Video: Creek Zone - The Next Chapter

Sep 15, 2015 at 21:59
by WhistlerMountain BikePark  
In The Zone - Creek

by WhistlerMountainBikePark
Views: 42,378    Faves: 395    Comments: 25


Creekside. It's the latest evolution of the Whistler Mountain Bike Park. What started as the original village and base area to ski from 50 years ago has become the 4th riding zone and the newest way to access the Bike Park today.

Rolling up to the Creekside Gondola.
A whole new base for Bike Park access.

Although mountain biking in Whistler's Creekside isn't anything new, it is new for the Creekside Gondola. Since February 1966, only skiers and riders have used this lift to access Whistler Mountain in the winter. But on August 7, 2015, mountain bikers joined this list and the Creekside Gondola officially now spins in the summer.

Creekside Gondola

Unlike previous Bike Park expansions, the Creekside Gondola gives riders a new 647m/2,122ft of riding vertical, but this time it's already within existing Bike Park elevation. Step off at the top and you'll be in the lower Garbanzo Zone at Freight Train.

Creekside Gondola - now accepting mountain bikes
Brand new bike carriers are added to the gondola line.

Creek Zone - The Next Chapter
Unlike the 3 other lifts that carry bikes in the Park, the new carriers get loaded sideways.

Dusty's Downhill was the only truly new trail that was built for the Creek Zone opening this summer. Starting just after the beginning of lower Freight Train at the crossing of the winter ski traverse, Crossroads, Dusty's DH follows down Crossroads before descending on Lower Franz's and the Dave Murray Downhill ski runs to Creekside Village.

Creek Zone - The Next Chapter
James Mcskimming, Tristan Merrick, and Peter Matthews corner through a new perspective of Whistler Mountain.

Creek Zone - The Next Chapter
Airing to corner on the lower switchbacks.

After given the green light 8 days before the Creek Zone opening, Trail Crew put in long hours and lots of sweat to bring Dusty's DH to life. To build a trail stretching a vertical of 647m/2,122ft in this short time was an incredible accomplishment, but only scratched the surface of the potential in this zone.




To see the full POV of Dusty's DH, watch the GoPro Trail View:
GoPro Trail View - Dusty's Downhill

by WhistlerMountainBikePark
Views: 1,845    Faves: 5    Comments: 2


Although Dusty's DH was the only new trail built for the Creekside opening, the already existing BC's Trail (Boyd's and Chalmer’s Trail) has now become an official Whistler Mountain Bike Park trail. Originally built by Whistler's hometown hero and winner of the 1989 World Cup Downhill ski race at Creekside, Rob Boyd, along with Darren Chalmers who was on Canada’s Snowboard World Cup and Olympic team, BC's has been a Whistler trail bike classic for many years and was recently featured within the 4th stage of the EWS during Crankworx Whistler this season.

Check out the Creekside Trail Map.

Ride Don't Slide has also been a Creekside trail classic with a long history of steep technical riding that pushes the abilities of even the best riders. Starting off Highway 86 on the lower section of Top of the World and continuing into BC's Trail, Ride Don't Slide, among others like Khyber, Middle of Nowhere, Kashmir, and Kush are some of the best descents in the Whistler Valley accessed from the peak of the Whistler Mountain Bike Park via Top of the World. Recently upgraded by Gravity Logic and local trail builder and Bike Park Patrol, Tim Haggerty, these trails continue to be mountain biking backcountry trails found outside of the Whistler Mountain Bike Park boundary and are not patrolled. However just released, a guided service is now being offered by the senior guides of the Whistler Mountain Bike Park for advanced riders wanting to ride backcountry from peak to creek. Visit here for more information and to book.

Although Ride Don t Slide is a trail accessed from the lower part of Top of the World it is considered a trail that is out of bounds of the Whistler Mountain Bike Park and is not patrolled. This is what you will see at the entrance of the trail along with other backcountry trails from the Park.
The Bike Park boundary sign located at the entrance of Ride Don't Slide among other backcountry trails accessed from the Whistler Mountain Bike Park.

Creek Zone - The Next Chapter
Team Rider Tristan Merrick airing through the deep misty forest of Ride Don't Slide

Creek Zone - The Next Chapter
Unique landscapes offer new perspectives.

