Crank'd Bike Magazine 2018

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AN INSIDE LOOK AT SOME OF MOUNTAIN BIKING’S BIGGEST DISPUTES

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CONTENTS uick Laps: 04 QBiking grows

rail 08 TShowcase

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Creekside park expansion hits year two; work continues on Lord of the Squirrels; Crankworx turns 15 years old.

Whistler Mountain Bike Park: See what it’s like on Top of the World.

Mountain biking is a family affair in Sea to Sky.

Local riders share their favourite spots to shred. What’s yours?

oaring to 22 SAdventure

he Great 26 TDebates

ra of 34 EEvolution

Event Calendar

Heli-biking is set to takeoff on Mount Barbour.

An inside look at some of mountain biking’s biggest disputes.

When passion runs deep, innovation flourishes.

W heeling

Crank’d

VOLUME 5 / ISSUE 1 / 2018

Through the Ages

iders’ 20 RChoice

38

Find out where all the twowheeled action is in Sea to Sky this summer.

Contributors WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS

WRITERS PRODUCED BY

Whistler Publishing LP A division of Glacier Media Group

PUBLISHER EDITOR

Sarah Strother

Alison Taylor

PRODUCTION MANAGER CREATIVE DIRECTOR SALES MANAGER SALES

Karl Partington Claire Ryan Susan Hutchinson

Tessa Sweeney, Amy Allen, Poppy Keulemans

Brandon Barrett Abby Cooper Joel Harwood Andrew Mitchell Alison Taylor

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Abby Cooper Laurence Crossman-Emms Ben Haggar Justa Jeskova Robin O’Neill Sean St. Denis Clint Trahan

WPLP

ON THE COVER

Rémy “Metallica” Métailler putting the rock back into Schleyer as he rolls the dice under a tough coniferous crowd in the Whistler Bike Park.

Photo by Laurence Crossman-Emms LAURENCE-CE.COM

WHISTLER PUBLISHING Limited Partnership

crankd@piquenewsmagazine.com

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Crank’d Whistler’s Bike Magazine

Produced by Whistler Publishing LP A division of Glacier Media Group 103-1390 Alpha Lake Rd., Whistler, B.C. V0N 1B1 604-938-0202

Printed in Canada ©2018, Glacier Media Group. All rights reserved.

All photos are copyright of the credited photographer.

No reproduction in whole or in part without the express written permission of the publisher.

VOLUME 5 / ISSUE 1 / 2018

2018 BIKES AND CLOTHING WHISTLER’S LARGEST BIKE STORE RENTALS: DOWNHILL • CROSS COUNTRY • KIDS REPAIR: ALL BRANDS AND MODELS

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rip-through reads

QUICK LAPS

CREEKSIDE GROWS AGAIN

T

here’s a whole new world of bike park — almost 20 per cent more — to explore this summer with the long-awaited Creekside trails ready for prime time. And that’s not where it ends; trailbuilding continues in this zone this summer.

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Crank’d Whistler’s Bike Magazine

Five new trails will be ready for 2018, totalling some 13 km of new dirt. They’re already named and on the map. They are: Southpark, Insomnia, Delayed Fuse, Earth Circus and Midgard. These trails will funnel into the final section called Playground — a machine-built trail with small wood features.

The expansion trails will be a mix of flow and technical, ranging from intermediate to advanced, built by three long-time crews all with their own unique stamps: Joyride Bike Parks, Gravity Logic and the Whistler Mountain Bike Park Trail Crew.

As the new trails are christened with riders this summer, trail builders will still be at work on another 10 km, set to open in the summer of 2019.

PHOTO BY CLINT TRAHAN CLINTTRAHAN.COM

VOLUME 5 / ISSUE 1 / 2018

PHOTO BY JUSTA JESKOVA JUSTAJESKOVA.COM

quick laps

REFINING WHISTLER’S ALPINE EPIC

L

ord of the Squirrels — Whistler’s first official alpine trail which opened last year — is getting more attention this year as its reputation grows.

The 20 km loop is becoming the stuff of local lore, as revered as Whistler’s River Runs Through It or Comfortably Numb… and it only has one summer officially under its belt.

New signage, an on-site ranger, and some

more trail development are all in the cards for 2018 in the Sproatt Mountain range, home of the classic alpine loop which includes climbing Into the Mystic (8.6 km and 928 m climb) followed by On the Rocks (3.5 km and 194 m climb) to the descent Lord of the Squirrels (6.9 km). Part of the 2018 work plan is designed to make sure people are prepared and backcountry savvy before heading out on this potentially all-day adventure.

Trail building is also ongoing on a descent trail for Happy Hour, making this an extra 5 km loop to the top of Sproatt Summit. The current

ONE FACILITY. FOUR WAYS TO PLAY.  @RMWhistler |  @rmwhistler |  @rmowhistler

VOLUME 5 / ISSUE 1 / 2018

uphill portion is a 2.5 km climb with more than 200 m of elevation gain. The new trail will be a downhill section — also rated blue.

Construction will take place in 2018 and the summit loop may not be open until 2019.

Crews will also work on completing an emergency rescue route from the valley to the start of Into the Mystic.

Rest stops will also be installed, along with outhouses, to keep people away from sensitive vegetation.

All and all, the Sproatt Mountain trails are set to get even better this year.

Located just 5 km north of Whistler Village, Meadow Park Sports Centre is Whistler’s best place to swim, skate, sweat or play squash.

whistler.ca/recreation 604-935-PLAY

Crank’d Whistler’s Bike Magazine

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CRANKWORX COMES OF AGE

I

t’s a milestone year for Whistler’s biggest festival — Crankworx is turning 15 years old and it just keeps getting bigger and better.

The key to its success, says general manager Darren Kinnaird, is simple. It all comes down to passion.

“Everyone that’s involved with Crankworx truly is a fan of Crankworx,” he says.

Passion, for sure; the sponsors have helped too.

This year the 10-day mountain biking festival amps it up to another level. Within Crankworx, Whistler will also host SponsorshipX (Aug. 15-19), a gathering

of top minds for Canada’s top sponsorship and marketing conference.

“It’s such an amazing opportunity for Crankworx, for Whistler, for the community,” says Kinnaird.

SponsorshipX, formerly known as the Canadian Sponsorship Forum, has taken place in the past alongside the Junos, the Formula 1 Grand Prix and the NBA All-Star Weekend.

“To be recognized by this conference,” says Kinnaird, “it’s a big deal.”

The Crankworx World Tour kicked off in Rotorua, New Zealand in March followed with stops in Innsbruck, then Les Gets and ending in Whistler Aug. 10-19. Check out crankworx.com for more.

WEST SIDE WHEEL-UP — THE LOCALS’ RACE

L

ooking at the racing results of the West Side Wheel-Up, Whistler’s longest-running continuous mountain biking race, is like reading a who’s who of the Whistler mountain bike scene: board members of WORCA, amateur racers, and just the average riding legends who call this place home.

The West Wide Wheel-Up is a testament to Whistler’s mountain biking history.

The race, on Whistler’s west side trails, has been running for the past 25 years. For the past 16 years three-time Paralympian Phil Chew has been chief organizer, raising $40,000 in that time

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Crank’d Whistler’s Bike Magazine

Reed Boggs during the Red Bull Slopestyle at Crankworx Whistler, August 19, 2017.

PHOTO BY CLINT TRAHAN CLINTTRAHAN.COM

for the Disabled Ski Team. Last year marked Chew’s last at the helm of the West Side Wheel-Up, billed as “Chewy’s Last Stand,” as he now hands over the reigns to WORCA. Meanwhile, the Squamish Hot on Your Heels-Women’s Only Mountain Bike Race sold out in under an hour and that’s with adding an extra 100 spots this year. The race is a fundraiser for “Go Girls! Healthy bodies healthy minds.” This is a program with Big Brothers Big Sisters. Hot on Your Heels takes place on Saturday July 21.

Matt Ryan checks out the Westside Wheel Up trophy after he won it for a record seventh time in 2014.

