Mountain Biking - DH at Whistler...FINALLY REAL DH FOR ME!!! (NO 56k - large pics included)

For the first time since my start of Mtb, I am finally doing real DH and not the "white trash" version I am accostumed to. I didn't realize you could rent a bike at whistler during the summer. My dad is like 50 but he wants to try DH. That man is crazy. At his age he is still mountian climbing, running 5 miles a day, ski's, and is an avid road rider but I think he wants to see what I am into and give it a try. I showed him some pictures and he said; "Well if I don't ride everything you do I will at least watch." Anyway, he hasn't been mountian biking much, so of course he would start on little stuff at whistler, but still he should know a little more before we go. To be honest, I know about doing steep hills, but nothing of this extent...this will be very knew to me, and I don't know what it is going to be like. There is two bikes you can rent though...Norco (Something) and Kona Stinky. Think I will go w/ the Kona all though it is 90 bucks but you get all of the gear...helmet etc. (Not that I don't like Norco but come on its a Kona). I have all the way till this summer to prep for this. Luckily I live in the Northwest so I can get an idea of what it would be like. What should I prepare myself for before doing this? I consider myself a decent rider, but I can't say much about this cuase I have never done this...

Any suggestions would be great...and if you know whistler well give me some pointers on what to start out w/ and what not...

Thanks

Have fun and stay safe is all I can advise.

That sounds like a whole lot of fun... Your dad sounds like a cool guy. Later in life you will cherish these times you spent with him... Enjoy!

There are many better bikes than that to rent. Demo9, Kona Garbonzo (whatever they call it next year), Banshee Scream etc...

What kind of pointers are you looking for. I 'kind of' know whistler ;)

come on Mael, you live there! you can give him more advise than that!

Yeah I could write an essay on how to be a tourist in town. But if he wants to know what trails are good etc, I need more specifics. I would rather not write a 3 page long description of what to do in whistler when in whislter when he may just want the top trails for example.

I know one thing, for sure. If you dad is a mountain climber he has to stop in squamihs for a day. World renowned climbing there.

Ok be prepared for pretty groomed runs. I don't know your level but most serious expert and pro levels downhillers find whistler fast, flowy and not technical enough (I am talking pros and experts DOWNHILLERS, most average trail riders come here and get put in their place, xc racers get wrecked and beaten and freeriders learn what freeriding is) Whistler is meant to progress. In one day you can go from 1 ft drops to 10 ft depending on how much you put into it. The trails are well labelled and all of them offer something different. If you are used to these trails (as in mountains) start on blues. Keep in mind there is a large range of blues. Good started line is b-line -> ho chi min (this one will really tell you if you are ready for some of the blacks) -> heart of darkness. B-line is rated a green but you can fly down this trail at mach 4 and really work on berm turns and little jumps.

If your addiction is air try b-line to get a feel for speed and then move to a-line. Fast, flowy and lots of jumps. Rumour has it a baby a-line will be installed next year which will help because some of the faces of the jumps are damn intimidating. Avoid this trail during busy times, if you can't keep up people will yell at you. Also Dirt Merchant. My favorite air trail. Steps up and step downs and big jumps. Bring your balls for this one. I found it easier than a-line but more intimidating as well. There is also crabapple hits. 4 LARGE and LONG Jumps. I ride this one, but don't air it. The speed needed to even get up the trannies is more than a-line haha

Another good blue is fantastic. Kind of rutted but fast with BIG berms and some tiny step downs. This brings you to the play zone with jumps and drops. Play in there to get a feel for the steep trannies whistler users.

Next move to golden triangle. Now split into to the 1st section has some steep rocks, if you aren't used to it, you may freak yourself out. You can then challenge yourself to the last part of duffman which used to be blue but is now black, for a reason. Stay wet most of the time, kind of steep and if you miss the last turn you could tumble 10ft. Either that or go straight and stay on golden triangle.

If this was easy move to angry pirate, which imo is one jump or steep part away from black. This gets you really warmed up for garbonzo. Steep, tech, short tight turns, log skinny BUT FUN!. My favorite trail on the mountain by far. From here you can hop onto a-line or whistler single track.

Now move to blacks. Imo Whistler Lower DH is a good start. Steep downs, drops and 4 steep rock faces. This is a fast flowy traditional style dh course with some good tech stuff in it. My worst crash happened here when I rolled a rock face to a right hand berm but forgot to turn.

