Panorama Bike Park 2014

“I feel thin, sort of stretched, like butter scraped over too much bread.” – Bilbo Baggins

I can relate, Bilbo my friend. The park is slated to open on Friday June 27th and between now and then there doesn’t seem to be enough butter to spread over the Bike Park crusty baguette.

Every challenge presents a seed of opportunity
Exciting times at Panorama. We are investing serious time and capital to enhance the resort’s core product – skiing. To that end, we have tackled (with Dopplemyer’s help) the installation of a new chair lift from the base area that accesses new green terrain. In addition, last fall ski runs were widened and re-graded to create a race run worthy of the 2015 IPC World Championships. These enhancements have required a need for significant new entrances and exits for many of our existing bike trails. The new reroutes will be exhilarating to ride and allow the separation of beginner/ intermediate riders from more advanced riders. However, these new requirements, piled upon regular maintenance, and mixed with the creation of new trail from scratch have conspired to make the crew busier than a one-legged man in an ass kicking contest.



New Green Trail/ New Mini Ex
For the first time in many years the Panorama Bike Park has a mini excavator. The investment in the machine has been to facilitate the construction of modern and authentic green trail to entice new people into the sport. Surveying and cutting began last fall to initiate a process to phase Let it Ride off of access roads on to purpose built green flow trail that complements the terrain. The experience for new and intermediate riders will be one that promotes fun, confidence, and progression.

As the phasing progresses a new intermediate jump line will be built into Mercy Me. The goal is to have this jump line ready to go for opening weekend. Feeling stretched again.

Stiffy – a reroute begins

Stiffy – reroute complete

Continued Improvement
To date a great deal of work has been done to Stiffy and Bazooka to enhance the great work that was originally done there. Riders will discover some new reroutes on steep eroded sections that add flow and incorporate natural terrain features.

As the summer progresses we hope to get the mini ex into Hell’s Bells and Bender to rework the jumps.


Stiffy –Before - how can we use this rock? 1


Stiffy – After - over the rock to a sweet new berm.

Canada Cup DH #2
The Canada Cup will return to Panorama again this summer. Slated for the weekend of July 5/6th the Insanity course will be ready to challenge Canada’s top gravity riders. Steve Smith showed up and cleaned up last year. Fingers crossed we see him again – I know, we’re dreaming, but don’t wake us up yet.

Freshly crowned Canadian Champ, Steve Smith with members of the Trail Crew

Another riding season is on our door step. The exhilaration of preparation is an intoxicating cocktail of excitement, hard work, and over-proof anxiety – "bartender, give me another, make it a double."

We have 3 more weeks before the lift starts turning. Who will be first in line?

Check out this quick edit – look for the bear.