PHOTO BY BRANDON BARRETT VOLUME 5 / ISSUE 1 / 2018

trail showcase

By JOEL HARWOOD

A

s we rolled off the Peak Chair with our bikes for the first time, knowing that the longanticipated wait was over, we couldn’t help but think: It’s about time. Finally, on top of Top of the World, the first alpine trail in the Whistler Mountain Bike Park (WMBP). This was arguably a turning point in lift-accessed mountain biking in Whistler and we couldn’t wait to see if it was worth the wait.

Rolling down Mathews’ Traverse to get to the trailhead, we could see the newly minted line descending through the alpine and couldn’t wait to get rolling on it. As we approached within a few metres of the trail, it was apparent why it had taken so much time, energy and foresight: building must have been tough sledding as there was little dirt to work with among the boulders and cliffs. As our tires began to roll, I remember thinking just how different Top of the World was compared to the other trails in the park. Not only were we in the alpine, but the flavour of the trail was much more natural. Even though thousands of hours had been spent planning and building, the trail felt like it was always meant to be there.

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PHOTO BY BEN HAGGAR BENHAGGAR.COM VOLUME 5 / ISSUE 1 / 2018

It was 2012 when the Top of the World trail was first unveiled. Those who have been around a while can recall the old days of alpine riding on Whistler Blackcomb: It wasn’t exactly an everyday ride to get up into the high alpine, nor was it accessible to heavy downhill bikes or to folks who weren’t willing to sweat a whole lot.

At the time, the Whistler bike park was gaining traction among the general mountain biking population and the park was no longer exclusive to hardcore downhillers. But, it still lacked what Europe had plenty of: alpine riding. Initially, guided tours were offered and featured two options: Mathews’ Traverse, which was shared with hikers and staff vehicles, or the more rugged Highway 86 that switchbacked down the south side of Whistler Mountain back to the Garbanzo Zone. It definitely wasn’t something that could be sold to typical bike park guests; both options were more for the novelty and the view rather than the trails themselves. And so, it was only a matter of time until Whistler Blackcomb set the wheels in motion to build a proper trail from the 2,182-metre summit of Whistler Mountain.

In a collaborative effort with Whistler-based trailbuilders Gravity Logic, the trail layout was completed in the fall of 2011. From layout to completion was another 150 days on the ground and somewhere around 5,400 hours of labour in challenging, remote, and unique conditions — a labour of love to bring alpine riding to the gravity-fed park. But it was worth it… as I soon found out.

Rolling off of Peak Chair riders are immediately greeted by panoramic views. The brief roll-down Mathews’ Traverse to the trailhead is just long enough to soak in the atmosphere and to appreciate Whistler’s alpine.

It also gives riders and hikers alike the opportunity to watch mountain bikers navigate the first few sections of trail — arguably some of the most challenging and certainly worthy of an advanced rating. The terrain is challenging enough that it had to be built entirely by hand. It doesn’t feel like the rest of the bike park here.

Many sections of trail are carefully constructed rock armour, which offers both smooth lines for everyday riders and highly challenging options for the professional racers of the Enduro World Series.

Eventually, after several minutes of alpine descending the trail arrives Crank’d Whistler’s Bike Magazine

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PHOTO BY LAURENCE CROSSMAN-EMMS LAURENCE-CE.COM

Add in a few stops, photos, high fives, and the inevitable flat tire and a single lap on Top of the World can become a full ride unto itself.

Even after a number of laps in the park, I still find myself drawn up the Peak Chair.

It also gives you the chance to easily access some of my favourite trails in Whistler Valley.

I tend to ride my trail bike (note: “enduro” for those who prefer categorization) from Top of the World to either Khyber or Ride Don’t Slide.

There is no doubt that Top of the World has increased traffic on these trails and they’ve changed since their inception, but bike park crews are doing their best to preserve their legacy by contributing time and money to

them. To this day, their character remains intact and folks who take the time to get off the beaten path just a little will be rewarded with some of the best trail riding that this writer has ever experienced.

Said and done: Top of the World is a favourite among locals and tourists alike and justifiably so. The skyrocketing popularity of WORCA’s Lord of the Squirrels also solidifies the general love of alpine trails, and, I for one, am hoping to see more sustainably built riding above treeline.

Joel Harwood is a Squamish-based coach, guide, and outdoor educator.

PHOTO BY BEN HAGGAR BENHAGGAR.COM

at treeline and the ecosystem transitions along with the feeling of the trail. A smoother, flowing machine-built descent emerges with seemingly endless corners spread among rolling sections that provide a much needed reprieve before the inevitable next switchback.

Eventually, you wind your way towards the top of the Creekside Gondola, where riders can choose between trails to Whistler Village or to Creekside. Insert another several minutes of eye-watering, grin-inducing descending for the final 600-meters of elevation.

Fit, skilled riders often take nearly 30 minutes to descend Top of the World back to Whistler Village — slightly less to Creekside.

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Crank’d Whistler’s Bike Magazine

VOLUME 5 / ISSUE 1 / 2018

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With our hot, dry climate, a season months longer than Whistler’s and rides ranging from 1/2 hour to 8 hour alpine epics, Pemberton is an experience no visiting biker should miss!

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VOLUME 5 / ISSUE 1 / 2018

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MAKING THE CALL What happens when things go wrong in the backcountry

By ALISON TAYLOR

K

aren Iwasaki knew she was in trouble as soon as she felt the bone-jarring blow on her heel. Not knowing what she had hit, Iwasaki stopped immediately, put her bike down, and stood on one leg as the dust settled on the trail around her in the August heat.

It was no use: she couldn’t put any weight on her foot and she knew, with growing dismay, that something was broken.

She was 15 minutes from the top of Whistler’s newest trail, the long and much-lauded epic alpine

route called Lord of the Squirrels.

It’s located in the Sproatt Mountain area in Whistler’s backcountry, remote by Whistler standards but familiar territory to Iwasaki who had ridden the trail at least half a dozen times in the months before the accident. With that experience, however, came the knowledge of how far away she was from medical care, not to mention the extent of the downhill trail now facing her.

She had one thought, one singular focus. She recalls: “There was no way I was going to call search and rescue if I could get out of there safely, within my ability

and on my own.”

Still, it wasn’t easy.

With help from her boyfriend, Iwasaki rode what she could with one leg, grunting through the pain as her foot hung uselessly to the side, and was piggy-backed in small sections too. She was down in less than two hours.

It was a wake-up call: Even for seasoned riders like Iwasaki, even when you do all the right things to prepare for a ride, it doesn’t take much for things to quickly take a turn for the worse in the backcountry.

Brad Sills, manager of Whistler

PHOTO COURTESY OF WHISTLER SEARCH AND RESCUE WHISTLERSAR.COM

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Heather Hall and her riding companions were grateful for the assistance of Whistler Search and Rescue.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF HEATHER HALL

TOP THREE TIPS : • If you’re going out, pick people that have their First Aid ticket; better yet, get certified yourself.

“There’s nothing like somebody who is cool, calm and collected when things aren’t going the way they should be,” says Sills.

• Bring extra clothing: It can take a long time for help to arrive.

Meanwhile, you’re not moving and the sun will eventually start to go down.

• Tell people where you’re going and when you plan to be back: We don’t have cell service everywhere in the valley, adds Sills.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES VISIT WWW.WHISTLERSAR.COM

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Search and Rescue (SAR), knows: “Very unintentionally you can end up hurt or unable to travel.”

That’s where SAR comes in. But it’s a fine line, one that the Whistler organization has been grappling with as calls for help have increased with the surge in backcountry recreation. There has been a particular increase in summertime biking calls as more people hit the trails with their mountain bikes and Whistler pushes the boundaries in the sport. SAR is there to help but not at the undue risk of its 31 volunteer members.

So, when do you make the call?

Sills explains there’s a provincewide tool to assess urgency based on several factors including: medical condition, environment, and on-site help. SAR then rates the call.

“That dictates how we go out,” he explains, adding that a call to SAR may not mean a physical response will occur. They can guide lost people through the backcountry with phones and they can talk others through their crisis.