Creek Zone - The Next Chapter

As we near the end of the 2015 season, the Creekside Gondola is only open for Bike Park access for one last weekend this coming Sept 19 and 20. After that, the wheels turn again for its 50th winter season this November while its second season for Bike Park access begins in 2016.

With Whistler Village being the original home for the Bike Park, who thinks Creekside will be taking a run for its money? Is Creekside now your go-to for starting your day?

Dusty s Bar amp BBQ patio
Or maybe it's Dusty's vs. GLC? Wedges and butt rub mayo anyone?

Creek Zone - The Next Chapter
It's on the right...

Click here for more info on the new Creek Zone.

Video by: Goldstein Productions
Team Riders: Tristan Merrick, James McSkimming, and Peter Matthews
Photography by: @Laurence-CETrails Featured: Ride Don't Slide, Dusty's Downhill

FALL SEASON PASS - NOW ON SALE
The unlimited Fall Season Pass is now available. Ride every day with no restrictions until the end of the season on October 12 for only $255.

Already have a 10 Day, 5 Day, Twilight, or Top of the World pass? You can add the unlimited Fall Season Pass for only $199.

Full details and to purchase here.

Whistler Bike Park



Author Info:
WhistlerMountainBikePark avatar

Member since May 9, 2011
188 articles
Must Read This Week
Kona Bicycles' Parent Company Appoints New CFO, Intends to Sell Brand
67185 views
Downhill Bikes of Sea Otter - Part 1
49447 views
Brian's Randoms from Sea Otter 2024
47367 views
Randoms Round 3: Dario's Treasures
45986 views
Pinkbike's DH Fantasy League: Get Your Team On The Line - Fort William is in 10 DAYS!
41326 views
Downhill Bikes of Sea Otter - Part 2
39012 views
Spotted: Frameworks Racing DH Bike with Electronic Fox Shock & Unreleased Enve Rims
38918 views
[UPDATED] Final Elite XC Results & Overall Standings from the Araxá XC World Cup 2024
38581 views
Sign Up for the Pinkbike Newsletter - All the Biggest, Most Interesting Stories in your Inbox
PB Newsletter Signup

