Whistler Bike Park: Opening Day - Park Report
Opening day is shaping up to be one for the record books. An early spring melt in the valley means that the trails in the Fitz zone have been able to clear naturally and the trail crew has focused on tuning and perfecting instead of digging through meters of the white stuff. On Friday, May 20, the Whistler Mountain Bike Park will open with the Fitzsimmons Zone at 100% capacity. The Fitzsimmons Express will run from 10am – 5pm Friday, so get out there and get after it.
![Whistler Bike Park Update - Opening Day]()
Fresh berms and a new re-route on lower EZ Does It - Photo by Mitch Winton
While we have all been dreaming about drifting corners and boosting jumps, our bike park team has been building up their calluses while perfecting the trails. Two of these dream-worthy trails are the new Crank It Up More and revamped Lower Crank It Up. Last summer’s weather wasn’t conducive to building new trails, but 2016 has been a different story and the trail crew hopes to have both of these trails ready to ride for the opening weekend.
Starting at the Singing Pass crossing, Lower Crank It Up pulls off to the left as its own completely new trail. This trail will follow the same difficulty of Upper Crank It Up and will feature beautifully sculpted berms and jumps all the way down the trail. The photo below shows the new pullout and trail crossing:
![Whistler Bike Park Update - Opening Day]()
The new Crank It Up re-route section keeps the flow going through while giving easy access to the new trail - Photo by Mitch Winton
Crank It Up More takes over the existing trail but has received a brand new facelift. Aptly named, this trail turns up the dial from Crank It Up so expect bigger jumps and more speed. If you're looking for that next step from B-Line to A-Line, this is where you will find it.
![Whistler Bike Park Update - Opening Day]()
A view down the first section of the new lower Crank It Up - Photo by Mitch Winton
Whistler Mountain Bike Park mountain biking trails
Free Day Tickets Provided By GIANT
As if new trails and hero dirt conditions don’t get your gears spinning, we will also be giving away free tickets courtesy of our official bike partner, GIANT. Be one of the first 35 riders to show up at the base of the park with your GIANT bike on opening day and get a free lift ticket. GIANT Team riders Josh Carlson, Reece Wallace and Katie Holden will also be there signing autographs.
![Josh Carlson pumped only two extra PSI into his tires today-- just in case. no repeats desired of Sunday s stage five flat. It really was a fluke. I ve run those tires in the park all season same psi same trails same riding style and that was my first flat. So yeah only 2 extra psi.]()
Photo by: Colin Meagher
Early Bird Bonus Offers End May 22
If you haven’t got your pass yet, it’s time to wake up! The Early Bird Bonus Sale ends May 22, click here for the best offer of the season. From May 20 until June 10, the Bike Park will operate from 10am – 5pm Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, and 10am – 8pm, Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. Operation hours will extend daily to 10am – 8pm starting June 11. Upload will be available daily from the Fitzsimmons Express Chair with the Whistler Village Gondola opening for the season on May 21.
Remembering Those Who Have Been Recently Lost
While we are all pumped for opening day, the bike community has lost two family members and their presence will be missed at the Bike Park moving forward. Brian Finestone, Bike Park Manager, has more to say on that:
The countdown is on for opening the Bike Park for 2016 but with the excitement, there is an underlying sense of sadness with the untimely passing of two talented young riders whose paths have travelled alongside our own. The loss of Steve Smith and earlier this year of Kelly McGarry have cast a shadow on our small world. Such sad events show us that these talented humans, who we aspire to be like on different levels, are not exempt from mortal reality despite having immortal skills. I am sad for the family and friends of these two legends and for the people who will have to fill the void with their passing. The Whistler Mountain Bike Park will miss their energy and the wave of excitement that swept the lineup whenever they were seen amongst the crowd while just out for a rip. As a salute to their spirit, we are going to host an informal A-Line tribute train at 1pm on Saturday, May 21st. Whether you knew them personally or were lucky enough to watch them ride live and in person, join us for a lap to kick off the season and celebrate their lives and the sport we love.
Hope to see you out for opening so we can all get together and ride some laps for McGazza and the Chainsaw. - BF
![At UCI MTB World Cup MT ST ANNE Quebec canada]()
Photo by: Sven Martin
![kelly]()
Photo by: Ale Di Lulo Photography
![SLEEP LATER]()
MENTIONS: @WhistlerMountainBikePark / @giantbicycles
While we have all been dreaming about drifting corners and boosting jumps, our bike park team has been building up their calluses while perfecting the trails. Two of these dream-worthy trails are the new Crank It Up More and revamped Lower Crank It Up. Last summer’s weather wasn’t conducive to building new trails, but 2016 has been a different story and the trail crew hopes to have both of these trails ready to ride for the opening weekend.
Starting at the Singing Pass crossing, Lower Crank It Up pulls off to the left as its own completely new trail. This trail will follow the same difficulty of Upper Crank It Up and will feature beautifully sculpted berms and jumps all the way down the trail. The photo below shows the new pullout and trail crossing:
Crank It Up More takes over the existing trail but has received a brand new facelift. Aptly named, this trail turns up the dial from Crank It Up so expect bigger jumps and more speed. If you're looking for that next step from B-Line to A-Line, this is where you will find it.
Free Day Tickets Provided By GIANT
As if new trails and hero dirt conditions don’t get your gears spinning, we will also be giving away free tickets courtesy of our official bike partner, GIANT. Be one of the first 35 riders to show up at the base of the park with your GIANT bike on opening day and get a free lift ticket. GIANT Team riders Josh Carlson, Reece Wallace and Katie Holden will also be there signing autographs.
Early Bird Bonus Offers End May 22
If you haven’t got your pass yet, it’s time to wake up! The Early Bird Bonus Sale ends May 22, click here for the best offer of the season. From May 20 until June 10, the Bike Park will operate from 10am – 5pm Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, and 10am – 8pm, Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. Operation hours will extend daily to 10am – 8pm starting June 11. Upload will be available daily from the Fitzsimmons Express Chair with the Whistler Village Gondola opening for the season on May 21.
Remembering Those Who Have Been Recently Lost
While we are all pumped for opening day, the bike community has lost two family members and their presence will be missed at the Bike Park moving forward. Brian Finestone, Bike Park Manager, has more to say on that:
The countdown is on for opening the Bike Park for 2016 but with the excitement, there is an underlying sense of sadness with the untimely passing of two talented young riders whose paths have travelled alongside our own. The loss of Steve Smith and earlier this year of Kelly McGarry have cast a shadow on our small world. Such sad events show us that these talented humans, who we aspire to be like on different levels, are not exempt from mortal reality despite having immortal skills. I am sad for the family and friends of these two legends and for the people who will have to fill the void with their passing. The Whistler Mountain Bike Park will miss their energy and the wave of excitement that swept the lineup whenever they were seen amongst the crowd while just out for a rip. As a salute to their spirit, we are going to host an informal A-Line tribute train at 1pm on Saturday, May 21st. Whether you knew them personally or were lucky enough to watch them ride live and in person, join us for a lap to kick off the season and celebrate their lives and the sport we love.
Hope to see you out for opening so we can all get together and ride some laps for McGazza and the Chainsaw. - BF
MENTIONS: @WhistlerMountainBikePark / @giantbicycles
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Wouldn't feel right to have a tribute run on anything else - didn't stevie win a race on A-line?
Besides, it's a tribute lap...no one will care if you are a bit slow over the jumps.
A run named "Chainsaw" would be epic!
Anyone renting a room in a shed