Heather Hall was one of SAR’s seven call outs to injured mountain bikers last year. She was just going for a spin up Yummy Numby with a co-worker on a run-of-the-mill Friday morning at the end of July.

Crank’d Whistler’s Bike Magazine

“It’s like the SS Minnow,” she jokes of the infamous Gilligan’s Island boat that ended up shipwrecked. “You think you’re going out for a two-hour cruise.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would require the services of search and rescue.”

About one hour into the ride, she rode over what she described as “a non-consequence rock”; her front tire washed out and she fell over sideways, landing on a tree root. Next came a blinding white flash of light. She rolled on her back, draped over roots, head downhill, trying to assess her body through the pain until she came to the conclusion: “I think I’m going to need help getting out.”

She had landed with a single point of impact on her hip and she couldn’t move.

After placing the call to 911, help mobilized behind the scenes, miles away from the top of the trail. A SAR member was dispatched via e-bike to help and relay information.

Meanwhile on Yummy Numby a group of riders, including two Blackcomb patrollers, came upon the accident and rallied to help, expertly moving Hall off the trail and onto moss, keeping calm, sharing jackets, assessing the patient, and waiting for help to arrive.

Sills says if all goes according to

plan, SAR can respond in about an hour and a half. But again, it depends on several factors. Bad information can drag out a call for many hours.

Every minute in acute pain on the trail, however, can feel like a lifetime. “I think I turned inward a little bit,” says Hall.

The steady beat of the helicopter never sounded so good as two SAR members arrived above the forest, descending from above to administer drugs (one volunteer was a doctor) and package up Hall to be long lined out of the forest, high over the valley.

Ultimately, the X-ray confirmed what she feared — a broken femur.

“It was just bad luck,” says Hall.

The same was true of Iwasaki’s accident.

“I don’t know what I could have done to prevent it,” Iwasaki says of the moment that has replayed in her head.

“If you take all the right precautions, you’re also accepting that there’s a certain amount of risk.”

It has been a long and difficult road to recovery for Iwasaki with ongoing challenges after surgery. She describes it as “a life-changing injury.”

Hall, too, knows her future riding will be impacted by her injury. But that’s all part of the sport.

“Needless to say,” says Hall, “I made a donation to SAR after that.”

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Crank’d Whistler’s Bike Magazine

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wheeling through the ages Sea to Sky families pass down their love of mountain biking to the next generation

By BRANDON BARRETT

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B

y the time Benny de Vall realized his parents were world-class bikers, the toddler had already been ripping around on his Norco run bike for months.

“When I finally found out, I was already kind of suckered into the sport. I did one race. Then another. Finally, I went to one downhill race, and that’s when I actually saw all my parents’ medals,” says Benny, now 11, who, along with his younger brother, Landon, have taken to mountain biking like fish to water.

The boys were perhaps always destined to develop an affinity for the sport considering their rare genes; mom, Chrissy (Redden), is a former Olympian and champion cross-country cyclist, while their father, Judd, used to race on the downhill World Cup circuit, and founded Alpine Bike Parks.

The de Valls’ multi-generational connection to the sport is common in this part of the world, where it’s not unusual to count champion cyclists or Olympic skiers as neighbours, and the collective culture is geared more towards the adrenaline-inducing activities that tend to flourish in mountain towns.

“My parents were both pretty into the sport, and even 20 years ago, Whistler had a pretty big scene for biking,” recalls 21-year-old Jennifer McTavish, the 2017 Canadian National Enduro Series champion. “In the winter, you skied. In the summer, you biked, and that was just how it was.”

McTavish, like a lot of kids, often struggled in childhood to drag herself out of bed in the mornings. But the prospect of riding alongside her friends in, say, the Fat Tire Crit races that used to slice through Whistler Village, turned an early-morning obligation into an anticipated social outing. (Although “snacks were always a good motivator, too,” McTavish admits with a laugh.)

“We used to tag along at some of the old Crankworx races they had for kids,” explains Jennifer’s dad, Boyd McTavish, who played a significant role in building some of Whistler’s iconic hiking and biking

VOLUME 5 / ISSUE 1 / 2018

trails in the ‘00s—routes that Jennifer and her friends were often the first to test out on two wheels. “I think those events were inspiring for a lot of local kids that were up and coming… The locals were really cutting edge on the scene in those days.”

The quality and ubiquity of youth-based biking camps have, of course, also played an integral part in building a culture that promotes the sport. Between Whistler Blackcomb’s DFX camps, the Whistler Off Road Cycling Association’s (WORCA) spate of Dirt Camps, the Summer Gravity Camp and a plethora of other summer offerings, the emphasis on mountain biking has arguably matched its winter counterpart, skiing.

“Between the whole program through WORCA, (the competitive mountain biking team) at Whistler Secondary School, and the different camps that have been offered over the years, it’s been pretty amazing for kids and families in the valley to get good exposure to the sport,” says Boyd.

In a number of ways, WORCA has helped to ignite the spark of many young bikers’ careers. For the 21-year-old McTavish, it was the organization’s female-focused Ripping Betties afterschool program that grew her passion for the sport.

“Jennifer was maybe a smidgeon better than the other girls, so for her, instead of being way back of the pack with the boys and maybe not as willing to take a big drop or jump, this was more focused on skill, and definitely gave the girls confidence to work together and do it,” says Lorraine Vollmer, McTavish’s mother.

Of course, earning WORCA’s Lumpy Leidel award as a teen, presented each year to an outstanding local junior biker, didn’t hurt either.

“You look at the names on that thing: Will Routley, Brandon Semenuk, Jesse Melamed — it’s probably the heaviest trophy around,” says Boyd, who remembers Jennifer struggling to bike home with the massive trophy. “I think that inspired Jennifer more than her old parents, just by seeing how much talent is around the valley that wasn’t that much older than her.”

Advancement in equipment is another major factor in introducing youngsters to the sport. Bike manufacturers have recognized Sea to Sky as an important and VOLUME 5 / ISSUE 1 / 2018

growing market that gives them an opportunity to introduce their brand to riders at a young age.

“I’m a really old fart, so when I learned to ride, there were two sizes of bikes: the full size, and the three-quarter, which was threequarters of a full sized bike,” notes WORCA president Craig Mackenzie.

“Now you’ve got this progression of equipment, where kids start out on these little push bikes with no pedals.

These are toddlers that in some cases, as soon as they can walk, parents have them on a little push bike.

“The equipment has come such a long way that it’s easier for kids to get into the sport and it’s easy for the parents to go riding with them.”

Ron Goldstone was reminded of the importance of finding the right gear when his son, 14-yearold mountain biking “super-grom” Jackson, was in the market for his first bike as a toddler.

“We were looking at this expensive run bike, a German Kokua model, and we thought, ‘Ah man, we don’t want to spend $300 on a kids’ bike,” Ron says. “So we bought him a cheap one and it didn’t even last two months. It was so beat up.”

Ron flashed back to a memory Crank’d Whistler’s Bike Magazine

17

of his own father contemplating a pricey bike purchase when he was a youngster just getting into the North Shore BMX scene.

“I could tell it was a big deal for my parents to spend that kind of money. My dad broke down and bought me the nice, fancy motorcycle-looking model that was more expensive. He spent the extra money and I know he got in trouble for it that night when he got home,” he remembers. “So when I bought the more expensive run bike for Jackson, that still stuck with me, that sometimes it’s worth spending the extra money.”

The Goldstones’ investment has certainly paid off in spades.

Today, Jackson is a regular on the competitive circuit, often going up against riders two to three years his senior at races around the world.

And that first run bike of his, the $300 Kokua model? Well, it helped vaunt Jackson to minor celebrity status in the biking community when a video of him riding it to Kindergarten went viral, racking up over a million views since it was posted in 2010.

Although it’s common for the teenaged Jackson to get recognized at international events, back in Squamish, he’s just a regular kid who loves to goof off with his friends, race RC cars, and rip epic runs.