57 Comments
  • 42 2
 Sorry, this video doesn't work well with morning coffee. I'll try with mushrooms later tonight
  • 1 0
 Buaaahhhh Smile
that´s right,some organic helps to swollow this Video!!!
  • 20 1
 Soooo.... Much.... Slowmo.... Seriously every other shot was slowed down. Looks like a cool zone but slowmo and fancy dinner music should be banned from bike park edits.
  • 8 1
 Neg prop away but I think that the way it's edited went really well with the video. First off the trails that I saw in that video don't look like your average bike park trails. The vibe they were trying to give off was trying to show that and show that this "new zone" is isolated and out in the middle of no where. The editing style to did a great job showing that
  • 3 3
 boring
  • 14 2
 Awesome wee video. If I dont make it to Whistler in 2016 I think I might cry.
  • 1 0
 Heading there with about 10 guys for my 40th next SEPT....6 days. How many days out of the 6 should we do the park? Looking to get some great trail days in too. Best trail networks?
  • 2 0
 We go every year for about a week also.. we find that riding the park every other day is perfect, maybe throw a twilight session in there.. We like a day in Squamish and one in Vancouver.. Pemberton is great for trail riding.. as are the whistler valley trails.
  • 3 5
 Only do 2 days max at the park. The riding in the general area is just too incredible. If you have a half/full day to kill, do Comfortably Numb. Its a classic ride and very convenient to get to if you're staying in Whistler. But really anything you end up doing inside or outside the park is going to be awesome.
  • 2 1
 I now have a friend out there who moved from a bike shop here to one out there. So I think I will be crashing with him and being shown around the trails with him and his new friends. CANT FLIPPIN WAIT!!!!!
  • 1 0
 So im a bit of a noob when it comes to what to do and where to go. I take it its only the bike park you can use the lift on? The rest of the classic trails you speak of, are they, park up by the side of the road and ride up from there, kind of thing?
  • 1 0
 @mayha49 do yourself a huge favor and spend a day in Squamish too. Stop in the LBS for directions and local knowledge.
  • 1 0
 @glasvagas its like Disney Land of riding in and around the town of Whistler... literally trails everywhere you can pedal to. Trails are scattered about off the Sea/Sky corridor and there are other systems in the nearby towns like Pemberton/Squamish. Its unreal how many trails there are. Your buddies are gonna show you a good time alright.
  • 1 0
 @mayha49 I went for 5 days over Labor Day weekend and rode the park five days, there is plenty to ride there especially if you have Top of the World tickets, a top of the world to creekside run is equal to like 5 fitz laps. There are no ski lifts in Hawaii so I decided to say F pedaling and make full use of them and I don't regret it. Maybe the next few trips I venture out on some pedal missions but for your first time I'd say just soak up the park! It's been raining so the trails are prime!
  • 1 0
 Thanks guys....looking to maybe split it 3 park and 3 trail as long as the lines aren't horrible. I don't mind earning the DH on the trails. I've been interested in Squamish and Pemberton. Where would you go if you had to choose between the two? And what trails?
  • 2 0
 Squamish for the big bike.. 19th hole grin and holler p-nuts Easy to find and good maps, need to shuttle though
  • 8 3
 I rode dusty's two weeks ago and was pretty disappointed - but there is plenty of potential and I am looking forward to seeing what the whistler bp will do with that trail once its worn in a little more. It could be fast and rad with some added berms and jumps.
  • 4 1
 It is already fast, doesn't need berms, and can't put jumps on ski runs or they need to be flattened every year. One day there'll be trails in the forest.
  • 2 0
 I believe the trails were put in a few days just to get something in. The drainage on Dusty's and the Lower one is brutal. Sticking to RDS and BC for now.
  • 5 1
 It's awesome specifically because it ISN'T just berms and jumps. WBP has tons of that stuff already, personally I think Dustys and Love Anal are the best trails in the whole park (in fairness, the top bit of Dustys is pretty hard going, quite narrow and hard to stay on the trail at times, but that's part of the challenge). Nowhere else do you get to hit slidey off camber corners pinned for minutes on end!
  • 2 2
 @ socket - I would respectfully disagree. Dusty,'s is like alot of my local trails - not enough tech, not enough jumps, not enough flow. Whistler has so much more to offer than Dusty's. But I do hope to see it get better. The drainage problems also hold it back.
  • 1 2
 Dusty's and Love Anal have berms... lots of them. These trails just cut across a run, put in a corner and repeat.
  • 2 1
 There's already a ton of tech, more jumps than you can poke a stick at and a billion huge berms in the other trails in the park - it has TONS AND TONS of that stuff already, it doesn't need more. Consider that you are literally coming to the place in the world with THE MOST bermy, jumpy trails already, and some of the most tech riding in the entire world, and asking for more of the same. Dustys/Love Anal are the only trails in Whistler where the goal is simply going fast and trying to stick an inside line while your tyres are sliding around like crazy. If you want A-line, go ride A-line. If you want fast loose corners that actually require some skill to hold speed around, go ride Dustys.
  • 5 1
 Ride Don't Slide is worth the trip to Whistler. And make sure to eat at Southside Diner, Les Ecker (Owner) and myself were one of the first guys to ride the trail when it was built back in the day. I have a 6" scar from that ride, my Roach padding failed me that day lol
  • 2 0
 Rode "Ride Don't Slide" from "Top of the World" with a couple people last week. They are putting a lot of work into incorporating this trail into the park. Looks great so far!! Keep up the good work! It will be a super long and fun trail
  • 3 0
 Boring video, total snoozefest. It's bad when you get more from stills than a video. Why did I need to see tiltshifty tires and goggles when I just wanted to get a sense of the trails!
  • 2 0
 rode TOTW into Ride don,t slide , into BCTRAIL several weeks back with several cracked ribs after a crash on TOTW , amazing trails and definitely my type of riding when compared to the park and the supercross jumps and table tops . looking forward to healing up and getting up there maybe one more time this season .
  • 1 0
 Landing Saturday. Getting a 3 day ride in. Using the Whistler Demo Center. Anybody have a favorite DH bike from there they'd suggest? Have never ridden a V10, so I've got it reserved for day 1. Was thinking of the Pivot and Devinci for the other days.
Sunday is the last day Top of the World is open and supposed to be rough weather, so we may not even get to do it (just to say we did).
  • 1 0
 The TR500 from Evolution Cycles was the best park bike by far. I rented all of them and the Transition is the only one (besides maybe an Aurum) that I would rent again and again and again.
  • 1 0
 What's the difference between the suspension setup on all these bikes from the different shops? Someone had said they have basic forks with little to no adjustment?
The Demo Center doesn't say if they are decked out rigs...just the frames themselves I guess.

