Whistler Mountain Bike Park Opening Delayed

 Who tf downvoted Tippie?! Show yourself!

 @pdxkid: it was tippies evil twin from kranked

 They will eventually! Resorts are talking about doing a "tee time" type of service where you reserve lift time. Imma gonna bring my sand wedge.

 @scott-townes: I'm going to bring a Sandwich

 @pdxkid: If I had to guess.....It was pinkbike staff

 @todayisthegreatest: Nailed It!

 Off course it is safe to open Whistler... it's quite unsafe for Whistler if it doesn't open. Bancruptcy of businesses is a rather sad view at first which then progresses into traumatic view, it's just that News don't show it yet, everyone still has vivid images from ER, touching stories of deaths and survivals. Please people, visualize companies closing down, shops getting closed and moving out, property owners having nobody paying the rents, parts of cities slowly but surely becoming ghosts towns, cities getting less taxes not maintaining streets - hopes, prayers, putting health above money - yeah it does work for short term, but in the long run you can stuff it up your a*sholes because you definitely can't stop it up your mouth or accounts of people sending you bills to pay. Whoever says those holistic wonderful compassionate thoughts - are you perared to give money to laid off people? Give home to poor people who may just become homeless? - I thought as much.

One of the most profound experiences in life, mentioned everywhere by people with near death experiences: it is ok to die. Except this is not even an incredibly deadly disease... ugh... Can we all please push on politicians to stop this madness and normalize the situation by at least 75%? I don't need to travel to Ibiza and dance in a club so close I can slick somoene's sweat - I want full freedom for everyone to be outdoor and travel to be outdoors. it's a matter of health of the greater population in all possible ways, not just poor folks being at the risk of getting seriousy sick from Covid. I don't need to have a buffee in a hotel restaurant open. I need basic possibility to mvoe around and have basic accomodation services.

 @WAKIdesigns: Yea how about if someone wants to stay holed up in their house wearing a mask we let them but this locking down healthy people is just stupid. People just are not thinking ahead of the financial ramifications of no money circulating even if it doesn't affect them right now it will in the future if this persists. And govts, can't keep giving money to people to stay locked up at home without services provided by them being cut out almost completely or severely curtailed in the future. No taxes no services it really is easy to understand.

 Open when safe? safe from what, the virus? that's gonna be around for years. You know whats not safe? Unemployment for 40% of the population and bankruptcies everywhere because nature does its nasty little thing every 100 years. Humans can't control everything.

You can't live in a bubble and stats show its causing deaths in people with high blood pressure and diabetes as the top 2 health conditions...self inflicted.

We need to protect the elderly the best we can and go on with our lives the best we can while they work on a vaccine.

 Injury prevention on A-line and DM: change at least 2 tables counting from each fireroad crossing to doubles and dig ditches on sides of jumps so that it is impossible to roll beside the doubles. Hafjell did it on 2nd jump on lower roller coaster - weeds out vast majority of Joeys willing to roll the "big jumps". Right now you only find Joeys rolling the upper one. Me and my friend almost landed on the head of one when riding up there. Idiot was just walking behind the jump.

 @WAKIdesigns: a purely selfish view from you. One death is one too many until the R number is well below 0.5 we will just cause a second spike...Furlough is in place in the UK and an economy will recover, Try telling a relative of a victim its not about the death its about the finance..

 @kmreid66: oh well, that's quite selfish and short sighted of you. "economy will recover", so will the close ones of 0.01% like they have always done. Now tell it to millions of unemployed that you wanted to save grandpa. Tell it to families of people who deal with domestic violence, families of people who will become alcoholics, smokers, returning alcoholics, people getting all sorts of unhelathy lifestyle habits due to staying at home, depressed due to loss of jobs, businesses which they were building for years. most small businesses run on few percent of profit, no sht they will go down- It's not "economy" - it's people's lives we are talking about. I'm sure you're fine sucking on govs titty, but guess what it is working people adding milk to that tittie. Every month the prognosis gets worse and worse and worse. Just like the death count. % of growth or decline are not as emotional as skewed infection/death count numbers. Right now big companies are still suckign on the titty, but at some point stuff has to be taken out of the ground, made into something and sold. Money don't come from the printer.