“There are so many people here with interesting stories that are 18

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doing cool things that we don’t really feel like he’s a big celebrity here. I’m starting to notice it more when we travel. He gets recognized more, or people ask him for autographs or photos, and that kind of stuff,” says Ron, who added that Jackson’s big sister, 16-year-old Bailey, who is a talented downhill rider in her own right, helps keep her brother grounded.

“She really keeps him in line, keeps him from getting a big head and making sure he’s well behaved,” Ron says. “She’s almost like a third parent to him.”

Whether a bona fide phenom like Jackson, or an up-and-coming rider like the de Vall boys, mountain biking will always be the family activity of choice during Sea to Sky summers — even if that means the parents get shown up in the process.

“Given my cross-country background, I’m not very air aware,”

says Chrissy de Vall, the former Olympian who also trains local athletes through her company, TaG Cycling. “I like to keep my bike closer to the ground, so when we do certain trails, the boys will encourage me to try jumps or something that they know I can do. Benny is very aware of my capabilities, so I have a good trust with him, and if he says he’s confident I can do something, I will follow him.”

So when do the boys think their prodigious talents will finally surpass that of their parents?

“I dunno, probably in a year or two,” says the nine-year-old Landon.

Brandon Barrett is a Whistlerbased writer, theatre producer, and playwright. The recipient of the 2018 John Collison Investigative Journalism Award, he is a staff writer and features editor for Pique Newsmagazine. He does not know how to ride a bike.

Previous pages: The de Vall family enjoys the bike park together.

PHOTOS BY ROBB THOMPSON COURTESY OF DE VALL FAMILY

This page: clockwise from top left: Jennifer McTavish drops into the EWS Canadian Open Enduro in 2015.

PHOTO BY CLINT TRAHAN CLINTTRAHAN.COM

Jennifer and friends get a taste for racing back in 2002.

PHOTOS SUBMITTED

Jackson Goldstone celebrates a podium finish in a Phat Kidz race.

PHOTO BY CLINT TRAHAN CLINTTRAHAN.COM

Ron and Jackson Goldstone take in some bike culture at Dirt Diaries Crankworx 2016.

PHOTO BY SEAN ST. DENIS SEANSTDENIS PHOTOGRAPHY.COM

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AUGUST 10–19 LOOK OUT FOR THE OFFICIAL EVENT GUIDE THIS SUMMER VOLUME 5 / ISSUE 1 / 2018

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20 PHOTO BY SEAN ST.DENIS SEANSTDENISPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

PHOTO BY CLINT TRAHAN CLINTTRAHAN.COM

RIDERS’ CHOICE

Crank’d Whistler’s Bike Magazine

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RIDERS’ CHOICE

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soaring to

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a stunning alpine trail, a revolutionary heli-biking rack system and a whole new world of mountain biking

By ABBY COOPER: WORDS + PHOTOS

I

t’s no secret that the biking community in Whistler is all about pushing boundaries and pushing the sport to new levels. The groundbreaking two-decades-old bike park continues to grow exponentially both in size and visitors, the new Lord of the Squirrels alpine trail on the south side of Whistler is opening up endless possibilities up high, and there’s a sense that Whistler remains on the cutting edge of all things mountain biking. But there’s a new adventure awaiting… one that’s set to take off, quite literally.

Heli-biking on Mount Barbour, north of Pemberton. We didn’t need to be asked twice.

With whispers of Blackcomb Helicopters offering a bump to a new trail system with a sleek state of the art bike

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and biker delivery system — an invention set to change the game — it was time to see for ourselves what Jordy Norris, of Blackcomb Helicopters, was talking about. “We all believe that there is potential for it to be a very integral part of B.C. tourism, similar to what heli-skiing is now. Our sport is growing so quickly, and this is the mecca for it. We’ve all got big aspirations of what will come down the road.”

We could hardly wait to get riding.

After signing waivers and receiving the lowdown on loading and unloading, we anxiously crawled inside the helicopter. With bikes loaded on either side, we threw on headsets and lifted off, our cars quickly turning into small specks below us. A strategically placed helipad is located outside of Pemberton near the base of the newly built Mount Barbour trail so that we would be able to ride right down to

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our vehicles at the end of the day after the long descent.

Only 15 minutes from takeoff, we were hovering above the peak. Wild to think this quick ride to the top would supply us with a full day of adventure.

Rotors roaring, we touched down on the nubby peak of Mount Barbour high above the surrounding peaks and soaked in the surrounding vistas. Word from the wise — wrangle in your stoke and linger here. It’s almost all downhill after this point and soon you’ll be in the mountains, not on top of them.

The new trail begins right from the helidrop — talk about convenience — and carves its way down the mountain, winding along ridges, past lakes, and eventually out of sight. Paddy Kaye, lead trail builder of Joyride Bike Parks, describes the trail as a “blue trail or an adventure ride.” We were ready for whatever adventure lay ahead.

The first two riders in our group started their descent, quickly becoming ant-sized as they sailed down the wide-open alpine slopes towards the meadows and lakes below. It was both hypnotizing and exhilarating. With sweaty palms, it was my turn next; focused and giddy, I nervously hit the trail, soon relaxing into the thrill of my first heli-bike ride. The trail is even flowier than imagined and rides like a dream in the most beautiful place I’ve even been on a bike. Happiness.

Stopping at one of the turquoise tarns that we had seen from the peak, the water too tempting in the summer sunshine, it was a pretty easy decision to embrace the beauty of it with a good cliff jumping session. If we were on an adventure bike ride we might as well milk all adventuring opportunities! It wasn’t exactly part of the plan but it was pretty hard to resist the selection of leap-able cliffs and sparkling water below.

The hot August sun quickly dried our skin and we were soon back on the trail.

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Norris knows this trail well; he’s been heavily involved in its creation.

“Riding in the high alpine in the summertime is a very unique experience,” he says. “The alpine tundra has amazing colours, the trails have a very open feel to them, and the views are just insane.”

Next, we descended into some more technical-rooted sections and then found that fast flowy section we’d heard so much about before arriving at the Tenquille Lake Cabin.

A friendly porch and perfectly lined cedar shakes adorn the rebuilt Tenquille Lake Cabin. With the capacity to sleep 15, the cabin is primarily used by multi-day hikers or snowmobilers in the winter months. Its unlocked door will lure you in for a peep as you should, it’s charm is irresistible. However, resist the urge to use the wood stove as the wood supply is reserved to warm guests on cold nights, but most definitely welcome its shelter from the weather on your ride past. Hot tip: There is also an outhouse tucked in the woods nearby; if you gotta go, now’s the time.

Crew member Ryan Harris sums up our experience to this point perfectly: “Hugging the ridges as we flew over vibrant green fields, wildlife and freshwater lakes sitting on top of a 7000-foot (2,100 metres) mountain, there’s no better place to be. When you finally touch down and unload your bike you realize you now get to ride the over 7000 ft. of vertical below you and it’s going to be one of the best rides you have ever had.”

Many of the trails can be credited to Kaye, who has been riding bikes in the Tenquille Lake area for 20 years.

When he heard that the trails were in danger of being shut down due to inappropriate use by other bikers, he contacted the B.C. Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development.

“We involved all the stakeholders to discuss the

Previous pages: Jordy Norris of Blackcomb Helicopters and friend standing on the Mount Barbour helipad.

Above, top to bottom: Up close and personal with the new Aero Design LTD bike rack system; Nearing Tenquille Lake the trail is smooth, and transitions into the trees.

PHOTOS BY ABBY COOPER @ABBYDELLS VOLUME 5 / ISSUE 1 / 2018

Clockwise from top left: Safety briefing before take off with the Blackcomb Helicopters’ Pilot; Stan Rey showcasing his stoke to the heli as it leaves after dropping our crew; Hucking ourselves into a cold alpine tarn on a hot summer day mid heli bike ride; After descending from the first steep after the helipad, bikers cross an alpine meadow.

PHOTOS BY ABBY COOPER @ABBYDELLS VOLUME 5 / ISSUE 1 / 2018

issues and solutions,” says Kaye. “This included B.C. government officials, the Pemberton Wildlife Association, the Pemberton Valley Trail Association, the Lil’wat First Nation, and Blackcomb Helicopters. The solution was to build a multi-use trail in the Barbour Valley and work together to develop more helicopter-access trails in the region for the future.”

