Update from Whistler Mountain Bike Park & 2018 Dig Day Date

May 3, 2018
by WhistlerMountain BikePark  
Photo by Robin O Neill

PRESS RELEASE: Whistler Mountain Bike Park

Literally-

If you were the type of person who took everything literally it would make navigating this world difficult. Think about it, you would take everything you read and heard at face value. For example, the classic 70’s Carl Douglas song, where the lyrics tell you “EVERYBODY was Kung Fu Fighting”. You might think wow, surely not everyone was Kung Fu Fighting? Were they all doing it at the same time or did they take turns? Did it happen in the street or were there special facilities for this sort of thing?

The Bike Park opens in precisely 17 days from when this rant is being keyed into a computer and as I sit here ranting, a team of dedicated workers are undertaking all of the tasks required to make that target a reality. The struggle is real. We had a banner year with 1239cm of snow of which 218cm still sit consolidated at 1650m. On top of the snow (or sometimes buried under it) is an unprecedented amount of blowdown and deadfall thanks to some heavy snow and wind events from the fall and early winter. The team in the field are optimistic that we will have a great opening day offering once they get through uncapping the dirt. The weather outlook is also promising given that warm rain or warm sunny days both contribute to snowmelt. The definitive list of trails we plan to open is still a week or so away but I can confirm that Dirt Merchant will not be on offer for opening because we will be ripping into a full rebuild of lower Dirt Merch as our first project of the season.

Photo Robin O Neill
A couple years ago we gave the top portion of Dirt Merchant a rebuild. This year, the lower section will get a face lift.


Garbo and Creekside openings are still a ways off but we will have crews in those zones digging and falling in the coming weeks in order to finish the work we started last summer. In the fall we had curious folks enter our closures “just having a look”, a situation we cannot have going forward. When we are actively tree falling and have equipment operating we can’t have random riders popping by for a look or using the construction zone as a shortcut to get to something on the other side. A breach of our closure requires us to shut down falling and excavating to check our perimeter signs and closure fences as well as sweep the area before we can go back to work. Each person entering the closed trail costs us hours of lost trail building productivity.

Photo Laurence Crossman-Emms
Thank you in advance for taking these signs literally.


If you are itching to be part of the action and want to ensure we get as much trail as possible for opening, why not join us for Dig Day 2018. On Sunday May 13th we will be hosting a public dig day where everyone is welcome to join us for the final push. In the past dig teams have helped us add trails like Angry Pirate and Del Boca Vista to the list which hadn’t seen a shovel in the weeks leading up to season kick off. We will provide a free bike park ticket as well as food and a beer at the GLC afterward for everyone who can pitch in. Last year we had an international crew with riders from Germany, Czech Republic, Brazil, Australia, Belgium and USA join the Team Canada for a fun day of getting the Park ready.

photo
Dig Day 2017 was a big success, helping us start the season strong.


When you visit the Bike Park this year we want you to be the take-everything-literally person. Ride the heck out of the trails we have open for you (after you PreRide & ReRide of course) but please observe and respect our closures.

See you on opening day...
– BF, Bike Park Manager


New for 2018

Daily Golden Hour. We are kicking off our Extended Play hours right from Opening Day. Typically, the Bike Park hours were 10 AM – 8 PM three days a week until mid-June, but for 2018 we will be spinning Fitz Chair from 10 – 8 every day as of Opening Day (May 18th) until September 3rd.

The Creekside Expansion. With five brand new trails spanning 13 km’s opening this summer, not to mention free parking and the Dusty’s patio, Creekside will be the place to be for anyone intermediate level and above. Target date for opening the zone is currently set for Saturday June 16th and the Creekside Gondola will also have its hours boosted, running from 10 AM – 8 PM throughout the summer. Stay tuned for additional updates.

Photo Laurence Crossman-Emms
Zander Geddes helping ride in one of five brand new trails opening in Creekside this year.


Big Red Express. We will have Big Red Express loading bikes in 2018. The open air chairlift will take riders from the top of Creekside to the Roundhouse and provide support to access the Garbo Zone and Peak Chair. Big Red will have a limited capacity, loading bikes with hooks on the side of the chairs like Peak Express.

Early Bird Passes on Sale Now

Now is the best time to get your all access pass to a sleepless summer, as early bird perks are on until May 20th. Perks for the Unlimited Pass include a free Bring-a-Friend ticket and free Top of the World ticket. For the limited passes, which includes the 10 Day, 5 Day, Twilight and Top of the World passes, you will get a free bonus day added on if you purchase in the next couple of weeks.

