I had heard the rumours that Silver Star had hit the next level.  I expected some things to be buffed and maybe a few more wooden features - likely ones out of my league - after the Red Bull Trail Crew event.  Instead there are two completely new trails - Shazam and Pipe Dream, a brand new section of Blast Off that extends high-bermed goodness further down the hill and an amazing amount of buffing on the existing trails - Double Dog in particular.  I wasn't at a low ebb before we arrived, but as we left Silver Star my passion for riding a mountain bike had hit a new high water mark.  I was buzzing.

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But then I began to wonder when I'd be able to return and a new sensation hit me.  I wonder what a shrink would call it?  Post Silver Star Depression?  After two days of blasting off as many laps as I could in the Silver Star Bike Park I really didn't feel like riding anywhere else.  I've always been the type to appreciate something a little more remote - an adventure off the beaten track - but Silver Star has me lusting for berms, jumps, gaps, wall rides and red-lined shredding.  Something about the trails that Cam Sorensen and his crew have put together makes every run faster and more fun than the last.

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Towards the end of Sunday we ran into problems because we all had a list of three or more trails we wanted to hit again and time was running short.  It's a good problem to have - too many sick trails to squeeze into the dying hours of a day riding the lifts.  Are you starting to get the picture?  Silver Star is the real deal.

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Staying on the hill makes life really simple.  We even had coast in, coast out accommodation.  Silver Star housed us at the Pinnacles Suite Hotel - an epic spot to lay your head if you are travelling with a mob of riders.  Our suite had a huge garage - ideal for bike storage - and you can bring your bike in to the other rooms after it's been cleaned off in their wash station.  Their hospitality was top notch and the hot tub was perfect at the end of a long day of riding - despite the absence of female companionship.  Bring on the man stew!

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Back to the trails.  The recently unveiled Pipe Dream has to be the most technical machine built trail I've encountered.  Even top notch riders were saying they had to roll it a few times before starting to figure out what happens where.  Rather than nice safe tables Pipe Dream has some gaps that are too abrupt to manual or take at 80%. You need to make them or you'll be chewing on some Silver Star berm food.  There are step-ups, Step-downs, hips, a sweet step-up-step-down combo and everything is connected by the tidiest berms you've ever seen.   Our team riders were getting the hang of it after following Cam Sorensen in a few times but it's going to take me a few more trips - and some larger cajones - to get it dialled.

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Double Dog was already built when we were last at Silver Star in 2005 but it's had a huge reno since then.  Last time most of the corners were just flat single track but they are now high speed berms through the trees.  I found myself giggling out loud I was having so much fun in there.  The Red Bull stunts were a revelation as well.  I expected the stunts to be extremely rowdy but with the exception of the step-up to plywood wall I managed to ride them all - and  I'm pretty timid about woodwork.  I think that's one of the coolest things about Silver Star - you can scare yourself if you like or you can have a blast on some of the mellower trails without risking a visit to ER.  They are just as much fun as some of the gnarl.  If someone held a gun to my head and told me I could only ride one Silver Star trail for the rest of  my days I'd have to choose Double Dog.

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Shazam is a new blue run that sits between Superstar and Pipe Dream on the difficulty totem.  The berms come fast and furious and you find yourself changing directions like a Spitfire in a dogfight.  There are jumps of every description as well but they don't require the same commitment as the ones on Pipe Dream or Rockstar.  The faster you roll on Shazam and Superstar the more fun you have.  You'll see kids on 20" wheeled bikes having a blast as well as Joe and Jane public on dept. store bikes rallying the green trails.  Something about the Silver Star formula has taken some of the intimidation out of lift accessed riding.  Challenger is a great concept as well.  It's a green trail that has fun blue braids going off it.  Two people of different levels can ride together without having to ride outside their skill level.

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Speaking of Rockstar, when we were last here this trail had a few consistency issues.  Sometimes you'd land to flat and other times it was really tough to make a tranny - on consecutive jumps even.  The trail crew listened to riders and tweaked the lips all the way down.  Things line up much better now and Rockstar is another place where you can get as burly as you want.

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Blast Off is still our team's favourite berm trail with its 27 huge half-pipe like corners.  It used to be a let down when you emerged from the trees but a new high speed section lets you extend your fix and continue ramping up your Gs almost all the way to the lift. 

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Besides being buffed up lovingly World Cup - which appears to be Silver Star's most popular trail, their A-Line if you will - has changed little.  The wall rides still provide a fantastic buzz and make you feel like a hero every time through.

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Part of me wants to keep the goodness of Silver Star to myself.  During the week line-ups are non-existent and while things are getting busier on the weekends we never waited more than five minutes or so (apparently things were quieter than usual because of Wakefest though).  The absence of traffic and the dry climate mean the trails just don't get beaten down.  The trail builders have also found a novel use for old carpet.  In sections that used to have problems with wear and braking bumps they take a long section of Berber, Shag or Plush, bury the ends and everything stays in great shape.  Sections that used to require weekly maintenance now stay mint all season long. All this means Silver Star will hook up an incredible riding experience for riders of almost any ability level.

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Thanks to a huge commitment by trail builders, lead by Cam Sorensen, Silver Star has become a World Class mountain biking destination.  There are great places to stay and to eat, the village has a sweet small town feel and the people are as good as they come.  Skip your cousin's wedding, quit your job, sell your car, mortgage your mother - do whatever you need to do to get your wheels to Silver Star.  In the words of Yoda - Thank me you will.

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This was our yearly team trip, when we rein in our team riders from their far-flung exploits to do some laps, shoot some photos and video and perform a few keg stands.   Here are the riders' impressions of Silver Star in 2007.

For more information about riding Silver Star check their Web site.

Do you have anything to say about Silver Star, this article or lift accessed riding in general?  Spout it here.

Some deals
Silver Star has been a BroCard partner for as long as there has been a BroCard.  You'll save 10% on a day ticket and 15% on accommodation when you flash your BroCard.  A Whistler season pass will score you 25% off your day ticket as well.

Silver Star is keen to have you come up and sample their trails and they know you are fond of saving some cash. On the weekends they have a ride and stay for $75 a person deal and from Monday to Thursday you can purchase a two day ticket for $50.  More info on both deals here.

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