It Takes an Army to Open Whistler Bike Park

The crew at Whistler Mountain Bike Park has worked tirelessly in the trenches to get things ready for opening day on May 16th…

Downhill mountain bike enthusiasts have been eagerly awaiting the opening of the Whistler Mountain Bike Park and this week the anticipation comes to an end. On Friday May 16 the Whistler Mountain Bike Park will open for the season thanks to the hard work of an army of trail crew.

The trail crew battled snow, weather, drainage, and other obstacles to dig, pack, and shape the berms, jumps, and trails. This work will allow for the opening of the majority of the Fitzsimons Zone Friday including popular trails A-Line, B-Line, Crank It Up, Easy Does It, among others. Here is how the work in the park breaks down by the numbers:

• 12 trail crew members
• 520 man hours
• 2 snowcats
• Two heavy equipment operators
• 4 light equipment operators
• 6 chainsaws, 1 tree faller
• 6 brooms, rakes, shovels, and pick axes
• 3 mini excavators

“It is always an extremely busy but exciting time of year and our trail crew do an amazing job pulling everything together.” says Brian Finestone, Whistler Mountain Bike Park manager. “Conditions are shaping up to be excellent for our opening day with tacky, hero dirt expected all weekend long.”

Starting this Friday, May 16 the Whistler Mountain Bike Park will be open daily from 10am until 5pm. On May 18 access into the Whistler Mountain Bike Park will be available via the Fitzsimmons Express, with the Whistler Village Gondola opening May 24. Extended Play hours, 5pm-8pm, will run every Monday and Wednesday, starting May 19. Extended Play hours will begin to run nightly from June 14 to September 1.

DIG. PACK. SHAPE. REPEAT.