Tips for Whistler Virgins

[Dirt Devil]

I'm making the trip from Australia to Whistler this year and I'll be staying for about 3 weeks. It punched a fair hole in my wallet but from the posts I've read on here, it sounds like it'll be worth it.

I'm mainly after some tips on riding the park. What to do and (more importantly) what not to do, that sort of thing. I notice that riding "slow" on A-Line is not cool. Anything else?... or is it all pretty straight forward?

Cheers,

[trout]

My two cents, go ride in Squamish, Pemberton, North Van, and the rest of the Fraser Valley as well as Whistler. There's more variety in the trails and you will get more of a sense of the bike culture we have in BC. Coming all the way from Aus to only ride Whistler would be like going from BC to Aus and spending three weeks on one beach.

[FlipFantasia]

don't death grip the bars, the braking bumps will kill ya and you won't last the day before your arms give up!

[bcbud]

Have fun!!!

[Straw]

The park is big, but not huge. After a few days, you will know your way around.

I think the main thing is to not bring any attitude, and ignore the people who have it. That way, you'll be focused on having fun, and not worrying about what other people think of your riding.

About slow people riding ALine...I was slow once too. Just go midweek if you're not confident. And definately not after 5PM...that's when the fast locals come out and charge for a couple hours after work.

And like BcBud said, just have fun!

[ATN]

Located on the other side of the main plaza (where the lifts are) is a building called Carleton Lodge. There's a place there called Garbanzo Bike and Bean. Inside there is a free water fountain with cups. A bit further inside is the staircase down to washrooms.

The Gondola usually has less lineup and is closer to most of the trails, so is quicker by about a minute or two. But you might prefer the comfort and less smell of the Fitzsimmons chiar,

and 3 week trip? Remember that it will be there the next day for the first week and don't go crazy trying to catch that 4:59 chair.

[Battlecat]

I would not go crazy and try and ride everyday either. You will most likely be really tired and need to take a day off. Maybe make a trip down to vancouver for a couple days. If you start to feel tired around 3 and your hands and wrists are hurting call it a day. go hit the bar or something because if you keep going hard you will regret it for the next day.

Have fun man. Lets us know when you are going and maybe somebody can show you around

[Couch_Surfer]

eat a splitz burger

[Straw]

eat a splitz burger

But tell them not to put that special Splitz sauce on it...too much garlic is bad!

[Kevin26]

don't worry about things to much!

[C.Lee]

if u want.. bring pain killers..and make sure if u hear "Right" or "right side" keep clear of ur right.. or left if left is beign called =)

[Straw]

if u want.. bring pain killers..and make sure if u hear "Right" or "right side" keep clear of ur right.. or left if left is beign called =)

I get that alot...I call out "on your left!" and then the rider or walker will move right into my path!

[trail star]

i was slow on aline on my first run.

Scared the shit outa me with locals buzzing my tires faces etc.. but met a few random people and followed them down at proper speed + proper lines. Then i was set.

Go there, have fun. Dont ride everyday, your spending so much money go see the sites as well! Vans a lovely city! Deffo get your ass to splitz.. mean ass food

[Scott C]

Get Avalanche Pizza too... fucking awesome pizza.

[tzouryder]

man u should coem to the island for a few days and coem ride prevost and parksvile and all the good spots on the island u can find peopel on here that will gide u around the island is where it is at

[Spud-biker]

Was there on holidays last year , you are going to have so much fun :)
First thing I'll say is take it easy to start , bummer to break yourself up at the start of 3 weeks , it was 2 days before I was due home last year before I done my ribs .
That way I had the pain for weeks after to remind me of the happy days:)
I ended up doing all the trails in the park except some of the easy ones, some of them were a bit over my head lower joy ride and the end of clownshoes .I rode them but only just .
I was riding on my own which was great in a way ,jump in the singles line it moves real quick and you get to meet loads of people on the chair(me , Wade Simmons, Robbie Bourdon and another guy one time , it was the week before crankworx) and ride with some of them as well.
Yeah just enjoy it ,oh yeah rent a headcam !
Wish Iwas going back this year

[Dirt Devil]

Thanks for the tips. We definitely won't be riding every day, that would be way too much like hard work. Probably just ride mid-week when it a bit quieter and then find something else to do when the lift lines get too long.

My two cents, go ride in Squamish, Pemberton, North Van, and the rest of the Fraser Valley as well as Whistler. There's more variety in the trails and you will get more of a sense of the bike culture we have in BC.
Sounds good. We'll have plenty of time and it'd be great to ride some other trails. No idea how we'll get out to those places but we'll figure something out.

I think the main thing is to not bring any attitude, and ignore the people who have it.
Definitely. I'm too lazy to pack attitude.