Anybody know a trick to snagging one with FRESH tires? heh
  • 1 0
 seen some pretty bare bones builds in the rental shops , triple clamps with no adjustments and 15deg highrise stems . some shops have fleets of bikes and others have some spendy speced out rigs .
  • 1 0
 Definitely go for an Aurum. Super fast on jumps and tech.
  • 6 1
 slomo suckks
  • 2 0
 Finally, you can get your RDS off the top, grab the gondy and get back to the park without riding up the valley trail.
  • 3 0
 to quote Old El Paso - 'why not both?'
  • 1 0
 I'll be there next weekend! So most of the park will already be closed Frown I'm still gonna have a ball with what is still open though Big Grin
  • 5 2
 That video bored me to near death.
  • 2 0
 So if we did a run down to Creekside it should be Ride dont Slide? Skip Dustys.?
  • 1 0
 Ride don't slide is nearly my favorite of all the stuff at WBP. The video doesn't do it justice. It's got lots of lower speed techy features that are a blast to ride! With that said, there are two entrances to the trail where one crisscrosses the super steep sections (fun tech) and the other cuts straight down the hill (gnarly). From the look of it Dusty's is just ski slope? Not to mention that RDS ends up on BC's, another fun trail.
  • 1 0
 Leaving for the airport at 4am.
  • 1 3
 Breathtaking shots! If you guys are planning to visit and explore the mountains of the Philippines, come to Cebu and contact us, and we can arrange a bike tour for you at very affordable rates! Check out our Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/CebuMountainBikeAdventure?ref=tn_tnmn

We are one of the pioneering companies to offer bike trail tours in the Philippines. You all are definitely gonna love what Philippines has to offer in terms of its ecological resources. Smile
  • 2 0
 That music made me feel like i was watching an episode of Downton Abbey.
  • 2 0
 more stuff to ride for when I finally make it up there!
  • 2 0
 Ride don't slide - best mountain bike trail I've ever ridden!
  • 1 0
 so much fun, even if you make a steep section only half way
  • 1 0
 I hated every minute of it, as I slipped and tumbled down every steep root section getting progressively more tired and pissed off!

Would have been OK except I was told/expecting a flowy trail
  • 4 0
 @psyickphuk slipping and tumbling down steep slippery root sections is what makes that trail so awesome.
  • 3 1
 That is what Whistler refers to as a flawy trail... I did it with both of my sons last weekend and three weeks before that. Rode it twenty years ago and I can honestly say its better. Best when dry and nasty when it gets wet, not sure it will dry out enough for me to ride again this year after the rain we've just had. The work on the trails in that zone is well appreciated. Thanks Rob and Tom.
  • 2 0
 Jase next time we won't have to ride back either, Gondo time!
  • 1 0
 Rode RDS for the first time in August. Hard as hell and painful but so much fun. Don't think I'll push up again from No Joke in two weeks so I will wait till next year to ride it again.
  • 1 0
 Just let some of the trails deteriorate instead of mosaic rock and manmade berms all over the place. Rotten log berms rule!
  • 1 0
 I know everyone's entitled to their opinion and all but... Yeah. Cool story Hansel.
  • 1 0
 see you soon beautiful t-minus 3 weeks
  • 1 0
 Creekside is amazing! BC trail and dustys were peakin a few weeks ago Smile
  • 2 1
 Dusty's downhill looks unbelievably shit! (Gopro vid on youtube)
  • 1 0
 deep summer spirit
  • 1 1
 If that's not Bike PORN I have no idea what is.







Copyright © 2000 - 2024. Pinkbike.com. All rights reserved.
dv56 0.035893
Mobile Version of Website