May 5/06 7:18 am - Whistler Blackcomb Mountain Bike Park Opens May 13th

Posted by Editoress on 05/5/06
 

Whistler Blackcomb's Legendary Mountain Bike Park Set To Open May 13th
Courtesy Intrawest

New intermediate trails, longer hours and covered training facility launch this summer

The Whistler Blackcomb Mountain Bike Park is set to open for the season on May 13, 2006 for daily operations. Already ranked North America’s number one lift-accessed mountain bike area, the Park keeps getting better with extended hours, a new covered training facility, new trails and the introduction of the Triple Play card.

“We’ve been anxiously awaiting the arrival of spring in Whistler in order to get the bike season fully underway,” says Tom Prochazka, manager of the Whistler Blackcomb Mountain Bike Park. “With all the snow that Whistler has received late in the season, we’ve had to help Mother Nature out to clear snow off the lower trails ourselves. The riding is going to be good though – it will be worth the wait as this season’s ready to go off.”

The majority of trails in the lower park will be open as of May 13 including A-line, B-line, Crack Addict and Heart of Darkness. Crews are also working hard to get Joyride, Dirt Merchant, Schleyer and Angry Pirate ready for riding by the 13th. Early season conditions can be expected.

Gearing up for another record mountain bike season, the Whistler Blackcomb Bike Park crew has made a number of improvements to ensure that the Park keeps pushing the envelope to deliver an unmatched experience. New this season the Park will be open from 10am to 8pm seven days a week starting June 17, giving riders a chance to hit the park after work by offering more flexible hours.

Two new trails will be added in the Garbanzo Zone. The new trails will be mostly blue (intermediate) trails with black (advanced) and double black (expert) off-shoots, offering a variety of riders more to choose from. Previously the Garbanzo Zone has only offered black and double black trails, so intermediate riders are in for a treat this summer as more trails open up for their ability level.

The completion of the much-anticipated Crank it Up trail will also add another new dimension to the variety of riding experiences for intermediate riders. Crank it Up is a mini version of A-line and the Boneyard rolled into one thrill-a-minute trail, perfectly tailored for intermediate level riders.

A brand new Triple Play Card will launch this summer offering three days in the Park for $99CAN or $89USD. Each additional day is $33CAN, a savings of $12CAN per day based on regular season rates. Riders can also go directly to the lift by attaching the Triple Play card to their credit card.

Earlier this year, Summer Gravity Camps at Whistler Blackcomb announced the introduction of the Air Dome, a massive covered mountain bike facility that will also open this summer. The Air Dome features a foam pit, resi ramp and trampoline. Located at Base II on Blackcomb Mountain, the Air Dome is the first mountain bike training facility of its kind in Canada and will make Whistler Blackcomb the ultimate training ground for summer campers. Construction on the Air Dome began in late April.

“This will be a great addition to our Park,” comments Prochazka. “This facility will give our campers the ability to practice innovative tricks in a controlled environment and will help to establish the Summer Gravity Camps among the most progressive anywhere.”

Whistler Mountain remains open for skiing and riding until June 4. With a snow base of over 260 centimetres (105 inches), and 80 runs open for spring skiing and riding, the options for great times are endless. For the ultimate outdoor enthusiast, May 13 and onwards is the perfect time to get up to Whistler to ski/ride and mountain bike all in the same day.

For more information about the Whistler Blackcomb Mountain Bike Park, Whistler Mountain snow and weather updates or information on activities, events and special offers, please visit www.whistlerblackcomb.com/bike.