind earning your downs. Comfortably numb, 99er, and tunnel vision are excellent if you like the tech.

Top of the world is still shut as there is too much snow up there

I'm going next Friday for the first time with my 14 yr old son.
Torn between taking the DH bikes or Capras. He'll want to spend 90% time in the park, but I'm hearing everywhere that the trails out of the park are amazing. Still not decided.

tbh for 80% of the trails in the park a trail bike is plenty big enough - they're maintained way better than anything in france. The bike I took this time is a 170mm front/125mm rear 'park bike' and its about perfect for most of the stuff (some of the bigger double blacks would be better on a full dh bike though). whatever you decide there has to be a dozen shops in town you can rent the other sort of bike to use the other days.

a mate of mine (used to race 4x) did a whole season there on a yeti trail bike, including hitting crabapple, dwaynes, etc

Cheers fella, I'm leaning towards the Capras.

Cheers fella, I'm leaning towards the Capras.

If its any further re-assurance im heading back out with three mates. Three of us will be riding Yeti SB66c's (160-150mm) and one on a capra.

We've had no problems in the past with using trail bikes as the place is just so well maintained. The only place we really felt it was in the Garbo zone (i.e. blue velvet and the like) as the braking bumps were a whole lot worse up there

I was suprised how many trail/enduro bike I've seen there this season. Way more then last season for sure. I've been riding it on 170mm and its fine.

When I went last year I had to decide whether to take my DH bike or my trail bike (160mm travel) - definitely made the right choice with the trail bike.

The best trails are outside the bike park for sure (I did 5 days in the park), though I'm not sure I'd recommend comfortably numb though - it was an experience, but not one I'd want to repeat again.

Try & get down to Squamish - some great riding there - when I go back thats one place I'll be going back to for sure

Try & get down to Squamish - some great riding there - when I go back thats one place I'll be going back to for sure

I agree. Some amazing trails in squamish. I think I'm going to ride them this weekend.

Try & get down to Squamish - some great riding there - when I go back thats one place I'll be going back to for sure

We've 4 days there later in the year. Any particular recommendations?

🙂

Managed to get 3 days riding there last year, as part of a 3 week trip. Spent a couple of days riding with my son who was 10 at the time. Without doubt the days with him there are in my top 10 best day of my life (and I've been lucky enough to do some great stuff over the years).. Day on my own wasn't bad either...

I'm not sure I'd recommend comfortably numb though - it was an experience, but not one I'd want to repeat again.

This. Comfortably Mind Numbing. Sits with A River Runs Through It for trails I wouldn't bother with again.

Great trails on Blackcomb. Micro Climate, Hey Bud & Crazy Train are all great fun.

Not sure i'd class 99er & Tunnel Vision as tech, on the Whistler scale though!

We've 4 days there later in the year. Any particular recommendations?

What type of riding do you like? What bike will you have?

I generally park at Quest Uni (small car park by the football (soccer!) field) and ride up the Mamquam Forest Service Road then the climbing trail (Legacy Climb), do the first part of Half Nelson then drop into Recycle, pop across to Freds then Word Of Mouth. (That's a solid 1 - 1.5hr + climb then another 1 - 1.5hr of mostly XC/AM descending but with some short punchy climbs). This will take you back to Quest just above the start point. Turn right and call it a day or turn left and start grinding up for...

Lap 2: up the same Mamquam FSR from Quest, over Darwins Crossing (small bridge) to first part of Powerhouse Plunge, small connector (PowerHood) grind up the FSR and Bonsai and drop into the awesome Somewhere Over There. Watch for the initial rock roll in, it's blind and steep and slick if wet! At the bottom of Somewhere Over There head right and pick your way through a recently logged area, over Carpenters Bridge and you're back at the car.

If you're still feeling full of energy, you could do the same climb to S.O.T but do the Hoods in The Woods descent instead. That will also bring you out near Carpenters Bridge.

If you prefer to end your ride with a swim, park at Alice Lake and do the 50 Shades of Green climb > Entrails and either Rupert (if you're feeling wimpy) or Treasure Trail (if you're feeling reckless), loop back around using Tracks From Hell (actually very easy!), up to Mikes Loop and then Credit Line, up Jacks and back to Alice Lake for a swim.
All these trails (as well as countless others) are on the Trailforks app (you can download the entire BC dataset so you don't rack up roaming charges)...

Apart from Treasure Trail, all these would be doable on a 130mm trail bike if you're used to BC riding or maybe a 150-160mm AM bike if you're not so sure!
Treasure Trail has some great lines but best save it for your very last day of the holiday 🙂

Dull - not even remotely like I thought it would be

Squamish and Nelson are better

When I went in 2008 I took my Cove Hummer ! 'Twas the only bike I had 🙂

Squamish and Nelson are better

I've not ridden in Nelson, but you can't really compare Squamish with the Whistler Bike Park. Unless you have a shuttle truck and even then it's not really the same.

This. Comfortably Mind Numbing. Sits with A River Runs Through It for trails I wouldn't bother with again.

Great trails on Blackcomb. Micro Climate, Hey Bud & Crazy Train are all great fun.

Not sure i'd class 99er & Tunnel Vision as tech, on the Whistler scale though!

Indeed. Howler is a must do as well I think, bitch of a climb to get up, but it's a really fun descent. Not as hard as Hey Bud or Crazy Train, and different in character from Micro Climate, but still great.

Cheers fella, I'm leaning towards the Capras.

Definitely the Capra, there's only a handful of trails in the park that I'd rather be on a bigger bike, but even then it's not a big enough want to justify the DH bike over the Capra. Plus it means you can pedal up Blackcomb or Westside and see what the riding outside the park is like (It's a lot harder :p)