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10/11/2008
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Bike Park
Report - Oct 4th 2007
Tom "Pro" Prochazka
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I was walking out of my house the other morning, late for a meeting as usual,
when I got pelted in the head by a pine cone. As I looked up at the laughing
rodent high up in the tree, I stepped on another pine cone and almost went down.
Instead of raging, I started laughing, thinking that this little critter is
just like the Trail Crew - getting ready for the winter...
It seems that we get some of our best work done after August. I don't really
know why this is, maybe because there are no distractions like Crankworx etc.
Maybe because we are like the squirrels and feel the urgency to get as much
done before the snow flies. Since August, we added "Blue Velvet",
"Uno Moss", a new step up on "Original Sin" and extensive
rebuilds of "B-Line" and "Dirt Merchant". Right now Marty
is in the "Boneyard" making it Huckfest worthy with some new features
and lines. Meanwhile the work continues on the yet unmentionable trail which
I can't mention anything about, except for the fact that The Collective did
a segment there (sorry, can't tell you where) and the riders, Peaty, McCaul,
Matt Hunter and Steve Smith, had so much fun riding it, they were giggling like
little children in a Bouncy Castle. I've probably said too much, so lets move
on...
If you are a Garbo rider, then you have undoubtedly noticed the decimation of
"Freight Train" below Creekside Mid Station. I should have bought
shares in Kleenex as I went through boxes and boxes of it, dabbing at my teary
eyes while our beloved FT was getting blasted apart and then bulldozed by big,
burly men driving monster, smoke belching machines. Ok, ok it wasn't that bad,
but it still hurt to have to do it. Chad, one of those big, burly men, did an
awesome job rebuilding that section of FT and it should be good to go by the
weekend. And who knows, sometimes change is good...
Spotted in Whistler - Nathan Rennie with Mark Weir's facial
hair.
With VANOC finishing most of their work in the "No Joke" zone it
was time to do a recon. So a couple of Saturdays ago, DK and I, suffering from
particularly strong after effects of Payday Friday, we decided that it would
be better for our health to spend the day hiking in the Bike Park rather than
biking. We set out along what was left of "No Joke" and were pleasantly
surprised by what we saw at the top. Our mood turned sour and the throbbing
in our heads got stronger as we descended further down the trail. This was no
laughing matter, there was nothing left of the old "No Joke" (skiing
down Wild Card is going to be awesome though). We batted a few ideas around
and decided to abandon that zone altogether and head in a new direction. As
soon as we crossed the ski run (can't tell you which ski run yet, sorry) our
scowls tuned to smiles. And then it was - "holly s**t, check this line",
"wow, check this line" etc. Headaches were gone, legs felt springy
and the ideas were rolling off of our tongues. What we have found was a freaking
gold mine of terrain. Picture this - wide open old growth forest, benches, slick
rock, gullies and a beautiful cliff lookout. The terrain is steep, but it can
be traversed with a flowy trail not unlike "Fatcrobat". Does that
help? Don't even ask when it will be ready - one day it will just be there.
It's hard to believe that we have only couple of weeks left before the Bike
Park closes and as usual, the riding is the best right now. Tacky dirt, cool
weather, no crowds and some new trails and features. The Huckfest should be
a blast this year with some chill events such as the Slopestyle, Team Air Dh
and the Air Dome Jam. Like the "Boneyard", the Air Dome is getting
a face lift and will be sporting a new Q-Pipe with a deck and a stall wall.
Friday, October 8th, 7-9 pm, the Air Dome will be rocking as riders show their
trick skills. It's easier to get a diner reservation after 9 anyway, so don't
miss this one.
On Saturday is the Team Air Dh. down A-Line. Get a team and participate in what
could be the funnest event of the year. It's not about winning, it's about having
a good time with you team mates and the other racers. Who said that DH racing
wasn't a team sport!
Save Saturday night for the NWD "Smackdown" Whistler premiere in
the Air Dome. There will be two showings - 5:30 pm for the young ones and 8:30
pm for the old ones (read beer).
On Sunday the "Boneyard" will belong to the slopestylers (is that
in the dictionary?) as the Huckfest Slopestyle takes place. Check out the future
talent that will be giving McCaul and Bearclaw a run for their money in a few
years. The practice goes in the morning with the finals in the afternoon.
For all info, go to whistlerbike.com/events/huckfest/index.htm
Don't forget to check out the Turkey Sale that weekend. The rental bikes are
on sale now at the Rental Shop - good deal if you need a "new" park
worthy steed.
Enjoy the rest of the riding season, keep it safe and see you up here.
Tom "Pro" Prochazka
Whistler Mountain Bike
Park
Manager
It's the final weekend of the year. Shed a tear for a long winter without
the bike park on our bulletin boards.
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