3 years in the Making – Touchdown Whistler!

Well, it has been a long time coming – all the trash/bike talk, all the DVD’s, magazines, online write ups, the home of gravity assisted descents…… Whistler Bike Park. I’ve finally made it here!

An early Greyhound had me catching some shut eye on the way up – but i did manage to snap some pics of the Awesome Scenery!… Man, it just keeps reminding me of the southern alps, Queenstown, Wanaka and Central Otago! – The snow on the mountain ranges, green forrests and lakes/rivers…. truely awesome.

A lot of Canadians/Americans i’ve randomly talked to all comment about how beautiful New Zealand is – even tho they haven’t been there!… I would say i guess because our country is tiny in nature, it has a LOT to offer in terms of sights/things to do etc – so in a way, NZ is kind of mini-cute Jewel of the Pacific?…. ok, too much advertising crap!

Anyway – Squamish – a small town close to Whistler Village. Massive rock wall/face probably craved out by a glacier sometime in the past – pretty impressive!…

There is lots of road works going on at present, as they are gearing up for the Winter Olympics in 2010 – Man, you should see the size of the boulders they are uncovering on the hillsides… pretty cool civil works eh.

Well, into the Village Proper – Checked into my hotel/room – lugged my back pack and the bike a block down the street … that was a mission!.. i reckon buy a good bike bag with an easy transportation system – i reckon it is worth it!!

Anyway – a wee wonder around the village i snapped some pics – went and picked up my Season Bike Pass – and scoffed a couple of FAT slices of Pizza and got the bike assembled, ready to hit the PARK!

The Info Centre -

Kokanee Crankworx MTB Festival is on this week – lots of Mountain bike Tents and things going on in the Village Square!…. loads of bikes, tourists, racers, groupie chicks…… and BP’s…. a good buzz going on!

Ok – not too many people in these photos i know, but it was 4pm, and quite quiet on the Chairlifts etc… it actually got really busy around 5-6pm!… and i was having TOO MUCH FUN RIDING, so the camera didn’t get much use around the Village!.. sorry boys, hot chicks in riding gears, scruffled up pony-tails and body armour will have to wait a little longer!!!!!…… plus i kinda feel like a D.O.M (dirtyoldman) taking photos for YOUR gratification!

ok – some scenery from the Chairlift – looking back down towards the Village and the Valley/Alta Lake -

ok – my first chair ride up, i shared it with about 3 other older guys – say mid 30′s – classic funny guys, two foreigners, one local – anyway, about half way up, the local dude cracks out a Joint and starts sharing it around!!!… i’ve heard the green stuff is pretty popular around these parts, and i’m not talking about the dollar!…. man, that was quite funny – some hash courage before pinning it down the hill like a mad-man!!!

So yeah, nothing too mouth watering for your eyes… i’ll get some pics of the world famous “A-line” track…… man, sooo much fun just airing all these doubles, drops and step ups… the step ups are the most fun as you G out going into them!… sooo smooth, just like i’ve been told… there are some other black diamond runs dotted over the hill, which are knarly wet and rooty!…. They had a DH race from the top last weekend called the Garbonzo – man, it was wet apparently… i don’t think it would have been very fun – too slick/rooty in some sections, just bound to come off!!!… worse than that Maidstone Race in the wet last year!

www.crankworx.com

Well – i’ve got a couple of nights in this hotel suite – which is basically costing me more than my 7 days at a hostel next week!!… but hey, that’s the cost of staying in the village – thank god i didn’t stay any more! – heres some pics

Well – it’s midnight now, park opens the chairs/gondolas at 10am…. better get some sleep!….. wish you were here to have a crack at the Dual Slalom Course against me!… or pass me in mid air down the a-line…. one guy said to me that Whistler is like PARADISE – you can bike and ski here all year round…… hmmm… maybe not that far from the truth!

cu!