BACKGROUND
As you may know I am a mid-pack Ontario rider who spends most of my time planted to the trail, trying to keep it rubber side down. However, eventually, every mountain biker dreams of traveling further west to ride the Great White Whale of mountain biking: Whistler Bike Park. Opening Day is known as Whistmas. Well, I didn’t make it on Whistmas, this might be even better!
WHAT’S WHISTLER BIKE PARK?
Whistler Bike Park, is a world-renowned mountain biking paradise located in beautiful British Columbia, Canada. Whistler Bike Park offers over 80 kilometres of lift-accessed trails that cater to all skill levels. From flowy beginner-friendly trails to technical expert-only routes, there’s a trail for every rider. With stunning alpine scenery and meticulously maintained trails, Whistler Bike Park is a bucket-list destination for mountain bikers. And it all opens on Whistmas Day.
VARIETY & SELECTION, BEGINNING ON WHISTMAS
Whistler is known for iconic trails such as A-Line and Dirt Merchant. These are the trails you often see in videos by the world’s top riders, such as Matt Jones and Mark Matthews. These trails are amazing, but are well beyond the abilities of an average rider.
To a newcomer, the selection of trails can seem overwhelming. So, where to start?
Known for its flowy single-track and breathtaking views, Uno Mas is a great place for riders of all abilities to begin.
THE RIGHT MOUNTAIN BIKE FOR THE TRAIL
Whereas most trail centres can accommodate a wide range of bikes, Whistler Mountain is best suited for a downhill bike – beefy tires and bigger than average suspension. Bringing, or renting a DH bike is really going to make the riding experience better. There’s no doubt about it.
MY EXPERIENCE WITH MARIN AT WHISTLER
In July of 2024, I had the chance to ride the Whistler Mountain Bike Park with the Marin Squad. There was a tonne of amazing people and riders there – everyone from relative novices like me, to coaches and pro-riders, including Martha Gill and Morgane Such Its was an amazing experience. Before and after the rides we all hung out together, and bonded over food, drink, our love of bikes and the outdoors. As you can see in the picture, we even travelled in packs to cheer on the Crankworx competitors. As much fun as the pre and post ride activities were, we were there to ride park. Luckily for us, Marin has launched The Quake – a full DH rig. I got a chance to ride the bike and, as Marin would say, it’s made for fun.
UNO MAS, WHISTLER BIKE PARK
There are going to be a tonne of amazing videos showcasing the full capabilities of The Quake, but I’m not that guy. I’m an average rider who wants to go fast-ish, and live to ride another day. So be sure to check out the video of me going as fast as my brain will let me down Uno Mas. The Quake soaked up every breaking bump and made the trail as smooth as a carpet. I cannot recommend a DH bike enough for riding park. And the Quake fit the bill. If you’re able to bring your own big bike, it’s worth it. If you want or need to rent, be sure to check out the village bike shops, especially Black Diamond. They love to help get people on trail, and on the lift.
It wasn’t all downhill laps. We also got to ride some amazing singletrack in the neighbourhood, as well as one trail on Blackcomb… with a transplanted Ontarian. Keep an eye out for the video. The Marin Aline Trail was the right mountain bike for those trails, and I’m thankful to have had the chance to ride it.
FINAL THOUGHTS ABOUT WHISTLER AND MARIN
Ontario is a mountain bikers paradise. The sheer number of trails systems, along with the massive variety make it a great place to be, We’re lucky to live where we do. However, there’s no denying the sheer joy you get from getting on the humongous chair lift and siting, sitting, sitting all the way to the Top of the World. Start making plans to go. I’m certain you’ll have as a good a time as we did.
I hope I was able to capture the experience in my IG posts from last week. I wanted to make it feel like you were there with us. Please keep an eye out for even more videos coming up.
THANK YOU
Thank you very much to Marin for making this weekend happen, It was an incredible opportunity and I am grateful to have been included.