Not wasting any time, Kaye directed various crews and 50 workdays were put in to finish the trail. The Bike Co. laid the groundwork and the Joyride Bike Park crew came in swinging pick axes behind.

Meanwhile, Transport Canada gave the nod of approval for use of the new heli-bike rack in August 2016, just as the new alpine trails were finished — perfect timing. Previously, heli-biking was done by flying up riders and their bikes in separate loads — the riders would go

first and await a long line delivery of their netted bikes. The new streamlined design has riders and bikes shuttling in one smooth load — the efficiency is doubled, it’s cheaper, and the bikes undergo less trauma in transport.

Heli-biking, long established on Rainbow Mountain in Whistler, was now set up for big changes.

But like all things mountain biking in Sea to Sky, more changes are on the horizon. Plans are underway to develop two new trails this summer, making a total of three high-alpine trails. The idea is to be able to shuttle guests from the bottom of one run to the peak of another, similar to a heli-skiing experience.

“This product would be guided and an all-inclusive with a lunch and shuttle pick up from the village, similar to a heli-skiing experience.

Not bad, eh?” explains Norris.

“The sport is so young, and we are at the forefront of it, so the long-term future is yet to be seen.”

After a swim, kayak and tasty barbecue at Tenquille Lake, we readied ourselves for the more technical descent ahead of us. The last of the trail was a forested journey — a mixture of lush forest, burnt trees and rock, leading us to valley bottom. Exhausted, content, and still stoked, we all committed to do it again seconds after it was over.

Abby is a photographer, writer, splitboarder, year-round snow seeker and all around adventure junkie — bonus points if her dog can come too! See what she’s up to when she’s not off the grid on Instagram: @abbydells Crank’d Whistler’s Bike Magazine

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THE GREAT DEBATES H

ARD TAIL OR FULL SUSPENSION? Flat pedals or clipless? 29ers or 650Bs? Mountain bikers are a social bunch and like to talk (mostly trash) over beers (mostly IPAs) at the end of a ride (mostly about bikes and mountain biking).

While everyone can agree that mountain biking is probably the best sport/dangerous obsession in the world, that’s usually where the agreement ends. Post-ride chats among

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gearheads tend to spin off into lively debates about everything from gear ratios to gears, housings to hubs, map apps to fork gaps.

It’s part of the fun of riding. Most gearheads came by their riding preferences honestly through sometimes painful trial and error, and always have a story to tell about it that’s even better than yours.

These are some of The Great Debates.

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PHOTO BY BEN HAGGAR BENHAGGAR.COM

“ I think the reason a lot of people ride hardtails is because of the challenge... you have to work every step of the way in order to make it down the trail” - ian ritz HARDTAIL vs.

FULL SUSPENSION

PHOTO BY LAURENCE CROSSMAN-EMMS LAURENCE-CE.COM

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This is as elemental as mountain bike debates get. Is the tactile responsiveness of a hardtail better than the added comfort and speed that comes with a rear shock?

Full suspension bikes are definitely more comfortable for long rides.

They save your hips and hands over long descents and can give you some additional speed and control when you’re in a hurry. They’re easier to stay on with a wider margin of error.

Hardtails are less expensive and easier to maintain. They reduce pedal strikes on rocks and roots due to the flexing of your rear shock.

They climb incredibly well.

The winner? This debate really comes down to a few things — your budget, where and how you ride, how fast you need to go, how much jarring

your legs and body can take on Sea to Sky’s tech trails, the general state of your sciatica, and your own personal preferences. Hardtails are great for beginners and experts but the rest of us can probably use a bit of help if we want to keep up on the descent. Edge? If you can afford a good one, full suspension.

FLATS vs.

CLIPLESS vs.

EGGBEATERS Let’s talk pedals. There’s no question that clips of any kind come in handy while mountain biking. Climbing is about 30 per cent more efficient when your feet are attached to your pedals. You can also lay down a lot more power when you need to and, if you’re good enough, they can give you some added control when things

get technical without worrying about your foot slipping off at the worst possible moment.

Clipless pedals (which you definitely clip into, just not the same way as the old toe clip baskets that were big in the ‘80s) have a bit of extra surface area to hold your weight, letting you opt for some softer shoes/soles. Most styles have adjustable tension and enough surface area to ride them to the pub in your regular sneakers.

However, Crankbrothers Eggbeater pedals are extremely popular and offer a different kind of clipped in experience. They are designed to be lighter weight for XC set-ups, there are four easy clip-in options instead of two, you can get a lot of leverage on your pedals, and — some say — they are easier

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IAN RITZ PHOTOGRAPHED BY ROBIN O’NEILL COURTESY OF CHROMAG BIKES

Ian Ritz Founder of Chromag Bikes & hardtail enthusiast

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to get out of than other clipless pedals when things (e.g. your bike) go sideways. An added benefit is an open design that won’t gum up with mud and dirt.

Flats? A surprising number of people will sacrifice the extra power/ efficiency of clips for flat pedals.

It’s definitely safer to be able to get off your bike quickly — every rider knows somebody who paid the price (such as getting hit in the back of your head with your own bike) after failing to clip out in time. However, it’s not safer for your lower legs — one slip on flats and you’ll find traction spikes buried in your shin or calf. Gripping is less of an issue if you opt for flatsoled shoes with soft rubber.

The Winner: If you have the skills, ride fast and prioritize weight over other factors then Eggbeaters are the way to go. Clipless options are more comfortable and durable but are also heavier and sometimes harder to clip into when things get muddy.

If you’re learning, risk averse, or like to use your bike for more than just trail riding then there are some pretty great flats to choose from as well. You will lose the performance debate but keep more of your skin.

29ER vs.

650B (AKA 27.5) WHEELS I’ve left 26-inch wheels off this list because they’re hard to find these days outside of dirt jumpers, DH bikes and youth frames. The real debate in 2018 is between roughly an inchand-a-half of total wheel diameter

Crank’d Whistler’s Bike Magazine

“... where seconds count, then clipless, with a solid skillset, could provide you with that edge.” - Ryan Leech.

PHOTO BY CLINT TRAHAN CLINTTRAHAN.COM

There are a lot of reasons why you would go hardtail.

For starters, they’re generally a lot more affordable – the average dual suspension these days is probably $5,000, and you can go up to $10,000. A lot of that is in the frame and extra components.

But I think the reason a lot of people ride hardtails is because of the challenge, having this tool that you have to work every step of the way in order to make it down the trail. A lot of the pleasure and satisfaction you get from riding a bike comes from what you do out there, and in a way, a hardtail is an added challenge. You need to look ahead and react to the trail, and a hardtail demands more of that from you than a dualie (full suspension).

They are also very responsive – quick at accelerating and doing things on the fly. But there’s an opposite to that as well, which is, if you’re not on it that day you can get shut down pretty quickly. A full suspension bike lets you be a little less perfect in your lines.

There’s also something about the simplicity of a hardtail when you remove all the baggage that comes with full suspension – all that extra hardware, the pivots, the bushings, the bearings, a shock that requires really high air pressure or a spring… All these things require maintenance, they make noise, and they can be really inconvenient.

— which doesn’t sound like a lot but makes all the difference in the world.

29ers roll fast, put a little more tread on the ground for added traction, and don’t get caught up as much on roots and rocks as smaller diameter tires might. However, 29er wheels are also a bit heavier to spin uphill, they don’t tend to corner as well, they’re not as rigid (and more prone to warping), and the height of the rider can make a huge difference when it comes to bike fit — especially if you want a lot of travel up front and don’t want to feel like you’re 10 years old again and riding your dad’s bike.

650B/27.5 wheels are the ultimate compromise — closer to the toughness and cornering of 26inch wheels but with some of the added speed and traction benefits you get with 29ers. You also don’t need to be knocking on six feet VOLUME 5 / ISSUE 1 / 2018

PHOTO BY JUSTA JESKOVA JUSTAJESKOVA.COM

Ryan Leech Trials phenom, coach and flat pedal fanatic

tall to fully appreciate them, and the bike geometry/sizing will feel familiar as well.

