Mountain Biking in Whistler, Canada
For most, the name Whistler conjures up images of chairlifts, big travel DH bikes and huge jumps. Part-time Whistler resident Vince Shuley reveals that this famous destination has so much more to offer beyond the DH bike park…
We’ve all heard places referred to as a ‘Mecca’ before. But what really makes a biking destination worthy of such a title? If the place can draw thousands of visitors from all over the world, year after year, then calling it a Mecca would not be an overstatement. Whistler, nestled in the Sea to Sky corridor in the Coast Mountains of British Columbia, is famous as a world-class ski resort, and it’s an official venue for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. Snow is on the ground for over six months of the year, but from as early as May and as late as October the locals hang up their winter sports gear and hit the trails. You may have heard about the Whistler Mountain Bike Park. ‘A-Line’, a machinebuilt trail with g-force surging berms and dozens of jumps is regarded as a downhill mountain biking icon, inspiring trail designs all over the world. Riders come from far and wide to ride the park and use the chairlifts to shuttle their downhill bikes up the mountain.But long before the first dual suspension frame had even arrived in Whistler, before anyone had ridden a chair lift for mountain biking, there was WORCA.
The Whistler Off Road Cycling Association started back in 1989 when a section of Garibaldi Provincial Park (bordering Whistler Mountain) was being marked for closure to mountain bikers. WORCA campaigned and gathered support from local cyclists to keep these trails open. They have since grown to be a cornerstone of Whistler’s community with over 1,500 members, making it the biggest mountain bike club in the world. WORCA President Todd Hellinga explained some of the reasons behind the club’s success. “We have a really strong sense of community in Whistler and people here want to be a part of it. The social atmosphere at our Toonie races has definitely contributed to WORCA’s success over the years, but so has our relationship with the local government. We don’t really have to fight for anything, we’re way beyond that.
Five of the seven councillors including the mayor are WORCA members, as are a majority of the municipal workers. They see the value of helping us with grants because we build and maintain trails, benefiting local riders as well as the tourism industry by attracting visitors. People hear about the extensive cross country trails and the standards at which they are kept and they come to Whistler to ride them.”
The Toonies
By far the most popular event for cycling in Whistler is the weekly Toonie race/ride— Toonie is slang for their $2 coin, the cost of race registration. Averaging over 200 riders per race, the money gets divided between the trail maintenance fund and the winning riders, many who are provincial and national XC racers. While these competitors use the weekly event for training, the rest of the casual crowd rides for the social atmosphere. For those new to Whistler, there is no better way to learn the trails of the valley than to join the weekly movement and ride the Toonies. With such a vast network of trails WORCA has divided their trail inventory into three sections. Each section has trails of distinct character and variety.
WestsideAs the name suggests, this area refers to the western side of Highway 99. It extends from the Callaghan Valley (south of Whistler) up to Alpine Meadows, about 10 minutes north of Whistler Village. Shorter trails such as ‘Cut Yer Bars’ and ‘A River Runs Through It’ are situated towards the bottom of the valley and require less climbing. If you are feeling fit you can grind 400 vertical metres up ‘Rick’s Roost’ to the Rainbow-Sproatt Flank Trail (at around 1,000m elevation). From here most people opt to descend on the steep and megatechnical trails such as ‘Billy Epic’, which drops just under 250m of vertical in less than a kilometre of trail. If you are out to score some spectacular views and have packed sufficient supplies, you can keep climbing the Flank up to 1,500m before it descends down towards Cougar Mountain (see Emerald and North). The Westside is currently the most ridden area of the Whistler Valley.
Whistler & South
On the east side of the highway lie the trails that descend Whistler Mountain. The long descents that are within hiking distance of the lift-accessed Bike Park (such as ‘Ride Don’t Slide’) have seen too much heavy brake lockup and have become heavily eroded. The trails on the southern end of Whistler Mountain such as ‘Tunnel Vision’ and ‘BC’s Trail’ experience less traffic and are still in great condition. There are also a few flowing machine built trails that traverse the Cheakamus River up to Logger’s Lake which are also popular with hikers.
Emerald & North
This area makes up the remainder of the valley, including Blackcomb, Wedge and Cougar mountains. Reaching the trail heads involves a longer ride but it is well worth the extra effort. For an aggressive downhill descent full of stunts and rockslides don’t miss ‘Gargamel’ on Cougar Mountain. Just down the road are the trail heads to the classics ‘Kill Me Thrill Me’ and ‘Comfortably Numb’. Heading south, the link up of ‘Shit Happens’ and ‘Anal Intruder’ will get you back towards the village with technical climbs and descents.
Getting Around Whistler
The entire Whistler Valley is linked by the Valley Trail, a two-way paved path which was specifically constructed for pedestrians and cyclists. You can travel to all but a few sections of Whistler without turning onto the busy highway and this handy bike path is even lit at night. On sunny days the walkers can outnumber the cyclists, so it’s important to keep your speed moderate and expect pedestrians around every corner. In total, there is over 100kmof ‘Canberra style’ bike path linking the various settlements, allowing you to access almost all trails in the valley and eliminating the need to drive to the trail heads. WORCA encourages riders to practice ‘erosion free cycling’, by not riding when the trails are too wet or braking excessively with rear wheel lockup. Trail crews will design trails so they maximise flow, minimise braking and armour the areas of high impact. Trails are closed if they get overused and WORCA encourages its members to give trail updates throughout the season.
