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Whistler!

Echo

Echo

crooked smile
Jul 10, 2002
11,819
15
Slacking at work
Well thanks to Kona bikes and my good friend T-blazer, I finally got out to Whistler! What an awesome place. To the places that are claiming to be "the Whistler of the east" or whatever... you have a long way to go.

The trip west was uneventful, we made it through customs and such. One cool moment was when we were flying into Seattle. The pilot gets on the PA and says "If you look out the left side of the plane, you can see the snow covered peak of Mount Ranier."

Well I was already looking out the left side of the plane, and there were tons of snow covered peaks. Which the hell one was he... WHOA.
 

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Echo

Echo

crooked smile
Jul 10, 2002
11,819
15
Slacking at work
When we arrived in Vancouver, we hopped on a bus that Kona chartered up to Whistler. Of course the first order of business was a beer stop, which kept smiles on everyone's face for the whole ride. Here's T-blazer and the owner of Bend Cyclery enjoying some nice PNW brews.
 

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Echo

Echo

crooked smile
Jul 10, 2002
11,819
15
Slacking at work
After arriving and getting checked in to our accomodations (right in the village, sweet!), Kona fed us and gave us a bunch more beer. I think their goal was to completely dehydrate us so we wouldn't hurt the bikes too much the next day.

After waking up (at like 5am, damn jetlag), watching some TDF, and chowing some Kona breakfast at Black's Pub, we headed over to the area where they had a bunch of Stab Garbanzo bikes set up for us.

These bikes are sweet! Mine had an 888 fork, SRAM X9 trigger shifting to X0 derailleur, DeeMax wheels, E13 guide, Diabolus cranks/stem/bars. Top shelf stuff.

Here's T-blazer sporting his ride - the mediums had SuperT forks instead of 888's, too bad Vic isn't taller :D
 

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Echo

Echo

crooked smile
Jul 10, 2002
11,819
15
Slacking at work
For our first run, we just did A-line. Seemed like a good way to get the feet wet, and I like jumps :D

It kicked ass, but wow, it was tiring hitting that many jumps in a row! Already I was realizing that it was a whole new kind of riding. I doubt there is another trail like A-line anywhere else.

For our second run, we decided to to up the Garbanzo lift. We heard that it was a long tough ride down, so we figured we better do it before we got to beat up.

Here's me at the top of Garbanzo, at snow level!
 

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Echo

Echo

crooked smile
Jul 10, 2002
11,819
15
Slacking at work
We headed down a trail called No Joke, which was really cool. It was a LONG run though - picture doing 8 Plattekill runs strung together. It had all kinds of stuff, east coast roots, dry dirt sections, rock faces, woods riding, etc. It dumped us out at another trail called Duffman, which kicked similar amounts of ass. That put us on lower A-line again, no complaints there :D

After a few more runs, during which I was having too much fun to take out the camera, we had some lunch at the GLC bar & grill, and headed back to the lifts.

We ran into DameinC, SDH, and Kristen, who were kind enough to show us a trail called Smoke and Mirrors, which had some bridgework. Wide bridges, but fun!

Here's me on a strange little rollercoaster bridge.
 

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Echo

Echo

crooked smile
Jul 10, 2002
11,819
15
Slacking at work
Further along the trail, we found a fun little rock face, which of course the pictures make look easier than it was.

Here's Kristen taking a run at it.
 

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Echo

Echo

crooked smile
Jul 10, 2002
11,819
15
Slacking at work
Then along came T-blazer, and if you look closely at the picture, you can see what's about to happen :D

He landed next to where I was standing with the camera :p
 

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Echo

Echo

crooked smile
Jul 10, 2002
11,819
15
Slacking at work
At one point I came riding out of the woods and Kristen was like "check that out!" and pointing up the hill. So I look up there expecting to see some gnar rock drop or stunt, but all I see is trail. Then she's like "look again" (she kept the word "moron" to herself). There was a bear up there, just chillin and checkin' us out.
 

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Echo

Echo

crooked smile
Jul 10, 2002
11,819
15
Slacking at work
Next, Damien and SDH, Kristen and I decided to take a run down Schleyer. Man that trail kicked ass! It produced my only wipeout of the weekend, on a little rocky section that should have been easy if I had only picked a better line. I didn't get any pics on Schleyer, because I was too busy having fun and trying to stay upright!

After the riding was done for the day, it was time for a hard earned beer :thumb:
 

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Echo

Echo

crooked smile
Jul 10, 2002
11,819
15
Slacking at work
Day 2 of riding, I didn't take any pictures at all. I did to a run down Upper Dirt Merchant and Lower A-line with the helmet cam, and made a fun little video.

Not that there aren't a million A-line videos out there, but for an east coast chump like me, living in the mountain bike hating capital of the USA, A-line was about the most fun trail I've ever rolled down.

A couple more Garbanzo runs, and a few more new trails, and that was it. Out of time. I was hoping to hit Clown Shoes and a few others, but I guess that will have to wait until next time. And there WILL be a next time :D

After another awesome dinner provided by Kona, and watching Sanjay F*CKING RIPPING the dirt jump park, and meeting a few more monkeys (Toshi, Yeti DHer... I think I'm forgetting someone...) it was time to head home.

Before leaving, I wandered over to the hill before the lifts opened and took some pics of the terrain for the upcoming freeride comp.
 

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Echo

Echo

crooked smile
Jul 10, 2002
11,819
15
Slacking at work
Oh yeah, and another fun little area was the GLC drops, which were right at the bottom of the hill and in total view of the lift line and a restaurant terrace. Lots of people representin' on these drops, they were butter smooth :thumb:

And where does the name "GLC drops" come from, you ask?
 

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Echo

Echo

crooked smile
Jul 10, 2002
11,819
15
Slacking at work
Coming home was a total fiasco. Horizon Air screwed us over royally, and I got home about 24 hours later than originally planned... bastards. Leaving Whistler really sucked, but they made it suck even more.

I'm so jealous of you monkeys that are privileged enough to live out there. What a totally awesome place. I hope you know how good you have it.

Stay tuned for the video, I gotta make the file smaller.

Ah, the view you enjoy when riding down these trails!
 

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MMcG

MMcG

Ride till you puke!
Dec 10, 2002
15,457
12
Burlington, Connecticut
Wow! Hey did you happen to meet Seth from the Gravity Warehouse in Southwick MA while you were there? I just stopped in there tonight - they've moved into bigger space - Nice shop!!
 
Roasted

Roasted

Turbo Monkey
Jul 4, 2002
1,488
0
Whistler, BC
The Toninator said:
are you done? sounds awesome, did you hit any XC? I really ,really cant wait.
Click to expand...

Sounds like an awesome trip. So much up there to ride. I really wish I could get a feel for a-line. Still don't like it...Next time you are up here you should try River RunsThrough it in the valley. Lots of woodwork and some pretty cool stunts.

And tony, I might have some updated news on the course. There is a lot of new trailwork that has gone in. Goig to be chatting with some friends shortly about it.
 
Mocha

Mocha

Monkey
Jun 14, 2002
254
7
Vancouver Island
Echo said:
I'm so jealous of you monkeys that are privileged enough to live out there. What a totally awesome place. I hope you know how good you have it.
Click to expand...
Yes, we are definitely spoiled living close by. Glad to hear you had fun!! Schleyer is one of my favourite trails as well. :thumb:
 
Snacks

Snacks

Turbo Monkey
Feb 20, 2003
3,523
0
GO! SEAHAWKS!
Roasted said:
Speaking of which. What trails and what did you think?
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Well, we started out on Cut Your Bars. Stayed over there for about 2 hours just exploring the different trails. The terrian over there is great. Love the rock slabs and exposed roots.

After that we went farther into the valley and hit Bob's and River Runs Though it. I was so tired after riding I was out by 7pm that night.

I know Whistler is the DH capital of North America, but if you have the time and the bike you really should hit the XC there. It's just as challenging at the park.

Thanks Roasted for the map!! ;)
 
Roasted

Roasted

Turbo Monkey
Jul 4, 2002
1,488
0
Whistler, BC
No prob. Glad you got to hit two of my favorites. NExt time you are up I would hit Kill Me Thrill me. But yeah there is lots of DH off of the mountain thats for sure :D
 
Ian F

Ian F

Turbo Monkey
Sep 8, 2001
1,016
0
Philadelphia area
Sweet pics! I'll be leaving for Whistler on Friday. :)

We are planning to do some XC while we're there as well as a few days at the park and some helicopter-ride/drop trip or something. I have no idea when I'll be out there again, so we're going all-out. :thumb:
 
Jozz

Jozz

Joe Dalton
Apr 18, 2002
6,144
7,831
SADL
Awsome John!

I envy you so much... hope to make it there soon!!

So now where's that little video.. :think: ;)
 
Deyv

Deyv

Deyvil
Mar 26, 2002
416
0
Montreal
Awesome trip report Echo. You are very lucky. Whisler looks amazing.

I like the pic where T-Blazer is about to eat dirt :D I hope Vic did not hurt himself.

If you need me to host your vid, let me know. I just upgraded allezy.net
 
Snacks

Snacks

Turbo Monkey
Feb 20, 2003
3,523
0
GO! SEAHAWKS!
Ian F said:
Sweet pics! I'll be leaving for Whistler on Friday. :)

We are planning to do some XC while we're there as well as a few days at the park and some helicopter-ride/drop trip or something. I have no idea when I'll be out there again, so we're going all-out. :thumb:
Click to expand...
If you hit the guest services counter they have maps to the XC trails all over the valley.
 
Snacks

Snacks

Turbo Monkey
Feb 20, 2003
3,523
0
GO! SEAHAWKS!
Roasted said:
No prob. Glad you got to hit two of my favorites. NExt time you are up I would hit Kill Me Thrill me. But yeah there is lots of DH off of the mountain thats for sure :D
Click to expand...
We are heading back up in 3 weeks and bringing the XC bikes along again. We'll hit Kill Me Trill Me for sure. I think we were both kinda shocked how great the XC trails were.
 
ghostrider

ghostrider

7034 miles, still no custom title
Jan 6, 2003
964
1
Shadows of Mt Boney, CA.
BUMP

Echo, that is just plain awesome. Instead of MonkeyFest-West-Bend, we might need MonkeyFest-West-Whistler instead.

Anyway, post the dang video, man. It's more boring than usual here today, as I wait for the final offer to determine if I'll be moving to the Whistler of the Midwest: Dallas.
 
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