Mountain Bike Park in Whistler

The Whistler Mountain Bike Park opening day is just around the corner, scheduled for Saturday May 15 - weather dependent.

Whistler Mountain Bike Park has something for every level of rider. Gentle, banked cruisers through the Coastal forest. Tight and twisty single track - perfect for intermediate riders. For the armour clad, full face wearing, 50lb. bike group there are steep rock faces, gnarly, root strewn lines, drop offs of all descriptions and more.

Whistler Bike Park

"At Whistler Blackcomb we’re lucky enough to have six months for mountain biking season. As all trails are covered in snow, the anticipation builds when we can finally clear the trails and get the Bike Park open,” says Brian Finestone, Whistler Mountain Bike Park Manager. “The mud gates are about to open this Saturday and people are worked up into a frenzy with opening day anticipation. We’ve got lots of trails ready to go and are expecting a great start to what will no doubt be another fantastic season.”

The Bike Park is open daily from 10am-5pm until June 19 and then from 10am-8pm starting June 20 through the summer. Weekday access is via the Whistler Village Gondola with the Fitzsimmons Chairlift opening on weekends.

The Garbanzo Zone is scheduled to open June 27 in time for Whistler Blackcomb’s core summer operations. Riders can look forward to new trail sections on Blue Velvet and Freight Train, as well as the completely redeveloped No Joke trail in the Garbanzo Zone. The Bike Park also features redesigned Slopestyle, Giant Slalom and Dual Slalom courses.

First-timers can test drive the Whistler Mountain Bike Park with the Sampler ticket, which provides three lift rides. If the sampling turns into a full-blown addiction, riders can upgrade to a full day ticket with options to receive discounts on riding in the Bike Park for the rest of the season.

Full suspension bikes, helmets and body armour are available at Garbanzo Rentals in the Whistler Gondola building. Meanwhile, the Garbanzo Bike and Bean in Carleton Lodge offers rental and repair services, and features a retail section filled with top-end mountain bikes, clothing and equipment.

For those looking for some inspiration, the epic and adrenaline-fueled mountain bike movie, Redbull Rampage: The Evolution, premieres at the Garibaldi Lift Co. (GLC) Friday, May 15 at 9pm. The eye candy continues at the GLC on Saturday, May 16 with the premiere of the Goldstein Productions movie, On The Line starting at 9pm. The GLC is open daily throughout the summer at the base of the Bike Park, and is the perfect spot to enjoy a sunny post-Park patio session or an evening of live music, DJs and good times.

Whistler Mountain Bike Park, May 16-October 12, 2009