[mr_fungle]

Don't EVER let your bike out of your sight, pack some tools and be careful with the "last ride". See you this summer!

[IFO]

Don't EVER let your bike out of your sight, pack some tools and be careful with the "last ride". See you this summer!

listen to this man...

he is wise and knows his shit...

NEVER let your bike leave your vision....

[Straw]

Don't EVER let your bike out of your sight, pack some tools and be careful with the "last ride". See you this summer!

If you call 'last run', you'll get hurt. So never say it. It's like saying 'shut-out' to a goalie, or 'Macbeth' to an actor.

[Dantes Inferno]

if your coming up for a 3 weeks, WORCA or SORCA member ship and then by a seasons pass. That way you help the biking community, save a bit on the seasons, and you get extended play also (the temp is cooler and it rocks)

[King of Fasia]

ride A-line, they've done a shiteload of work to the lower section making it oh so delectable

[bcbud]

The bottom is sooo much faster now with all the new work done, the berms before the rock drop and amazing, carry sooo much speed into the drop and the butter tranny is sooo nice, times for Air Dh will be faster again.

[Dirt Devil]

Don't EVER let your bike out of your sight

I didn't really think about thieves at the bike park. I will now.

[Dimes]

Being slow on A-line isn't an issue, being slow and not allowing people to pass is where you run into the danger of someone throwing an elbow as they finally get to go by you.

[Stain Boy]

These are great tips! I am coming over for a five week trip to BC this summer and was getting a bit worried about what to do and what not to do, especially in Whistler. It's good to know that having fun is the main thing...

I'll probably be going to Squamish too. Is the riding any good there? Especially for a flat land guy like me...i'm from The Netherlands.

Oh yeah, i'll be training my skills at Kamloops Bike Camps first, hahaha

Robert

edit: and coming from The Netherlands we're used to keeping an eye on our bikes...they even get stolen while you're riding them..

[::Liam::]

biggest tip of all... take me...


hopefully ill be over there ... next season deffinatly...

[teflon_cock]

Whistler is a big beer commercial without the bikinis
wise to break up your time here with some other riding in the lower mainland The Shore, Woodlot, Eagle Mtn, Squamish etc
take it from an ex-pat Aussie - you'll get 'BC-itis' ... you won't wanna leave

[BrettW]

take it from an ex-pat Aussie - you'll get 'BC-itis' ... you won't wanna leave

Take this warning seriously, after visiting BC the last 2 summers I'm moving there in three weeks! (of course you'll have to find a Canadian to marry first ;) )

Dont worry too much about riding "slow" on a-line. Everyone is slow their first few runs, keep over for the fast riders and you'll pick it up quick. Midweek is definitely the best time to learn.

I've always found everyone there to be really friendly and helpful. Chat to people on the lifts and you'll soon have plenty of people to ride with.

have fun!

[Dirt Devil]

take it from an ex-pat Aussie - you'll get 'BC-itis' ... you won't wanna leave
Yeah, I've already booked myself into rehab for when I get home.

[andytheaussie]

Dude, when are you going? :aussie:

[Straw]

I just thought of another thing. Do a big grocery-shop in Squamish before you get here (if you can) because food is nutty-expensive here.

And about bikes...people'll even steal them when they're half-way in the door of a bike shop. Buy a big chain or something, lock it to some post at the bottom of the mountain, and use it at the bars at the end of the day.

Also...beware of more crafty methods of theft. One last year happened like this:

(Guy rolls up to bike shop to get his fork fixed, and talks to employee)

Guy: Hey man, my fork needs some work done. I think it needs A, B, and C done.

Employee: OK, we can do that for you. It'll take us a few days to do it though. Is Thursday good?

Guy: Yes, that's fine.

Employee takes bike, and Guy walks away.

Employee is actually not an employee, and rides away on a new bike as soon as the Guy is out of sight.

So...make sure you're talking to an actual employee who gives you a repair tag and something official! Don't hand your bike off to random people!

[Adrenaline guy]

If you need a hand getting to Squamish we could help you out. We ride the North Shore too. Your gonna love BC. Have fun..

[Paul Powers]

:fro: If you want to do it right the first time around get a guide. You can reserve one at Whistler.com or call the # on the web page. Request Mike Johnstone, he is a cool head and is a vet of the park. He will show you everything you need to know.

Have a great time.

[LeeLau]

Mike is awesome; we had him show us this:

http://www.leelau.net/2004/whistleralpinejuly04/07hwy86llmike.jpg

[Paul Powers]

great shot can't wait to get back up there in August!

[Paul Powers]

Make sure you go Bungi Jumping. It's the biggest drop you will ever do!

[ghostrider]

Hey stupid question time....when is Whistlers last day of riding? october sometime?