The Winner: For Whistler’s tech trails it has to be 650B/27.5. They weigh less, are less prone to warping, and you can use long-travel forks without feeling you’re 10 feet off the ground.

TRAILFORKS vs.

STRAVA You might not think people would care about the apps they use to find and log trail rides, but there are a lot of strong feelings around these popular apps.

Strava is all about pushing your limits, letting you compare your time on trails with other riders. It’s created a lot of fun, friendly local competition, while letting riders benchmark their

skills against others. That approach has also resulted in some incredibly accurate maps, although it’s also created a bit of controversy — the huge user base means that any new trails posted to Strava don’t stay secret for long. Some people are annoyed that the app encourages people to ride at speeds where the trails can get damaged.

Trailforks is more about finding and rating trails than racing, although you can use it to time and map rides as well. It has a strong local following in Whistler — currently ranked No. 1 globally — and some great content that gives you a good idea what you’re getting into. The ride mapping is first rate.

The Winner: Trailforks. Strava is great, but the focus on racing doesn’t reflect the way a lot of people ride. Encouraging people to ride smoothly instead of focusing on personal bests or Strava rankings is also better for the trails.

SHAVED LEGS vs.

WHATEVER THE HAIR FAIRY GAVE YOU A lot of serious mountain bikers shave their legs. It might seem excessive — the kind of thing that only hard-core roadies looking to cut down on microscopic amounts of wind resistance would need — but there are other advantages as well.

For one thing, it’s a lot easier to clean cuts when there’s no hair in the way, and shaved legs are less prone to scarring and infections. It also makes it easier to put on and peel off bandages and physio tape.

The Winner: If you have the time and energy to shave ‘em, and a supportive group of like-minded friends, go for it. If you’ve ever had to scrub dirt out of a bleeding shin, then peel a bandage off the same spot a few days later, you’ll understand.

RYAN LEECH PHOTO SUBMITTED

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PHOTO BY JUSTA JESKOVA JUSTAJESKOVA.COM

If you’re new to mountain biking, start with flats.

They’re simple, safe and will allow for a more intimate experience of how the trail, bike and body interact. Flats also naturally inspire riders to more confidently discover the most effective movement patterns (skills) for riding various types of terrain.

If you’ve always ridden clipless and would like to improve or tune your skills then switch to flat pedals for a good chunk of time — your riding level will likely initially decrease, and that’s a prime sign that you’ll benefit significantly from the switch. You can then always switch back to clipless.

If you’re interested in racing or competing at a level that pushes your limits, where seconds count, then clipless, with a solid skillset, could provide you with that edge. Many recreational riders also appreciate the confidence that comes with being clipped in and not worrying about their feet. Personally, I find that the simplicity, confidence and comfort that flats provide match my mountain biking lifestyle best. So it’s really up to you to discover, experientially, what works best for you.

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WATER BOTTLES vs.

HYDRATION PACKS

Dropper seats have become the must-have bike add-on in recent years. When descents get technical, it’s incredibly liberating to be able to get the seat out of your way; and you can get further back without worrying about the groin/appendix punch you can get from a rigid seat if/when you bottom out. Being able to quickly raise your seat for climbs is also an asset.

However, some purists and XC racers see them as an unnecessary weight and choose to ride everything with their seats way up. They’re also another moving part on your bike that needs to be maintained and can add several hundred dollars to your setup as well.

The Winner: Get a dropper seat.

Never having to get off your bike and adjust your seat manually keeps the flow flowing and is well worth the extra weight and maintenance.

Staying hydrated on a long ride is a must but there is some disagreement on how to go about it. Is it better to carry the weight on your body or your bike?

A lot of riders prefer bottles.

You can swap them out easily and keeping them clean and disinfected is a breeze. You can also carry two or more bottles if you like or fill one with electrolytes or fruit drink.

There’s no cold wet patch on your back when you stop. There’s also no chafing, no leaking bite valve dripping water down your front, no hard-to-clean tube filling up with mould and not much added weight.

Hydration packs can be useful for carrying your tools, air pump and spare tires, as well as more water than you can carry in four bottles — a must for those epic days. They’re easy to drink out of while you ride. As a bonus, they also provide some extra padding if/

- jon hadfield.

when you land on your back.

The Winner: Bottles are fine for short rides, but hydration packs are a must for Whistler’s epic trail network. They can carry everything you need from your wallet and phone to a light lunch and a rain shell to a bottle of bear spray. Putting a damp, cold one back on after a break is gross and they suck to clean, but it’s better to be prepared for anything.

1X10, 1X11, 36-42T – GEARS vs.

GEARS vs. GEARS For the longest time every mountain bike typically shipped three chainrings up front and either nine or 10 sprockets on the rear cassette.

The ratios — the number of teeth on the front and back sprockets — varied a little bit from bike-to-bike but was generally consistent.

With the rise of freeriding, bikes started to lose the big ring to improve clearance and add chain guards, and in the last few years the small and middle rings have started to be replaced by a single ring somewhere in the middle. The new standard is to have one chainring up front – usually 28 to 32 teeth — and a 42-toother or bigger on the back for climbing. The advantages of this kind of setup are huge. You can get almost the same range of gears as a two-chainring bike while ditching the extra weight/ maintenance that comes with a front derailleur. The larger gear in the back, whatever your rear-derailleur can accommodate, makes climbing easy as well.

There’s also a movement towards

Jon Hadfield & Owen Foster Gearheads OneUp Components What’s the best chainring/ sprocket ratio?

Hadfield: I’d say 11-42 plus a 47-tooth in the back and a 32-tooth oval chainring in the front. The 30-tooth is for puny gravel riders!

Foster: A full m7000 Shimano group, 11-42, with a 47-tooth. And a OneUp 30-tooth oval.

PHOTO BY LAURENCE CROSSMAN-EMMS LAURENCE-CE.COM

“.I’d say 1142 plus a 47-tooth in the back and a 32-tooth oval chainring in the front.

The 30-tooth is for puny gravel riders!”

PHOTO BY BEN HAGGAR BENHAGGAR.COM

DROPPER SEATS vs.

QUICK RELEASE

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VOLUME 5 / ISSUE 1 / 2018

PLAY WITH GRAVITY, PROTECT WITH SCIENCE.

2 L O C AT I O N S I N W H I S T L E R

Mountain Square (McCoo’s) // 604.932.2842 Village Common (McCoo’s Too) // 604.938.9954

Open Daily 9:00 am to 9:00 pm

locally owned and operated since 1987 MCCOOSWHISTLER.CA

/McCoos

“They claim it’s a way better bike feel, like sex without a condom, but I’ve never understood the appeal of having rocks embedded in your palms”

VINCE SHULEY PHOTO SUBMITTED

VINCE SHULEY PHOTO SUBMITTED

– vince shuley

Vince Shuley

PHOTO BY LAURENCE CROSSMAN-EMMS LAURENCE-CE.COM

oval chainrings, which have the effect of evening out your pedal stroke and increasing traction.

The Winner: One sprocket up front really can do it all. For Sea to Sky riding, go with a mid-size oval gear up front — say 32T to split the difference — and whatever you can afford in the back (1x11, modified 1x10, etc.) with the largest granny gear your rear derailleur accommodates. You won’t be as fast riding pavement, but you’ll love the reduced maintenance and noise, the increased clearance, and the smooth power on your climbs.

TUBES vs.

TUBELESS Tubeless tires really are amazing.

You can cut down on a bit of rolling weight and run low pressure on those wet days when you want a little more rubber on the ground.

But when they go wrong, and they do, it’s a much bigger and messier fix than merely swapping out or patching a tube. Tubeless beads are tight and hard to get off the rim and if there’s any damage to the tire it’s a tougher fix as well.

The Winner: The advantages of tubeless outweigh the disadvantages, and you can always throw in a tube if you need one. Just keep an eye out for wear and tear and anything that can put a rip in your sidewall.

