So I’m heading to Canada in a few days time. Will try mountain biking for the first time in Whistler. I have some questions for those who know the place well:
What fees do you need to pay? I’m going to be renting a bike (probably 1/2 day) so this is a given, as with the protective gear. I’m also buying a two day peak to peak pass but not sure if that covers the lift rides up to start a run again. I see they also have a lift pass rate so maybe have to buy that too? Can you ride back up the hill or do you HAVE to take the lifts? Do you need to wear full face helmet or can you wear your regular helmet (which I’m taking for later rides in Canada)? Are the intermediate level tracks totally out of the question and I we stick purely to the beginners? Note I’m not just thinking about our handling ability, but whether we’re going to p!ss anyone off by possibly being slower on a faster track.
Looking forward to it, their videos are getting my pretty pumped.
First time MTB’ing? Way to spoil yourself early Everything else you ever ride will have to be compared to Whistler. I’m pretty jealous.
I don’t know much about the park area itself but you can certainly ride your way to the top, you don’t have to ride the lift. Just depends on what you are looking for. There are also some other awesome, famous trails not right on the ski resort part of the mountain but in the area (River runs through it comes to mind) that offer sick technical riding, or just really fun singletrack without tons of vertical. We did RRTI at BC Bike Race a few years back and it was super fun.
I’d probably stick to the beginner trails if I were you. They have a different idea of “intermediate” and “advanced” up there. I raced MTB for 10 years, and never found trails as challenging as what I did at BCBR in the Whistler area.
You might be able to make it down some of the intermediate trails, but I wouldn’t count on it. It isn’t so much that you would be slowing riders behind you down, it’s that you probably wouldn’t have any fun at all, and would be trying to figure out how to call a helicopter in to get back down the mountain.
Try to think of this type of cycling as being more like snowboarding or Alpine skiing than riding a road bike, and you will be on the right track. Would you expect to drop in to an “intermediate” slope your first day on a pair of skis?
You should probably wear a full face helmet, and expect to hit the deck/bail out more than once. The shop I work out of probably loses more employee hours to Whistler injuries than all other riding related mishaps combined.
You will probably want a lift pass. Also, be aware that they’re charging for parking now.
Everything else you ever ride will have to be compared to Whistler. I’m pretty jealous.