The cat is officially out of the bag. Locals and weekend warriors have tried to keep it on the down low until now but more and more people are discovering that summer months in Whistler are where it’s at. Thanks to the epic single track and the mammoth Whistler Bike Park, there is a mountain biking mecca less than a two-hour drive from your front door. This May 15, the park opens for some risky mountain biking business.
With endless terrain choices, even the keenest riders can benefit from inside information from the pros on how to conquer this world-class MTB playground. Have no fear… Brett Tippie is here.
Crowned the ‘Director of Good Times’ by peers, fans and industry leaders, this real-life action sports hero is Vancouver-born. Brett and his beautiful mud-bunny wife Sarah Fenton actually met and then got engaged at Crankworx. They enjoyed their first date riding the park and eventually tied the knot on top of Whistler on his and her mountain bikes.
This couple has a marriage agreement that cheating is OK, but only with a two-wheeled toy. Tippie and his bride share tips on how to tackle Whistler’s terrain and prove that an open relationship with Whistler may be the way to have your cake and ride it too.
Tippie’s tips:
Brett: My number one pointer is to have fun! The second most important tip is to look ahead. Keep your elbows out and slightly bent with your index fingers on the brake levers. Keep your legs bent and have your pedals level. Learn your ready position and your attack position and know when to use each one. Carry a spare tube or two and a pump with some tire levers.
Why Whistler?
Brett: Whistler has an unbelievable amount of awesome trails, and that doesn’t even include the Whistler Bike Park. There is a strong cycling community in Whistler and great trail builders. It’s simply just one of the best places in the world to mountain bike.
Sarah:Although famous for the Bike Park, there’s more to explore in surrounding areas like the “Zappa” trails. The Bike Park is always an ideal place to do endless gluttonous laps without having to truck-shuttle your bikes back and forth.
What Whistler trails can you suggest for beginner riders?
Brett:Beginners should take green circle runs like Easy Out and B-Line before advancing to runs like Crank It Up.
Sarah: Mountain biking has come a long way so, if you are just starting, I suggest you first take a clinic or course geared to all ages and skill sets. As for the Park, I’ve taken my 60-year-old aunt and my four-year-old daughter because it caters to everyone. Whistler’s recreational Valley Trail network stretches over 40km of paved trail and is perfect for the little ones, too.
So there you have it: Whistler has everything you need to get your two wheeled fix. Hit up any local bike shop for a bike rental and kit, and pre-book lessons online. From Bike Park tickets to trail maps, Whistler has made navigating your MTB adventure as effortless as possible; the rest is up to you.
• Explore Whistler’s mountain bike mecca: http://www.whistler.com/activities/biking