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CARBON FIBER vs.

ALUMINUM vs.

CHROMOLY STEEL vs.

TITANIUM FRAMES This is a toughie. Carbon fiber is a light frame material but it’s also expensive and prone to damage.

Aluminum is light, tough and very affordable, but frames are stiff and can crack and break over time through oxidation and abuse. Only cheap bikes are made of steel because of the weight, but chromoly steel is a much lighter steel alloy that is very durable and has an amazing flex to it, although you’re still going to be rolling a little heavier than with carbon fiber or aluminum. And then there’s titanium, which is light, strong and incredibly flexible, but even more expensive than carbon fiber.

The Winner: This is one argument that is hard to call and depends on a lot of factors like your budget, whether you’re riding a hardtail and could use a little flex, your riding style, and how much weight, strength and durability matter to you at the end of the day.

GLOVES vs. BARE HANDS Some riders really do prefer the tactile response of riding without gloves, risking blisters and some

Outdoor writer and reviewer and proud bike glove wearer

seriously painful road rash in the event of a crash. There’s no question it’s a bold statement about your riding abilities. Gloves are hotter and sometimes a bit clumsier when it comes to feel, but the injuries they can prevent and the extra grip they provide make it hard to go without.

The Winner: Gloves if you prefer the palms of your hands to be free of blisters, scratches, splinters, and sharp rocks.

TRAVEL LIGHT or TRAVEL FAR? Travel is the amount of distance your front forks move up and down as they absorb the terrain. Cross-country bikes start off with between 100 and 120 mm of travel up front, while freeride bikes range from 120 to 170mm. DH bikes average around 200mm.

Shocks use a combination of springs, air and/or oil to provide some cushioning over bumpy terrain and drops, as well as some rebound control to stop you bouncing back with the same amount of force. Larger volume shocks can handle almost anything but weigh more as well.

The Winner: Whistler is a technical place to ride. Although experienced XC riders can get away with 100mm, the sweet spot is between 140mm and 160mm. Park riders need at least 200mm to be comfortable.

Andrew Mitchell rides a carbon 29er hardtail with flat pedals, a 32-tooth chainring up front, and a 42-tooth granny gear in the back — and he’ll be happy to tell you why. Proceeds from this article are going towards a dropper seat.

One thing that tends to come up in my arguments is riding without gloves.

And I’d hate to call it an argument because I’ve never seen a good argument against it. There was a certain World Cup downhill racer (Kiwi Sam Blenkinsop) who started riding without gloves when he wasn’t required to wear them at certain races, and since then you see it in freeriding and Matt Dennison’s videos, and everywhere.

They claim it’s a way better bike feel, like sex without a condom, but I’ve never understood the appeal of having rocks embedded in your palms. I actually had the experience myself when I showed up at a Toonie Ride and forgot my gloves, and I’d have to say that it was one of the scariest I’ve ever ridden because it ended up raining and I spent the whole ride worrying about losing my grip on the bars or brakes.

I think there’s a bit of a status thing about it, and some people think it’s a little more core not to wear them. You’ll see people in the bike park with protective gear from head to toe — presumably because they don’t want to be injured — and no gloves, although it’s pretty common to land on your hands. It makes no sense to me.

VOLUME 5 / ISSUE 1 / 2018

When passion W runs deep, innovation flourishes

By ALISON TAYLOR

hen Chris Winter started Big Mountain Bike Adventures in 2001, the world wasn’t ready for Whistlerstyle mountain bikers.

His idea was to take North American riders to epic mountain biking spots around the world.

Winter remembers his first trip with locals in tow; they were in the Valais region of Switzerland, all on big beefy downhill bikes, the likes of which had never been seen in Valais before.

“Our definition of mountain biking here was completely different than theirs was,” recalls Winter, noting that the Europeans would ride up gravel roads in the Alps on stiff, rigid frames and ride back down the roads and call it a day.

“Back then we truly lived in a bubble,” he says of Whistler a few decades ago.

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It was, however, a bubble of innovation: being fearless, trying new things, and the collective sense that the community was on to something much bigger than the world had seen.

Like Winter’s Big Mountain Bike Rides.

“Looking back it was a bit of a crazy idea as the market was miniscule and the idea of travelling on a plane with your bike was totally foreign to mountain bikers,” admits Winter.

Of this, however, he was sure: Once more people experienced the thrill of riding singletrack, through tight forests and wideopen meadows, down steep mountain trails and through winding valleys, they would be hooked and they would want to push the boundaries further.

For the past two decades, Whistler has been a petri dish of sorts as it tests the limits for mountain biking, forging new trails

from its humble bike beginnings.

The evidence is everywhere: Crankworx, Whistler’s mountain biking festival is turning 15 years old this year and is now a global phenomenon with stops in three more locales around the world. The Whistler Mountain Bike Park, on the verge of turning 20 years old, continues to blow expectations out of the water with its year-over-year increases in visitation and growth, its biggest single expansion project now in its second year in the Creekside zone. And just last year, Whistler released a study showing that half a million people bike in Whistler every year, translating into a staggering $58 million in economic activity here annually.

Winter’s Big Mountain Bike Rides, and others, are the by-products of this — born in Whistler, fuelled by its collective passion, and now on a global stage.

VOLUME 5 / ISSUE 1 / 2018

Back when Winter was first dreaming up Big Mountain, trailbuilder Dave Kelly wasn’t yet convinced that the Whistler Mountain Bike Park was going to make it. And he was the guy dreaming up some of the park’s most iconic trails! Those first couple of years were heavy on passion, lean on visitation. Still, it was a good time to be working there. Intrawest, owner of Whistler Blackcomb (WB) at the time, was very supportive of trying new ideas throughout the 2000s, eager to see what would stick, particularly as it began to see some traction in mountain biking.

Out of that era and that driving philosophy, came some good success stories, recalls Kelly.

Gravity Logic was one of them.

Gravity Logic was a for-profit consulting business within WB, born out of the sheer number of people coming to the park to see what was happening and learn from the pros. Why not monetize that expertise? The second reason for its creation was the theory that if the bike park was to grow in Whistler, it needed visitors from around the world, people who had been exposed to mountain biking. “We felt that we needed to spread the knowledge and experience we had gained in order to achieve this goal,” says Kelly.

In 2007 Kelly and his partners — Tom Prochazka and Rob Cocquyt — bought Gravity Logic from WB and set up to expand its horizons.

It was a huge leap of faith: “I had a full-time year-round position with WB that I really enjoyed, a steady paycheque and a newborn baby and I have to admit, even then I wasn’t sure we could make it,” recalls Kelly.

A decade later, Gravity Logic boasts a resume of work in roughly 20 different countries from Guatemala and Germany, China and the Ukraine.

It brings its Whistler expertise and mixes it with the local flare.

Picture 50 or so workers in China hand chiselling massive boulders into pebbles in half a day, says Kelly.

Gravity Logic also remains a goto company when things need to be done at the bike park at home; it built, for example, the Top of the World alpine route in 2011/12 (see story on pg. 8) and has been working on the new Creekside expansion now underway.

“To this day I think it was one of the best life decisions I have ever made,” adds Kelly.

Opposite: ‘Tidal Wave’ in Deer Valley Utah built by the Gravity Logic team.

Below: Bechtel Summit Reserve, West Virginia.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF GRAVITY LOGIC WHISTLERGRAVITYLOGIC.COM

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VOLUME 5 / ISSUE 1 / 2018

Crank’d Whistler’s Bike Magazine

35

Top: Chris Winter hikes his bike in Iceland with Big Mountain Bike Adventures.

PHOTO BY MATTIAS FREDRIKSSON

Top right: Tyler Morland in his natural element.

PHOTO BY ADRIAN MARCOUX @AMARCOUXPHOTOS

Bottom: Big Mountain Bike Adventures on a trip in Norway.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BIG MOUNTAIN BIKE ADVENTURES

36

Crank’d Whistler’s Bike Magazine

It was during this time of evolution that Tyler Morland was unconsciously setting the stage for his future while honing his skills on Whistler’s trails.

