The straight goods on Kicking Horse Bike Park, straight from the trail crew's fingertips.And we're rolling again. Yes, there's been an elephant in the room at Kicking Horse Bike Park, but we're here to escort it off the premises. All trails and features without snow will be open this weekend!
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| Even the grouse are gettin' some. |
We thought there was a lot of snow last year. Well, there was. But this year it was even deeper. Deepest ever (if you don't have an old-timer's memory). So that means there is an awful lot of snow up top, and the creeks are running true and strong (well, not always true - we had to unclog one creek that was flooding a trail), but the lower trails are in the best shape we've ever seen. And we do promise the straight goods in our tagline, so that's no bull. So many years of pulling out countless rocks, roots and organic crap are paying off. Our trails are becoming more able to shake off their winter burden without all the scars of a drunken, blind bar fighter.
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| Snowline around June 7thish. Do you see the brown stuff? That's where the good riding will be. |
Every single bike park trail crew member and patroller is returning from summer and winter seasons past. The level of experience up here has never been so high. Every one of us has had his (yes, only hims this year. weird.) hands in the dirt and on the handlebars. Hopes are high for a summer of productivity and fun; fun spelled with a capital WAHOO!
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| This is why I love these guys. Not a hope in hell of lifting this thing, but there they are givin' 'er. |
So what to expect on Day One (this is a partial list because we'll be out there until opening bell; gotta drop the keyboard and get back out there):
SuperbermThis is where we've put most of our effort. The top will not be our favourite child until we can reroute large swathes of it, but the rest is coming together nicely. We rebuilt a bunch of berms and need to get some wood fixed that didn't appreciate winter's weight. Unfortunately the bottom (Superberm 4), will not be open as we haven't had a chance to build the reroute since last year's winter construction project. But sandwiched between the top and bottom will be a Superberm cranked to 11 on the smooth dial.
Wild RoseDid a couple major tweaks to two areas on this, the end of the Western Open race course. Don't really like how this trail finishes, but most of it is mint right now.
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| Between these two sections, which do you think was the easiest to work? |
I just love this trail. Now more than ever. It does have one broken bridge, but you'd never know it unless I told you. D'oh!
There is an image of one of these berms in the video at the bottom. ...ah heck, I'll put it here (there's also some footage of areas we worked on Superberm, and the DJs):
Lower Kranky PantsGets better all the time. Places that used to be terrible ride well now. Wet places are drying out. Have a couple of reroutes to figure out yet, but we don't get many headaches here any more. Well, that said, we do have a pretty big job to get done at the end of it, but we'll add it to the job list.
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| Anyone notice the shameless Western Open plug on Matt's shirt? That's Matt K-a-l-l-a-y if you want to send him shwag. |
Dirt Jumps = Swicked. Swicked = Sweet + Wicked. Cut back some grass. That's about it.
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| Key the triumphant mood music as the scene opens with the brave warriors marching fearlessly into the mist toward battle. |
and
LYM have a bit of wood damage that needs to be repaired.
Easy Rider,
Rock n Roll,
Upper Kranky Pants and
Blaster have yet to be inspected. Blaster might not be ready, but let's hope for warmth and time. And of course, the 10 Road will be open for your trail accessing pleasure from the alpine.
Opening weekend is the last weekend to get an early bird season pass, so don't let the rumours stall your decision any more. $100 saved will buy quite a few post-ride refreshments.
Here are a few more images from the ongoing spring prep days. Look forward to seeing you up here.
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| This big fella has eaten much of our budget in the past, but who couldn't love a 200+kg stuffy? |
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| These ones don't have a fence around them, but they don't seem to be going anywhere. |
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| The only beasts we fear are the ones who leave marks like these. Richard has been wearing pants since this day. (And just so we're clear, this photo was taken at his house, after work) |
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| We don't just play in the dirt. Sometimes we soar with the albatrosses. |
Ride on.
Crowe