The beauty of riding Whistler is how the trails progress. Start on machine-smoothed rolling trails, move onto singletracks with challenging features, then climb high up the valley walls to descend the steepest and 
most technical lines. If you visit Whistler with riders of different ability there are enough trails for everyone to enjoy. And if you like the steep stuff, this is where you will find it. Mountain bike Mecca? You bet. But there is more to it than just Whistler Valley. WORCA Director of Trails Jerome David elaborates. “When I look at the Mecca here, it really starts at the Northshore of Vancouver and stretches all the way to Pemberton. When people come ride Whistler they get into technical mode, whereas you can enjoy more pedalling and flow if you go down to Squamish. Pemberton is more suited for downhill shuttles. For years I’ve ridden the whole Sea to Sky corridor and Whistler is just one part of this Mecca.”
most technical lines. If you visit Whistler with riders of different ability there are enough trails for everyone to enjoy. And if you like the steep stuff, this is where you will find it. Mountain bike Mecca? You bet. But there is more to it than just Whistler Valley. WORCA Director of Trails Jerome David elaborates. “When I look at the Mecca here, it really starts at the Northshore of Vancouver and stretches all the way to Pemberton. When people come ride Whistler they get into technical mode, whereas you can enjoy more pedalling and flow if you go down to Squamish. Pemberton is more suited for downhill shuttles. For years I’ve ridden the whole Sea to Sky corridor and Whistler is just one part of this Mecca.”And it’s getting more popular every year. Skiing and snowboarding is often what attracts people to live in Whistler and when summer arrives they look for another adventurous mountain sport. Just three years ago mountain biking surpassed golf as the most popular summer destination activity and last year WORCA set a new record for the number of new memberships. Between the support from the Resort Municipality of Whistler and WORCA’s fundraising, there is around $40,000 a year spent on trail building and maintenance, not including the countless volunteer hours. After 12 years of riding bikes in Whistler, Jerome sums up what summer season is like in this ski resort town. “In Whistler we’re about getting people out riding their bicycles. For this community, biking is a way of life”.
There are too many quality cross country trails to list here, but the following rides are considered local classics. If you are looking to research the trails before you visit, order a copy of Whistler Mountain Biking by Brian Finestone and Kevin Hodder. It is a comprehensive 176 page guide book with heaps of advice, trail descriptions and even mini-topo maps of the rides. Check the publisher’s website for availability at www. quickdrawpublications.com
FIVE TRAIL FAVOURITES:
1. Lost Lake Trails
A hot spot for beginner riders and conveniently located next to the resort car parks, Lost Lake is a favourite for tourists and locals alike. All trails are of either beginner or intermediate difficulty, making this a great place to start your mountain biking adventure in Whistler. There is even a bike rental shop at the first trail head. Known locally as the ‘Zappa Trails’, the traditional link up starts with a climb up ‘Dinae Mo Humm’ (next to Cross Country Connection bike rentals) which feeds onto ‘Disco Boy’, ‘The Torture Never Stops’ then ‘Fountain of Love’. The trails then start to descend onto ‘Pinocchio’s Furniture’, ‘Dwarf Nebula’ and ‘Zoot Allures’. At every trail exit there is a signed entrance for the next trail, making this a fun and easily navigable introduction to singletrack riding in Whistler. The Zappa Trails are also a great way to preview what kind of features you will see on the advanced trails such as ladder work, balance beams, rockslides and technical climbs. The Zappa Trail circuit finishes on the shores of the beautiful Lost Lake. On a hot day be sure to pack your swimsuit for a refreshing dive in the glacier fed waters.
2. A River Runs Through It
This is Whistler’s ode to Northshore style riding. Situated in a flat section of forest about 15 minutes ride from the Village, ‘River’ twists and turns with everything from easy log rides to double sea-saws. There are options to go black (difficult) or double black (expert) on the this trail, but remember to start small and work your way up, low speed falls from six foot up can still hurt you! Light armour and flat pedals are recommended if you are trying difficult stunts. And take care on the 30-foot long creek crossing log ride, or you and your bike will be taking a very cold swim.3. Comfortably Numb
This full day epic trail has achieved almost legendary status, not just in Canada but around the world. Nicknamed affectionately as ‘uncomfortable bum’, if you ride it at a moderate pace with frequent breaks it can take as long as seven hours to complete. The first few hours are a laborious granny gear grind, but you are well rewarded with great views and fun descents. There is nothing quite like rolling into Whistler Village victorious over Comfortably Numb and celebrating with a well deserved beer with your riding comrades. Trail builder Chris Markle worked relentlessly in its construction, often camping on the trail to save commute time. Be prepared with adequate clothing, food, water and tools. Cougars have been sighted on this trail so be aware!
4. Kill Me, Thrill Me
Another of Chris Markle’s masterpieces, this tight singletrack features both natural and man-made features without any sustained climbs. The trail runs alongside the highway with great views down to Green River, the section under the power lines has rock rides of all shapes and sizes with varying levels of difficulty.
5. Rainbow-Sproatt Flank Trail
Technically not that tough but physically and aerobically demanding, the Rainbow-Sproatt Flank Trail traverses the side of the mountains on the opposite side of the valley to Whistler and Blackcomb mountains. It offers stunning views back to the famous ski slopes, village and the lakes. The ‘Flank’ connects the Callaghan Valley to Cougar Mountain and originates from logging roads that were built as early as the 1930s. There are four sections to the full-monte version of this trail but the middle two are the pick of the bunch. Combining these should add up to a 50km day including getting to and from the trail. This ride includes two separate 800m leg burning climbs matched with two screaming descents after the traverses. You’ll need to have your uphill switchback technique dialled for the climbs but otherwise the trail is not technical. Once you’re off the valley floor average elevation is around 1,000m and you can climb as high as 1,500m. The Flank Trail also serves as the main access for classic Westside descents such as ‘Cheap Thrills’, ‘Billy Epic’ and ‘Industrial Disease’, so you can finish the day with a descent that challenges your sensibilities. There is no motor access on this trail and bike traffic is relatively low due to the difficulty of the climb.
