World's Best to Compete in Whistler Gravity Fest

Whistler, B.C. - The world's top mountain bike athletes will convene in Whistler July 14-20 for the inaugural Whistler Summer Gravity Festival, featuring three world class competitive events - Joyride Bikercross, Air Downhill and the Slopestyle Expression Session - each showcasing various elements of freeriding, the increasingly popular offshoot of mountain biking.Joyride Bikercross, the opening event of the Whistler Summer Gravity Festival on July 14, was a huge hit with the crowd in 2002. This year, spectators can expect to find top freeriders such as Wade Simmons and current World Cup Downhill leader Cedric Gracia and others in an intense four-person head-to-head race finishing at the base of the Whistler Mountain Bike Park. "Joyride Bikercross is unique," says professional freerider and Whistlerite, Cory Derpak, "to have the world's best freeriders and World Cup dowhillers competing against each other is unheard of."

The Air Downhill on July 15 is a spine-tingling race down the Whistler Bike Park's famous A-Line trail, a smooth and fast track with more than 100 jumps and berms, that twists and turns its way down Whistler Mountain. Like Joyride Bikercross, the start list will include an impressive list of top competitors, but in a race against the clock.

Both Joyride Bikercross and the Air Downhill are also open to four-wheel custom bikes, designed for wheelchair athletes who use gravity to race down the mountain. "Joyride Bikercross gives us a platform, and that's all the disabled community ever needs. So this [event] is very cool, and hopefully it will continue to grow," said four-wheel competitor Stacy Kohut after last year's event.

British Columbia is home to many of the top freeride mountain bikers on the planet and the Slopestyle Expression Session on July 19 showcases the skill and daring of this amazing group of athletes. Fifteen of the world's top performers in the sport will demonstrate their jumping expertise on a man-made dirt course complete with natural and man-made obstacles, stunts and rails. New to Whistler, this judged competition is invitation-only and takes place at the base of the Whistler Mountain Bike Park.

Freeriding is mountain biking's fast growing and rebellious faction that has increased momentum in recent years to establish itself as an important part of the sport. Born from the steep trails of Vancouver's North Shore nearly a decade ago, and shaped by films like Kranked, the freeride movement has greatly influenced bike technology, inspired new magazines, affected fashion, sparked world-class events and helped grow the sport.

The Whistler Bike Park Package includes a pass to the Whistler Mountain Bike Park and three nights accommodation starting from $165 Cdn ($109 US) per person, valid July 10 to September 8, 2003, available by calling Whistler's Official Central Reservations Service 1-800-WHISTLER (1-800-944-7853). Bike rentals, service, guided tours and trail locations are available at www.mywhistler.com or through the Whistler Activity Centre at 604-938-2769 or toll-free 1-800-944-7853.

The Whistler Summer Gravity Festival is a seven-day celebration of mountain biking, July 14-20, 2003 showcasing the downhill, freeride, cross-country and trials disciplines in a series of both competitive and participatory events. Featured events include the Tim Horton's Canadian National Mountain Bike Championships; Joyride Bikercross; the World's Largest Loonie Race; daily special athlete and industry events; camps and clinics.

Event information is available at
www.mywhistler.com, www.whistlergravity.com and
www.worldfreeride.com.

Media accreditation is available at www.whistlergravity.com.