If you can do this one move onto upper whistler dh, schleyer. Then past that national dh and joyride. You will also find garbonzo relatively normal but keep in mind Garb is traditional pnw. STEEP, Rooty, Technical and mostly wet. Bring your A-game :)

If you want stunts start on the 2 play areas and then move to Heart of darkness. Big wide but flowy boardwalks that get you used to riding in the trees. Then move to Clownshoes which is a decent trail but I don't much like the baby step downs they put in mid skinny. Not my style.

In the valley, there are three trails everyone should hit. River runs through it for awesome flowy north shore. This will really show you what flow is like and why no one does the shore better than shore builders. If a stunt is there it was put there for a reason, not just for fun. Kill me Thrill me is an awesome trek. Go up through many switch backs and then come down. One of the classics in whistler. Needs to be experienced so you can really say I rode a whistler trail. And thirdly, get into the valley an explore. There are djs, trails, shore trails all over. Whistler mountain is pretty tame compared to some of the stuff in the valley.

The biggest thing. Learn to brake, or better yet WHEN to brake. Whistler kills newbies coming up here. they come up for 7 days and ride 3 because there hands can't keep up. Braking constantly causes pain. Learn to module and release. From Top (gabonzo) to bottom you can be on one solid dh trail for 30 minutes. From mid point 10 to 20 minutes depending on skill and the trail (on a-line fast riders do it in5 minutes...trust me, thats nuts) Get those hands used to constant aching somehow, workout brake all the time.

You should also hit the shore once. It is an experience and really nothing like it in the world. Heck even walk it. The easiest trails are blues and blacks for most riders. Think of it as an experience and not a ride.

you should sell that as a guide to whistler, you'd never have to work again...

I have considered starting up a site. You would be surprised how many of those mini essays I write between here and ridemonkey.

charge people to be their tour guide... :p

With info like that maelstrom, doesnt sound like a bad idea, if i ever get enough money, i woukd Seriously consider moving to BC.... I hear the snowboarding is good aswell :)

ya seriously...thats a pretty lucritive buisness, do it part time in the summer of soemthing, take ppl up the mountain then giude them down based on wat you know about trails and what they want....id pay like 20$ for that if i went...plus you get to ride the trails anyways

Snowboarding is decent. But don't know much about that. You would fit in well here, more brits and aussies than I can count. You guys tend to rip pretty hard because you don't have the mountains we do and take full advantage. I remember one brit boarder came here for a 1 year and boarded all winter, so he didn't waste the visa he then bought a bike and started ripping...pretty funny for the first few weeks. Most people start on xc and he was hucking...

Something to consider. Typically guides, besides skills, have to be able to outlast who they ride with. I have weak cardio right now :)...The website is something I have been tossing around. A good comprehensive guide to whistler for the summer.

Heck no! I am ready for the big time here...

I may run a few easy ones at first but after that I want to try a few drops; not big ones but just to see if I can do it without freaking out.

Well drops are everywhere, Every trail has one except the absolute greens.

if you do get a site up Mael, post the address and put some pics up if you can, 'cos i cant find anywhere with good pictures of Whistler. Anywhere!
cheers

There are lots of pics of whistler on ridemonkey.

But yes I have some ideas of what I want to do for whistler.

I found this pic yesterday but I didn't save it...all I know is that I am going to try it. Its like this huge wall made from plywood, and it has dirt coming up to it. I don't think it would be that hard, cuase I had something similar to that, but cheaply built and I landed it. If I can find it I will post it...

I found this pic yesterday but I didn't save it...all I know is that I am going to try it. Its like this huge wall made from plywood, and it has dirt coming up to it. I don't think it would be that hard, cuase I had something similar to that, but cheaply built and I landed it. If I can find it I will post it...

My computer will not upload files...I don't know whats going on w/ it yet but I just put XP on and it doesn't seem to like it much...

so here is the address...

http://frorider.ch/Images/bike_fotos/gallery_whistler03/images/PICT0074_p001.jpg

Congrats, imprezaman. Riding BC is one of my mtb dreams. Mebbe the wife'll let me go one of these years. I used to show her the sick(but pretty) pictures in Bike. Hopefully she's forgotten about them by now;).