A World Cup downhill racer, Morland remembers riding Cop Killer in Pemberton when he was a teen and thinking: How do I live here? He moved to Whistler when he 19 years old, at a time when summers were quiet and the possibilities in mountain biking endless.

While racing, he began doing PR for SRAM, one of the world’s leading bike component companies. PR quietly morphed into content and then social media.

Morland was living in the heart of Whistler’s mountain biking evolution, quite literally. He was roommates with Ian Ritz, founder of Chromag, and other dedicated local riders like Kevin Phelps.

“Learning from your peers,” says Morland, “was unreal.”

The tight-knit community wanted people to progress, evolve, find success; they all had a stake in mountain biking’s future.

Morland is now the global brand manager for SRAM, travelling the world, responsible for how the brand “walks and talks” and for its success and growth in mountain biking. His home base is Vancouver and his biking heart remains in Sea to Sky, the place that laid the groundwork for his future.

Just as it was 20 years ago, when no-one really had a handle on how it would all unfold, Whistler remains at the forefront of the industry. The lift line at the Whistler Mountain Bike Park can make or break a product, says Morland — the latest trends on display from

wheel size to goggle placement.

“It’s just such an influential place,” he adds of the small town with the big reach. “The whole corridor has such a pull globally.

It’s the whole region that’s really added up to such a big player in the industry.”

And while nothing comes close to the bike park anywhere else in the world for the time being, Whistler can’t rest on its laurels whether in the park or the valley beyond. Passion remains the driving force of the day in a community that truly believes its own hype, its potential.

Winter has travelled the world scouting mountain bike locales and now offers trips like: Bali “Island of the Gods;” Guatemala “Land of Plenty;” Iceland “Tectonic Treasures;” Greece “Aegean Dream Women’s Only.”

He knows Whistler is a major player on the world stage. But it must make sure not to become a victim of its own success while continuing to push the envelope.

“We need more projects like the Lord of the Squirrels, and to join forces with Squamish, Pemberton, the South Chilcotins, the Sunshine Coast and Vancouver’s North Shore to make the whole region a collective draw for riders,” he says.

It’s all world-class, from the mossy forests of Squamish to the high alpine in the Chilcotins.

But there’s one more thing in particular that sets it apart from all the rest, says Winter.

“The community here is like nowhere else on the planet.”

VOLUME 5 / ISSUE 1 / 2018

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2018

event Calendar

Weekly Rides Race Events

crankdbikemag.com

MORE INFORMATION

Some events may be subject to change. Please visit the relevant website to confirm events details.

(WMBP) whistlerbike.com worca.com (WCC) whistlercyclingclub.ca pinkbike.com

photo: Rémy Métailler races through Whistler Bike Park in Round 1 of the B.C. Downhill Championships, 2017.

PHOTO BY CLINT TRAHAN CLINTTRAHAN.COM

38

Crank’d Whistler’s Bike Magazine

CRANKWORX WHISTLER AUGUST 10 – 19

Nimby Fifty XC Mountain Bike Race – Pemberton May 26

Kidsworx Enduro

The Ya’Hu’s Enduro – Squamish May 27

Bell Helmets Canadian Open Challenger Enduro

Spud Crusher Women’s Enduro: Get Out What You Poutine!

June 2

Clif Dual Speed & Style presented by Muc-Off Saturday August 11

The Gryphon Enduro – Squamish June 9

LIV A-Line Women’s Only Session

Kidsworx Village Crit Friday August 10

Spakwus 50 Marathon XC – Squamish June 16 – 17

CamelBak Canadian Open Enduro presented by Specialized Sunday August 12

Canada Cup XCO – Whistler June 23

Kidsworx DH Race - B-Line Monday August 13

BC Premier Downhill Series – Whistler June 24

Garbanzo DH

BC Bike Race July 13 Hot On Your Heels Women’s Enduro – Squamish July 21 Subaru Ironman Canada – Whistler July 29 EWS #6 – SRAM Canadian Open Enduro presented by Specialized – Whistler August 14

Dirt Diaries Tuesday August 14

Mondays WMBP GT Women’s Night (DH) May 21 – September 3 – 5:30 – 7:30pm WMBP Men’s Night (DH) May 21 – June 4 – 5:30 – 7:30pm

Tuesdays WMBP Men’s Night (DH) June 12 – August 28 – 5:30 – 7:30pm WCC Ride (Road) 5:30pm Whistler Village Sports PORCA Toonie Ride (XC) – Pemberton April 17 – September 25 – 5:30pm

Wednesdays WMBP / WORCA Phat Wednesday Race Series (DH) Visit whistlerbike.com for weekly race schedule/info

Fox Air DH

WCC Social Ride – Beginner to Intermediate (Road) 5:30pm Whistler Village Sports

Deep Summer Photo Challenge Wednesday August 15

WMBP GT Women’s Night (DH) May 23 – August 29 – 5:30 – 7:30pm

Official Whip-Off World Championships presented by SPANK

SORCA Toonie Ride (XC) - BI-WEEKLY – Squamish April – September – 5:30pm

RockShox Ultimate Pumptrack Challenge Thursday August 16 100% Dual Slalom Whistler Friday August 17

RBC GranFondo – Whistler September 8

Red Bull Joyride Saturday August 18

Whistler Classic NAET September 9 – 10

Canadian Open DH presented by iXS Sunday August 19

Thursdays WORCA Toonie Ride (XC) May 3 – September 13 – 5:30pm

Sundays WCC Ride (Road) 9am Whistler, 10am Pemberton from May 13 VOLUME 5 / ISSUE 1 / 2018

FULL RANGE OF 2018 RENTAL BIKES AVAILABLE DOWNHI LL | ENDU RO | CRO S S-CO U NT RY | ROAD | J U NIO R

 TOM KAHLER | Barnaby Edwards @ 2016 Crankworx Whip-Off Final

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604 932 3327

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RENTAL | RETAIL | REPAIR

By ALISON TAYLOR

I

RIDE ON PHOTO COURTESY OF WHISTLER SEARCH AND RESCUE WHISTLERSAR.COM

40

Crank’d Whistler’s Bike Magazine

t’s an irrefutable fact of mountain biking in Whistler that there will come a time when you need help on the trails. Or, there will come a time when you need to give help on the trails. The question is: Are you ready for when that time comes?

Not the kind of help like getting a flat tire and discovering you don’t have your tools with you. Real help. When things really go sideways as they are so often wont to do when you least expect it.

Unlike the bike park with patrollers on site mere seconds/minutes away, B.C.’s backcountry is a vast and wild playground. The very things we love about the backcountry: its solitude, its mystery, its limitless possibilities and its inevitable draw to push further beyond, are the very things that make it “risky.”

The trick is in managing the risk.

So, you pack more water than you think you need, extra snacks too, and stuff a few layers into your pack. You make sure your cell phone is fully charged. You even change your riding style a little — less aggressive, a little more cautious. But that all goes without saying. That’s as much as part of backcountry biking as riding with a helmet.

Take it from the man who probably knows the most about what can go wrong in the backcountry. Brad Sills, manager of Whistler Search and Rescue, says it’s simple. If you’re going out, pick people that have their First Aid ticket; better yet, get certified yourself. “There’s nothing like somebody who is cool, calm and collected when things aren’t going the way they should be,” says Sills when asked about his top tips for mountain biking in Whistler’s backcountry.

So, what would you do if you came across someone with a broken leg at the top of Lord of the Squirrels? Someone who was looking at you for help. Could you help them beyond a few words of comfort, a warm hand and a panicked cell phone call? What’s your game plan if someone in your group falls and is unable to move on Kill Me, Thrill Me? Too often, in the face of not knowing what to do, we do nothing, terrified of making the wrong decision. Just think of the confidence that comes in knowing, to the best of your ability, what the best course of action is at any given time after assessing everything in the context of a wilderness setting.

As we go further into the backcountry, as Whistler opens more terrain, as less-skilled riders test themselves here, being prepared no longer means extra water, a charged cell phone and a puffy jacket.

VOLUME 5 / ISSUE 1 / 2018

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