Video: Northstar Bike Park Opens This Week

47 Comments

23 0

bikingcomesfirst (May 20, 2015 at 6:57)

NORTHSTAR IS OPENING EARLY!!! I'M QUITTING MYJOB AND BUMMING IT IN TAHOE!!!

tripleaye (May 20, 2015 at 8:06)

The life.

p-dub-4 (May 20, 2015 at 10:04)

Only 1 upper lift is open fri-mon. until June 19th. Is that really worth quitting a job for?

p-dub-4 (May 20, 2015 at 10:07) (Below Threshold)

Sorry, Friday-Sunday, not Mon. So yeah, 1 upper chairlift running 3 days a week, until June 19.

10 0

mrfitz424 (May 20, 2015 at 13:20)

stop being a Debby downer p-dub

abzillah (May 20, 2015 at 14:00)

Yes, it's worth quitting my job. Mountain bike hobo 4 Life!

lukeman3 (May 20, 2015 at 16:54)

then the username makes sense

jakebobsanchez (May 20, 2015 at 20:07)

I AM IN the process of doing that right now! yeaaa tahoe!

15 1

expatrider (May 20, 2015 at 7:12)

The fact it is opening early is totally awesome, and completely depressing all at the same time. #bitdroughtyroundhereinnit

mrfitz424 (May 20, 2015 at 13:21)

its supposed to rain opening day

lukeman3 (May 20, 2015 at 16:56)

honestly they could close down on account of lightening

mrfitz424 (May 20, 2015 at 17:05)

Nobody ever enjoys the downhill grill waiting game

13 1

Alias530 (May 20, 2015 at 8:00)

Go now while it still might not be a dustbowl of baby powder dirt...

DirtbagMatt (May 20, 2015 at 10:39)

I think I can see the dust clouds from ruined berms from my window in San Francisco...

MountainMatt (May 20, 2015 at 12:00)

Curious to see if they will run water on livewire this season

SUNDAYDH (May 20, 2015 at 13:10)

@MountainMatt
Ski Resorts operate snowmaking off their own reservoirs. In this case the water to water livewire would be coming from said sources.

GeorgeHayduke (May 20, 2015 at 13:49)

@SUNDAYDH you think they have anything left in the tank after trying to keep skiing going all winter long? At least opening mtb early is a good way to get another snow dump.

SUNDAYDH (May 20, 2015 at 14:05)

@GeorgeHayduke
Yes, I do believe they have water. The water they used all season just doesn't disappear. It goes back into the watershed. Sure not all of it but a portion of it does. Water or not I'm stoked and everyone should be stoked for lift access!

Alias530 (May 20, 2015 at 17:56)

I dunno if this is true but on a lift last year some guy told me Northstar pulls in more money in a DAY during ski season than they do all summer running a bike park. Again, dunno if it's true, but I guess that would explain why none of the other ski resorts turn into a bike park during summer if it is true.

mikericci (May 20, 2015 at 18:57)

I worked at Northstar for a few winters and I can believe it. Maybe not a mid-week mid-season day, but I'm sure they make more money on a big holiday weekend than during the whole summer.

Alias530 (May 20, 2015 at 19:22)

I don't ski and I've only gone to Northstar to ride bikes on week days (twice ever) so it's hard for me to say, but it was pretty busy even on week days last summer... if there's that much more traffic on ski days I'm glad I don't ski, f*ck that sounds claustrophobic.

livehardrideharder (May 21, 2015 at 10:28)

For a while, I heard that they operate at a loss during summer, but stay open just so they can keep employees year round and not have to train new people every winter. BUT, I have no idea if that is true. BUT, with no winter this year, they better be showing the love to MTB.

GeorgeHayduke (May 21, 2015 at 13:10)

@Alias530 - skiing is different, you're not all on the same singletrack - wide open slopes. Still Northstar is often crowded as F*ck in the winter. At least they charge $11 for a can of PBR, so there's that.