That 2002. Its changed since then. :D...

Holy schnike, batman! Definitely can't show that one to the wife. Someday, my precious-LOL

http://gallery.consumerreview.com/webcrossing/images/andrewtable001.jpg

National Rock Face (probably amonsgt the steepest faces)
http://www.raceshoot.com/whistler/rock1.jpg
http://www.raceshoot.com/whistler/rock2.jpg
http://www.raceshoot.com/whistler/rock3.jpg

Schleyer
http://www.raceshoot.com/whistler/schley3.jpg
http://www.raceshoot.com/whistler/sche.jpg
http://www.raceshoot.com/whistler/srock.jpg

Joyride
http://www.raceshoot.com/whistler/lj.jpg

Dirt Merchant
http://www.raceshoot.com/whistler/dirt.jpg

the Manager
http://leelikesbikes.com/Stories/070504/BrandonManager.jpg Now closed due to all the carnage.
http://leelikesbikes.com/Stories/070504/3.6VerySteep.jpg
http://www.nsmb.com/images/shore_news/AIRprentice/postscript/kennymanager1.jpg


Whislter locals
http://www.raceshoot.com/whistler/bear.jpg

These pics thans to Seb on ridemonkey who took the time to post them plus a cool story to go with it. http://www.ridemonkey.com/forums/showthread.php?t=91511&highlight=whistler+pic

great pics Mael... :) damn i need a tall fork and slack HA now ;)

I know one thing, for sure. If you dad is a mountain climber he has to stop in squamihs for a day. World renowned climbing there.

Ok be prepared for pretty groomed runs. I don't know your level but most serious expert and pro levels downhillers find whistler fast, flowy and not technical enough (I am talking pros and experts DOWNHILLERS, most average trail riders come here and get put in their place, xc racers get wrecked and beaten and freeriders learn what freeriding is) Whistler is meant to progress. In one day you can go from 1 ft drops to 10 ft depending on how much you put into it. The trails are well labelled and all of them offer something different. If you are used to these trails (as in mountains) start on blues. Keep in mind there is a large range of blues. Good started line is b-line -> ho chi min (this one will really tell you if you are ready for some of the blacks) -> heart of darkness. B-line is rated a green but you can fly down this trail at mach 4 and really work on berm turns and little jumps.

If your addiction is air try b-line to get a feel for speed and then move to a-line. Fast, flowy and lots of jumps. Rumour has it a baby a-line will be installed next year which will help because some of the faces of the jumps are damn intimidating. Avoid this trail during busy times, if you can't keep up people will yell at you. Also Dirt Merchant. My favorite air trail. Steps up and step downs and big jumps. Bring your balls for this one. I found it easier than a-line but more intimidating as well. There is also crabapple hits. 4 LARGE and LONG Jumps. I ride this one, but don't air it. The speed needed to even get up the trannies is more than a-line haha

Another good blue is fantastic. Kind of rutted but fast with BIG berms and some tiny step downs. This brings you to the play zone with jumps and drops. Play in there to get a feel for the steep trannies whistler users.

Next move to golden triangle. Now split into to the 1st section has some steep rocks, if you aren't used to it, you may freak yourself out. You can then challenge yourself to the last part of duffman which used to be blue but is now black, for a reason. Stay wet most of the time, kind of steep and if you miss the last turn you could tumble 10ft. Either that or go straight and stay on golden triangle.

If this was easy move to angry pirate, which imo is one jump or steep part away from black. This gets you really warmed up for garbonzo. Steep, tech, short tight turns, log skinny BUT FUN!. My favorite trail on the mountain by far. From here you can hop onto a-line or whistler single track.

Now move to blacks. Imo Whistler Lower DH is a good start. Steep downs, drops and 4 steep rock faces. This is a fast flowy traditional style dh course with some good tech stuff in it. My worst crash happened here when I rolled a rock face to a right hand berm but forgot to turn.

If you can do this one move onto upper whistler dh, schleyer. Then past that national dh and joyride. You will also find garbonzo relatively normal but keep in mind Garb is traditional pnw. STEEP, Rooty, Technical and mostly wet. Bring your A-game :)

If you want stunts start on the 2 play areas and then move to Heart of darkness. Big wide but flowy boardwalks that get you used to riding in the trees. Then move to Clownshoes which is a decent trail but I don't much like the baby step downs they put in mid skinny. Not my style.

