Long prior to this mass-preview, I had met up with Rob McSkimming, Director of Whistler-Blackcomb's Ski & Snowboard School, to discuss the 2004 edition of the Bike Park and sample the very raw and still yet to be completed, trails #1 and #2. In addition, the long gondola ride allowed to me to delve deeper than the recent tour participants to get the dirt (sorry about the weak pun) on where this monster of a park was heading for the long-term.

Looking back for a moment, it is fair to credit Tom Pro, Dave Kelly, and the rest of the "crew", for the continued efforts to push the envelope and design new trails, stunts, and machine-built "flow" that defines Whistler. However, in chatting with Rob, it was clear that beside the obvious props to the boys on scene, we need also to thank those behind the scenes for permitting this development to continue at its current pace.

Rob and I rode the route now traveled by the organized tours, into terrain that will be accessed by the Garbanzo Chair. The epicenter of most expansion discussions, the Garbanzo has yet to be used for riding as the tours are solely Gondola "launched" at this time. However, the unique-to-Whistler chairlift bike hangers are on order this winter, and the lift will initially be set up for approximately 50% rider capacity. As demand builds, additional hangers will be added accordingly. Descents will offer almost triple the existing vertical (current vertical: 1157 feet to 3357 foot vertical in 2004!).

Our test runs began at the trailhead for Trail #1 just off the top of the Garbanzo (the two trails have yet to be named and are referred to by number). Trail naming came up in our discussion and I surmised that Rob preferred the good-karma inducing historical approach of letting the builders christen their baby! However, this ain't your buddies trail on crown land, and the marketing folks may want a crack - we'll see next year.

As a Whistler local, I am generally unfazed by claims of epic views, however the scenery found on Trail #1 is incredible and the viewpoints overlooking the valley and Rainbow Mountain will attract the photo seekers. Traditional trail-building (read big-time elbow grease) is the rule-of-thumb on trail #1 and the machine work so prevalent on A-Line and Dirt Merchant isn't as crucial thanks to some fine glacial sculpting so many thousands of years ago.

Trail #2 will be the proverbial icing on the cake to the A-Line, Dirt Merchant junkies (my mouth is watering over this one baby!). Paddy's bobcat will be working hard to add to the already complete fast, bermed-up sections. Just down from the ski run (Banana Peel), he was working on a sweet section of berms with a nice table out in the open (authors note: since completed and part of the tours).