 @Dlakusta: also, quite ironic for local gov to encourage Whistler to postopone. I am waiting for someone like let's say Travis Pastrana say Nitro Circus closed due to safety precautions related to COVID Emil J is probably coming to our dirt jumps today I will tell him ONLY single backflips and max rotation 360! Oh no - three barspins - the safe limit was two, you selfish bastard! BTW Emil - #drinkwater

 @kmreid66: You’re so virtuous and care so much about human life, but you seem to be cheering for lockdowns causing food shortages, which will cause millions of people to die and make covid numbers look laughable. Anybody in favor of a blanket lockdown at this point is a science denier, plain and simple.
Frustrating when you know the fools that want to virtue signal about people’s safety, drive cars while texting like complete idiots, endangering so many people in a very real way.

 Still don't know how to react on this fckn situation...12 years I dreamed of going to Canada. AT LAST in 2020 I bought plane tickets, rent an apartment, got a Canadian visa but forget to buy some luck for it. My mind is like "winner? or looser?" ahahaha

 @dfbland: Mmmm, open-faced club sand wedge

 going to be a very long time till Canada opens it's borders up. Open up the bike park for the locals!

 @WAKIdesigns: People should have a choice to do whatever they want. If you're afraid to get the corona and want to walk around your living room with a mask on and a can of lysol, fine. That's your choice. If you want to go out and enjoy the beach, go to the mountains and ride your bike, go camping, whatever it is. It should be your choice, not the governments.

 @WAKIdesigns: 'live at your own risk' works everyday

 I assume you wanted to ride on your new Virus Mythique?

 was thinking the same but with some del boca virus in the middle

 @joedaho: Bike parks pretty good, all the other trails in the area are trash though! Best stick to the park!

 @jj12jj: No it's all garbage. Please don't come and leave it to locals that don't want to drive to suffer it all....

 @joedaho: Nah, Squamish sucks too, don't waste your time. Even better, just avoid BC, nothing to see there

 Total crap. Stick to your local trails. just a few beginner runs. dry, washed out desert conditions. Lots of cactus at real bad spots.

 @mexicant: Is whistler in Arizona?

 @joedaho: if you want good riding you gotta go to saskatchewan i heard

 its an xc trail system right next to westchestertonfieldville. you wouldn't like it. but I heard they have amazing chocolate.

 @HLEKTRON: u know what else whistles when it gets blown

 @JAMBONE: Do they have a crossfit gym there?

 @iggzdaloc: first of all you literally have the American flag on your profile so don't say "here" as if you live here. Bc has plenty of good trails. Lots of people go somewhere and ride 10 trails that they don't like and say the whole place sucks.
Plus whistler has great trails but you have to ride in squamish and Pemberton and other places like that to actually see any variety

 no so maybe they can re-open hecklers this year?

 @imho4ep: would be a pretty boring time, crankworx isn’t happening

 @jj12jj: I'm happy to drink sneaky beers and yell at random people if that's what is needed from me.

 looked real hard for any special characters or hidden messages in there

 Whistler is a surprising Value for the price. $865 for the season of 70+ trails, Deer Valley out here in Utah costs near $500 for a blue jump line, black jump line, a green flow trail, and a slew of late 90's tech trails among maybe 3 or 4 other blue flow trails.

 @Ajorda: Also when compared to what Vail charges for the winter season ($1300 CAD Epic Pass and $170 CAD day pass).

 @CaMKii: Yeah, Vail shakes everyone they let on their mountains for every last dollar. Long live Canyons bike park, f*ck Vail.

 @Ajorda: Super expensive compared to Europe.

Les Portes du Soleil season pass is $300 and you can ride in Chatel, Morgins, Champery, Morzine, Avoriaz, Les Gets.

Better food and cheap drinks too.

 @Ajorda:
All of those black trails are fun but incredibly blown out. Someday they’ll see the light.

 @Ajorda: lodging up there is comparatively cheap too. I find it amazing that you can get a condo for a few days at like 1/3 the price of Vancouver rates.

 I believe we are free from being invaded until at least June 21

 While this pandemic was going on we built a wall. There's just some really cool sh*t back here and we don't feel like sharing it. Don't worry aboot it.

 @DasProfessor: Stay away from our Costcos and Trader Joes, eh.

 In my area, people in some counties are locked down from traveling 5 to 10 miles from their house for recreation and exercise.

 as long as that orange monkey is leading you're not coming back to pet our mooses

 @ashlemon: found the Hamster

 @maxgod: That is the fairest political statement I’ve heard in a while. Pray for us....

 @DirtbagMatt: This response made my day, thank you for that. And God bless, our prayers go out to you folks down there in americatown.

