Whistler by Bike
It's not just a ski area!
By
Robert Gagnon
Whistler Blackcomb was showcased to the world for the 2010 winter Olympics but the beautiful village of Whistler is more than an amazing skiing mountain. The village offers plenty of activities for the summer too. The most popular sport that locals and visitors practice is biking. From the expert jumping 20 feet in the air with a full gear protection or the kids riding their first trails with the rest of the family, everybody will find a trail which fills up their expectation.
For the family, it is pretty easy to access to the trails directly from the village. The village is surrounded by a bike road which gives access to all the valley trails. A cool one to do with the kids is to go by the parking lot and follow the river. It is pretty nice during the warm day, the river coming from the mountain provides an abundance of fresh air. Don’t forget to pick up a trail map for free at the hotel or the tourist office. On the map you will be able to plan your adventure, approximate time and distance. The skill levels are well indicated too and on the trail you will encounter information boards which give you the directions and distance from this point ‘’ you are here’’ to your next destination.
 If you want to keep your ride on road trails the valley trails are perfect. You will find trails which connect the five lakes. From Green Lake to Alpha Lake the trails are challenging with nice climbs. Stop by one of the parks on your way. You will have a great view of both mountains from Rainbow Park. If you don’t know how to get there stop by the tourism office and get a free map of the valley. All trails are marked and maps are posted at major intersections to keep you updated on your position.
In the Lost Lake area you will find trails for the family and the XC biker. Sand roads, gravel trails and packed dirt are the most common terrain you’ll find. This area is pretty easy for getting yourself oriented. At every corner you’ll find an indication of the trail and level similar to the mountain symbols (mostly green circles and blue squares). The trail between the village and the lake starts from Lorimer Road to Lost Lake. It’s the easiest off road trail in this area and wide enough to pass two cars. You will encounter some climbs and descents. It can be an interesting challenge for unfit people. The cross country trails are connected to this main trail. With it’s well maintained trails and awesome views you are guaranteed a wonderful ride.
 If you look for bigger challenges like tree trunks, ramps, drops, single tracks, inclined turns and more features you will have a lot of choices. The village is surrounded by these terrains. Pass Emerald Estates area in Whistler North you will have access to numerous trails for advanced and expert XC bikers in the back of Cougar Mountain. You don’t want to miss the Kill Me Thrill Me trail as it’s recognized as one of the world’s best technical XC trails. This is not the only natural amusment park of this kind in Whistler, so if you want to experience it all I recommend stopping by a bookstore to get one of the biking trail guides and plan your excursion. Have fun, gear up, bring enough water and watch out for the wildlife.
Of course you can come to Whistler during the summer without practicing or watching downhill biking. At the end of the winter season Whistler Mountain prepares the Whistler Mountain Bike Park with amazing jumps, single trails, side walls, jumps, huge jumps and more. Downhill bike riders from around the world come to spend their summer for this. The access to this playground is right at the bottom of the slope with the Fitzsimmons chairlift. The Garbanzo chair will give access to new terrain opening for the summer season. Giving access to a total of 50 trails with extras and a total of 1507 metres of bike trails you can be sure that you will find something to your taste. You just want to watch? Come during the Kokanee Crankworx Freeride Mountain Bike Festival between August 7 and 15, 2010, the world’s best downhill bikers will be part for this worldwide event.
So with friends or family have fun on these trails and enjoy the views at the same time. When you ride make a lot of noise and keep your eyes open. You’re bound to encounter some wildlife. You don’t have the equipment with you? No worries, many rental ski shops have been transformed for the summer and rent all kind of bike and gear. Enjoy your stay.
Robert Gagnon has been a certified CSIA III CSCF II, Ski instructor since 1996. Sahoro Japan, Crested Butte Colorado, Tremblant Quebec, Coronet Peak New-Zealand, Sunshine Village Banff and Whistler are part of is Resume. Spend most of his time in the slopes with his guests and have a good time and guide them to reach their goals is priceless. Robert is the brainchild of SkiProConnect
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