In the valley, there are three trails everyone should hit. River runs through it for awesome flowy north shore. This will really show you what flow is like and why no one does the shore better than shore builders. If a stunt is there it was put there for a reason, not just for fun. Kill me Thrill me is an awesome trek. Go up through many switch backs and then come down. One of the classics in whistler. Needs to be experienced so you can really say I rode a whistler trail. And thirdly, get into the valley an explore. There are djs, trails, shore trails all over. Whistler mountain is pretty tame compared to some of the stuff in the valley.

The biggest thing. Learn to brake, or better yet WHEN to brake. Whistler kills newbies coming up here. they come up for 7 days and ride 3 because there hands can't keep up. Braking constantly causes pain. Learn to module and release. From Top (gabonzo) to bottom you can be on one solid dh trail for 30 minutes. From mid point 10 to 20 minutes depending on skill and the trail (on a-line fast riders do it in5 minutes...trust me, thats nuts) Get those hands used to constant aching somehow, workout brake all the time.

You should also hit the shore once. It is an experience and really nothing like it in the world. Heck even walk it. The easiest trails are blues and blacks for most riders. Think of it as an experience and not a ride.

Hey umm, do the trails loop back, or do you have to take a bus or a lift back to the main trail heads?

Oh yeah, maelstrom, we want pics of you! Riding, of course.

Hey umm, do the trails loop back, or do you have to take a bus or a lift back to the main trail heads?

The trails on the mountain use a lift...no way could an 1/8th of these riders ride the way they do if they looped. We can get in 20 to 30 runs in a day. To ride up would limit that greatly.

In the valley, I suppose they loop, but usually you have to enter one side of a mountain come out another and find another way back.

Oh yeah, maelstrom, we want pics of you! Riding, of course.

I am the ghost no one captures. I hate pics.

What do you mean by now closed due to all the carnage Maelstrom?

The Manager one looks so intense. I would never try that.

Carnage...too many people got absolutely wrecked. It isn't the stunt itself, its what is after it. You g-out so hard most average riders don't make the turn.

You have to take a lift- unless you are a super fit XCer or something.

Speaking of Whistler, i have cousins in Nipigon in Canada. I might visit them in the next few years and i might spend a couple of weeks at Whistler! Yay!

Hey Maelstrom, have you ever ridden Fernie?

Speaking of Whistler, i have cousins in Nipigon in Canada. I might visit them in the next few years and i might spend a couple of weeks at Whistler! Yay!

Thats amazing. You know how small nipigon is. I had a gf there once. Middle of nowhere and you HAVE to drive through it to get to the west coast. Nipigon would be a 4 hour flight from here. Thats just too funny :) The odds what a small world.

Hey Maelstrom, have you ever ridden Fernie?

No I plan to in june

Thats amazing. You know how small nipigon is. I had a gf there once. Middle of nowhere and you HAVE to drive through it to get to the west coast. Nipigon would be a 4 hour flight from here. Thats just too funny :) The odds what a small world.

Yeah i just looked it up then and i realised how far away Whistler and Nipigon are from each other- and how small Nipigon is haha. But still, maybe after i leave school or something i'll go up to Canada.

If you need help give me a hollar (well if you are coming to bc)

It would be odd to fly to nipigon and then come here. Circling back :)

Carnage...too many people got absolutely wrecked. It isn't the stunt itself, its what is after it. You g-out so hard most average riders don't make the turn.
ahhh, i thought there might've been a fight or a murder or something.

Got a pic of this turn?

No they only ever shoot the rock face,

If you need help give me a hollar (well if you are coming to bc)

It would be odd to fly to nipigon and then come here. Circling back :)

Yeah true. Thanks, ill keep that in mind.

That first pic of the rock face doesnt do justice, the last one of it is perfect.....thats nuts. I guessed there was a turn after it, check out all of the skid marks on the stunt....id never try that :D

do you reckon that a hardtail is still up to whistler.
i am looking to go on a mountain bike holiday and im pretty much a begginner although i can jump.
so are there easy trails that i could enjoy>?

Yespretty easily. Although I know a few riders that can ride ANYTHING on a ht. Itsjust a matter of skill and nuts.