Tom Pro's Bike Park Report:

In my last Bike Park Report I had to explain that the Report isn't like a daily weather or snow report, but rather that the Report is meant to enlighten you on issues of importance in the Bike Park. Sometimes the news is big, sometimes it is small and sometimes it is not news at all.

Like right now - it is not news that the Garbo chair is going to open this Friday, unless you just got out of solitary confinement or woke up from a lengthy coma. The word has been out there for some time. What may be worth reading about is what the riding is like up there.

I was hiking up there about three weeks ago and skis would have been a way better form of transport at that time. Two weeks ago was a lot better and last week we actualy took our bikes. The highlight was following Thomas Vanderham down Orange Peel as he was pinning it straight down on snow doing the 'look mom, no hands'! I had the death grip on my bars, just barely keeping it upright. The kid 's got skills. Anyway, there was still a lot of snow, but I was seeing light at the end of the tunnel.

Today (Wednesday), BT and I headed up there on a scouting mission, hoping for good, yet ready to accept bad. The trail crew has been up there with D1s and the D35 spent some time up there as well moving some of the white stuff, but we had no idea what we would find. I have to admit that I felt a bit apprehensive, because we have commited to open on Friday - come hell or high water.

We hit up Freight Train and just rolled through it as there was some snow and running water. Then we split up - BT continued down FT and I rolled into Original Sin. As soon as I dropped in, I felt my cheeks pressing into the padding of my helmet in a huge grin. The trail was raw, a bit slick and the puddles were crystal clear. Some water was running down the trail as there is still some snow melting near by. I pushed my bike up to the ridge, barely even took in the views, and continued. Last time I visited the section just above the Tree Fort, there were cornices hanging over the trail and the snow was at least 6' deep. That was just two weeks ago! As I dropped in, I was happy to see a trench in the snow right down to the dirt. The Trail Crew out did themselves here for sure.

BT cruised in along Bear Cub and reported that FT was a bit raw from Marty rebuilding it in wet weather. No sweat, it will get raked before Friday.

The next section was mint - dry slick rock and no mud - flowing like the beer at GLC. We popped out on Pony Trail and hit snow! It was a lot better than I expexted, because last time a went through there, the snow was 8' deep. By Friday, it should be mostly gone and the step up in the tree island should be good to go.

Goat's Gully next! For me dropping into CG is like meeting a super hot girl at a party - blood pressure shoots up, all senses heighten and I fight for composure. I don't want to mess this up! I have managed to mess up both scenarios in the past and one hurt physicaly and the other hurt emotionaly. This time I was on top of my game and I nailed 'er - Goat's Gully, that is. I absolutely love this trail and it didn't disappoint - gnarly and raw - as it should be. In Deep was the same - roots, slick rock and drops at it's finest. I maxed out the 888 and the Roco while I used all of the 8" available on my Kona Stab on the Tripple Hump, which seemed to have gotten bigger over the winter. Just a perception, I'm sure. BT and I busted a right into Fatcrobat, where Kenny and Travis were fixing some bridges. Mint - is all I can say!

The boys did a great job fixing some bridges and they built some awesome berms. That is what happens when you put a guy that loves wood, Travis, and a guy who loves dirt, Kenny, together building a trail. The rest of the crew were busy fixing the run into and the step up onto the containers. Knowing those boys, it will be just the way they like it - buffed and lofty.

We finished our ride with Too Tight. I know - I should't overuse words, but I will - mint!

Personally, Garbo is the shit and the riding up there is like nothing else in the lower park, except maybe Joyride. It is in your face, ready to spank you in a heart beat, like a big bad bully. But like a bully, it feels good when you spank it. Garbo is no hangover ride, so drink some warm milk with honey and go to bed early the night before riding up there. All of the trails in Garbo zone will be open by Friday.

The Whistler Gondola opens on Saturday which should help with the crowds. Check out the Red Bull Elevation BMX contest. The Jumps are massive and it should be an awesome show.

Please be careful when crossing the mountain road in the Bike Park. It is getting busy with big trucks.

Happy Canada Day long weekend. See you up here.

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life is but a dream...

