For ten days in August, the Crankworx festival transforms Whistler into a global epicenter of mountain biking. First started in 2003, the festival has grown into a behemoth of an event with upwards of 350,000 spectators/participants involved in various disciplines over the course the events. It is the place to be if your business is mountain biking.
Luckily for Rocky Mountain Bicycles, our business is mountain biking. This year we wanted to host an event and give riders a lasting memory. But, as one could imagine, it’s quite difficult to come up with any new or original ideas in an over-saturated marketplace, which of course is Whistler during Crankworx. So, after numerous meetings, and countless hours of planning (at least two), we came up with an idea: everybody loves a good surprise. Couple that with a good ride and we should have a winning formula.
In partnership with Lululemon/Forlise, 7Mesh, and Endless Biking, Rocky Mountain had organized morning rides for the Thursday and Friday leading up to the big-show weekend. Those wanting to join signed up online to ensure a spot (capped at 40), on what would be a two-hour tour of Whistlers more infamous trails guided by the Endless Biking crew. We encouraged participants to take a spin on some of the newest bikes from Rocky Mountain, choosing from our complete demo fleet which was up there for the week.
At 10am, the rides departed from the Rocky Mountain Bicycles demo location and finished up with a deli-style lunch and necessary post-ride beverages at the Forlise store in the Whistler Village. Once the social started to wind down and people were sharing stories, thank you’s and high-fives, the participants were informed that their names were entered in a draw for yet another surprise. A mountain biking heli-trip on the coming Saturday. ”Ahh whaaa?” was the general look that swept across faces. Yes, that is correct, you did hear that right. We’re drawing names for an all-expenses-paid flight on a helicopter with your bicycle to the top of a mountain to ride your bike down—surprise!
Seven lucky people were picked to join Andreas Hestler, photographer Margus Riga – who was there to document smiles – and myself on a heli-assisted ride down the popular Mt Barbour in Pemberton. Fortunate for us, Rocky Mountain Bicycles had partnered with Blackcomb Helicopters this year allowing us to take advantage of opportunities such as this. As expected, the winners were ecstatic as this trail serves up a great experience. The ride, as I had remembered, is quite an undertaking. After a long alpine descent that includes some dedicated mountain bike berms and jumps, the trail passes a beautiful alpine meadow before diving into the woods. Riders are then treated with a couple nice sub-alpine needle carves before the trail makes a traversing left and meanders along a super steep side-slope to Tenquille Lake – even though it's a heli-drop, the ride dishes out a healthy workout. After an unbelievable picturesque lake-side snack, we dealt with a quick grunt out of the drainage before negotiating a solid hour of uber-technical descending… this place is world-class! For a few, it was their first time in a helicopter let alone combining a world-class trail descent, and as the smiles revealed, everybody loves a good surprise!
Congratulations to the lucky seven winners:
Ben, Tania, Dave, Jeff, Malin Andrew and Rachel.
Words by Wade Simmons
Photos by Margus Riga
Everyone at Rocky wanted to be there and you could tell. Customer service is a dying breed. Next time i'm shopping for a bike RMB will be at the top of the list for sure. The new altitude is the most phenomenal riding bike I can remember swinging a leg over. I could clear lines up, and ride descents noticeably quicker than I can on my 5 digit price tagged 160mm bike. I could literally ride lines i've never been able too, right off the bat on the first ride. I don't think I've ridden a bike that is so balanced before. I'm sure the slayer is even rowdier pointed downhill, but that altitude is unbelievably versatile.
Thanks again @RockyMountainBicycles!
And before anyone asks - No i'm not on the rocky payroll. I'm just one very happy rider knowing that brands like this exist!
See you on the trails
Andrew
Are fake tits necessary....
But yeah, it surely was an awesome experience and I wouldn't cry if I were chosen to do it.
I’m that second type. I was fortunate to do some riding in the Alps and other places in Europe and can say some of the trails weren’t all that amazing in and of themselves but I didn’t care because the views are simply epic. You could get a brat and a beer at the top of a climb at a Waldhutte before your descent! I’d do those trails again in a heartbeat. And again, and again, and again.
Neither type of rider is wrong, just different.