To Hell with Disneyland…. Silverstar’s Bike Park is the HAPPIEST place on earth!

Jul 17, 2007

Last Saturday, myself and the rest of the Calgary Cycle crew packed up the trailer (bikes, beer and gear) and a few trucks and headed out for the promise land… Silverstar. The crew ended up gathering a few extra friends and totalled 17 (13 hurtin' Albertans, 3 BC transplants and a Yankee) by the time we got there. It seems as though the mid-summer burnout had set in at the shop and there was only one thing that could relieve it… a few days of riding!!!!

Once we looked at our resort options outside of our 3 hour comfort zone, Silverstar was an obvious choice even though it’s around 6 hours away from Calgary. We did get there a little quicker… thanks to a lead foot and a $200 speeding ticket! With a few pit stops along the way (including a stop to have a few Shafts in Golden; courtesy of the Riverhouse) we finally got to the condo around midnight.


The lovely people at the Pinnacles Lodge had suite #21 all ready for us when we arrived. This place was killer, it backs right on to the mountain and allows you to literally ride your bike right to the back door. After some bevy’s and some hot tubbin it was time to rest up and get ready for a few days of riding.


If you’ve never been to Silverstar riding, there’s one word that I would say describes it best- FLOW. I’m telling ya…. From berms, doubles, tables, step ups, step downs…. the trail crew really has things dialed in. Your first impression of the mountain begins with Blast Off…. This trail is bermtastic! It doesn’t matter who you are you will definitely be grinning ear to ear once you roll down to the lift after this trail.

In addition, there are trails like Superstar where you don’t even have to touch your brakes as well as techy singletrack trails like Flow and Downtown. This place really has the best of everything and has something for everyone. It’s also a must to check out Double Dog and ride the new features that were built in the Red Bull Trail Crew contest on opening weekend.


Everybody was blown away by the quality construction of the park and the trails, it is as if every foot of trail has been planned out and sculpted masterfully. The GIANT berms and doubles on the new trail Pipe Dream left some of our crew speechless and totally stoked, and the wallrides on the World Cup had everyone giggling a little inside. And when you did roll down to the lift, it was guaranteed that you would be greeted by a smiling liftee who was wondering how your last run was.


All in all we put in 3 solid days riding and partying and could have easily stayed for more. Even though it was quite the trek from Cowtown I don’t think anyone would hesitate to drive there over and over again…. Because it’s simply just that good.


With the progression and growth that our sport has seen over the last few years it is rad to see more and more hills opening up throughout Western Canada. Although Silverstar has been around for a few years, it seems to still be somewhat of a diamond in the rough. It’s a place that you really have to experience to fully understand the quality that it possesses. So this summer if you’re planning a road trip for the weekend, or a holiday…. PUT SILVERSTAR ON THAT LIST, you will not be disappointed. Fire up your bikes, get your asses to Silverstar and when you get there shred the heck out of that place.


Thanks to all the good folks at Silverstar for everything they did for us!