Alias530 (May 21, 2015 at 17:52)

@GeorgeHayduke - do they jack up prices during winter? I got a Sierra Nevada or something last summer in the $5 range, pretty typical price.

foggeloggliod (May 20, 2015 at 7:50)

Gotta drive all night just to get to this magical place!

dropoffsticks (May 20, 2015 at 9:56)

Yeah the reason its opening early is cuz of the drought. It's great that it's opening early, but we got no snow this year. We're dying over here in cali man.

oshanefa (May 20, 2015 at 22:58)

supercool idea ! super positive vid

Alias530 (May 20, 2015 at 11:10)

Braking bumps come from the sloppy way people ride. They simply aren't enjoyable to ride over.

brncr6 (May 20, 2015 at 12:03)

Are there any good trials for a hardtail. Im kind of old and really don't jump my bike but do ride technical rock trails. If any body could point me to a few good trails it would be greatly appreciated!

b-mack (May 20, 2015 at 11:00)

Yes!!! Opens on my birthday...I'll be there right at open for fresh tracks

Thunderbringer (May 20, 2015 at 13:42)

NORTHSTAR IS A BATTLE GROUND !!!!! MAYHEM OF THUNDER !!

carym (May 20, 2015 at 22:41)

I made the video. Of course it was only as a viewer watching livewire.

riggadon (May 20, 2015 at 10:20)

Summer begins at last!

Below threshold threads are hidden

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chillrider199 (May 20, 2015 at 8:02)

I wonder if the lazy ass "trail crew" has fixed the 29er sized wheel breaking bumps... God damn.

dancingwhale (May 20, 2015 at 8:34) (Below Threshold)

Furreal.

20 0

livehardrideharder (May 20, 2015 at 8:47)

The trail crew there is FUC*ING awesome. Its not their fault that Vail gives them no real tools, only hires like 6 guys, doesnt give them shit for budget, and works them to death. Its amazing what they pull off with some a small, ill-equipped crew.
RESPECT the "trail crew"

chillrider199 (May 20, 2015 at 9:20)

They definitly have the tools. And six guys can definitly take the enjoyable time to fix a few breaking bumps on their most popular trail. Whistler does that stuff all the time by the hour, and they probably get paid the same. You know how expensive Canada is? Its freaken crazy.

11 1

ivcstudio (May 20, 2015 at 9:47)

Hey @chillrider199 - since you are paying well over $20 an hour to ride northstar, just take a day off! For each hour YOU work on trail you will essentially be paying yourself $20...which is twice what trail crew makes to run around that mountain fixing you're breaking bumps. That way you won't have to whine about arm pump, and the trail crew wont have bend over backwards for punk bi*ches.

SUNDAYDH (May 20, 2015 at 9:56)

@Chillrider199
Are you really trying to compare Northstar geography to Whistler geography? Think bro. Northstar does not get the precip that whistler gets. And based on your ignorant comment you dont seem that chill.

p-dub-4 (May 20, 2015 at 10:05)

Yes, whistler usually only has 6-8 full time trail workers and they're always repairing something or building something new.

DirtbagMatt (May 20, 2015 at 10:41)

One word negates the entire above conversation: Precipitation.

Alias530 (May 20, 2015 at 10:43)

Learn how to spell you idiots

It's BRAKING not BREAKING. "Break" means "separate or cause to separate into pieces as a result of a blow, shock, or strain".

chillrider199 (May 20, 2015 at 11:02)

See, they dont actually ever end up fixing the Braking bumps. And its not really really so much Im worried about the arm pumping, its the fact that you land a decent sized jump and there are fat braking bumps there. Its like raping your bike. The only thing the trail crew actually does anymore is just water two trails. Maybe this year they have changed? Maybe you are right and its not actually the trail crews fault but northstars poor management. Who knows. They just need to know that their "Smoothest Trail" isnt near smooth.

Nobble (May 20, 2015 at 11:07)

If you want to ride smooth trails, pick up bmx racing. If you cant handle a few braking bumps in a bike park, go ride road or XC.

I'm sick of people complaining about braking bumps and shit on trails ridden with 8in of travel. Those are the people causing trails to get smoothed out and "dumbed down"

chillrider199 (May 20, 2015 at 11:12) (Below Threshold)

Dude Im riding a 6 inch 26" wheel bike. Those braking bumps are like damn craters.

Nobble (May 20, 2015 at 11:14)

Then get the right tool (bike) for the job and stop complaining for no reason.

SUNDAYDH (May 20, 2015 at 11:38)

@Nobble
Preach!
Amen brother.