 @DasProfessor: Canadian border wall
m.imgur.com/gallery/GVdxE8y

 @DasProfessor: man, I gotta admit that was pretty damn funny

 @maxgod: but but! petting moose is my past time bro. don't be so cruel!

 @maxgod: Please don’t punish the friendly moose petters! We want nothing to do with the Orange-Faced Baboon. Would it help if I bring $1,200 in doughnuts for the boarder guards? I just got a check in the mail and I’m trying to figure out how to invest it in something I care about.

 @maxgod: Wow insulting someone based on the color of their skin while calling them a monkey. Unapologetic racism at its finest. Don’t worry, he’ll be gone in 4 years bud

 Fuck yea! Red barchetta

 @fogger808: I was raised on rush! Wish I had gotten to see neil peart live but... The man was such a legend that after he had a STROKE that caused him to completely lose his ability to play, he RELEARNED EVERYTHING and kept on playing! He made beautiful music, wrote beautiful songs, and was perhaps the biggest key to the band's success. He makes every song complex both musically and lyrically. Forever a legend.

 Neil would be proud, being that he was a rabid bike rider and all. Although his loss was barely 4 months ago , it's still feels, and hurts like yesterday... You brought tears to my eyes, thank you and Neil, and Rush! What's bigger than legend...?

 @lancifer: As long as we're around, Neil wont be forgotten!

 @joedaho: hopefully it's season pass holders only all summer

 Hell yea !!!!

 So stoked. Gonna be there next weekend.... unreal how good it is for how ticked away and Uncrowded it is

 @FrancoisXXX69: only $369 for a season pass. You're going to see A LOT of desperate riders buying a season pass rather than daily lift tickets just so they can ride. Myself included! I usually make 2 trips to Angel Fire a year so a season pass is justified. And if the Colorado bike parks don't open up be ready to get invaded!

 @fast-n-loose-podcast: that’s even better. That place is like a summer home for me, so the more money for the trail crew the better

 buying? or booking vacation lodging? i thought vail made their dough from the latter.

 Blame it all on Ozzy.

 @vinay: Obama.

 I like your spirit, but that is one big mountain. Like 5,000 vertical.

 @TheR: So? I’d pedal up too. Maybe only get one descent per day, but I’d go for it! Regularly tackle 4000 here at home.

 I've always wondered what kind of shinnanigan's the locals get up to this time of year.

 They allow that there? Other Vail mountains close access to everyone.

 @BiNARYBiKE: You’re a beast.

 @BiNARYBiKE: And I award you a cookie.

 @TheR: I don’t eat cookies, that’s why I can climb such big mountains!

 @BiNARYBiKE: All good. I wasn’t criticizing this guy. I was just saying, damn that’s a long climb. I wonder how many people really appreciate how big a climb that is.

Now I’m no stranger to a climb. 2-2.5k is pretty routine for me, but doubling up? Whew! I’ve been there in Whistler — that mountain is huge. Most of the ski areas here in Colorado are about 3,500 vertical, with the bike parks starting well below that. These mountains here in CO aren’t small mountains. I don’t think people realize how much climbing 5k feet is by comparison. Or know that Whistler is even as big as it is.

But if anyone wants to do it, go for it.

 @TheR: no, I agree. I’m just messing. It would be a serious slog. I ride to the top of mount Ashland in southern Oregon a few times a year but usually only half way up or so. I rode to the top of Purgatory a couple years ago, that was a haul. Completely different than making laps in the bike park, that’s for sure.

 The wall was mentioned already...

 I, uh, have... umm, conflicted feelings about what you just said.

 Pretty much no one goes there anymore. Its too crowded.

 Yeah, nobody goes there, hence the crowds.

 @acali: I appreciate the Yogi Berra reference!

 Hahah blue mountain. The parkade ramp into my building is bigger and steeper than that mole hill. You gotta move brother!

 @lastminutetech: oh I know. easy said then done

 20% credit towards next year's ski pass.

 @kingtut87: seems risky to buy a pass for next year. They could not open or go bankrupt before you get a chance to use it.

 @kingtut87: i got 32% - not bad -
we got pounded with some huge 3-4 day storms this January through early March leaving the alpine closed for avalanche control up to 3-5 days a week sometimes . lots of pass holders we’re waiting to use up lost days In March and April and are bitter - especially after a late march storm left 2-3 ft that nobody skied -

 @dthomp325: suspect they'd try and sell some assets before going into insolvency, but you never know. Next year's ski passes include insurance that should protect against the resort not opening.