Get your pass here.

Dig Day

As noted in the Park Report, we are having Dig Day 2018 on Sunday May 13th. All participants will get food and a beer at the GLC afterwards as well as a free day ticket to the bike park. For more information and updates, please visit the Facebook Event Page.

#RideNowSleepLater

“Those cats were fast as lightning”
Were they special cats, with super powers?
“In fact it was a little bit frightening”
I would have been scared too being the only one without knowledge of the martial arts.
“They fought with expert timing”
Was it a race or were they just timing how long they could do it?
“Everybody was Kung Fu Fighting”
Wow they’re still fighting, don’t they ever get tired?

WMBP 2017


MENTIONS: @WhistlerMountainBikePark


Posted In:
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Author Info:
WhistlerMountainBikePark avatar

Member since May 9, 2011
188 articles

30 Comments
  • 24 0
 My phone auto corrected to Whistler Bike Park Dog Day while suggesting this to my gf, sooooooo
@WhistlerMountainBikePark I'm going to need a favour...
  • 6 0
 It appears that you have dug yourself quite a hole there @ebrooker
  • 20 3
 I paided them $712 dollars for a pass, and I know Vail is making good money. HIRE MORE TRAIL CREW Whistler. Stop cheapening out on the bike park
  • 5 0
 season pass for sure went up in price this season total bs
  • 6 2
 They are also running red chair and keeping fitz and Creek open till 8 every day all year, and I don't think passes got more expensive this year. Maybe by $20 at the most
  • 1 1
 @moonunit: 639 last year, 679 this year. Yeah, the pass prices went up, and by 40$.
And the 3-day edge pass was removed.
  • 1 1
 @Bragelonne: ya but early bird special use to be 475
  • 1 0
 @Bragelonne: they got rid of the edge card a couple seasons ago. It's sucking more and more
  • 2 0
 We are giving away a free pass to the bike park. Check it out
www.instagram.com/p/BiVlw6JAwKD/?taken-by=dakine
  • 7 0
 I agree Vail should invest more (and they are, Creekside expansion, Red chair, extended hours). But I find it hard to argue $679 isn't a good value for the bike park season pass given how much terrain there is any the expansion they are doing, the length of the season etc.

It's far and away the cheapest part of biking in Whistler, compared to accoms, food/booze, keeping a DH bike running etc.
  • 9 0
 Sounds like Whistler-world-problems...
  • 10 0
 south side 9-5ers rejoice! being able to totally avoid the village is the best!
  • 2 0
 Vancouver citiots (like me) as well... Creekside life all summer long with 10-8 and the new trails.
  • 9 0
 Lower dirty merch rebuild ohhhh yessss
  • 2 0
 Only been roughly as is since 2007?
  • 8 0
 Awesome, but Moms day tho!!, wonder if she game to dig??
  • 5 0
 Extended hours everyday THAAAAANK YOU! Rehab for this girl prior to the next Crankworx just got easier 3
  • 5 0
 I don't own a flannel trail building shirt; am I still able to help out?
  • 2 0
 Let me know if you wanna go.
  • 1 0
 I assure you that although it may seem improbable that EVERYBODY was kung fu fighting but when you factor in the fact that those kicks were as fast as lightning, the math works out.
  • 1 0
 Creekside open until 8 pm!? I was on the fence with getting a twilight pass this season until now, @WhistlerMountainBikePark you da real MVP!!!!
  • 2 0
 See you when Dirt Merchant! Can’t wait for new lower section.
  • 1 1
 Are you allowed to go take the snow off any trail you like? Or is it only a select few? I’d definitely want to get Schleyer and Lower Whistler running good!
  • 1 0
 All great news, thanks !!!
Can‘t wait to ride DM again.
And thanks for this earwig!
hearing this song now all day :-)
  • 2 2
 the smack talkers can now be quite about the park not being open on time because of snow. you know who you are.
  • 1 0
 Is the Crud 2 Mud just going to be the Crud 2 Crud this year?
  • 2 1
 I hope they keep the big creek gap on DM!
  • 1 0
 Please keep the large DM Creek Gap!! PLEASE!!!!!
  • 1 0
 yurt
  • 1 0
 YAAAAAAASSSSS!





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