What To Know Before Mt. Biking Whistler With Your Kids
As a family we love mountain biking. So when we had the opportunity to go downhill biking at Whistler Blackcomb we jumped on it! We had a goal as parents to make this trip the one that locked in a permanent love for biking in our kid’s hearts, and thats exactly what happened!
Crankworx:
When we decided to go to Whistler to go biking we were already on a month long road trip through British Colombia. Whistler was going to be our last stop and we couldn’t wait! What we didn’t know was the week we planned on Mt. Biking was also the week of the Crankworx festival. Many of you might already know what Crankworx is, but for those of you new to the sport, let me break it down for you. Crankworx might be the biggest and most anticipated Mt. Biking competition in the world. This event brings professional athletes and spectators from all corners of the Earth to Whistler for a week of complete biking bliss. There are TONS of competitions taking place each day, with the final event being the Joy Ride competition. This is the one with the GIANT jumps where the athletes are doing CRAZY back and front flips and all kinds of other insane jumps! There are also lots of opportunities for the amateurs to take different skills classes from the pros everyday.
Mindset:
Since we are not professional bikers, and we can’t constantly afford to buy new gear for our growing kids, we showed up in our grubby clothes, old helmets, and less than ideal Mt. Bikes for a week of new experiences and incredible memories. My first impression biking into the village was total intimidation! Everyone I saw was dressed in super cool biking gear, with full faced helmets, and the newest full suspension bikes! We didn’t exactly fit it, but nobody cared (except me)! I immediately felt out of my league. It wasn’t until Tyler (the realist) reminded me that most people traveled in from out of town and are renting everything, so they all look just like the professional who just loaded the lift before us. He always knows just the right thing to say.
Buying Your Ticket:
There are ticket booths in Whistler village right next to the chair lift, as well as at quieter Creekside (5 min drive from Whistler Village). You can also buy your tickets ahead of time online here. There are tons of different ticket options. Check the website for the best deals, and what fits your family. If you are wanting to get away from the crowds at Whistler Village, Creekside is a great alternative. There is a Gondola that will take you and your bikes up the mountain, and allows you access to some different trails. There are not as many beginner trails from Creekside, but there are significantly fewer people on that side.
Where To Start:
After you have purchased your tickets, you get to decide where to go. One of the great things about biking at Whistler is how friendly it is for every level of biker. The trails are rated just like ski runs; green circles are beginner trails. Blue squares are intermediate trails. Black diamond are expert trails, and double black diamond are super expert trails. On the trail map they go one step farther and list the trails in order from easiest to most difficult within the particular color. Look at the map and have a plan for what you want to do before getting on the chair. Here is a link to the trail map at Whistler.
Getting On The Chair:
This part looks pretty intimidating, but it’s actually not so bad. Our kids were able to put their own bikes on the rack by our second ride up. Each bike rack and chair holds 4 bikes/people. Three people in your group will roll their bikes onto the rack (lifting the front tire into the tire track) and one person will lift up their bike and hook the front tire on a hook vertically. There are several employees right there ready to help at the drop of a hat, so no need to worry.
Trails:
All trails are marked with their names and their level. Follow the signs and have your trail map handy if you get mixed up. This is the fun part! Pick a trail and have a blast. The people who work at the resort do a bang up job building incredible trails that flow and are sure to bring a smile to your face.
Equipment:
Since Whistler is a major Mt. Biking destination they are totally set up to get anyone and everyone on the mountain. There are tons of bike rental shops in the village. The rental shops have all the gear you need! You will look like a pro as soon as you walk out of the shop!
Just in Case:
Make sure someone in your group (or you) has a spare tube and a pump on them. On our last run of our final day Tyler decided he wanted to ride a more difficult trail than us so we split up. We should have known that this would be the time we needed the backpack that was firmly attached to Tyler’s back. About halfway down the trail Asa got a flat. He ended up walking his bike down the mountain before we met back up with Tyler who had our stuff. Oh well! Some lessons are learned best the hard way. Happy riding!!!
For a quick list of do’s and don’ts while biking at Whistler, check out this post!
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