After a long and tiring day of building trails I didn't feel ambitious enough to do extended play laps in the park yesterday. Then I had a flashback like something out of fear and loathing. I could hear the gentle strumming of a harp as I drifted off into a past state of being. Reader discretion is advised. Some dramatization may occur in this re-telling of events:

In my flashback it was January, I was back in Quesnel, BC trying to study for a physics exam while the snow was mercilessly falling outside. While lost in papers my thoughts turned to the bike park. I was sitting, with pen in hand, dreaming of how amazing the park was going to be for the '07 season. I would have ridden anything at that moment, even a run down B-line in the pouring rain. I could hear the drone of the chair-lift that scoops me off my feet and carries me to the top. I could taste the grainy dirt in my teeth. I could hear the muffled sounds of hoots and hollers coming from an unseen trail. And the widening of my eyes upon seeing a flock of biker chicks hanging out at the Garbanzo Bike and Bean. All these heavenly sensations were flowing through me while I sat in class dreaming of the bike park, but back in the real world a transit bus driver was angrily blasting his horn at me for only half crossing the street before stopping to think. Instead of going the rest of the way across the street, I turned 180 and headed back towards the village. Even though I was sore from work, and my bike was chainless, I thought it best to listen to my past self and do some laps while the elusive sun was shining on some of the best trails on earth.

helllooooo... sorry it's been a while. It's been rather rainy the past little while so the crew has been quietly working away in the trees. Lower Crank-it-up is coming along smoothly, as expected. There are no opening dates to be released yet, so be patient and great things will come your way.

Some rumours have been going around about a new single track currently being built in the lower mountain. While you may have heard chainsaws running in the woods, that's because the Ministry of Forests has told us that in order to have a healthy forest we need to do some tree spacing. So don't get too excited, all we're doing is a little forest doctoring. yep.

Marty Goutry (as seen in Decline magazine, playing with his dinner) has recently spent some time working his machine magic in the Biker Cross. It is still the same confidence demanding course it was before, only now it's a little more dialed in. So if you haven't ridden it before I advise rolling it first, but once you get it figured out it's a blast!

Phat wednesday's kicked off today, and it seems that everyone and their little brother joined in the classic race down B-line. The skies even cleared up for most of the day, and coupled with the amazing trail conditions (fact: hero dirt really does turn you into a hero) made for one of the better days of the year so far. A few photos of that below, as well as some other digital goodies.


one more reason to know the phone number for Patrol
taken today from the quiet side of the GLC patio
the busy bike park
Vanderham and his prototype. Am I allowed to post this photo?
Top of B-line, Phat Wednesday style
sunny day race photo
are u #28?

Pro Line boneyard drop

I try to be quite promt with my posts, but the 10 dollar pitchers on Merlin's patio tasted way too good today. Anyways, I just finished uploading my youtube video of the soon to be open Pro Line drop at the bottom of the boneyard. Maybe tomorrow I'll hit the step-up onto the platform now that the boys are done building it. Props to Big Red Ted for an awesome job on the drop! This guy really is the best. And I'm not just saying that because he bought be lunch, twice. Listed below are a few photos of the beast that nearly tackled Gareth Dyer's ego. The poor guy came out of an all-winter injury to stare this drop in the eye and tell it who's boss. That's what I like to see.

time to guinea pig this mofo
is niice
another attempt

you can view the youtube link here or watch the movie at the bottom of this page.

P.S. the Dirt Merchant Pro Line is now open for public,
enjoy!

Jumbotron update

New post coming tomorrow with the usual photo and video goodies. This time it's all about the Pro Line drop that goes over top of the jumbotron. Ted Tempany and Jason Jocelyn have been finishing up construction of the drop today, and will be for the next couple of days, so it will most likely be open for this weekend. But I gp'd the drop a handfull of times this afternoon, and it is sweeet. Check back tomorrow for the full update. see ya up there!

As promised,

here is a trail update full of the photos and video that you just can't find anywhere else. I won't save the best for last, because the best is just too damn good. What I'm referring to is the new Pro Line on Dirt Merchant. Pro Line on Dirt Merchant!? what What WHAT!? That's right. Yesterday, the trail crew you know and love, decided to put a wooden booter about 8 feet before the dirt booter that sends you over the Creek Gap on Dirt Merchant. I comprised a short video that can be found on youtube right here for full screen, or at the bottom of the page. You can view the photos below:

construction
more construction
time to man-up and prove we can ride what we build
...and I get paid to do this!
Rider: Johnny B
Photographer: Jason Josling

Aside from the new booter on Dirt Merchant, the trail crew has spent a lot of time rebuilding sections of Devil's Club. There were some sloppy sections on the trail that just cried out to be bridged over. so we did. and here's the proof:

cedar stringers
deck the trails with slats of lumber
mission complete!
our artwork
some company on the trails
it's like a walking teddy bear
new corner bridge
finito
for you to enjoy

y'all come back again now y'hear

proof of progress coming soon...

yo yo yo! I've been kept very busy moving into my new house and working 7 days a week, so I haven't had much computer access time to post new photos or information. But bear with me. A full update on the progress of our Devil's Club re-build will be coming soon. Hint: I love to build bridges! Check back for the full update!

P.S. thanks for reading my blog and posting the wonderful comments. They totally make my day! Oh, and check out what I worked on last weekend with Big Red Ted Tempany and Duncan MacKenzie... here,