[Dirt Devil]

Employee is actually not an employee, and rides away on a new bike as soon as the Guy is out of sight.
Hmmm, I won't be taking any chances with my bike then.

If you want to do it right the first time around get a guide.
I'm not sure if I'll be able to spare enough coin for a guide at Whistler. Although, I'd probably need one if I wanted to ride anywhere else.

[FlipFantasia]

hey lee, is that heading towards kyb's/ride don't slide?

[Kevin26]

Hey stupid question time....when is Whistlers last day of riding? october sometime?
I think that might depend on weather, but it was october 12 one year I don't know about other years

[Moocowsia]

Get some really comfy gloves and go some excercises to make your hands stronger, otherwise you end up looking like you've been jerkin' your gerkin too much. Oh, and make sure you have some parts on you if your stuff isn't run of the mill. You break a lot of stuff up the from all the vibrations from the bumps and the stores in the village have pretty limited selection.

[SkunkworkS]

Coming from a kid who's JUST been up there to remove his Whistler virginity,

Make sure your bike is 100% ok. All nuts and bolts tightened, nothing cracked, etc.

I would really recommend a full suspension bike up there with a DC fork up front with at least 7" of travel and about 6-7" of rear travel at the minimum.

Those damn stutter bumps are hell. (DJ3, 5", and a HT for me, so it sucked) So beware.

Bring extra clothes of everything so you can change up at the bottom of the ride. (I learned the hard way, a towel draped around the hip for the trip home...)

A backpack with tools and extra parts is a must. Obviously armour and helmet and goggles and gloves.

Don't worry about going "too slow". There's ALWAYS room to move off to the side and there are rest areas strategically located different areas down the trails where you would be the most tired.

Have fun. Everything there is nice and smooth. But giving the trails one more month, it'll be hard to say.

And everyone there is super nice and friendly. Except the price tags.

[SkunkworkS]

Oh yes, the MOST important thing is,

STRETCH

[C.Lee]

Coming from a kid who's JUST been up there to remove his Whistler virginity,

Make sure your bike is 100% ok. All nuts and bolts tightened, nothing cracked, etc.

I would really recommend a full suspension bike up there with a DC fork up front with at least 7" of travel and about 6-7" of rear travel at the minimum.

Those damn stutter bumps are hell. (DJ3, 5", and a HT for me, so it sucked) So beware.

Bring extra clothes of everything so you can change up at the bottom of the ride. (I learned the hard way, a towel draped around the hip for the trip home...)

A backpack with tools and extra parts is a must. Obviously armour and helmet and goggles and gloves.

Don't worry about going "too slow". There's ALWAYS room to move off to the side and there are rest areas strategically located different areas down the trails where you would be the most tired.

Have fun. Everything there is nice and smooth. But giving the trails one more month, it'll be hard to say.

And everyone there is super nice and friendly. Except the price tags.


yes.. those bumps are super annoying if ur on a hardtail... i had shiver sc last year.. and it was ok but bumps kill. of course.. seriously check every bolt. last year.. my axle bolt thingy was loose and i didnt even know until bikercross section..

[Dirt Devil]

I would really recommend a full suspension bike up there with a DC fork up front with at least 7" of travel and about 6-7" of rear travel at the minimum.
I'm counting on 7" front (Boxxer w/ Mojo kit) and 6" (Fox DHX 5.0) out back to keep me rubber side down. I'm travelling with guys on Demo 9's and SGS's so I'll probably be spending a bit more time off the bike than they will. We've got plenty of time so this shouldn't be a problem.

[wa90]

That's plenty of travel.

I rode every day for 2 weeks on my Stinky with 03 Jnr-spike-Ts and was well battered - but still went home happy!

Start with a fresh set of tyres, and take a spare mech and a few hangers too, as many tubes as you can carry, and maybe brake spares if you use non-hayes stuff - all bike parts are bloody expensive in the village.

[Straw]

Full Suspension is nice for sure...but not mandatory. I put 32 days on the hill last year on my hardtail with 5" DJ. By the end, my forearms stopped hurting, and I got used to it. But I realize not everyone can put that kind of time in.

I would have had more staying power some days if I had a big bike though. Next year...next year.

[phat-phur-knee]

I am LOL. There's a whole world out there. There's even other trails in Whistler!. Up until last year I could even finesse some of those trails on my Ritchie ie no suspension ( I'm getting a little long in the tooth, time for springs). And now you even have to practically chain yourself to your steed so it doesn't get swiped!! Dude, Whistler is just an infintesimal part of B.C., sounds like you might want to explore the rest of it, unless of course you like paying through the nose for EVERYTHING. On the bright side, there are numerous members of the opposite sex, all fairly bright and shiny, so if you were making wedding plans, er should I say plans to move over here permanently, well then, have at 'er but do start job-hunting.
:greedy: Good Luck :greedy: