Boneyard Boosting

When we returned from Silverstar mountain resort after the nsmb AIRprentice contest in July, there was one line that I just couldn’t get out of my mind. It’s name is Pro Star, and it is ride-able proof of Cam Sorensen and the Silver Star trail crew’s vision, to create a diverse bike park that caters for all levels. The lower section of the trail was under construction when we were there, and is now open to ride. It was great to see that without neglecting the beginner, intermediate and little bike trails, they have built a really fun advanced line.

   Enjoying (part of) the Boneyard opening to the public for the first time in years

I returned to Whistler, wondering whether anyone at Whistler Blackcomb was thinking along the same lines as me, that maybe our bike park needed this kind of advanced level injection too. The next thing I knew, rumours were flying about the re-build of Crabapple hits, and a few days later, we were sending it off some of the biggest jumps the Whistler bike park has ever seen! It seemed that I wasn’t the only one after some more advanced features.

   Recent developments in the bike park have allowed the public access to more air time than ever before!

 A couple of weeks later, the excavators were busy working beside lower Whistler Downhill. We stopped to talk to the trail crew, and take a look at the latest, and still yet to be opened, creation, a line named Dwayne Johnson. A huge step up gap, followed by a section of trail into the woods and off, you guessed it, a huge rock. Another sweet advanced line emerging between the trees in Whistler bike park.

    It wasn’t long after we heard that the ropes had dropped that me and work buddy Iain Hayes were out sessioning the boneyard.

A final addition to the list of advanced features opening up in my back yard was the ropes dropping on several features in the boneyard. It has been years since any of the slopestyle features have been opened to the public, and as soon as I heard that the ropes were down, I was stoked to get up and take a look at what we could ride! Obviously a lot of the course is still closed, but there are a few of the wooden kickers open to send you skywards. It was awesome to be sessioning the boneyard, and it is great to have so many big jumps to ride in the park now!

   Hipping out into the sun

I am glad that more advanced features have been built in the park, but it is also great to see the construction of beginner/intermediate level trails such as the new singletrack off easy does it, and also good to see that Blue Velvet, the only blue trail on the upper mountain, has finally got re-worked. It was getting pretty punched, particularly with the early season conditions that it was subjected to! These things are key for Whistler to be the well-rounded full package, fun for everyone, and remain as the world’s leading bike park.

   Cruising with the wheels on the ground this time, B-line berm railing.

The Whistler Bike Park has been money this year for those who like to go big. And for the rest of us as well. Have you gotten your Boneyard on? Crabapple Deluxe? Sing praises (or file complaints) here…