 Yeah but you don’t share a border with the epicentre of the virus.

 Yeah we are very lucky to be honest. Hope it gets under control around the rest of world too @gtbiker87:

 @gtbiker87: sorry about that, but hey buy cheap Chinese goods!!!!! China's a real friend. Anyways I won't start that. Hopefully the shelter in place works!

 glacier up top never melts, upper garbonzo is typically closed until weeks after 'opening' from snow and water issues. Ive seen some pics from years back where the trails are carved into the snowpack only weeks before 'opening'.

 livepow.com

 2011 only a couple of trails opened and they had to be machine dug out. Riding Aline with snow walls and lots of snow melt run off was muddy for weeks. crankworx was in July and they had to hand dig the garbanzo race track so it had time to melt for the race (pre peak Enduro days)

 Thanks guys.

 They are one of the earliest opening bike parks in NA.

 OK so first and foremost this is a ski resort and the bike trails happen to be on the north slope of the Whistler foothills, opening mid May IMHO is way early and lucky to happen any bike season ( it takes a herculean effort to prepare the trails ) . Even with the snow melting on the open meadows the trails deep in the woods usually have several cm's of left over snow and this is when the small backhoe and manual labour go in to clear it. So now you have the trails being cleared but the heaviest melt is yet to come pouring off the alpine.. this results in torrents of water overflowing the creeks and ditches and don't forget this is a rain forest. So over this May 16,17,18 weekend we had our usual mix of cloud , rain and a little sun.. would have, could have, been a great weekend to open but there is no work being done on any trail that I can see from the bottom. Within a few weeks the valley gets very warm, the upper slopes have melted off and by mid to late June it's game on mother F'er.. at least that's a typical opening. This year... at the moment all bets are off. I'm a skier first and biker second... and right now I'm not even sure what next snow season will look like.. although Vail is already prompting us for our winter pass payment... and I haven't seen any email asking me for bike park payment. I will not make any guess for summer or winter activity. Just have to wait it out along with everyone else.

 @jgladiuk: cheers for clearing that up for me. So basically everything’s still covered in snow and they actually have to dig the trails out to fix them up so they can open the park?

 @thenotoriousmic: well that might be overstating it a bit, but if your planning a trip over sometime, dont book for opening week, I'd say last week June, even mid july and on to be able to access majority of trails. it is high alpine and the weather is totally different than the valley bottom.

 @lifted-d: isn’t every mountain biker planning a trip to whistler? Haha. Maybe next year though.

 @thenotoriousmic: all clear of snow mid way up right now which is top of Fitz... top of Garbo will still have several cm is most shaded areas. More importantly though the PM and Pres just announced another 30 day extension for the border being closed and no travel into Canada from Europe as well.
"Canada-U.S. border to remain closed to non-essential travel for another month, PM says it's the 'right thing'
I think our PM is looking to NZ and Auz as examples of success in tamping down Covid 19.. it'll never be gone but he just wants to get a handle on it before opening up. That leaves Vail and the bike park with another 30 days to sort out how to comply with physical distancing which the governments are calling for. They are probably re-writing the pass waiver to include Covid .

 @todayisthegreatest: n
Not a chance. Bellingham has murder hornets.

 the fitz loading platform is 80% completed... workers told me the plan is to open the park late June... that's the plan. ... anything could go sideways between now and then and delay till mid July... another employee told me Vail is going to use Perisher in Aus as their template for loading chairs and keeping public safe from Covid ... contact tracing .. no walk up tix sales.. sanitizing chairs. Although its winter down there at least they'll get an idea of dealing with crowds and chairlifts and apply the best practices to our summer loading. I'm not going to call it either way but just watch and listen.

 @jgladiuk: well I hope it opens and you live there so I trust your words in the situation . No the question is can it be worth while to operate ,with diminished numbers ? . The boarder is still closed ,
And what’s happening in the village these days ? . Can tourism still continue ?

 @mxmtb: I would estimate 60% of the stores are open with the closed stores all hanging signs saying opening soon ( mid to late june ) up until day before yesterday we were riding our bikes right thru the village with no worries of coming close to anyone.. but as of Wednesday we're walking the bikes due to large groups of people wandering the village stroll. Looks very close to being back to normal numbers ... only my observation.. and today its has been raining heavily most of the day so its back to being deserted. With the 30 day extended border closure and no cruise ships etc. its going to be a very quiet summer and many of the retail outlets will be on the brink. Word is that the Fitz will open but you will have to book a 3 hour slot...