June 7/05 10:07 am - Whistler Mountain Bike Park Opens "Garbanzo Zone" Early

Posted by Editoress on 06/7/05
 

Garbanzo Zone to Open 2 Weeks Early
Courtesy Intrawest

Whistler Mountain Bike Park opens additional 2,200 vertical feet June 11

Riders rejoice, the Garbanzo Zone will open two weeks early on weekends beginning this Saturday, June 11. Incredible weekend rider numbers in the Bike Park has contributed to the decision to open the Zone early, launching an additional 2,200 vertical feet of terrain in the Whistler Mountain Bike Park.

"Riders will find early season conditions which means the trails are still a little wet," says Dave Kelly, trail crew supervisor. "Our crews have been working on the trails everyday and things are looking really good for this weekend's opening."

With rider visits up 20 per cent so far this year, opening the additional vertical of Garbanzo Zone will ensure shorter lift lines, more space on-hill for riders of all ability levels, and access to a greater diversity of trails. The Garbanzo Zone will open for weekends starting June 11 and will begin seven day a week operations on June 24. On Extended Play nights the Zone will be open until 7pm.

All Garbanzo Zone trails, with the exception of Freight Train slated to open some sections June 25, will be ready to go this Saturday. Riders can look forward to tearing into Fatcrobat, Too Tight and Angry Pirate, three of the newest Zone trail additions. Intermediate to expert riders will experience trails with an 'old school' single-track feel as well as almost twice as much vertical.

"The popularity of our park is sky-rocketing and being able to open the Garbanzo Zone early is a fantastic opportunity for us," says Rob McSkimming, Managing Director of the Whistler Mountain Bike Park. "The Garbanzo Zone will spread riders out on the mountain, and will provide expert and advanced riders with additional terrain to explore and master."

With a 33 per cent growth in biker visits over the previous year, and 700 per cent growth since Whistler Blackcomb opened for biking in 1999, the Whistler Mountain Bike Park is a world leader in delivering revolutionary lift-accessed downhill riding. Trails for all ability levels wind throughout the lower mountain forests, meadows and ski runs offering wide-open meandering beginner trails, the legendary A-line and Dirt Merchant trails packed full of jumps, tight turns and steep terrain, and everything in between.