June 22/02 1:09 am - Whistler Mountain Bike Park Air Downhill Announcement

Posted by Editoress on 06/22/02
 

The Whistler Mountain Bike Park Air Downhill - July 5

Kona, Marzocchi, Race Face and the Resort Municipality of Whistler present the Whistler Mountain Bike Park Air Downhill

Whistler Blackcomb has just announced another world class mountain biking competition: the Whistler Mountain Bike Park Air Downhill will be held this July 5, and some of the best mountain bikers in the world are on the line up.

With the cancellation of Grouse Mountain's World Cup downhill and 4 cross, there was worry that the West Coast would go through the summer without a world-class downhill mountain biking competition. But thanks to some fast and furious work by Whistler Blackcomb, Joyride Productions and Freeride Entertainment, the fastest and most aggressive freeriders, downhill racers, bikercross racers and BMXers will have the chance to compete in not one, but two world class downhill competitions.

In cooperation with Kona, Marzocchi, Race Face, and the Resort Municipality, Whistler Blackcomb is presenting the Whistler Mountain Bike Park Air Downhill. The race will be held just two days after the Whistler Mountain Bike Park plays host to the Joyride Biker X. In total, there is over $16,000 in prize money up for grabs.

"We are expecting some of mountain biking's best," said Jason Roe, Manager of the Whistler Mountain Bike Park. "Whistler Blackcomb hosts some of skiing and snowboarding's most high-profile competitions and we believe we have the facilities and expertise to create the same level of excitement and entertainment with mountain biking."

The competition will be amazing. The race is open to professionals and amateurs alike, and with an incredible line up already in place for the Joyride Bikercross, the Whistler Blackcomb Air Downhill is expected to attract the same mountain bikers that are travelling to Whistler from all over the globe. International mountain bike stars like Cedric Gracia (FR), Kurt Vories (US), Scott Beaumont (UK), Anne Caroline Chausson (FR), Tracey Moseley (UK), and Mick Hannah (AUS) are already confirmed. Local and North Shore mountain bike pros are coming out too, including Andrew Shandro, Richie Schley, Cory Leclerc, Dave Watson and Gareth Dyer.

"The competitions are an excellent opportunity for athletes to come and see how much the Whistler Mountain Bike Park has to offer," said Andrew Shandro, Chief of Course and former Canadian Downhill Champion. "The Whistler Mountain Bike Park is changing mountain biking by being a leader in trail and track design, and catering to the gravity fed movement of the sport. Both the Bikercross and the Air Downhill showcase the facilities that the park has to offer."

The Air Downhill will take place on Whistler Mountain Bike Park's most popular trail, A-line, which is complete with 1,200 feet of vertical and more than 60 man-made features. With large and small jumps, including table-tops, doubles, rock drops and steeply banked corners, A-line is much like a BMX course. But instead of being on flat ground, the trail is tipped up on a mountainside and gravity fed. A-line is a venue unlike any Mountain Biking competition in the world has ever seen.

"A-line is in impeccable condition," Shandro went on to state. "Both the course and the athletes that are coming are so diverse; the action is going to be like nothing we've ever seen."

For more information and to register, please call 1.800.766.0449 or 1.604.932.3434 or check out www.worldfreeride.com.